That Was a Wonderful Time!

My wife was with me on the trip to China several years ago when we met a house church Christian named Sister Tong, who you see in this picture. At that time, she had been free from prison just a few weeks after serving six months for hosting an “illegal” church meeting in her home.

I was relatively new to VOM at that time, and I asked her about her time in prison. What was that like?

And here’s what I was thinking: tell me about the rats. Tell me about the hard beds. Tell me about the cold. And the misery. Tell me how awful it was in prison.

And she got this amazing smile on her face, and she said, “Oh yes! That was a wonderful time!”

I looked at the interpreter, thinking that Sister Tong had misunderstood, or that something was being lost in translation. You must have misunderstood my question! I’m asking about prison!

But no, Sister Tong understood perfectly. And she had answered my question. It was a wonderful time because God was faithful and ministered to her in a special way. It was a wonderful time because God allowed her to share the gospel with her cell mates. It was a wonderful time because she saw a mission field where she was, an opportunity to serve and meet needs instead of a hardship.

When our brothers and sisters in China talk about prison ministry, they don’t mean once-a-month visits. They mean being sentenced to prison, and ministering while there. If that sounds familiar, it may be because we read about it in the New Testament (see Philippians 1:13-15).

YOUR TURN: If you lived in China, would you want your pastor to be involved in prison ministry? Would you volunteer to serve in that role?

Todd Nettleton has served the persecuted church and VOM 15 years. He has been interviewed more than 1850 times by various media outlets. He's the author of Restricted Nations: North Korea, and served on the writing team for FOXE, Extreme Devotion, Hearts of Fire and other VOM books.

Comments

[STAR777]

if i live in China , i want change all people of China to be CHRISTIAN ! look like i am dreaming ! i want i wish i hope i can change all human to be CHRISTIAN ! but i know the Law of GOD and i know the Love of GOD ! may GOD JESUS SAVIOR the ALMIGHTY GOD the POWERFUL GOD the MERCYFUL GOD save many people of China and many people of World ... amen !!!

[Eric]

What a neat story! I've never experienced such a thing but I hope that if I ever do I will be this cheerful in any situation.

[Shae Reub]

Yes I would regardless if the people in there were innocent or criminals. Everyone (no matter what life style they're living) needs to hear Gods word, and I would glad speak it to anyone who doesn't know God, or who wants to know more.

[Inna]

I feel so empty and my life full of vanity, while these Christians have so little, persecuted in 2013 and yet so filled with love, joy, and purpose. Glory of god be upon them.