Remember China
China, the most populous nation on earth, has a long and storied past. From animism and ancestor worship, to the philosophies of Confucius and Buddha, to modern atheistic communism, China's millions have been in spiritual darkness for centuries. That darkness has prompted the work of some of the most famous missionaries in church history - men and women like Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, and Jonathan Goforth, along with hundreds of others.
Their work has paid off. While Christians are a small percentage of the Chinese population, their house churches are vibrant centers of worship and dedication to Jesus Christ. But their passion for truth has led to persecution on a massive scale. The full force of Chinese government and anti-Christian culture is often brought to bear against these tiny house churches.
Despite this persecution - or perhaps because of it - China has produced some of Christianity's greatest heroes. Watchman Nee was one of these heroes. He was a church leader and devoted follower of Christ who paid the ultimate price for his faith.
The note found under his prison pillow after his death in a lonely prison cell simply read, "Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ."
