Many Christian -- even those well-versed with the scriptures -- find it difficult to preach the Gospel to their family members. World renown Chinese-American evangelist Christopher Sun shares that same sentiment, for it took him 30 years to lead his father to Christ. He encourages believers to not give up praying for the salvation of their relatives and friends.
Rev. Sun founded the Christopher Sun Evangelistic Association about thirty years ago and has led many people to Christ, but he has also preached the Gospel to his father during these years and his father has only recently believed in God. Recalling the long wait, Sun said he only had gratitude in his heart, for he has witnessed how God hears the prayers of the righteous.
In a monthly prayer letter published towards the end of 2013, Sun mentioned the good news that his 88 years old father finally decided to accept Jesus Christ as his personal savior in a hospital emergency room on June 21, 2013.
After his father left the hospital, Sun personally baptized his father during a Sunday service, and they started to read the classic Christian literature, to pray and meet together. He recalled baptizing his then 60-year-old mother in the Easter Sunday of 1987. He is very thankful for being able to lead his parents to the Lord.
The late Chinese-American theologian Paul Shaw also has an experience of leading his father to the Lord during a sermon that he preached in New York. Shaw said that although he was knowledgeable in theology, he also had to spend much time and effort to evangelize his father who laid on the bed. He sighed how difficult it is to preach the gospel to family members.
Nevertheless, both Sun and Shaw witnessed how God hears and answers prayers. Sun thanked the believers who prayed for his father in the prayer letter and encouraged believers who agonize over the same situation to not lose heart.
"If you haven't parents who haven't gone before the Lord, please continue to pray for their salvation and never give up," encouraged Sun.
