He Heard My Cry
By Tara Miller, IMPACT Editor
If Kai hadn’t come to the United states as a visting scholar, he says it would have been impossible for him to hear the gospel. As a university professor in good standing with the Chinese government, external pressure limited his knowledge of spiritual truth. All of this changed dramatically, however, when he met Christians in America.
Hearing the Gospel for the First Time
When Kai arrived in the United States, his personal life was troubled. Though successful in his career as a highly educated teacher, his home was full of quarrels. His wife and daughter were also unhappy.
Though he knew nothing about Christianity, Kai was curious enough to attend church right away. The family then joined in many activities, such as cooking and studying the Bible. “Many brothers and sisters loved us,” he said, “but I did not understand why.”
In one particular church service, Kai was moved to tears by the words of a song. Though he did not fully understand, his heart was touched by the idea that God had already heard his cry.
Within the first month of being part of the church, Kai and his wife accepted Jesus and were baptized a few months later. “I wanted to recover the original glory of how God created me,” he said.
A Changed Life
As Kai learned to follow Jesus, the most important life changes, he said, were on the inside. His priorities began to change. He wanted to care for the people he loved, rather than focus so much on his professional performance and achievement.
Communication in the family improved, and arguments were reduced. Kai’s wife experienced more joy. His daughter also decided to follow Jesus. His family life continued to grow “warmer and warmer.”
Kai’s family developed relationships in the church, including friendships with COM staff and volunteers. They participated in a Chinese Bible study and attended a three-day COM retreat which he still fondly remembers.
When Kai and his family returned to China, they continued their friendship with a COM staff couple. Through Zoom, they are still able to see each other regularly, and Kai helps with the ministry virtually. Because Christian ministry is so difficult inside China, he emphasizes the importance of ministries in other countries like the United States reaching Chinese visitors.
For more than four years, Kai has hosted a regular Bible study and fellowship in his home in China.
Kai’s New Calling
As Kai’s faith has continued to grow, so has his commitment to reaching others in his home country with the gospel.
In China, Kai explained, “It is not easy to say in public, ‘I am a Christian.’” If you are working for the government or a university, he continued, “Once people know you are a Christian, you have to quit leadership positions, and you lose opportunities.”
Kai, however, is willing to risk his professional position—and even his life—for the sake of the gospel.
Openly sharing his faith, Kai resigned from his leadership position at the university. He has been blessed to be allowed to continue teaching, but he is continually warned not to talk about being a Christian. Still, he continues to speak, telling every student that he is a Christian and that he is willing to share with them what he believes.
Outside of the university, Kai has also taken opportunities to share the gospel. The first time he spoke at an evangelistic meeting, seven people made professions of faith. The next year, he was invited to speak at an event with 500 people, and 30 became Christians. Once he visited a house church with 100 people where another 30 accepted Jesus.
In his own extended family, Kai’s father, mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and other relatives have also become Christians.
The Source of Kai’s Strength
When Kai shares his faith publicly, he remembers, “The Lord is with me”— even if things are taken away from him. A couple of years ago, he reached a point where he accepted, “If I die, I die.” But so far he can say, “I have not died!”
As a ministry leader, Kai meets regularly with 20 to 30 people who have returned to China from their overseas studies, helping them grow in their faith. “The Christian returnees,” he said, “are under pressure and need help and prayer.”
Kai wants to strengthen other Christians to acknowledge their faith openly as he has, without being afraid. “As God gives me strength,” he said, “I tell them what we believe is greater than anything in the world.”
