A group of 300 Christians gathered in a rural Church in Henan Province as early as 7 AM waiting for the arrival of their Bibles. It was a cold and wet day but the rural believers could not be deterred from coming. As they waited, they sang hymns of praise to God. Mdm Guo (54 years old) was among them. She was a quiet simple peasant lady who earns a living by laboring in the fields. A Church leader commented that a farmer living in the region earns around RMB600 (approx. USD88) per year. They rely mainly on their crops for food and have very little savings.
Mdm Guo has been a Christian for 20 years. She received her first Bible in 1990. When she was asked how she became a Christian, her plain reply was, “Because I am poor that’s why I believe. Our lives are worth nothing on earth. We are truly blessed only if we have Christ in us”. Her humility and firm belief that her worth comes from God alone is a great encouragement to us.
Mdm Guo’s favourite verse is John 3:16, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” (GNT). She likes this verse because she can never cease talking and singing about God’s love.
Her two sons are also believers. Yet, in this family of three Christians, they had only two Bibles. Her wait in Church for a new Bible was finally realized. Mdm Guo said with a gleam that she could now give the new Bible to her eldest son who still does not have a copy.
Written by:
Ms YEO Tan Tan, Program Manager
United Bible Societies, China Partnership
