A Christian Upbringing
John Sung was born on September 27, 1901, in Hong Chek Village, Fujian Province, China. Raised in a Christian home, he witnessed the power of faith during the 'Hinghwa Pentecost' in 1909. As a young man, John pursued academic excellence, obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ohio State University. However, his journey took a transformative turn during his brief tenure at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Jesus Finds Him
In 1927, John faced a profound spiritual crisis. Surrounded by atheistic and liberal theology, he felt lost and considered abandoning Christianity altogether. Yet, in a moment of divine intervention, Jesus found him. As John later recounted, "Jesus found me in Room 405 of an atheistic seminary." During this encounter, John experienced a powerful baptism in the Holy Spirit, describing it as 'wave after wave' pouring over him. This moment marked his spiritual rebirth.
Trials and Deeper Faith
His newfound faith was not without trials. After his conversion, John was confined for 193 days in a mental asylum, a period he used to deepen his relationship with God through prayer and Bible study. He emerged with a renewed zeal, declaring, "Man's works do not even come close to the works of the Holy Spirit." In 1927, John returned to China, determined to dedicate his life to spreading the Gospel.
A Ministry of Fire
John's ministry was marked by fervent evangelism and countless testimonies of lives changed. He joined Bethel Bible School in Shanghai and formed the Bethel Worldwide Evangelistic Band. From 1928 to 1939, John toured China and Southeast Asia, preaching with a passion and authority that drew thousands to faith. His powerful sermons called for repentance and holiness, and many witnessed miraculous healings. Despite battling intestinal tuberculosis, John continued his ministry with unwavering dedication until his passing on August 18, 1944, in Beijing. He once said, "For a servant of God to have authority in every sentence he utters, he must first suffer for the message he is to deliver." Through his trials and triumphs, John Sung's life stands as a testament to the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
