Wei-hai-wei, China – 1927
In 1927, as unrest and danger surged across China, missionaries found themselves in the crosshairs of a rising tide of violence. Among them were Miss Daniell and Miss Goulstone, faithfully teaching young girls in the inland city of Wentenghsien—until the moment came when they were suddenly ordered by authorities to evacuate. They fled to the coastal city of Wei-hai-wei, their school now silent, their mission on hold.
Others were scattered, caught in travel or deep inland. Mr. R. W. Sturt had been journeying westward when he received the urgent telegram from the British Consul in Tientsin: evacuate immediately. He was the last to arrive at the coast, after passing through and encouraging believers in Hada one final time.
These weren’t just logistical decisions—they were deeply spiritual moments. In his final Sunday gathering, Sturt shared the Lord’s Table with the local church and entrusted them to God’s care.
“It was a much prized opportunity,” he wrote, “to commend them to God and the Word of His grace... their only and all-sufficient resource if cut off from outside help.”
Those left behind were facing immense hardship. The failed harvest had plunged many into poverty. Entire families — especially widows — were in distress, lacking basic resources and uncertain of what the coming months would bring.
The Bible as a Code: A Veiled Wire of Warning
In this tense atmosphere, a brilliant moment of creativity and faithfulness emerged: a veiled telegram was sent to alert missionaries using Bible verses as a code.
The message read:
“Special workers’ conference arranged immediately Chefoo, optional Wei-hai-wei. Subjects: Gen. 45:19, Matt. 3:7, 2 Cor. 6:2, Heb. 13:17. Leave Wednesday latest, telegraph reply.”
To the untrained eye, it seemed benign. But those who looked up the verses understood the urgency:
Genesis 45:19 – “Do this: take wagons from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.” (A call to flee)
Matthew 3:7 – “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”
2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Now is the day of salvation.”
Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them...”
The Scriptures delivered their message with quiet force: It’s time to go. Danger is near. Obey and evacuate immediately.
Within days, all the missionaries had made it to Wei-hai-wei. Their escape was a quiet miracle—coordinated through Scripture, and driven by obedience.
From Movement to Stillness
Now safe, the missionaries found themselves in a new kind of waiting. Their classrooms were empty. Their churches silent. But their mission endured. They gathered daily in Wei-hai-wei for prayer and ministry, their hearts still anchored to those they had left behind.
“All work is at a standstill,” wrote Miss Gresham. “We can only pray that the Lord will strengthen and keep the Chinese Christians during these days of trial.”
The grief was not abstract. Many Chinese Christians had lost everything—homes, security, and even family members. And yet, right-minded Chinese believers stood firm, sorrowing over the state of their country and the suffering of their fellow citizens.
Then and Now: Our Response
Their world was shaken. Yet their faith stood firm.
So how will we respond today?
Pray – for believers in today’s conflict zones, for missionaries displaced by unrest, and for gospel work that continues underground.
Discern – like those who understood the coded message, may we grow in spiritual alertness and readiness to respond when God calls us to act.
Support – through financial giving, encouragement, and advocacy for those still standing for Christ in hard places.
Reflect – when disruption comes, do we retreat in fear—or gather in prayer?
Faith in action is not measured by comfort, but by courage. Let us walk in the footsteps of those who prayed, fled, trusted, and stood firm in the shadow of war.
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