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John Sung was probably the greatest preacher and evangelist that China produced. He was instrumental in the revival of the church in China during the period 1931 to 1939. This extended even to the Chinese communities in South-East Asia. He combined fervent prayer with powerful preaching that brought tens of thousands of converts to Jesus Christ.
Dato Sri Yao Ping Hua remembers his one and only visit to Sibu, Sarawak and attributes the revitalization of the Methodist Church in Sarawak at that time to Dr. Sung. Dato Yao shares this story with us. (Editor)
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In the middle of 1936, some Foochow and Henghua Methodist church leaders in Sibu received word from friends and relatives in China that Dr. Sung Sang Chieh, a prominent Chinese evangelist, would like to visit Sibu to hold a big evangelistic rally. Those leaders were keen to receive Dr. Sung.
Before giving their response they consulted Rev. G.V. Summers, who was appointed to fill the position of Resident Missionary left vacant by the death of Rev. James M. Hoover from malaria in 1935. But Rev. Summers was not keen as he felt it was not necessary to hold any evangelistic rally in Sibu. However, the church leaders ignored his objection and proceeded to invite Dr. Sung and made preparations for his visit.
Dr. Sung arrived in Sibu on 20 September 1936 and the next day conducted the evangelistic rally in Masland Methodist Church, Island Road. It was held over ten days till 1 October. Every day Dr. Sung preached for three sessions viz.: morning, afternoon and night. The whole church was packed with participants from Sarikei, Binatang, Kanowit, Kapit and Mukah.
He set aside one session to preach at the Henghua settlement, four miles away from Sibu town; one session to pray for the sick people; and another session purely to pray for those who came forward to repent their sins.
The large audience did not feel tired listening to him. He preached so loudly and yet still managed to speak in a good voice. Dr. Sung prayed for one hour before and after each session in his room. No wonder he showed no signs of tiredness because God had bestowed upon him strength and courage.
Dr. Sung’s message dwelt mainly on repentance, redemption, salvation, resurrection, living in holiness, the sacrificial love of our Lord Jesus Christ, preaching the everlasting gospel to the world and the second coming of the Lord. These subjects were pertinent to the spiritual life of the church members, but they seldom heard these sermons from the local preachers or catechists.
He led the audience to understand his sermons gradually from the simple to the deeper meaning. When he described the parable of the prodigal son, he touched the hearts of the audience and moved them to feel regret and sadness; the story about the rich man and Lazarus startled the audience. When he related the crucifixion of Jesus and the blood shed, it aroused the audience to feel deep sympathy with Jesus’ afflictions.
One particular incident showed the way Dr. Sung preached. One afternoon a Chinese doctor came to the church while he was preaching. As he was being helped to find a seat Dr. Sung stretched out his right hand, as was his usual style, pointed his finger at the audience and cried out loudly, “Repent you sinners, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”
When the doctor heard that outburst he thought Dr. Sung was rebuking him. He immediately rushed to the sanctuary and shouted at Dr. Sung, “How dare you call me a sinner, I must teach you a lesson for defaming me.”
This doctor was very popular, a physician as well as a cardiologist. He was arrogant and full of conceit. He became very wealthy through his practice but he was also a great gambler. He lost much of his wealth through gambling debts.
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John Sung, in his diaries, mentions this doctor. He brought some drunks and with other means tried to disrupt the meetings. He offered to pay $500 to anyone who was healed after John Sung had prayed for him or her. During a testimony meeting many healings were publicized. A lunatic was cured. A deaf person received hearing. An epileptic and a terminally diagnosed patient were healed by the Lord. “Many such testimonies of actual healings rendered the doctor speechless.” Editor
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Many years later this doctor returned to Singapore, where he lost all his money, deserted by his family and died a pauper. Some Christians in Sibu observed that had he sat down to hear Dr. Sung that afternoon, and took his advice to accept the Lord Jesus Christ he might have had an entirely different life.
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John Sung noted in his diaries that when he left Sibu on 2 October 500 people sent him off at the dock “with tears, songs, and firecrackers.” Editor
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The results of the ten day rally were as follows:
- 1583 persons writing letters admitting their sins;
- 500 copies of the Bible were bought and signed by Dr. Sung;
- More than 60 sick persons were cured after Dr. Sung offered prayers;
- A sum of $1,054.05 was collected as donation to the Church;
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114 evangelistic teams were formed to spread the gospel in the suburban and rural areas. Each team went out every Sunday afternoon, carrying a cross and a small triangular flag, singing short songs praising the Lord and were not ashamed of the gospel Jesus Christ;
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The rally revived the spirituality of the believers and as a result the Sarawak Methodist Church became more lively than hitherto; its members more zealous in their faith and having a longing for deeper insight into the inner aspects of Christianity.
Dr. Sung’s visit to Sibu was timely whilst the Methodist Church members were still in mourning over the death of Rev. James Hoover, their great leader who loved, helped and guided them for 32 years.
I was born and bred in a Christian family. Both my parents were devout Christians. My father was an ordained pastor of the Sarawak Methodist Church. He enrolled me and my younger brothers and sisters to study in the Sunday Schools where we were taught about God the Creator, Jesus Christ the Saviour, and the Holy Spirit the Comforter.
During Dr. Sung’s visit, I was thirteen years old, studying in the English Department of the Chung Hwa High School, Sibu. I was only able to attend the afternoon and evening sessions of the rally. Dr. Sung’s messages convincingly touched my heart and urged me to go forward to the altar to repent my sins. It was Dr. Sung who brought me to our Lord Jesus Christ and I accepted Him as my personal saviour.
Dato Sri Yao Ping Hua
Chin Fu Methodist Church
Kuching, Sarawak.
