John Sung

Despite this period of isolation, John Sung set himself to read the Bible. It was during this stay that he read through the entire Bible 40 times and soon became very familiar and well versed in its teachings. This period of Scriptural reading and spiritual renewal laid the foundations for one of the major revivals of the 20th century.

Sung preached revival meetings in Thailand during 1938 and 1939. He spoke at both Chinese churches (mostly in Bangkok), and at many Thai churches nationwide, from Trang province in the South to Prae province in the North. Thai church leaders Suk Phongnoi and Boon Mark Gittisarn served as Sung's translators at different times during his evangelistic tours in Thailand. Sung's preaching in Thailand resulted in nominal Christians returning to the faith and non-Christians becoming born again.

Sung proved to be a zealous and compelling preacher. His name spread throughout China and invitations soon poured in, requesting him to spread the gospel to other regions as well. By 1936, it was believed more than 100,000 Chinese were converted through his ministry. His missionary work spread beyond China and he was actively preaching to overseas Chinese population in Southeast Asia.

In 1930 or 1931, he joined Bethel Bible School in Shanghai, where, with Andrew Gih and three other graduates, he formed a Bethel Worldwide Evangelistic Band in 1931. The topic of his sermons were now mainly about how to deal with sin. A summary of his teaching during this period was that people admitting their sins is not enough, they must “repent of their sins” and after repentance should come a time to “Correct your sins”. He went on to say that after one has changed sinful habits comes a time to “Repay your sins”.

Towards the last years of his life, intestinal tuberculosis plagued him and deeply affected his work. Despite this, he continued to preach and even had to speak in a leaning position to lessen the pain. He succumbed to the disease at the age of 42. It is claimed that John Sung was the most influential Chinese evangelist during the 1930s and his ministry had a profound impact on Christianity especially in the Chinese-speaking world in China and Southeast Asia. He also helped found the Church Assembly Hall along with Watchman Nee and others. Countless Chinese were converted and revived through his ministry and they would play a significant role in the growth of Christianity in the region.

A confession from a woman in Indonesia when John Sung entered the church from the door, sick people nearby suddenly healed as he walked forward to the altar. It happened in a service in Portugeesch buitenkerk ( known today as Gereja Sion ) in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1930s (it was Batavia, Dutch Indies on that time). There were numerous reports of other apparently miraculous healings taking place in various areas under Sung's ministry, such as those in China being repeated in Thailand. The blind were made to see, the lame walked, dumb people recovered their speech, and many kinds of sickness were healed. However, there were a "large percentage of sufferers who derived no benefit at all."

As later recounted by Sung, on 10 February 1927, during a time of prayer, he was baptized in the Holy Spirit . He continued, “This was my spiritual birthday! Although I already believed in Jesus since my early childhood days, this new experience is a life changing one for me. ” John Sung described that “The Holy Spirit poured onto me, just like water, on top of my head”, then “The Holy Spirit continuously poured onto me wave after wave”.

The Chinese Consulate managed to arrange for Sung's release and he returned to China in November 1927, without graduating from Union Theological Seminary. Before stepping on Chinese soil after an almost eight-year absence, he threw all his academic awards into the sea, only keeping the doctorate diploma for his father. This action he intended to signify his full commitment to the Gospel.

Despite the array of career opportunities in front of him, Sung believed that he was called by God to commit himself to work for Jesus Christ. In 1926 he went to Union Theological Seminary in New York City for theological studies.

With his advanced degrees, he was able to secure full tuition and a $400 annual living allowance. Union Theological Seminary prided itself on a "progressive outlook." Its professors publicly called for Christian unity, lobbied for international peace and discouraged the use of "imperialist force" in the various crises that were occurring worldwide. Among the lecturers was Harry Emerson Fosdick who challenged traditional Christian beliefs such as the bodily resurrection of Christ. While still at the seminary, Sung set aside much of his Christian faith and chanted Buddhist sutras, studied mysticism, investigated the theosophic societies and other sects that were found in New York. He translated Laozi's Tao Te Ching, into English and pondered if Laozi's teachings might be for him. Sung later wrote, “My soul wandered in a wilderness.” During Christmas break in 1926, Sung attended an evangelistic meeting with fellow students and unexpectedly saw fifteen year old evangelist Uldine Utley give the presentation. Feeling Utley had awakened something within his soul, Sung returned four more times to hear her preach. "Even I, a proud man, was moved by her," said Sung. The Gospel message of Jesus Christ was delivered clearly and persuasively. Sung was determined to discover for himself the power that motivated the young evangelist.

However, it took Sung some years of testing before he became the influential evangelist that many knew. In 1920 he was sent to America for his higher education. He studied at Ohio Wesleyan University and Ohio State University. A brilliant student, he earned a doctorate in chemistry in five years. His chemistry essays and research documents can still be seen in the university library today.

He grew up with a Christian upbringing. His father was a pastor of the local American Wesleyan Methodist Church. Sung also helped his father in church duties. On certain evenings when his father was either too busy or was too ill, Sung would have to lead the sermons as a substitute instead. Because of his early contributions to the church work, many church members referred to him as “Little Pastor”. On April 9, 1909, the nine year old Sung witnessed an "unprecedented revival" during a Good Friday sermon preached by Pastor Lim Hongban in Hinghwa which left a lasting impression.

John Sung Shang Chieh (Chinese: 宋尙節, 27 September 1901 – 18 August 1944) also John Sung, was a renowned Chinese Christian evangelist who played an instrumental role in the revival movement among the Chinese in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia during the 1920s and 1930s.