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196 From Nineteenth-Century China Rev. John L. Nevius, nineteenth-century missionary to China, encountered so many cases of demon possession during his forty years there that he recorded his experiences in a book entitled Demon Possession and Allied Themes, published by Fleming H. Revell in 1894.

Here is one example, which he records in the second chapter. One day Nevius received a letter telling him of a man in the village of Hingkia who was suffering from an evil spirit.

“It is true and most humiliating,” said the man, Mr. K wo, “that I, a man in the full vigor of health, should be a slave to this demon, is the trial of my life; but there is no help for it.”

And yet, being told of Christ, Mr. K wo agreed to tear down the demon shrine in his house and seek more information about the Lord Jesus. In March of 1879, while traveling through the area, John Nevius paid a visit to Mr. Kwo.

He discovered the thirty-eight-year-old man to be illiterate, but bright and entertaining. With the help of his wife and a Christian from the next village, Mr. K wo had been studying a copy of the - ◊= Victory! Scriptures and a Chinese catechism they had received.

Nevius determined that the little family was sincerely trusting Christ as Savior and Lord, and, upon their request, he baptized them. Jesus is Victor. -CORRIE TEN BOOM =;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ◊ ==;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Later he asked Mr. Kwo more about this prior demon possession. The Chinese gentleman explained that, in 1877, he had purchased some pictures of Chinese gods, and while displaying them in the house, he had had a vivid dream.

In his dream, a demon told him, “I have taken up abode in your house.” Afterward, disturbing things happened. Seized by an impulse, K wo had suddenly risen one night from bed and gone to a gambler’s den where he had lost a large sum of money. Soon he was losing more money, large sums for the small family, to gambling.

Sometimes, after a night of gaming, he would come home, frothing at the mouth, staggering around nearly unconscious. He grew violent, attacki.ng all who ventured near him. His father, hearing these alarming reports, came to visit, but Mr.

Kwo took a gun from under his bed and fired it at him, missing. He was bound in chains and taken to a doctor who gave him large doses of medicine without effect. For several days, Mr. K wo raved wildly as the evil spirit spoke through Mr.

Kwo’s mouth, commanding the family to burn incense and to submit to the demon world. A shrine was built in the house, and there the family, in great fear, worshipped Satan. The evil spirit told the family how to perform miracles of healing on others, and soon people from neighboring villages were flocking to the K wo house. “The demon said he had many inferior spirits subject to him,” Kwo told John Nevius.

“He also frequently indicated his plan for my future life and employment. It was through his assistance that I should become more and more skilled in healing diseases.” It was at this point, when Mr.

K wo was miserable and desperate, that he heard of Jesus Christ and tore down his demon shrine. Soon afterward, his little girl died. Mrs. Kwo was much distressed, believing it was in consequence of having offended the demon.

But Mr. Kwo replied that no matter what might happen, he was going to follow Christ. A few days later the demon returned for what proved to be the last time. “I have returned but for one visit,” came the voice through Mr.

Kwo’s throat, speaking to the wife. “If your husband is determined to be a Christian, this is no place for me. But I wish to tell you I had nothing to do with the death of your child.”

“What do you know of Jesus Christ?” she asked. ‘1esus Christ is the great Lord over all, and now I am going away and you will not see me again.” That was the last visit. The Kwo family was never plagued by evil spirits again.

He became a most effective evangelist in his area, and his home became a center for Bible teaching and fellowship.1 1John L. Nevius, Demon Possession and Allied Themes (Chicago: Fleming H. Revell, 1894). 2RobertJ.

Morgan, From This Verse (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998). August 7th. Originally: Jan Winebrenner, Steel in His Soul, The Dick Hillis Story (Chicago: Moody Pre·ss, 1985), Chapter 6.