Barnabas Zhang - Conversion To Christianity

Conversion To Christianity

In the autumn of 1909, when Diàn-Jǔ was twenty-seven years of age, his uncle Zhang Lingsheng paid a visit to his village where he preached sermons concerning repentance and the forgiveness of sins. His wife was moved by the gospel but Diàn-Jǔ initially opposed it. However after three to four of reading through the Bible which his wife had brought back home, he became curious of the passages mentioning the prophet Elijah being taken up into heaven, of the Apostles Paul and Peter performing wonders and he wanted to have the same spiritual powers that they had. He repented of his sins and sought for grace. He often prayed in the quiet place, but without feeling anything different for a long time; then he thought of the Bible verse, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." This strengthened his resolve and Diàn-Jǔ increased the frequency of his prayer day by day.

At dusk of 16 March 1911, while walking in the wilderness, Diàn-Jǚ heard a sound from above saying "Salvation during the last days comes from the east to west; Go and save all nations". He then started prayed on his knees and received the Holy Spirit through glossolalia. Shortly afterwards, Diàn-Jǚ and his whole family were then baptised by Zhang Lingsheng. After cultivating their faith for four years, Ling-Sheng laid hands on Diàn-Jǔ as an Elder