Chinese Missionary Shares Reality of Spiritual Attacks During Prayer

Adam

We often write about the missionaries from China who go into the 10/40 window to share the gospel in closed nations. But who are they and what brought them to this point? To get to know some of them better, we asked them to share their stories with us.

Adam is a cheerful, tall young man, eager to practice his English and tell his story. He is one of the lucky Chinese who can call themselves a third-generation Christian. He went to school when he was only five and liked to learn. His parents left to work as farmers in some faraway place, so he grew up with his grandmother. She was a devoted Christian and very active in the church. His auntie was a preacher there, so little Adam spent a lot of time in church. There were long prayer meetings, especially when there were serious situations to address.

One day in a prayer meeting, he felt very scared suddenly. Afterwards this same fear would grip him at night. He would feel like someone was physically pinching his finger and holding on tight, but there was no one in the room. He could not pull back his hand and his voice failed, so he could not call for help either. It was terrifying. But he remembered the ladies in church would pray in the name of Jesus against evil powers, so he called Jesus for help in his heart. This made whatever was holding his hand let go and release the fear. This happened several times. So as a young boy, Adam learned the reality of spiritual powers, as well as there is nothing to fear when Jesus is with you.

From an early age, Adam dreamt about being a missionary or a pastor. He had to leave his village to go to school, and while in town, became part of a government three-self church. At that time, there was relative freedom for this church to do what they wanted. They had a wonderful Sunday school program and enjoyed great connections with other churches and with multiple missionaries. It was a good time of spiritual formation for Adam.

In China, there is one crucial exam teenagers have to take at the end of high school. It will determine if they can go on to university, and if so, to which university. It means many months of constant study and very little sleep, but for Adam that crucial study time was derailed by a tragedy. His mother became very ill and was found to have cancer. His uncle had a dream about his mother meeting angels. Adam knew deep in his heart it meant she would not survive her illness, but he refused to accept it. He wanted and expected her to heal.

When he went to visit his hometown 100 days before his big exam, it was strange to meet his father for the first time in 12 years. His father and a relative said they would take him to where his mother was. When he entered the house, she had already passed away. Adam was deeply shocked and devastated, but knew his mother had gone to be with Jesus. God comforted him in the difficult months that followed. He passed his exam, but with only average grades. Although he missed his chance to go to a top university, he decided to go study anyway.

In university he met a girl who was not a Christian. He started a relationship in the hope she would become a believer, but she was more interested in changing him into an unbeliever. For years he kept up hope, but he ended up drifting away and could not join the Christian fellowship at university because his girlfriend wanted to do other things. Finally, when his girlfriend graduated, she broke up with him.

He felt his spiritual emptiness and wanted to return to God. He joined a church in the city where he found a job, but he felt something was between him and God. Then there was another big shock. His grandmother, who had raised him, passed away. He wished he could have taken care of her better and felt a lot of regret.

In the middle of his grief God met him. While he was in his bed at night, he woke up with a strong urge to pray. He cried before God and confessed his sins. He felt God deeply comfort him and he received the gift of tongues.

The next day he was due to leave to another country for his job. He was wondering if God was maybe calling him abroad for mission. As he was searching for the will of God for his life, he again experienced the spiritual battle he remembered from his childhood. He felt like he was attacked from behind while he was praying on his knees. During his sleep he constantly dreamt he had to fight off something, and he would wake up exhausted.

Adam asked God to confirm from his Word if he should serve as a missionary abroad. He read the Bible feverishly, hoping he would feel God speak to him. It wasn’t until the very last chapter of the Bible he finally felt God touch his heart and received peace that God wanted him out of China.

He talked to his pastor, who agreed he would be sent out. There was just one hurdle to take. As a son, he was responsible for his father. How would he take it?

But God prepared his father’s heart. He gave his wholehearted blessing right away. Adam went on his way with joy, ready to serve where God leads him.