1983 - Shi Lishi & Shi Wuting

September 14, 1983

Zunzhuang, Henan

House church Christians in Henan Province boldly commemorating the death of one of their own despite government warnings not to gather. [RCMI]

In 1983, during a nationwide crackdown against crime and religion, an act of mercy ended up costing one Christian family dearly. The Shi family lived at Zunzhuang village in Henan Province. Shi Gushen and his wife Lishi had raised three sons and two daughters. A few relatives also lived in the Shi household, making 11 people in total. One of them was the Shi’s daughter-in-law, Meiying.

Shi Lishi, the mother, fell seriously ill in 1976. The doctors were unable to treat her condition and discharged her as a hopeless case. An old grandmother, who had followed the Lord for many years, told the Shi family they should believe in the Lord Jesus. They did, and Lishi was soon healed of her ailment. In time they established a house church in their village. In the summer of 1983, Meichun (the older sister of Meiying) became very sick. Doctors diagnosed a terminal illness and said there was nothing they could do. They encouraged Meichun to go home, put her affairs in order, and prepare to die. Instead, she went to her sister Meiying’s house and asked the Shi family to pray for her. According to one report, “Several days went by, and Meichun’s condition fluctuated between satisfactory and poor. Her mother prepared to find a vehicle to take her home, but Meichun suddenly stopped breathing and died.”[1]

In China, when a person dies while they are guests in someone else’s house, the host family is often considered legally responsible. Because they were widely known for operating an illegal house church, the Shi family were worried the authorities might use the death as an excuse to persecute them. The Shi’s second son, Wuming, went to the local police station and reported the death. The other family members stayed at home and packed their bags in expectation of being arrested. They prayed fervently, committing their lives into the hands of God. Several Public Security Bureau officers came to the Shi home and arrested all except the youngest children.

The family of the dead woman filed an official charge in the court, listing Shi Lishi and her son, Shi Wuting, as co-murderers. A remarkable scene unfolded at the packed courtroom the next day. Shi Lishi was on trial first. She told the truth about the dead woman’s terminal illness and how her family had only tried to pray for her. This incensed the judge, who instructed the guards to kick her to the ground. They then beat her with batons until she passed out. A bucket of cold water was thrown on Shi Lishi to revive her, but she still refused to confess to a crime she didn’t commit.

The infuriated judge sent Lishi back to the prison cell. On the way, the bloodied and bruised woman passed some of her crying children. She whispered to them, “Children, remain strong. We are considered worthy to suffer reproach for the Lord.” Next it was the Shi Wuting’s turn to be interrogated, followed by Wuming. When “the two brothers returned to the cell they were an unrecognizable mass of purple bruises and bloody wounds.”[2]

The same pattern continued with the testimony of three of the children, but each member of the Shi family claimed responsibility for Meichun’s death, leaving the judge dumfounded and amazed. He had never seen anything like it in his many years presiding over criminal cases. On all other occasions an accused murderer would do everything they could to deny guilt, but here each new witness personally claimed responsibility. Such was the love this family had for God and for one another! They preferred to take the punishment upon themselves than to see their mother or another family member suffer for a crime they didn’t commit.

Finally, the 16-year-old Shi Xiaoxiu was brought in. The judge was sure he would be able to make this skinny girl admit to who had committed the murder, so he spoke to her in a nice manner. Xiaoxiu calmly denied any laws had been broken, and told the judge if anyone was responsible it should be her and her little sister, for they had prayed for Meichun more than anyone else! The judge angrily struck the bench and shouted,

“‘You have the nerve! You are so young and yet you dare to deceive the People’s government. How could two mere children cause someone to die? Little child, I promise you there is no heaven for you here. If you continue to be stubborn and resist I will sentence you to eight or ten years in prison. Your future will be finished! Don’t think this is some game.’

Still maintaining her composure, Xiaoxiu replied, ‘My future is not determined by this world but by heaven…. Since I have fallen into your hands I have no plans to return home. My family is prepared to finish the course our Lord Jesus has determined for us.”[3]

The Shi family was held in prison while the judge pondered the verdict. Although she had done nothing wrong, some of the cruellest punishment was metered out on Shi Meizhen, the 24-year-old daughter. She was engaged to a primary school teacher, but her fiancé called the wedding off after her arrest. The prison guards were especially pitiless to her. One witness said, “After several forced confession sessions and severe physical punishment, Meizhen was so badly beaten that there was not a square inch of her body where her skin had not been broken or scarred.”[4]

The public sentencing for the Shi family was set for the morning of August 30, 1983. A theatre in Shanzui village was used for the spectacle. The whole community was present, and not a single seat was left empty. The assembled crowd gasped and shrieked as Shi Lishi (the mother) and Shi Wuting (the oldest son) were sentenced to death.

Meiying, the sister of the deceased woman, was sentenced to life in prison for her ‘part’ in the murder, while the bold Meizhen received a sentence of 15 years. Shi Wuhao was given ten years, Shi Wuming four years, while the bold 16-year-old Xiaoxiu was sent to prison for two years for having the courage to tell the truth in court. The father of the family, Shi Gushen, and his brother Shi Guzhen, were imprisoned for two months each. The court room then heard a “sound like a thud, and someone fell on the floor, followed by cries like that of a pig being slaughtered. ‘Daughters, Mother has done you harm!’”[5] wailed Meiying’s mother. The grieving mother of the deceased girl had intended to use her bitterness to wreak vengeance on the Shi family, but she had never imagined two of her own daughters would be punished so severely, including a life sentence for her oldest daughter. She knew she would never see her again.

When the condemned Shi Wuting passed his wife in the hallway of the prison, the handcuffed and bruised 35-year-old told her:

“Meiying, my beloved wife, why are you crying? How can I not drink the cup that the Lord has given me? Don’t you realize that we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord? Therefore, whether we live or die we are the Lord’s? Beloved Meiying, it is only that I will be one step ahead of you. Before too long, we will be together again, never to be apart. Don’t be sad. Be strong and courageous. Whatever happens, you must live fully for the Lord. Don’t waste any time.”[6]

For the last two weeks of her life, Meiying shared the same cell as her mother-in-law. One night they both dreamed that

“they saw themselves dressed in white robes with beautiful wings flying through the dark clouds above the atmosphere to heaven! They flew higher and higher! Then they saw ‘The Beloved’. His hands were stretched out to receive them. With great emotion they went towards Him, and He stretched out scarred hands to wipe the tears from their eyes.”[7]

On September 14, 1983, Shi Lishi and her son Shi Wuting were taken to an execution ground at a place known as ‘Frog Mountain’. Wuting briefly saw his wife, and said, “Meiying, I will go first. I will wait for you in Father’s house. Goodbye!” The condemned Christians were perfectly calm and smiled to their friends and relatives. There was no fear. The house church historian Danyun recalled the moment when the mother and son left this world for their heavenly reward:

“Mrs. Shi turned towards the soldier at her side and smilingly asked him, ‘Can I be allowed to pray?’ The soldier nodded his silent approval. Mother and son knelt down, lifted up their heads heavenwards and prayed to the Saviour who created heaven and earth: ‘We ask you to forgive our country and our people for the sin of persecuting us. Save our country and the people. Forgive the sins of those who harmed us. Lord, we ask you to receive our spirits.

Bang! Bang!

Blood spurted out of Mother’s head and her soul entered Paradise. Wuting, however, was not yet dead. He turned to look at the soldiers behind him and saw they were so frozen with fear they could not fire a second time. But two other soldiers…raised their pistols and fired at Wuting. He slumped over, his brains and blood splattered all over the ground. Suddenly, there was a heavy downpour, with thunder and lightning flashing. But all the rain could not wash away the blood of the innocent that was spilled there on the execution ground.”[8]

Meiying and Meizhen heeded the exhortations of Lishi and Wuting. They lived for the Lord in prison, and wasted no opportunity to share the gospel. In time they became the leaders of a small fellowship group in the prison.

When the surviving family members collected the two martyrs’ bodies for burial they found a note in Wuting’s coat pocket. It said:

“It is now finished. Do not be sorrowful for me. I am only going to that place before you. Love the Lord fervently and hold steadfast to His Word. Later, you will also go to the Heavenly Father and meet me. He that endures to the end shall be saved. For my funeral, make it very simple. Take care of the two children and let them know that I died for the Lord.”[9]

1. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns (Kent, England: Sovereign World Books, 1991), 218.
2. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 222.
3. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 223.
4. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 225.
5. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 228.
6. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 230.
7. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 231.
8. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 234-235.
9. Danyun, Lilies Amongst Thorns, 236-237.