Page 47 - Abilene Living

The events at Tiananmen Square in China during the spring of 1989 changed the country. Students and intellectuals led the protests for economic reform and liberalization.

Daiqing and Rose returned to China for a while to witness to Christians in the “underground church.” He remained politically active for his country. Soon after the birth of their second daughter, and the revelation of their third, they realized they would have to return to the United States permanently to avoid China’s abortion laws.

Christian in China, there is no other way. Yuan speaks fondly of the Chinese believers. “I brought knowledge to them, but they taught me spiritual life.”

Along their journey, the couple found out they were pregnant with their second child. Though this brought great joy for the parents, in China, pregnancies after the frstborn are aborted. This newfound reality is what brought them back to Texas. They returned to China after the birth, but the “surprise” pregnancy of a third child moved them back for good.

When asked about his transition from China to America, he spoke as a true missionary. “China is a better mission feld, but I see America as a mission feld now.” Not knowing

exactly what direction to take after graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary, Yuan decided to fast and pray for forty days. It was during this time that a letter came from Abilene. They needed a pastor. “I wanted to be a missionary while I was younger - go to the front lines. But when I’m middle aged, I prayed that God would make me a pastor, so I can serve people in real life, and be more settled for my children.” God granted him exactly that.

Pastor is his title today at Abilene Bible Church. Yuan made clear the respect he has for the men who paved the way for the church, referencing the father and son team of Joe and Tim Temple. “I feel like the church has a good tradition in teaching the Bible and the full truth, and I’m going to carry