Jonathan Goforth-The Shocked Magistrate

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1901

Jonathan Goforth-42 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries to China. I say to because things aren't going as I had hoped.

I returned to Changte on my own, leaving my wife and children in Canada for their safety. The first person I met was my friend Mr. Ho. He told me the first half of what's been happening here while I was gone in the last post and left off with him being dragged to the magistrates office where he expected to be killed.

"So, what happened next?" I asked.

He took a bite of the bread I shared with him. "I was beaten before they asked any questions then dragged to his chambers. The magistrate asked me why had I decided to worship the God of the foreign devils. He said I must have been poisoned and forced to believe the teachings.

"The weird part is, I didn't feel afraid. They could have beaten me until I died and I wouldn't have had been afraid." He patted his chest. "Because God is living here, inside of me. I trust Him."

"So...what did the magistrate say?"

Mr. Ho laughed. "I told him he misunderstood. I was not following the foreigner's and their teaching, I am a follower of the one true living God. I told him all about what God has done for us, like how He loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay the punishment for our sins. He he listens to our prayers and helps us.

"I reminded him that I use to make gods for people to buy and worshipped. I made a lot of money making big gods and to be nice, I made small gods for people who couldn't afford much. These objects were not real gods but the people worshipped them anyway. Wood carved into shapes. Shapes that couldn't hear or help anyone.

"I reminded him how bad I used to be. All the laws I use to break when I worshipped the gods made from wood. Since I have believed in the one true living God, I have not been brought in for any crime." He laughed again. "The magistrate's eyes went wide as he listened to the whole story. Finally, he told me to go home."

"He said for you to go home? Just like that?"

"Yes. He even said he would protect me."

"It looks like he has. You're in good shape." 

He nodded and ate more bread.



There is more to this story. Come back next time.

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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