A Time Between Time: The People Needed Someone Who Knew and Understood God

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

photo by Mary Vee

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing. 

Political powers change. Not all the Hebrews chose to return to Jerusalem and Judea. They chose to remain living in Babylon, which is now part of Persia. A Persian influence worms into Hebrew homes. 

The Hebrew language is not being taught to the children. The law of Moses is neglected. Persian's interest in mysticism, astrology, and the occult is found in these Hebrew homes. 

One of the Persian beliefs that makes its way into the Hebrew homes is that God is not concerned with the affairs and cares of man, and God is an impersonal god. So sad. God was there like a parent who has their child in time out.

Because this thinking is believed by the Hebrews living in Persian and elsewhere, these men and women struggled to believe Isaiah's prophesy that the coming Messiah would be called Immanuel, which is translated, God with us. 

Many times in the Old Testament God said there would always be a remnant. A group of people, no matter how small, who would remain loyal and dedicated to the truth of His Word and continually worship Him.

In this mixed up time, the orthodox Jews fought against the Persian influence. Or it seemed that way. According to historical documents written and preserved from this period of time, these Orthodox Jews didn't gather in the temple for regular worship. Also, because of the strong foreign politics in the area, sacrifices were no longer permissible.

The dedicated ones, the remnant who still wanted to serve God, gathered to pray, sing, and to discuss God's laws and His Word. Synagogues were built for those who lived far from Jerusalem. 

The role of the priest was replaced with the rabbi, men who studied and became experts in the law and the prophets. These rabbis become the teachers. 

The various synagogues took an individual focus of the law, just like people who live in different countries have different laws. The once Law of Moses now had many different interpretations and as time went by, the Torah had oral traditions added to the document.

The strong commitment to follow God's commands as he gave it unraveled like yarn.

The people needed someone who knew and understood God. 
They needed Immanuel. 
Immanuel--God with us. 
Because Immanuel is the only one who fully knows and understands.

"Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and call his name Immanuel."



Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
New International Version, New King James Version. 
My Bible College training.
My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
Pastoral sermons on this time
Matthew Henry Commentary
F. LaGard Smith Commentary

Jonathan Goforth-Mandarin, Tithes, and Cholera

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Chinese Dai house architecture
with bamboo sides and thatched roof 

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. I'm so excited to finally say we are missionaries in China.

I bumble with my Mandarin which makes buying groceries a bit difficult. I don't always end up with what I think I ask for. It truly is amazing how many Mandarin words sound the same. I'm study every minute of the day. Someday soon, I hope to be dreaming in Mandarin. Wouldn't that be exciting!! I think so, too. I only hope I can understand the dream!!

After we'd lost most everything we owned in the fire that burned our first house in Chefoo, word spread to missionaries here in China and to folks back in Canada where we lived. Within one week, we moved into a second home to rent with all the basic furniture, clothes, and kitchenware basics needed. It was less than what we brought, but we survived just fine.

Rosalind and I learned so much with our meager belongings. Every time my account books showed we had any money beyond what we actually needed, we gave some to other missionaries in need. After all, we wouldn't have survived if missionaries hadn't helped us. 

In only a few months, my records showed we'd given ten percent of our annual income to other missionaries. I was so happy. I brought my paperwork to Rosalind.

She wasn't quite as excited as I was. In fact, she said, "Well, then, we can set aside money for our future needs."

"What future needs? God will supply as we need."

Well, my comment didn't go over very well.

She set her hands on her large belly. "The baby? Shouldn't we set aside money for the baby?"

Well, I saw her point, but I also couldn't stop the urge to at least try to give double our tide before our first year ended there in China. 

"What is it that you want to do, Jonathan?" she asked.

I had to tell her. It wouldn't be fair to feel God calling me to do something and not give her a chance to say something. "I think God wants us to help needy missionaries with any extra money we have."

She took a deep breath then smiled. "All right then. If we have extra, go ahead."

What made me extra happy was how she worked to keep expenses to a minimum. What a sweet woman I married.

August came. Our sweet little Gertrude was born on August 12, 1888. What a beautiful little girl. 

At the same time, a terrible outbreak of cholera hit the area. The disease was spread by the water and caused diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting. Missionaries died. Chinese men, women, and children died. It was such a sad time.

New missionaries came from Canada and England to help. I've never been so busy in my life helping the sick, learning the language, praying, and helping missionaries with their work. Praise God, our little Gertrude did not get sick. 

This first year has been a busy one so far. I have a feeling there will be many adventures ahead.




Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

A Time Between Time - Remember

By Mary Vee
Malachi 3
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

Photo by Mary Vee

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing. We won't hear anymore from Nehemiah, Ezra, Ezekiel, or other prophets like Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, or Malachi. They've told us their stories and have nothing more to say.

But, remember this: 

God told Malachi to tell us there were those who feared and worshiped the Lord faithfully during that time and during our time. They talked with each other, encouraged one another to continue, and the Lord listened and heard.

A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

"Those who remembered Me and continued to worship Me will be mine in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 

"You will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

"The day is coming. It will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble. That day will set them on fire. Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 

"But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. You will trample down the wicked. They will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the Lord Almighty.

"Remember the law of my servant Mose, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel."

"See," says the Lord, "I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. If they will not, I will come and strike the land with a curse."

And so...we are asked to remember. 

Remember God. 

Our creator. 

The giver of life. 

Our protector. 

The One who faithfully loves us and will never leave us....even when we are stifled in a terrible storm.


Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
New International Version, New King James Version. 
My Bible College training.
My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
Pastoral sermons on this time
Matthew Henry Commentary
F. LaGard Smith Commentary

The Time In Between Time

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

Photo by Mary Vee

The time in between time. 

In our chronological walk through the Bible, which started "In the beginning," Genesis 1:1, we have read about the lives of many people. 

Once Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem the second time, there wasn't anything else recorded in the Old Testament, chronologically speaking. The Israelites never really did follow through and stay loyal to God's commands. 

God became silent.

And so the Bible, God's Word, is silent during the four hundred years between the Old Testament and New Testament. 

But there are records, documents, like Josephus, archeological, Biblical and historical studies of the time that have been used to conclude these four hundred years were not a time in which the the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem followed God's commands as they promised they would.

A few posts back show Nehemiah's frustration when he returned to Jerusalem the second time. He'd led the campaign to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He'd led the campaign to dedicate lives to worship the one true God. The God who loved them. He'd led the campaign to insure the Levites received proper payment in order to continue their work in the temple. 

And still.

The people did not prosper as a people who'd dedicated their lives to God. The Persian Empire continued their rule over Judah and Jerusalem. 

The Jews kinda expected a super hero to come and rescue them. They wanted this super hero to prove Israel's dominance. To bring wealth and power to the country.

And when they didn't see this super hero...they stop trusting in God. They turned their backs on their promises to faithfully worship Him. 

 *They forgot God's gift of the land to Abraham. His rescue of them from Egypt. 
 *They forgot His miraculous wins in battle like Jericho, and a small rock in the hand of a young man who was willing to fully trust God when facing a giant. 
 *They forgot the strong judges who preserved their nation. Judges like Deborah who led the nation to victory over the enemy commander Sisera who ended up dying by the hands of a woman named Jael. 
 *They forgot how God's word, sweet like honey in a rock, soothed in times of trouble.
 *They forgot how God searched for Cain and gave him a chance to repent.
 *They forgot how God protected them from rebellion within the ranks as with Korah.
 *They forgot how God used a donkey to protect a prophet from listening to an evil king.
 *They forgot how God gave them the king they wanted, even though it offended Him.
 *They forgot how God kept prophets in the know. Prophets who had the strength to give messages, exactly as God spoke, to the people.
 *They forgot about the water and food in the desert. The land of milk and honey.


They forgot.

They forgot.

They forgot.

The next few days we will remember what God has done...so we will not forget what He has done for us because of His great love for us.

Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
New International Version, New King James Version. 
My Bible College training.
My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
Pastoral sermons on this time
Matthew Henry Commentary
F. LaGard Smith Commentary

Jonathan Goforth-Fire Rained

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Chinese Dai house architecture
with bamboo sides and thatched roof 

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. Well, we're new here and still need to learn the language, but I'd consider that good enough to be called missionaries.

We arrived in Chefoo, a village in northern China where we will study Mandarin. The amount of time we spend here will depend on how quickly we learn the language. Once we have a firm grasp we'll move north to begin our work showing Chinese men and women there is a God who loves them.

I rented us a thatched roofed home, and while Rosalind unpacked, I hired a Mandarin tutor to teach us the language. 

The home was long and narrow and had plenty of space for us to live. I didn't really care where anything was put, I first wanted to learn the language and left the organizing to Rosalind. She took her time, working slow because of her pregnancy, and seemed happy with her work. Our baby would come in August, only a few months away.

I really liked my tutor. He made learning the language easy. Rosalind liked our new home and enjoyed cooking the evening meals. I came home from study one night to a wonderful dinner. As I took the last bite, a loud crowd noise came from outside our front door. 

I opened the door and walked into the street to see what excited the people. Rosalind followed me out. I didn't have to ask anyone. They stood laughing, cheering, and pointing to my roof. Orange flames chewed the back roof sending sparks into the air. Pieces of thatch fell into the house. 

"O God, help us." I glanced at Rosalind who stood frozen with shock in her eyes. "Stay here," I ordered her. "I'm going back in to see what I can rescue."

I didn't have time to think what to save first or second. Who really can answer a question like that in a time of panic. I ran through the living room to our bedroom and grabbed my Bible and the money jar, the two most valuable possessions we had, and rushed through thickening smoke outside. 

It took a moment to find Rosalind in the crowd. I pushed the Bible and jar into her hands. "Hold these, I going back for more."

I sprinted a few steps and heard a ruckus behind me. I looked back and found Rosalind running in circles away from Chinese men who closed in on her. Great. I shouted, "For goodness sake, Rosalind, settle down and hold on to that jar and Bible. They'll steal it right from you."

My tone seemed to snap her from her panic. She stood still and hugged the money jar and Bible close to her.

I ran back in the house. The thick cloud of smoke made seeing nearly impossible. I coughed. My throat and eyes burned. Clumps of burning thatch rained around me. I grabbed the sewing machine and my Mandarin language study notes. The thatch snapped and crackled louder. In seconds the roof would surely collapse. I couldn't save anything else and get out alive. 

I ran outside, coughing and kneeling to the ground to catch my breath. Rosalind curled next to me with the Bible and jar still cradled in her arms. We sat on the ground, together, and watch everything we owned fizzle in flames. All our wedding presents, a portrait of Rosalind's father that he painted himself, her mother's china, a shawl for the coming baby hand knitted by her sister, our clothes. 

We had almost nothing left.

I coughed a few more times then turned to Rosalind. My wife of less than a year. This beautiful woman who willingly came to China to help me with missionary work. I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her. The poor thing needed a soft word. "Don't worry. Those were just things. We have each other and the baby."

She touched her belly and found her smile.

That night we stayed at the China Inland Mission boarding school. We bathed and had fresh clothes given to us. The missionaries living there helped us so much. 

The next morning we walked back to our home and found nothing left but a pile of ashes. Rosalind stood there silently. I had to think of something to cheer her up. So I said the first silly thing that came to mind: "Huh, remember how we tried to figure out a way to bring that beautiful organ with us and couldn't come up with a good answer? Good thing we had it shipped."

She looked at me with raised eyebrows. "You are so weird. It's going to be a long time before I can see good in strange things like you can, Jonathan Goforth."

Well, at least she smiled. Talk about a dramatic start to our ministry! No way would I let this tragedy even spark an idea of quitting.

Two weeks later we moved out of the boarding school into a second home ready to get back to work.


Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nuggets in A Lists

By Mary Vee
I Chronicles 1-9

From the Genealogies in Chronicles

*Once Nehemiah cleaned up the problems in Jerusalem a meeting was called to make a list. A genealogy from Adam to the current generation. Proof had to be given of Jewish heritage. In the list recorded in I Chronicles some amazing nuggets, kinda like: did you knowisms could be found. Here are some:

Photo Courtesy Nimrod the mighty hunter

Nimrod grew to be a mighty warrior.

Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg because in his time the earth was divided. (Possibly this is when the continents drifted.)

Bela and other kings reigned in Edom before any Israelite kings reigned.

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight. The Lord put him to death. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. 

Achar brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Ge Harashim was given this name because his people were craftsmen.

These records are from ancient times. Er, Laadah, Jokim, and Josh were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They stayed there and work for the king.

The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. They had large families and went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lives there formerly. The same men came to Judah in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them. They settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. Five hundred of these Simonites invaded the hill country of Seir. They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped and moved into the land.

Jehozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile.

The Levites were assigned to most duties in the tabernacle, the house of God. But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense and all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel as Moses the servant of God had commanded.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath when they went down to seize their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.

All the named descendants of Asher were heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders.

All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. 

As for Judah and Jerusalem, these people were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to God. The first to resettle back on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. The list of their family names follows.

The gatekeepers were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel. Their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord and guarded the four sides: east, west, north, and south. Their brothers in their villages had to come from time tot time and share the duties for a seven-day period.

But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God. They had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

A Levite named Mattihiah, the firstborn son of Shallum was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.

Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.

The more we read the Bible and become interested in connections, the more important the list given in I Chronicles becomes.

Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Nehemiah-Marrying for the Wrong Reasons

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 13

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

I am visiting back in Jerusalem for the second time. God has burned a desire in me to check on the progress in the city. When I left Jerusalem the last time, the walls had been rebuilt, the people had been taught the laws of Moses, and they said they would seek to obey them.

Men and women from Judah and Jerusalem convinced me they truly wanted to obey and serve God as was laid out in the Law of Moses. But I was wrong for believing them. I came back and found a huge mess.

First, I found evil men living in the Temple. Second I found the Levites had left their temple duties and returned to plow their own gardens because they were hungry and weren't receiving their allotted food. Third, I found foreigners bringing their wares through the gates to sell in the city on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath!

Today, I discovered many of the men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab and had given their sons to these foreign women. These women who worshiped idols. I couldn't believe these men went back on their promise to the living God. The one who loves them enough to call us His own.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other people groups they married and didn't know how to speak the language of Judah. 

"What were you thinking?" I yelled at them?

They didn't answer me at first. They shook their heads and looked at the ground. 

I yelled curses at them, beat some of them, and pulled their hair. What they had done could bring the wrath of God on Jerusalem again. Most of these very men had been exiled for seventy years and had only returned a few years ago. They'd rebuilt their homes and should have rebuilt their lives following the laws sent by God.

"Promise here and now, before God, that you will not give your daughters in marriage to the sons of Ashdod, Amon, or Moab. Promise. Now!"

They nodded. 

"Say the words!"

"We promise." Their voices were soft and shameful, as they should have been.

"Now promise not to take any foreign daughter for your sons to marry. Wasn't it because of marriages like these that Solomon, king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Don't bring this on us again."

In my investigation, I learned Joiada, son of the high priest, was married to Sanballat's daughter. I couldn't even look at him. Sanballat, of all people. This the foreign man who bullied us and brought others to keep us from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. 

Remember what they have done, O my God, because they have defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites by marrying women who were not Jewish. 

I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign and assigned them their duties. I also made sure contributions of woods and the first fruits would be delivered to take care of their needs.

Remember me with favor, O my God.

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Jonathan Goforth-The Drug That Robbed and Ripped Families Apart

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I had a wonderful visit with all the local missionaries who could attend last night's meeting. These men and women were from different denominations, mission organizations, and countries, yet they all met in one room with one goal: to show the people of China that there is a God who loves them. Such an amazing meeting.

These missionaries met with Rosalind and me. They discussed where the greatest need for missionaries were in China at the time and decided we should be sent to the North Honan region to work. Before heading there, though, we would spend time in Chefoo to learn Mandarin. I was ready to go. Our bags sat ready to be put on a train or whatever means of transportation worked best.

One missionary, though, persuaded me to wait one day. "You can have a fresh start in the morning." The idea seemed good after the long ship ride. That afternoon the missionary took us to the International Settlement section of Shanghai. Various European countries controlled this area. 

He took us to a magnificent palace, well lit and decorated with bright colored silks. I felt like I'd stepped into a land of fantasy until I walked farther. Each room had rows of narrow beds. Hundreds of Chinese people sat or laid on beds, many of them dressed in wealthy clothes, and all of them high on opium. Some looked sickly, some healthy, but none seemed to notice we walked by. They were that stoned on the drug.

Photo Courtesy Fields of poppy
plants grew in England. These were
processed into opium in large factories
and sold to addicted Chinese
men and women 

The missionary took us through one room after another. I couldn't believe what I saw. Why would men and women do this? He then took us out to a narrow street that ran along the palace. Both sides had brothels packed with business. A horrible business.

I stared at the street, at the businesses, and the wrongness going on all around me. My heart shred in two. How? Why? "But this is the section governed by foreign governments. How could this happen?"

The missionary nodded with a stern and bothered look, but no longer saddened by the sight. "I brought you here to show you what is going on. You're right, there is no good reason why a building like the palace and these businesses were built. Money hungry foreigners built these to lure Chinese people into opium addiction. The foreigners make lots of money from these businesses, particularly the British."

"You're saying the British supply the opium and allow prostitutes to work here?" Unbelievable. I remembered reading about this problem in Hudson Taylor's books but hadn't realized it was this bad. 

"Yes. These countries who claim to be 'Christian' countries encourage and provide what is needed to practice evil in this land. This drug robs people of their money and rips families apart. Their addiction keeps them coming back for more."

"So they call us foreign devils," Rosalind said softly. Her sad eyes showed her heartaches as much as mine."

"Yes," the missionary said. "Because the Chinese can't fight these foreign governments they search for missionaries in rural areas where it's easy to kill them."

"You brought us here to warn us, didn't you?"

"To inform you. Your life isn't going to be easy. You may even be killed. Are you really ready to face what may come?"

I thought of the rooms in the palace and looked around at the streets in front of me. When I was in Toronto, I refused to let my college friends talk me out of visiting the poor and gang infested areas of the city. I knew God would protect me. And if He didn't, I knew I was doing the job He asked me to do. And I will do the same here in China.

I turned to Rosalind. "We need to get to work right away, no matter the cost. There are many lives depending on us showing them there is a God who loves them...before it's too late."  

She set her hand on me. The loving gaze in her eyes said so much. "I'll be by your side, Jonathan."

The missionary nodded. "Good. At first light tomorrow, you'll leave. May God protect you."


Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

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