Searching for Peace, Part 2

Tao remembered Tan’s peace and wished he knew God as Tan did, so he determined to find his Christian friend.

Patiently Pastor Xo studied and prayed with Tan. Tan prayed too, asking God to show him His truths. Little by little God opened Tan’s mind to what he was learning from the Bible, and he accepted it.

Tan stayed and studied with Pastor Xo for seven months. During this time he was baptized and dedicated himself to work full-time for God. Pastor Xo assigned Tan to work in a village nearby, where there was a small congregation of believers.

A Surprise

One day Tan answered a knock at his door and found Tao standing there. “I had to find you,” Tao said. “I want to know your God.” Surprised, Tan invited him in and learned that three days after he had left town, Tao and his friends were in a fight with a man who was the leader of a powerful gang. The young man managed to escape, but the next day someone told him that the gang leader was searching to kill him. Distraught, Tao’s mother begged him to leave town.

While packing to go, Tao found the Bible Tan had given him. He picked it up, and it opened to Matthew 6. Tao began to read, “Do not worry about your life. . . . But seek first [God’s] kingdom. . . . Do not worry about tomorrow. . . . Each day has enough trouble of its own (verses 25-34, NIV).” Tao remembered Tan’s peace and wished he knew God as Tan did, so he determined to find his Christian friend.

From Gang to God

Tan introduced Tao to Pastor Xo. Pastor Xo helped Tao find work, and in the evenings they studied the Bible together. Tao absorbed the truths and accepted Christ as his Saviour and was baptized. Now a new desire burned in Tao’s heart—he wanted to become a Bible worker and lead others to Christ.

He decided to return home and share his new faith with the people there. His first convert was his mother, who saw the deep change in her son’s life. But few others were interested enough to listen. Tao’s mother feared that if he remained in the village, he might fall back into his old ways. She urged him to return to the city and continue studying, but Tao explained to her that Jesus changes lives forever.

After a time, Tao did return to the city to receive more training. He knows that it is by God’s grace that he is alive, and by God’s grace he wants to live for Him. Both Tan and Tao are grateful for how God has led in their lives and they continue to share their faith with others as lay pastors in southern China.

This quarter part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go to help establish house churches in some of China’s largest cities. Thank you for giving generously to support this wonderful opportunity.