David Mao

Honorary Priest of West Chester: David Mao

~ Years of Walking with God~ God’s Faithful Servant – Pastor David

Mao Pastor Mao was born before liberation, when the Kuomintang was still ruling mainland China, Hebei Governor Yuan is now in the countryside of Lugang Township. The title of “Chairman of the Philadelphia City Pastors’ Union” cannot be compared with Chairman Mao who was born in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, but the title of “Chairman Mao” is absolutely genuine and cannot be faked. Pastor Mao has retired in 2004, and now his eyes are not dim and his spirit is not declining (Deuteronomy 34:7). He is like Caleb, one of the spies in the book of Exodus, how strong he was when he was young, he is still the same now. (Jos 14:11) I still remember that in October 2000, we drove together to Rago Church, New Jersey, to attend a lecture on “Bible preaching” by Paul Shen. Tanks generally “fight forward”.

There are seven brothers and sisters of Pastor Mao, all of them are alive except one who passed away. Because their mother is a devout Christian, they all went to church when they were in elementary school. In the second half of 1946, his family was beaten into the landlord struggle, and he was swept out of the house. He also went into exile with the school. In the second half of 1947, he joined the army and was admitted to the “Armored Armored Mechanization School”. After more than a year, he moved to Qingquangang, Taichung, Taiwan. His salvation and devotion to preaching were full of miraculous experiences: A few months after he arrived in Taiwan, he was unfortunately found to have stage 3 bilateral lung disease and was admitted to the intensive ward of “Military Rear 52 Hospital”. When I learned that I was suffering from a terminal illness at that time, it was really hopeless. Fortunately, Mrs. Jiang Soong Meiling, the wife of former President Chiang Kai-shek, sent the resident pastor to preach the gospel to him. Because of God’s love, mercy and grace, he chose him to become a Christian; not only did he open his heart to welcome Jesus as the Savior, but he also personal master. Since then, he has had the hope of eternal life, putting personal life and death aside, and he knows who he believes in; reading the Bible, memorizing it, and praying every day to share the gospel of the “word of eternal life” with others . Two years later, joined the church service team and participated in visits. Teach Sunday school, testify at family gatherings, serve as a deacon and preach on Sundays.

In 1954, he received special favor from God, and was miraculously cured and discharged from the hospital. He first worked as a preacher in the church, and entered the Lutheran Bible College the following year for further study; while continuing his studies, he practiced in the church, in addition to teaching Sunday school, and tutoring young people. After graduation, he had to serve in the “Chinese Lutheran Church Gospel Church” in Miaoli, from developing a church to building a new chapel. Six years later, he was invited to continue his ministry at the “Chinese Lutheran Church Victory Church” on Guangfu Road, Hsinchu City, Taiwan. The church is located opposite Tsinghua University. During those 23 years, he also bought land from scratch to build a new chapel, and God will also make friends. Add to Victory Church, so the church continues to grow year by year. In addition to pastoring the church, he also served as the supervisor of the China Lutheran Federation for 11 years, and taught part-time at the China Lutheran Theological Seminary for 15 years, and finally changed to a full-time teaching position. From 1971 to 1973, he was sent to the Los Angeles Bible Institute to continue his studies, taking root in God’s word.

In 1981, the newly established “Wilmington Lord’s Grace Church” invited Pastor Mao to lead the retirement group, preach on every Sunday, and participate in different Bible study meetings. During this one-month stay, I lived in different families and shared my personal burden on the American pastoral church. During prayer, God revealed His will to the church members and pastor. Later came to Wilmington from Taiwan for reunion.

Madam Mao is an authentic Taiwanese Hakka, diligent and self-sufficient. She is proficient in everything from playing the piano, singing, tailoring, vegetable gardening, and Hakka cooking. Before her spinal injury, she had been a good helper for the pastor’s visit and worship service (playing piano), but now she is no longer in battle, but retreats to the rear to guard the equipment (2 Samuel 30:10, 24), and uses “knees” ( Prayer on behalf of) to serve, often fasting and praying for the people, the church and the country, and now I have been favored by God, and my illness has greatly improved. My wife is a southerner who likes to eat rice, but she married Pastor Mao, who was born in the north and loves steamed bread and noodles. Song of Solomon 4:16 “North wind, rise! South wind, blow! Blow in my garden, Let the aroma in it come out.” The north wind is bitter and the south wind is hot and so-called, but they are in opposite directions, but as the poems record, they have loved each other and walked hand in hand for more than 40 years. Their beloved son, Peter, can play the electronic piano well. Unexpectedly, his illness relapsed at the age of 30. He was taken back to his heavenly home by the Lord in 1991. In the hospital, he was still obsessed with the salvation of his friend’s soul, and even bought a Bible and sent it to others go. How could the white-haired send the black-haired? But they were able to hold fast to what Job said for many years: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21) Position, never deviate from the main road. Oh, what a faithful servant of God! Daughter Aisheng has married, has been playing the piano in the church and choir, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband who is a doctor.

In February 1998, Pastor Mao introduced “Three Blessings” (church cultivation, evangelism, discipleship training), which greatly doubled the number of members of the Two Lord Grace Church, leading the church to go beyond the “Comfort Zone”. Pity for the displaced and lost souls. In the years to come, the present Lord’s Grace Church will take into account the growth of “Quantity”, “Quality” and “Momentum” in order to satisfy God’s will to build our church.

God’s grace is rich and full, and the Lord Grace Church successively established the English department in 1996. In 1992, God gave a vision, so that all the members (about 60) at that time had the same moving and seeing, and agreed with one heart. A new chapel was built, and the project was completed and dedicated in June of the following year. At the same time, Easter 2000 also established a branch in Westchester, Pennsylvania, taking a small step towards the Great Commission of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 2:2 “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others.”

The famous words of Marshal Douglas McArthur (1880-1964): “Veterans do not die, but (Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.) (April 19, 1951 Joint Conference of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives), in the kingdom of God, I believe that this faithful and good “old soldier” will definitely retire endlessly.

May God deeply bless him, his wife, and the family that loves his life, and also commemorate the lame doctor who sacrificed himself on the altar for the kingdom of God, the church and the Lord’s sheep, and there will be a crown in heaven as a faithful servant. He remains