We said good-bye to a dear co-worker, Duckweed, who lost her life to cancer in March. On a voluntary basis, she contributed to Chinese programs, prayed for us, made donations, encouraged us, connected us to her family, and above all, she left us with her godly lives from which we continue drawing inspiration of faith and program material.
Duckweed loved to pray and sing praises to God. One day she was in a deep desire to sing “Give Me Jesus”. She found a songbook at home and the song with that title. Just as she began to sing, Duckweed realized that the song in the hymnbook has a different melody and lyrics. She was very disappointed. The next day, the postman brought in a letter. In the envelope was a copy of “Give Me Jesus”, exactly the one she liked to sing. Duckweed wasted no time, but struggled to come up with the melody. At that exact moment, her radio at home began to broadcast Give Me Jesus. A grace moment, the work of God, for His dear daughter. Duckweed sang, cried, and laughed in tears. Later she did an interview on how does God communicates with us, and sang to our listeners “Give Me Jesus”. Her story encourages us to build a personal relationship with God.
Duckweed loved God also by sharing Jesus with others. The one inspiration that will not be forgotten occurred when she lived at a hospice facility on Harding Pike where a murderer was checked in about the same time. It did not take long before everyone knew about the patient who actually murdered a person. An invisible wall quickly built up, and no one talked to him, but Duckweed. Friendship grew, and the man visited her every day. Often the conversation centered on God and the salvation of Jesus. One day she said to the man, when I get well, if you like, please move in and live with my husband and me, we’ll take care of you. Duckweed encouraged the murderer to believe in Christ Jesus. He did. How happy God is, and the heaven hosts are too. Salina documented this story and produced a program about it.
Duckweed inspired members of the Chinese church in many ways. The greatest one was how she put God before herself at a life and death decision. During the pandemics a Chinese doctor volunteered to offer non-traditional treatment when her condition deteriorated. Duckweed tried and her health improved. But, after realizing the fact that a New Age belief is involved in that “frequency Treatment”, she refused the treatment and asked the doctor not to return. Duckweed said that to adopt another faith outside of Jesus just for the sake of getting healed, she had rather die. Mrs. Wang said at a church gathering, “Duckweed putting God before her own life makes me examine my faith and invites me to think what is really important in life”. This story of Duckweed will be shared again and again with our listeners.
Her oncologist informed her five years ago about the last stage of her cancer and that family should be prepared for her departure in three months. Yet, God kept her for another five years for Chinese listeners and website visitors of World Christian Broadcasting, for her church members, and for her own family in China who could not visit her since pandemic hit. When her family learned that her health deteriorated, her sister and brother-in-law flew to Nashville.
They saw with their own eyes in the last three days of her life, nothing but God’s word could bring peace and calmness to their sister. In fact, Duckweed smiled and was at peace during her last breath, a living testimony of the power of the gospel defeating the fear of death. During the arrangements of the memorial service and burial, they were impressed and touched by the love, hope, peace, and righteousness of both American Christian brothers and sisters from Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Chinese Christians from Middle Tennessee Chinese Church of Christ. Before they flew back home, the sister and brother-in-law expressed that they want to live like their sister after they go home. The eternal life in Jesus ripples on.
World Christian Broadcasting is like a church family, a special body of Christ, each helping the other to enable the Lord’s gospel to be told again and again around the world. We dedicate this issue of What’s Going On in memory of Duckweed’s life for Christ so that you get to know the Chinese Language Service more. We believe that your love for Christ is genuine and your story is unique. As we are touched by Duckweed’s stories, we like to tell you stories as well. If you are touched by this article, please think about your stories and send us an email (eho@worldchristian.org). We are assembled by Christ and for Christ. The works of God in your life will cause our listeners to believe in Christ. Let your stories ripple in our shortwave radio broadcast!
Categories: CHINESE
