(ChinaAid, Midland, TX / Hengyang, Hunan Province) Last year in August [2020], ChinaAid introduced Chen Wensheng, a former drug addict, now a clean, Chinese Christian street preacher. “Believe in Jesus…,” Brother Chen urges others he sees when preaching on the streets in China, as well as Chinese police officers and guards when detained in a police station or jail. He simply shares Jesus.
In the Persecution Incident Report [China], covering July 2020 through June 2021, the three authors recount that although Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities have repeatedly detained Brother Chen, he continues to passionately share the Gospel with passersby on the street.
Chen Wensheng from the Xiaoqun Church in Hengyang has been in detention for a total of 25 days [through June] for his street evangelism since the beginning of this year.
He was first detained on New Year’s Day for ten days for sharing the Good News. Yet on the day of his release, he and his 84-year-old mother went back to the streets and continued their evangelism. For this, both of them were brought back to the police station. While his mother was released at 11 pm, he was again detained for another 15 days.
On January 29, two days after he was released from the detention center, he had people from the local authorities visit his home to persuade him to stop his street evangelism. The staff from the urban management force, his community, public security bureau, state security bureau, and United Front Work Department were at his place until midnight.
As someone who does not miss a chance to share the Gospel, he seized the opportunity to talk to them about his faith. A public servant even asked him about the Bible during their conversation.
A former drug addict whose life was transformed by God, Chen is determined to share the power of the Gospel on the streets, despite all the repeated warnings and threats. He even made up his mind in sharing the Good News in prisons.
Brother Chen’s dedication and persistence in simply sharing Jesus reflect directives Jesus gave His followers, also known as “marching orders” for generations of Christians: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20, NKJV).
Prayer is crucial in evangelism: … No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God’s Spirit prepares the way. Pray for the opportunity to share, the words to speak, and open hearts for those who hear.
Speak.
Living a godly life is essential for sharing our faith. But people need to hear the Gospel—to hear that God loves them, Christ died for them, and they can have eternal life.
Despite being persecuted and repeatedly arrested, Brother Chen continues to speak about Jesus. As he simply shares the Gospel—he encourages Christians in China, in the United States, and in countries throughout the world to go and do likewise.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Reporter
