Commentary; Posted: 4/11/07
The first Bible
Rev. John C. Blackford,
Religion Columnist
In the story of Jiang Yuchun, a Chinese man, and the first Bible he ever saw. He was born about 50 years ago, and grew up in the rural areas of Anhui Province. His story also mirrors the experiences and difficulties of Christians and the church in that country.
Jiang’s mother died when he was a baby because of the lack of medical facilities to treat an infection. His father became distraught after her passing, and eventually was not able to eat.
His body swelled, and he was in considerable pain. Local doctors could not cure him, so he turned to witches and temple mediums, but they were unable to give him relief.
In a restaurant one day he began to wail sorrowfully. The owner heard him, and learned of his troubles.
He invited him to attend a Christian gathering. Jiang accompanied his father, and they walked about 12 miles in the early morning to reach the meeting place.
“There were about 20 people who had already gathered. There was no preaching. One elderly sister would read a portion of the Bible, followed by singing a hymn and everyone began to pray. When it was lunch time the people would bring out the food they brought and give more to the elderly and children.”
After attending the gathering for three weeks, the father’s condition improved remarkably. A month later he regained good health, and was able to work in the fields again.
Jiang’s father began to feel a great desire in his heart to share the gospel. He invited friends and relatives to the gathering, and brought his 10 year old son.
Jiang said, “We had to meet secretly in a home because it was still during the Cultural Revolution” (this was a time when all the freedoms we sometimes take for granted were banned by the Maoist Communist Government).
“The first Bible I saw was very precious because it was during the Cultural Revolution when the Christian faith was prohibited and Bibles were not permitted. The preacher would hold on to his precious Bible tightly.”
Because Jiang was so interested, he was allowed to see and touch the Bible, which was in traditional Chinese script.
“I was only in elementary school at that time. With limited vocabulary, I could understand little. Nevertheless, that very first moment of touching the Holy Bible was an indescribable feeling of being filled with reverent awe and joy.”
The preacher had become a Christian at the age of 13, and when 15 joined an evangelistic choral group. From then on he made gospel sharing his life purpose and passion.
He traveled to various places almost daily to share the gospel, at the risk of being caught by Cultural Revolution authorities, and always protected the Bible from confiscation.
“On October 14, 1975, as a result of his belief in Christ, the preacher was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment...When the Cultural Revolution was over, the preacher was released in December 1979 and became an elder of a church in Anhui Province. He is now 79 years old and I have had the privilege of meeting him recently.
“It took me 30 years to find him. He gave the precious Bible to me and I will ever treasure it.” In a mailing from the American Bible Society there is a picture of a smiling Jiang holding the first Bible he ever saw.
The American Bible Society was founded in 1816, and along with the United Bible Societies has printed and distributed millions of copies of the Scriptures throughout the world.
It receives its support from individuals and many denominations.
More people are reading the Bible than ever, and the Society is a large factor in supplying the need for God’s Word.
Acknowledgement: “Good News!” a publication of the American Bible Society for April/May 2007, from which Jiang’s story and quotations were taken.
For further information about the Society and its work, you may check out www.americanbible.org.
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