In reading your post on the song, "The Lily of the Valley," I was reminded of our first trip to China in 2005 to visit our son and be there for the birth of our first grandchild. Our son lived in a fairly large city in Western China. At the time it was well assumed that we along with one other American were the only Americans in this western city of 200,000 people. The city was largely made up of Chinese Muslims. In fact there were quite a number of mosques throughout the area. We were awakened each morning with loud speakers broadcasting Muslim prayer calls over the entire city.
We knew there were local Christians in the city along with one "registered" church comprised of mostly older people. It was Christmas time and the Chinese government/local officials allowed the local Christians to have a yearly Christmas/New Years service. It had to be pre-arranged with special permission.
Somehow with the connections our son had we had been invited to attend the service this particular year. When we arrived at the rented facility we notice the large room was packed. As I recall we were able to find a seat near the back. Within a few minutes someone came to us and escorted us to the very front row on the right side. We wondered why we were getting such special treatment. We later learned that the local Chinese Christians had tremendous respect for Americans because of the missionaries that had been to that region before the 1949 revolution. They were still so very thankful for the missionaries that had brought the Gospel to that region.
The service was very special. There were testimonies, praise and worship complete with praise team, and a full length message. Since this was an all day affair, afterwards there was special singing, etc . . . probably best described as a talent show involving the old and young. The whole event was moving, spiritual, and such a blessing for us to see and hear.
We knew there were local Christians in the city along with one "registered" church comprised of mostly older people. It was Christmas time and the Chinese government/local officials allowed the local Christians to have a yearly Christmas/New Years service. It had to be pre-arranged with special permission.
Somehow with the connections our son had we had been invited to attend the service this particular year. When we arrived at the rented facility we notice the large room was packed. As I recall we were able to find a seat near the back. Within a few minutes someone came to us and escorted us to the very front row on the right side. We wondered why we were getting such special treatment. We later learned that the local Chinese Christians had tremendous respect for Americans because of the missionaries that had been to that region before the 1949 revolution. They were still so very thankful for the missionaries that had brought the Gospel to that region.
The service was very special. There were testimonies, praise and worship complete with praise team, and a full length message. Since this was an all day affair, afterwards there was special singing, etc . . . probably best described as a talent show involving the old and young. The whole event was moving, spiritual, and such a blessing for us to see and hear.
Now back to the reason I am writing this story. One of the special songs was "The Lily of the Valley," performed on a harmonica by an older man. It didn't take me long to recognize the tune. (You can hear a short clip of the song by clicking this link.) The Lily of the Valley - Western China, Dec2005
I later asked about how this man would have known the song and was told that the local Christians still remember the songs brought by the earlier missionaries. Many of the songs have obviously now been passed on to a younger generation.
We were so blessed to be in the presence of the Lord with these Chinese Brothers and Sisters.
It is an experience that our family will never forget.
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I later asked about how this man would have known the song and was told that the local Christians still remember the songs brought by the earlier missionaries. Many of the songs have obviously now been passed on to a younger generation.
We were so blessed to be in the presence of the Lord with these Chinese Brothers and Sisters.
It is an experience that our family will never forget.
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[Editor's Comment: This story written by Laban West has deeply touched my life. My mother, Julia Payne Morgan, served as an IPHC missionary for nine years, 1920-1929, as a single missionary. She worked with William H. Turner, his wife, Orvine, and Laura Hilton. The Turners thought so much of my mother they named one of their girls Julia. Brother Turner assigned my mother and Laura Hilton to work in Pakhoi, China where they planted a Pentecostal Holiness Church. Princeton Cates, our supervisor in Hong Kong, told me that after the Bamboo Curtain came down, they went to Pakhoi to see if the church had survived. It not only had survived, it had over 500 Pentecostal Christians. My mother loved the song, "The Lily of The Valley."'
God has given me a love for the Chinese that it is deep within my spiritual DNA,. I am trusting God for a great awakening in China with millions of Chinese coming to Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
God has given me a love for the Chinese that it is deep within my spiritual DNA,. I am trusting God for a great awakening in China with millions of Chinese coming to Jesus as their Savior and Lord.