A Child Consecrated to God
In the quiet town of Shantou, Guangdong Province, China, a boy named Ni Tuosheng was born on November 4, 1903. His mother had consecrated him to God even before his birth. Growing up, he excelled in academics, consistently ranking first in his class.
A Personal Encounter
But it was in the year 1920, in the city of Fuzhou, that his life took a monumental turn. Attending a revival meeting by the evangelist Dora Yu, he found himself deeply moved by his mother's apology for a past injustice. This led him to a personal encounter with Jesus in his room on April 29, 1920. As he described, 'I saw myself as a sinner and I also saw the Savior.' Overwhelmed by divine love, he decided to accept Jesus as his Savior, marking the beginning of a life transformed by faith.
Building the Church
Watchman Nee, as he became known, dedicated his life to preaching and building local churches throughout China. His teachings emphasized the experience of the resurrected life of Christ and the importance of church unity. However, his commitment to his faith came at a great cost. After the Communist Revolution in 1949, Christians faced severe persecution. Nee was arrested in 1952 under false accusations and sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment. Despite the harsh conditions, where he was allowed only one censored letter a month and offered little food, he remained steadfast in his faith. Released prisoners recounted how he sang hymns in his cell, continuing to influence others even while imprisoned.
Faithful Unto Death
Before his death in prison on May 30, 1972, Nee left a powerful testimony: 'Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.' His unwavering faith, even unto death, stands as a testament to the sustaining grace of Jesus, who empowered him to endure suffering and remain faithful.
