From police officer to church planter

I am driving in a rickety mini van (they don’t build these kind in the US; it’s way too small!) on my way to the local church in the countryside of Sichuan.  The driver has just stopped to pick up another woman; she is attending the training we are giving this week.  Sister Liu starts talking; her pitch gets higher with each statement…now she has completely turned around—sitting on her knees—facing us.  She doesn’t care that she is not wearing seat belts.  The van keeps bumping us up and down as it runs over potholes on the country road.  She doesn’t care; she is too excited to tell her story.

“I used to work as a police officer office for 11 years, “ she explains. “While there, my police chief told me about Jesus.” I think to myself, “yea right!” I ask our interpreter to confirm one more time to make sure I have heard correctly. “He went to church every Sunday,” she continues with a smile.  Our interpreter confirms the story: wow, God revealed His love to her through a police chief.  Is there anything that God can’t do?  Obviously NOT.

Today, she serves as one of the key church leaders outside of Jiangyou.  In 2009, she planted a church in a village where her mother lives.  “When we started the church, there were only a hand-full of believers.  Today there are over 60 believers.” 

God is moving in China and gives me another glimpse of His work in the largest country of the world.

“I will build my church and gates of hell will NOT prevail against it.”  -- Jesus (Mat 16:18)

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