The Heavenly Man
The Heavenly Man was written by Brother Yun and is his account of witnessing for Christ in China. Paul Hattaway assures the reader that all of the events in Brother Yun's life in China mentioned in his book have been confirmed by eyewitnesses and fellow Christians working along with him. Brother Yun wishes his story to bring all eyes to Jesus, glorifying Him ultimately.
Brother Yun grew up poor. His family lived in a village filled with farmers. He recalled that Protestant missionaries started arriving in his province, Henan in 1884. However, the Chinese in Henan were stubborn and would not accept the religion of the "foreign devils". Yet, God planted seeds in their hearts, and later, they would eventually open up to the introduced faith. Those who accepted Christianity were ridiculed, beaten, and killed. During this time period, the Chinese despised the missionaries, thinking they were tools of imperialism to take over China peacefully. This type of thinking led to the Boxer Rebellions in 1900. The Chinese thought that would discourage any more foreigners or missionaries from coming to China again. They were wrong.
Brother Yun spoke highly of one Norwegian female missionary named Marie Monsen. She came to China just one year after the Boxer Rebellions. By the way she lived, she inspired many Chinese to dedicate their lives to God's work. Many hearts were convicted and opened to God's saving grace. There was much revival wherever she went. She restarted the great wave of souls on fire for the Lord.
Later, in the 1940s, more missionaries came and introduced the Gospel to Yun's mother. She didn't understand at first the wisdom the missionaries brought to her, but she eventually came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, China became a Communist nation in 1949, and all missionaries and foreigners were expelled from China. When Mao launched "The Great Leap Forward", times were difficult for everyone in China. As a result, Yun's mother left the church. Yet little did she know that she would come back to the Lord and lead many to Him correspondingly.
About thirty years later in 1974, Yun's father was ill with a deadly sickness. His severe asthma turned into lung cancer. He was on the point of death. Yun was 16 years old at this time. His father used all of the family's money to hire a Daoist priest to help him, as he was very superstitious. Anyhow, the doctor's visits did not aid in improving the father's condition. All of their money was spent. Yun and his siblings were forced to beg for food. Furthermore, Yun had to quit school, and consequently, did not have a complete education. Their mother became very depressed and stressed with her family's current situation.
It was at this most desperate point in her life, that Yun's mother remembered the Gospel introduced to her by the missionaries who had come so long ago. She immediately rededicated her life to Jesus and called her family to her. She told her her family, "Jesus is the only hope for Father." The children committed their lives to the Lord, and laid their hands on father, praying fervently all night for God to heal him. The family's prayers were answered, and their father was feeling much better the next morning. When a week had passed, no cancer remained in his body! The family's lives were transformed as they saw what God did powerfully and lovingly. When Yun saw how God had healed his father, he wanted to know more about Jesus. He learned that the Holy Bible contained everything he needed to know about God, life, and himself. Yun prayed for what seemed an eternity, but he did not give up. Finally, the Lord provided a way for him to receive a Bible. As Yun read the Bible consistently and spent time with God each day, he grew deeper in his relationship with Him. And his love for God grew.
This was the point at which Yun started to understand and share the Gospel. His ministry grew throughout the years but so did the government's hatred for Yun. Yun was constantly arrested, thrown in prison, beaten, and tortured. Yet he was faithful and did not deny God his Savior. The government perpetually demanded that he join the Three-Self Church. However, he refused as he believed that the Christians in the Three-Self Church were like birds in a cage, under the government's complete control. Therefore, he did not join the organization.
Yun continued to witness and convert others. Time and time again, the government arrested him because he taught against the Three-Self Church. At different times, many thought that for sure he would die in the horrible conditions in prison. Yet God protected Yun, and amazingly provided ways for Yun to escape the tightly guarded prisons. Yun put his complete trust in God. At the end of the book, Yun explains that it became more dangerous for his family and him to remain in China. He believed God wanted him to share the Gospel with those outside of China. Yun's book ends with him obeying the Lord's call and serving outside of his native country.
The Heavenly Man is an amazing account of what God can do through the least experienced people. This book is highly recommended to all to read. It was a powerful book and greatly encouraged the author of this website in her faith. May the reader consider taking the time to read an astounding account of God's power. It is hoped that the reader will greatly enjoy it and gain more insight to Christianity, especially in foreign countries where it is restricted and illegal.
Brother Yun grew up poor. His family lived in a village filled with farmers. He recalled that Protestant missionaries started arriving in his province, Henan in 1884. However, the Chinese in Henan were stubborn and would not accept the religion of the "foreign devils". Yet, God planted seeds in their hearts, and later, they would eventually open up to the introduced faith. Those who accepted Christianity were ridiculed, beaten, and killed. During this time period, the Chinese despised the missionaries, thinking they were tools of imperialism to take over China peacefully. This type of thinking led to the Boxer Rebellions in 1900. The Chinese thought that would discourage any more foreigners or missionaries from coming to China again. They were wrong.
Brother Yun spoke highly of one Norwegian female missionary named Marie Monsen. She came to China just one year after the Boxer Rebellions. By the way she lived, she inspired many Chinese to dedicate their lives to God's work. Many hearts were convicted and opened to God's saving grace. There was much revival wherever she went. She restarted the great wave of souls on fire for the Lord.
Later, in the 1940s, more missionaries came and introduced the Gospel to Yun's mother. She didn't understand at first the wisdom the missionaries brought to her, but she eventually came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, China became a Communist nation in 1949, and all missionaries and foreigners were expelled from China. When Mao launched "The Great Leap Forward", times were difficult for everyone in China. As a result, Yun's mother left the church. Yet little did she know that she would come back to the Lord and lead many to Him correspondingly.
About thirty years later in 1974, Yun's father was ill with a deadly sickness. His severe asthma turned into lung cancer. He was on the point of death. Yun was 16 years old at this time. His father used all of the family's money to hire a Daoist priest to help him, as he was very superstitious. Anyhow, the doctor's visits did not aid in improving the father's condition. All of their money was spent. Yun and his siblings were forced to beg for food. Furthermore, Yun had to quit school, and consequently, did not have a complete education. Their mother became very depressed and stressed with her family's current situation.
It was at this most desperate point in her life, that Yun's mother remembered the Gospel introduced to her by the missionaries who had come so long ago. She immediately rededicated her life to Jesus and called her family to her. She told her her family, "Jesus is the only hope for Father." The children committed their lives to the Lord, and laid their hands on father, praying fervently all night for God to heal him. The family's prayers were answered, and their father was feeling much better the next morning. When a week had passed, no cancer remained in his body! The family's lives were transformed as they saw what God did powerfully and lovingly. When Yun saw how God had healed his father, he wanted to know more about Jesus. He learned that the Holy Bible contained everything he needed to know about God, life, and himself. Yun prayed for what seemed an eternity, but he did not give up. Finally, the Lord provided a way for him to receive a Bible. As Yun read the Bible consistently and spent time with God each day, he grew deeper in his relationship with Him. And his love for God grew.
This was the point at which Yun started to understand and share the Gospel. His ministry grew throughout the years but so did the government's hatred for Yun. Yun was constantly arrested, thrown in prison, beaten, and tortured. Yet he was faithful and did not deny God his Savior. The government perpetually demanded that he join the Three-Self Church. However, he refused as he believed that the Christians in the Three-Self Church were like birds in a cage, under the government's complete control. Therefore, he did not join the organization.
Yun continued to witness and convert others. Time and time again, the government arrested him because he taught against the Three-Self Church. At different times, many thought that for sure he would die in the horrible conditions in prison. Yet God protected Yun, and amazingly provided ways for Yun to escape the tightly guarded prisons. Yun put his complete trust in God. At the end of the book, Yun explains that it became more dangerous for his family and him to remain in China. He believed God wanted him to share the Gospel with those outside of China. Yun's book ends with him obeying the Lord's call and serving outside of his native country.
The Heavenly Man is an amazing account of what God can do through the least experienced people. This book is highly recommended to all to read. It was a powerful book and greatly encouraged the author of this website in her faith. May the reader consider taking the time to read an astounding account of God's power. It is hoped that the reader will greatly enjoy it and gain more insight to Christianity, especially in foreign countries where it is restricted and illegal.