by Rev. Lianshan PEI
Teacher of Church History at Guangdong Union Theological Seminary
I was raised in a poor, remote rural community. My parents were illiterate peasants who loved me deeply. They hoped I would go to university and find a lucrative job; they wished I could glorify my family clan.
In my childhood, I went to atheistic schools. I never heard about Jesus Christ until I met one of my classmates in high school. I never imagined I would become a Christian, much less a pastor. In high school, a close friend shared the good news that Jesus is the Savior. Just when I was worried about my college entrance examinations, he said Jesus could give me peace and joy in my heart. I asked him to give me some time to think about it. After a couple of days, I made up my mind to pray with him. When I became a Christian, my friend gave me a small New Testament with Psalms. There was no church in that area, so I could not attend the services. But there was a Christian Radio program broadcast from Hong Kong. I listened to it almost every night, so I attained my basic Christian knowledge over the air.
It was difficult to be a Christian in an unbelieving environment. I was the only Christian in the village where I lived. Without Christian companions to talk with, I felt lonely. I prayed to God to give me a church to go to. I kept praying for three years. One day by chance, I met an old lady when I took a long-distance bus to the city. She sat beside me and I heard she was singing a hymn. I tried to chat with her. She told me that she was the elder of the local Christian church and that she was going to a conference to establish a Christian council. I was so excited that I met a Christian. I accompanied her to the conference point.
She introduced me to some church leaders. From then I began to attend the church, and I was baptized there. I read the Bible day and night. I prayed; I cried with joy. I confessed my sins and received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I made the decision to surrender my life to Jesus Christ and to follow Him, to live for Him, and die for Him.
I had failed the college entrance examinations two years in a row. The third year I took the seminary entrance exams and the college entrance exams simultaneously. I had been recruited by Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. I also passed the college exams and was accepted by Binzhou Normal Institute. If I went there, I would become a middle school teacher. But by the time I learned of their acceptance, I was already sitting in a seminary classroom!
I was deeply convinced that the manner and timing of these occurrences must be the arrangement of God. You can imagine that if I had been recruited by the college earlier, my parents would have forced me go to there because religious education is not considered as high education in common people’s mind. I thanked God for His own plan.
I was hungry and thirsty for Theological learning at the seminary. Because I was not from a Christian family, I was seriously lacking knowledge about the faith. I worked very hard and made rapid progress, even learning English; this way I could read more Theological books. I was one of few non-English majors who could read Theology in English.
In 1997, after four years Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, I went back to my local church. I served there for five years and was ordained as a pastor. In church, I obtained my pastoral experience. I preached every Sunday and led the Bible study during the week. I made many friends in the church through my ministry. By and by, some young people in my church made commitments to go to seminaries. When they came back after graduation, through their example, I felt I should continue my further study. I returned to Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and earned my Master’s Degree in Theology.
In 2005, I became a teacher of Church History at Guangdong Union Theological Seminary. I really enjoyed my job. Through reading history books, I have come to appreciate many different confessional traditions among the Christian family.
In these years, I experienced a lot. I was sent by the China Christian Council to study at Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2008. In Switzerland, I met many classmates from various traditions. We argued and learned together. Ecumenical Institute is an excellent platform for Christians to learn from one another. In Bossey, we lived together and played together. Mutual understanding and friendship were built through life together. During my stay in Switzerland, I visited the World Council of Churches offices in Geneva.
Approaching the end of my study, I had the chance to partake in a study tour of the Vatican. I went to the office of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The experience had enlarged my vision and sharpened my thought. By and by, I had been becoming more tolerant. My narrow mind had been broadened; my shallow understanding had been deepened. All these things that happened to me were way beyond my expectation, since I am the son of peasants from a remote village.
In 2013, I was invited by Nuremberg YMCA to be a volunteer in Germany for two months. I traveled a lot in Germany, Austria, Romania, and the Czech Republic. I also experienced serving to Gypsies for a month in Romania. All the memories are good and precious.
In 2015, I was a visiting scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary for one year. I used the time to attend some courses. Using my spare time, I visited different churches around the United States of America. I had made many friends with Evangelicals, and Pentecostals. I thank God so much for giving me so many opportunities to learn around the world.
In 2018, I was invited to attend the Third Gathering of Global Christian Forum on behalf of the China Christian Council. My eyes were re-opened on my journey with Jesus Christ.
By His grace, I am what I am today. I am an earthen vessel, but inside me there is this treasure. That treasure is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Lianshan Pei
director of Department on Teaching and Research,
teacher of church history at Guangdong Union Theological Seminary.
