Revival In Singapore

The greatly used evangelist, Chan Song, once commented, I have made up my mind, even if I have to die, I will preach the gospel in China, I will die a willing death, if only my fellow men be saved. Song got his wish, dying at the age of 42, after shaking China for God in powerful revivals, where over 200,000 souls were saved, under his apostolic ministry. He truly had a ministry of signs and wonders, for not only were thousands brought to Christ in his meetings, but many were physically healed.

It was not uncommon after a Chan Song meeting, to see stacks of crutches piled up by the back door of the church, as they were no longer needed. Whenever I want to get inspired for personal revival, I study the life of Chan Song, to catch some of his holy fire. We're going to study him today, friends.

We're going to take a look at Chan Song, and how he was used of God in a powerful revival, in Singapore, in 1935. God used Chan Song primarily, between World War I and World War II, throughout China, bringing thousands to Christ, in a powerful revival-based ministry. He was God's human instrument of revival.

Chan Song had been in Singapore, in September of 1935, preaching at the Tai Lok Air Methodist Church, where a powerful revival broke out. And many were brought to Christ, including some significant future church leaders, like Dr. Timothy Toh. Song returned to Singapore a month later, in October, for continued preaching.

Listen to his own words, as they are taken from his diary, at this time. On October 18th, 1935, I was back in Singapore, for another week-long revival meeting. On the final night, some 400 people wanted to share their testimonies.

One of them was a deaf-mute, who was healed, and could utter, praise the Lord. There was also a lame man, who could walk. On 26th December, about 1,000 people were at the wharf, shaking hands and bidding me farewell.

This lasted for about 45 minutes, and many songs were sung. The local press had this news published in their papers, with my photograph to boot. Well, I will stop there, friends, and now read you that Singapore secular newspaper article, dated October 26th, 1935, with the bold headline, 700 Chinese Weep on Wharf, Dynamite Evangelist Goes Home.

The farewell given yesterday, and on Friday night to Dr. John Song, one of China's greatest evangelists, by thousands of Chinese Christians, was one of the most extraordinary, ever seen in Singapore, when Dr. Song boarded the Corfu yesterday, to return home. About 700 Chinese were weeping on the wharf, and Chinese of all ages marched through the streets, carrying banners of the cross. Dr. Song preached his farewell sermon to Singapore's Chinatown last night.

Outside the Chinese Methodist Church, at the corner of Telok Air and Cecil Streets, a vast concourse listened in the open air, to Dr. Song, which came to them through loudspeakers inside the building. A congregation of some 1,300 filled every seat. It is estimated that Dr. Song, who arrived here at the end of August, has made 2,000 converts in Singapore.

Dr. Song's ministrations in Singapore were not confined to one denomination. He attracted followers from the Chinese community to various Protestant churches. Dr. Song's ministration, he's a preacher of rare power.

He's been described as a prophet of God, a John the Baptist, calling his people to repentance. In Oriental, Savon Nerola, converting the whole city by his preaching against the sin of society. And as a Chinese John Wesley, translating the gospel into terms the Chinese people can understand.

Dr. Song, who is still in his 30s, dramatizes Bible stories with chalk and blackboard. At any point in the sermon, he may stop to break forth into song. In the best manner of a Chinese actor, he seems able to imitate any voice and play the part of any character.

In Singapore, he inspired thousands of Christians to buy Bibles, and he turned scoffers into converts. That's the end of the article, friends. And may I add that the local bookstores at the time ran out of Bibles in one week, and they had to order them by the hundreds.

The demand was so great. For further studying on John Song, I highly recommend reading a book. It's his diary entitled The Journal Once Lost, written by his daughter Levi.

It's almost 600 pages of pure dynamite, friends. My copy is dog-eared because I've read it and re-read it about 30 times over the last years. Why, it's liquid fire.

Oh, great God, raise up John Song in China for today. Do it, Lord, do it!