David Yang and the “Linggongtuan” (Part 2)

by Tony Lambert

We continue with David Yang’s description of the “Work of the Team” from his rare booklet published in 1937.

1. It is the object of the Team working in the place of God’s appointment to make the Gospel available to all, to the end that sinners may repent and turn to Christ. (Acts 26:18-20)

2. The Team exists to serve the Church of God and, with the Truth as revealed in Scripture, to edify believers by leading conferences and conducting Bible classes or classes for illiterates. In addition, it is hoped as far as possible to influence the church to the end that in creed and organisation, it may accord with the Word of God. (Eph.4:11-16)

3. It is also a function of the Team to train those who have devoted their lives to the service of God, giving them opportunity for study in order that they may become well acquainted with the Bible and gain experience in Christian work. (Acts 16:1-3; 18:24-26)

4. Neither the place nor the type of work is fixed, but rather are they both adapted to the needs of the church as the Holy Spirit guides. Moreover there is no encroachment on the spheres in which other servants of God are working. (Acts 16:6. Gal 2:9-10)

5. Wherever the Team works it is in cooperation with the servants of God in that particular place. It does not form cliques. Opposition is only shown towards conduct and creeds which are contrary to the Truth of the Bible. (I Cor.1:12-13; Jude 3)

We desire that the whole of our work should be ‘according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us’ (2 Cor.10:13) neither working nor boasting ‘beyond our measure’, and asking the Lord to help us to do only that which is His will.

I feel that at present there is a type of young man or woman who outwardly are keen and ambitious but who eventually relapse into a state of impatience and superficiality, not fulfilling their office and therefore are not well-pleasing to God. Their activities are many but do they really possess the value of ‘gold, silver and precious stones’?

Our Lord in Matthew 7:21-23 speaking of those who shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven says that it is not the many who pray, preach, cast out devils and heal the sick but ‘He that doeth the will of my Father in heaven’ that shall enter in.

We do not say that all must engage in the various kinds of work referred to above—only that the Lord has laid it on the heart of our brothers and sisters to assume these responsibilities. May He help us to be satisfied in doing the ‘good works which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.’ (Eph. 2:10) We pray the Lord will deliver us from the flesh, from self-exaltation, and from imitation of others, but grant that we may take His yoke in all humility and meekness and wholly do His will.

I have already explained that the Team of Christian Workers is not a church gathering converts. But there is the possibility of our being led to establish one in a place where no church exists. If so, we would certainly not cause the children of God to adopt our name or that of any sect. We are children of God—God’s church. This I emphasise because I was once asked whether the people to whom we ministered were called the ‘Ling Gong Hui’ (Society or church of the Team of Christian Workers).

Membership of the Team
Any one who wishes to join us in the work should pay attention to the following requirements:

1. A clear experience of conversion. (John 3:3; Luke 22:32)

2. A definite call. (Gal. 1:15; Acts 13:2) To witness for the Lord is the responsibility of every Christian, but to give one’s life to preaching requires a special call from God and this is not given to every believer. Moreover, preaching is not a means of earning one’s living.

3. Clear guidance from God to join the Team. (Jer.1:7; 1 Kings 17:3-7)
Why do you not go to Theological Seminary or Bible School for training? Why not work in your own church? What evidence have you of God’s leading? Prospective members should communicate with us by letter giving detailed particulars.

4. Willingness to live by faith. (Mat. 6:31-33; Phil.4:19)
No member is responsible for the individual financial affairs of the others. It is true ‘the labourer is worthy of his hire’, but under the special circumstances of the early church Paul said:”We have not used this power…lest we should hinder the Gospel.” (I Cor.9:12) Beloved fellow-workers! Are you waiting for someone to give you wages before you preach the Gospel?

5. Many are able to work alone but are unable to work with others. Ours is a collective life and we work as a group. Thus all who join us must be willing to receive the admonition of fellow-workers, to be submissive to one another, to share each other’s joys and sorrows and to love one another in obedience to God’s command (John 15:12); to be sincere and straightforward in all dealings with the brethren; and to serve the Lord with patience and diligence.

6. Willingness to live a frugal life. (Luke 9:57-58; I Cor. 7:29-31)

7. A desire to know and follow the Truth.
There are many who pray most earnestly in search of power but disregard the Word of God and gradually become mystics, being unconsciously deceived by Satan
(2 Thess.2:10-11)

8. A seeking after the filling of the Holy Spirit and the enduement with power for service. (Acts 6:5, 1:8; Eph.5:18)
Without the fulness of the Spirit it is impossible to live a life of victory. Without power it is impossible to do the work of God. Therefore although we do not stipulate that all who join the Team must first have had an experience of being filled with the Spirit, we do desire that those who work with us should seek this equipment. For without a deep heart hunger and intense desire for this gift of God, surely it is impossible to be one whom He can greatly use.

Present Conditions
During the past 2 or 3 years [c.1935-37] God has blessed this little band in a remarkable way. Not only is this true regarding his provision of our temporal needs but in that it has been His responsibility to discipline and train us. However, we cannot but be ashamed for there has been too little progress and we have come short of the glory of God.

OUR SITE: We have a compound near the Tong Puh Railway at Howma in the county of Kuwo. [Now Houma City near Quwo County, both in Linfen Municipality, southern Shanxi Province.] Communication presents no difficulties and we are near both mountains and water. We are not disturbed by the noise which characterises city life and so the spot is most suitable for the nurture of one’s spiritual life. The area of the compound is 15 mu (2.27 acres). The buildings comprise over 30 units (jian) and we are preparing to add more living quarters and a conference hall. The cost of purchasing the land and erecting the building was met by the children of God as they were constrained by Him.

TEAM MEMBERS: The number of members during the past 2 or 3 years has fluctuated around 20. At the moment there are 23 men and women from Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Suiyuan and Shanxi. Some have been with us for 3 years, some for 2 and a number for only 1. There are others who have now left us to work in other places.

LIFE: We live as one family with no distinctions as normally exist between teacher and student or between pastor and church member. (Rev 1:9) Our daily life is corporate and for the same periods we all go out into the work. We rely on God claiming His promises for our support. The cost of living of the whole Team for food and travelling expenses is met from a common fund. As regards the necessities of each individual the Team takes no responsibility, neither do we take it for one another. Every one looks to the Lord who appointed him.

Previously none of us had followed this path but—praise the Lord!—from the first day until now He has not allowed us to go into debt nor to solicit contributions. Not one day has passed without the provision of our ‘daily bread’ and on no occasion have we lacked anything required for travelling. To meet all our needs there has been neither more nor less than we required. Hallelujah! Jehovah-jireh! Our God is able to keep account of His children’s expenditure.

Since there was a foreign lady among us some were of the opinion she had solicited contributions from abroad. I am able to testify on her behalf that such is by no means the case. She did not write a single letter to appeal for support and certainly none were written afterwards. Our God is able to speak. Hallelujah!

WORK: Our present work is mainly to preach the Gospel to outsiders and instruct Christians so that they may understand the Bible. Also, there are one or two places where we have taken on temporary responsibility for investigating the conditions and shepherding the flock. Originally our sphere of labour lay within the 13 counties which comprise the south district of the China Inland Mission field in Shanxi. Now, however, there are workers outside that area at Linchin in the southwest, Lucheng and Hukwan in the east and Puhsian in the west. Our period of work corresponds with the slack season for farming amounting to five or six months each year. When the farmers are busy all the Team members withdraw from the field and take the opportunity to study such subjects as the Bible, theology, church history and evangelistic methods, thus acquiring such general knowledge as is needed by preachers. Attention is also given to progress in the spiritual life. Apart from myself there are three or four brothers and sisters able to take responsibility for Bible teaching and for directing the work, besides making frequent journeys elsewhere for conference and revival ministry.

THE FUTURE: Our future is unknown to us but known to our Father-God. According to the light He has thus far given we hope apart from doing the work which lies immediately before us, to meet the need of church leaders and any believers who desire to press on spiritually, by opening in the Team compound a place for prolonged terms of Bible study and prayer, thus ministering to the spiritual needs of those who attend and helping them to understand the Bible. The new buildings being built are for this purpose. During last winter as a first attempt classes were held for a month and God truly blessed us. Inquiries have been received recently from Shaanxi and Henan. Relying on the Lord’s guidance and the prayers of His people we trust this part of the work may soon be operative. We also beseech the Lord that He will thrust forth labourers to reap His harvest everywhere in China—not necessarily that they should imitate us, but rather that His children in obedience to their Father’s will would rise up and serve Him. (Mat.9:37-38; John 4:34-35)

Beloved reader! Having heard the call of God may you answer, ‘Here am I, send me.’ With the assured presence of God and a field of work before us we need to neither doubt nor delay. ‘Arise! Let us go hence!’ (Is. 6:8, 52:12. John 14:31) Remember the Lord’s word: ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’

‘He which testifieth these things says, “Surely I come quickly.” Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.’

The Team of Christian Workers, Howma, Kuwo, Shanxi, China,
March 1937

POSTSCRIPT: In 1949 Pastor Yang Shaotang went to the dockside at Nanjing to see off Simon Zhao and two other Christian sisters as they began their long journey to Xinjiang to fulfill the Lord’s call to preach the gospel “Back to Jerusalem.” His zeal for the gospel, for a truly independent Chinese church and for evangelism and mission were used of God in support of the “Back to Jerusalem” movement. Much of this history is still hidden; if readers possess further information which may illuminate God’s working over the past half-century, please contact the present author.