Little Jiao Wang Xin sat on the hill behind his home in remote northwest China wondering what was across the river and beyond the mountains. His parents, among the first Chinese to become Adventists in Shanghai nearly 20 years before, were excited about their new faith.

Wang Xin’s father had to leave medical school because of his Sabbath observance, so they began printing translated copies of The Great Controversy and The Desire of Ages. During this time China closed its doors to Christianity, and eventually the young couple was sentenced to prison for their faith.

Wang Xin’s father was sent to a labor camp in northwest China while his mother remained in Shanghai. The young couple determined to remain faithful to each other and to God, not knowing what great plans He had for their lives.

Like Joseph and Daniel of old, Wang Xin’s father was a model prisoner and was given additional responsibilities. Because of his medical school background, he was permitted to work in the labor camp clinic. Eventually he was transferred to a larger labor camp with a hospital.

Life in the labor camp was very hard. It was prohibited to practice Christianity or to possess religious materials of any kind, but Wang Xin’s father kept his faith and shared it when there was an opportunity. Tucked away in his pocket was a small book where he had written many Bible passages from memory.

On one occasion, the prison officials called all the prisoners to the square and one by one they were searched. As Wang Xin’s father waited his turn he prayed and asked God to protect him, determined that he was willing to suffer the consequences if that is what God allowed. As it neared his turn, suddenly another official called him away for a hospital emergency.

When his ten-year sentence was complete, Wang Xin’s father continued to work at the same labor camp where he was a prisoner since his citizenship had been taken away and he could not leave the area. His wife, who had only seen him once for 15 minutes during that time, was finally able to join him.

At the age of 40, the couple had their first child. Two years later Wang Xin was born. After ten additional years working as a doctor at the camp, the government of China extended an official apology, removed his sentence, and returned him to full citizenship. The irony is that because he had been working all these years at a military establishment, they made him an officer, issued him a uniform, and gave him a full salary complete with retirement benefits.

He was refused medical school because of his obedience to the Sabbath, imprisoned for spreading the gospel, and ended up retiring as a military “missionary doctor” totally funded by the Chinese government. God had proven Himself faithful.

Wang Xin learned of God’s love and faithfulness through the example of his parents. The little book story taught him to value scripture and to commit it to memory. He learned that God must have a special plan for his life. As a baby ,he escaped death when his father's axe blade flew off while chopping wood and landed in the crib right next to his head.

Wang Xin pondered these things as he sat on the hillside, now thirteen years old, still wondering what was beyond the river on the other side of the mountains.

With the government’s apology, the family was now free to return to Shanghai. Although his parents were eager for their boys to attend school in Shanghai, they were willing to stay in Northwest China if relatives could not find a school that would allow the boys to keep the Sabbath.

A school was found and Wang Xin, his mother, and brother left for Shanghai while father stayed behind to complete his work at the hospital.

After high school Wang Xin wanted to go to college, to possibly follow in his father’s footsteps to become a medical doctor. But before he could go to college, he would have to take several days of entrance examinations, one of which would be on the Sabbath. What would he do? Wang Xin recalled the words of his parents, “We don’t want to force you to keep the Sabbath. We don’t want you to think this is a religion from your parents. You make your own decision.” Wang Xin thought, “Do I really want to keep the Sabbath and lose the chance to go to college?" Remembering the experience of his father, and how God had accomplished his father’s dream even though imprisoned, Wang Xin resolved he would not break the Sabbath to take the examination.

Without college, Wang Xin began to wonder about his life. “Is this religion my parents taught me something I really want in my life? 'God, You show me the way. You show me that you are the God that I can trust. Even though I have read the Bible before, this time I’m going to read the Bible through and I want You to show me, through the Bible, what Your will is for my life.'”

During the next year, Wang Xin spent his time reading through his Bible and taking notes of all the evidences of God's providential salvation. At the end of the year, Wang Xin read a story about David Livingston printed in Signs of the Times. He read the magazine to help him learn English, but found himself wanting to be like David Livingston. He prayed, “God, I want to be like him. I want to do Your will. I want to dedicate myself to You. I want to have more opportunities to study the Bible so I can learn more about you."

In answer to his prayer, Southern College (Southern) put in a request to sponsor a Chinese student and Wang Xin was chosen. That was the summer of 1989, the time of the incident in Tienanmen Square. The government tightened their control and made it impossible for him to get a passport and visa—unless God provided a way. Wang Xin received his passport and visa in time to arrive at Southern just two days after school began. He registered as Daniel Jiao, a name his mother gave him for America.

After graduating from Southern with a theology degree, Wang Xin came to Andrews to continue his education at the seminary. After just one quarter he got a call to go to Hong Kong to work with Adventist World Radio (AWR).

Years before, Wang Xin was excited to hear an Adventist program for the first time on the family's shortwave radio. The voice heard was a China-born Adventist, in China, who had also been sent to prison for many years. “When we heard his voice, all our family was so happy to hear such a program,” Wang Xin said.

“I did not know that I would be involved in this radio ministry, but I told myself if God wanted me to do this, I would be more than willing. Now that I look back, I can see that God provided a way for me to have some training.” Wang Xin was an excellent choice for AWR because of his pleasant speaking voice, and because he spoke Mandarin.

“The biggest reward is to receive a listener’s response and to see how their lives have been changed by a program I have made,” says Wang Xin. “To see how they can find God at a low point in their life when they were in despair and see hope [is thrilling].”

Although Wang Xin enjoyed his work, he still wanted to finish the seminary. So after three years in Hong Kong with AWR, he returned to Andrews University.

After just over a year he was called back to Hong Kong for a problem with his visa. His work visa for Hong Kong would not be renewed and he could not work in Hong Kong unless he came back immediately.

Five years and two children later, Wang Xin was able to return and finish his degree. While at Andrews, he has continued his radio programs for AWR on his laptop computer from the couple's Garland apartment. When he returns to Hong Kong this month he will be responsible for the Hong Kong Media Center, which will include television and an Internet ministry as well as Voice of Prophecy Bible school programs.

“With all this we will be able to do the work and hopefully bring more people to Jesus,” Wang Xin said with enthusiasm. The target audience is China. Shortwave radio is popular in places where governments have tight control and information is blocked. It is also the only connection to the outside world for people like Wang Xin who live in remote places. “Quite often,” says Wang Xin, “as people turn the dial looking for stations, they come to our program. It is something they have never heard before so they start listening.”

From somewhere across the river and beyond the mountains comes the voice of hope. The voice they hear is the voice of Wang Xin.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Herald editor.

For information about Adventist World Radio, visit www.awr.org or call (800) 337-4297.