For Such a Time as This

The story of Watchman Nee is a story of a man full of passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. It reveals the impact one man’s faith can have on a nation. Nee Shu-tsu, later known as Watchman Nee, was born in China in 1903 to Christian parents. His mother dedicated him to the Lord while she carried him in her womb, and his father reinforced that dedication by saying, “Before you were born, your mother promised to present you to the Lord.” Like Esther, and so many other heroes of the faith, Watchman Nee was born for such a time as this. China was headed for great trouble.

Some of the more notable events that tore at China during Watchman Nee’s lifetime were the Boxer Rebellion, World War I, the Japanese invasion of China, World War II, the Civil War in China, and the eventual brutal communist domination of China.

Although Watchman Nee was born into a third-generation Christian family, he resisted the gospel as a young man. After a struggle, he was dynamically saved in high school. He never attended theological schools or Bible institutes. His wealth of knowledge concerning God’s purpose, Christ, the Spirit, and the church came through studying the Bible, reading spiritual books, and pursuing spiritual matters. The core revelation he received involved the living of a crucified life and a resurrected life. He believed one could live in the reality of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the dark curtain of communist domination fell heavier on China, Watchman Nee did what he could to protect and grow what would later become the largest underground church in the world. He discipled and trained others to spread the gospel in spite of the danger of resisting an atheistic government determined to crush the church.

Watchman Nee was arrested in March 1952 because of his faith in Christ and his leadership among the local churches. He was falsely condemned, judged, and sentenced in 1956 to fifteen years of imprisonment. Although we cannot know fully what he experienced, his last eight letters provide a glimpse into his response to suffering. Prison censors forbade him to mention the Lord’s name, yet in his final letter, written the day of his death, he alluded to his joy in the Lord: “In my sickness, I still remain joyful at heart.” He died alone in confinement on May 30, 1972.

Before his departure, he left a piece of paper under his pillow, with several lines written in a shaking hand. He wanted to testify to the truth he had treasured until death: “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.”

By the time Watchman Nee was arrested in 1952, about four hundred local churches had been raised up in China, and more than thirty established in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Today there are over twenty-three hundred local churches worldwide because of his faithful ministry. Truly Watchman Nee was born and used mightily by the Lord during a time of great trouble in China.