Li De Xian
Mainland China
1995
The young evangelist, Li De Xian, filled his backpack with Christian literature
preparing to make his weekly trip to Hua Du Village. Over 100 new converts were
anxiously awaiting his arrival to begin the home meeting. Within two hours the
evangelist arrived, greeted the Christians, and began to deliver his sermon. He
showed no sign of fear despite the fact he had been warned that an officer of
the Public Security Bureau (PSB) had infiltrated the group and had more than
likely informed his superiors of these secret meetings. Although he was not
afraid of the authorities, Li was unprepared for what awaited him and the
members of this home church.
Li had only been preaching a few minutes when a number of PSB officers charged
into the small house and dragged him outside. After confiscating all religious
materials, the officers noted each attendee and assured them of reprisals. Li
was brutally beaten. He was repeatedly kicked in the stomach and groin before
the congregation. The young women who were present were grossly molested and
loaded into police vans:
Upon arriving at security headquarters, Li was beaten with a heavy club by the
superintendent. Seven officers dragged him to an isolation cell, where he was
thrown onto the concrete floor and again kicked until he vomited blood. The
officers proceeded with their cruelty by alternately beating him on the front
and back of his neck. His head was smashed against his knees until he could
barely remain conscious. Li was finally beaten in the face with his Bible and
left bleeding on the floor.
After seven hours of brutal treatment by the Public Security Bureau, Li was
released. Recuperating for only a few weeks, he again traveled to Hua Du Village
to encourage the believers. On this trip he was accompanied by Western Christian
friends.
Li delivered his message and all seemed to be peaceful until seven security
officers stormed the small home and shouted accusations. Upon spotting the
foreigners, they quickly departed. Within fifteen minutes a larger number of
officers pushed through the gathering and dragged Li outdoors. They began to
smash his face against a stone wall. The uniformed officers sowed no remorse as
they savagely beat the accused. The foreigners began to shout: "Why?" - "What
about religious freedom?" - "Why must you beat him?" - "Why?" - "Why?" The
officers turned on the foreigners and they were arrested with Li. The owner of
the home was also arrested. She later discovered that it was her son who turned
them in. 1998
On May 8, Pastor Li De Xian's church meeting was raided by the police as he
preached in the open area in the center of a village. The authorities
confiscated every Bible, songbook, and teaching aid at the service, and then
confiscated even the chairs on which the people were sitting.
On May 12, police again raided a house church meeting where Brother Li was
preaching. Eighty percent of the Christians in China regularly attend such
illegal house churches. "We told you four days ago not to do this," the
policeman shouted. "Don't you know what could happen?"
Li stood in front of his congregation and spoke directly into the loudspeaker f
or all to hear, "I will preach until I die!"
On June 2, the police were back at one of Brother Li meetings. This time they
carefully photographed the pastor and the members of his congregation, implying
that the Christians would be watched. Brother Li was not intimidated. He
continued to preach every week and regularly distributed Bibles to members of
his flock.
On June 12, an official report about the activities of Pastor Li was sent to
the Hua Du Municipal Party Headquarters. Parts of it read:
"Li De Xian is Guangzhou's illegal religious organization's leader Lin Xian
Gao's capable and active follower. His career as an illegal religion missionary
and he has preached illegally in our town for nearly ten years. He has been
arrested and educated many times, and yet his heart has not died and his nature
has not changed....
"Ten years ago, in the illegal religious gathering spot in Yong Ming Village,
there were generally about 150 people who took part in its activities. After
these ten years, there are two activities a week in the gathering spot now and
each time there are more than 500 people taking part."
(The report also stated that more than a thousand others were gathering to
similar meetings in the surrounding villages.)
"If only various units have unified understanding, enhanced education, carry out
effective policies, we can then effectively crack down illegal religious
activities and create favorable conditions for the stability and development of
our town."
On December l, the PSB again interrupted one of Pastor Li's Tuesday meetings.
Without warning, twenty Public
Security Bureau (PSB) vehicles swarmed into the neighborhood, blocking off
streets in every direction. No one could come in or go out. It was obvious from
such a show of force that they feared there would be a riot. They headed for the
illegal house church, just in time for the Tuesday meeting.
Pushing their way into the service, they went straight for Brother Li and seized
him. Immediately the police were surrounded by several of the older believers,
who clamored, "Take me instead of Brother Li!" "Let him go. I will go with you!"
But that day, no one else was arrested.
As the police led Brother Li to their waiting car, they noticed that he had a
bag with him.
"What is that?" They asked,
His calmness amazed the PSB. He was obviously not afraid of going to prison. "It
is a blanket and some clothes," Li replied. "I have been expecting you. Three
years ago, you told me you were going to take me. I am ready."
As the officers led Brother Li off, the believers began praying blessings over
the officers and telling them, "We do not hate you for what you are doing." In
the confusion, the officers misunderstood their prayers and thought the
believers were putting a curse on them.
"Say that again, and we will throw you into the river," they threatened.
Before things got out of hand, Brother Li turned to the people and told them,
"Only pray for me."
Immediately, six hundred people fell to their knees in prayer. The Secretary of
the PSB, a high-ranking officer, saw this and was amazed. He asked Li, "How is
it that you have so much power? You simply say a word, and the people obey
immediately!"
After Li was taken away, the believers went back into the house and finished
their meeting. They have continued to meet ever since. Since they have no
chairs, they sit on newspapers.
At the police station, the PSB began to interrogate Pastor Li.
But Li had other ideas. "Define my crime," he insisted. "We do not have to."
Li said, "I do not fear you."
The interrogator hit the table and shouted at Li, "You fear us!"
Li quoted the Bible saying, "The fear of man brings a snare."
Again, the interrogator shouted, "You fear for your life!" Li said, "Why? You
already have me in bonds, what more can you do? Shoot me then - that is all you
have left." He went on to quote Matthew 10:28, "Do not fear those who kill the
body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell."
The police kept trying to get Li to sign a paper stating he accepted his
charges. Li said, "You must be joking. You have not even told me what I am
charged with! Name my crime!"
Later on, the Secretary of the PSB shocked Brother Li by admitting to the
declining power of Communism. "You have more power than I do," he said. Then he
went on to tell Li about how few people came to their Communist Party events,
while so many came to Li's meetings. He was amazed at how the believers listened
so carefully to everything Li had to say.
During Brother Li's stay in jail, the police shaved his head and placed him in a
cell with twelve others. His boldness with the PSB won his cell-mates'
admiration, and he was able to share the Gospel with each of them. They told
him, "We have noticed something different about you - you really aren't afraid
of the PSB."
Li was finally charged with creating public disorder by illegal Gospel preaching
and released. Back with his congregation, Brother Li and the believers rejoiced
for this chance to share Jesus with the Communist authorities, knowing that when
we are persecuted for Jesus' sake, our reward in heaven will be great.
Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or
speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too
close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens
- give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven
applauds.
Jesus
(Matthew 5:11,12 THE MESSAGE)
DC Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. Jesus Freaks. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Albury
Publishing, 1999, p. 170-175.
Www.persecution.com
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