We shall call him Mr. Wu (not his real name), born to Christian parents from mainland China. Already in his teen years when the Communists seized power, the young Mr. Wu was easily swayed by the blandishments of Party cadres in his province. He renounced both family ties and the faith of his parents and joined the Communist Party.
Pursuing a career in electronic engineering, Mr. Wu quickly rose to professorship at the college of engineering of Peking University. During his spare time, he repaired radios for personal friends. One elderly man requested help in repairing a family radio regularly used to listen to the Voice of Friendship [FEBC broadcasts] from the Philippines.
During the chaotic Cultural Revolution, the university where he taught was rocked with hostility between rival factions within the faculty and the student body. The faction supported by Mr. Wu lost out in the power struggle, and he was forced out of his teaching position because of his “incorrect” views.
Disillusioned and embittered, he returned to his home province shortly before the Christmas season. Tuning to his radio one night, he came across a Chinese Christmas carol being broadcast from FEBC Manila. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. …!”
Mr. Wu was strangely warmed by those words. Joy? He had seen little of that in the Party he served so well, the Party which had so recently trampled him underfoot. Joy—simple human joy—was lacking in the system and its devotees upon whom he looked up as authors of utopia. Could there, then, be any real joy in this dark, gray world of the cast-iron regime?
The winsome appeal of the song would not leave him. Joy WAS to be found in the recognition of the King, a King who had already come!
Mr. Wu became a regular listener of the FEBC Chinese broadcasts. Through these programs and the faithful witness of a friend, he came to personally know the King of kings and Lord of lords. And with the King came joy!
After applying for an exit visa, he waited 10 long years before being permitted to leave mainland China, to begin life anew with relatives in Hong Kong. A few months after his arrival in the former Crown Colony, he came to Manila and paid a visit to our Chinese program staff. Mr. Wu expressed his personal gratitude for the service to China rendered by FEBC. He went on to testify that many people in that country are regular FEBC listeners.
His final comment concerned the present-day youth of China. More and more, young people are feeling disillusioned and cheated. The Party promises much but delivers little. In their hearts, the youth of China know fully well that evil works will not bring peace and prosperity.
Ex-Communist Wu believes the youth of China are seeking the Truth, aware that it will never be found in materialism or mass violence. Almost every family in China has a radio, the medium that can lead them to the same Truth he met that Christmas so long ago through the strains of a familiar carol.
We live in a rapidly changing society. In the midst of these changes, we may feel insecure, hopeless and robbed of our joy; the very foundation of society is crumbling. Let us remember, however, to pin our hopes in our unchanging God and do our part in telling others about Him, the Rock of our foundation. How can you help the youth around you find joy and hope?
… Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.—Luke 2:10