Zhiming Yuan of China

The author, once an atheist pursuing a doctorate in philosophy, describes how encountering the love of Christians, the life of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit led him to faith in 1991 and eventually to decades of ministry among Chinese Christians. Although his initial experience of Jesus was filled with joy and wonder, he became troubled by the theological divisions, legalism, and religious structures that seemed to overshadow Christ Himself. This led him to refocus on Jesus as the center of Christian faith and to understand his calling as sharing the “heavenly bread”—revealing Jesus through Scripture so others can know and experience Him. A vision of water becoming bread and being distributed to the world deepened this sense of mission, inspiring him to write about Jesus despite feeling inadequate to describe His greatness. Ultimately, he hopes to explore the life and essence of Jesus with others, moving beyond religious complexity to a deeper appreciation of Christ’s grace, truth, and presence.

Focus on Jesus

I was originally an atheist while I was a pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Renmin University of China.  In 1991, while working as a visiting scholar at Princeton University in the United States, I was drawn by the love of Christians, shaken by the life of Jesus, called by the Holy Spirit, and baptized into the faith.

In 1992, I attended Reformed Theological Seminary in the United States for further studies. Since graduating in 1995, I have been immersed in ministry to the Chinese community: editing magazines, producing films, preaching, organizing "Heavenly Songs" events, and conducting online missions.

My initial encounter with Jesus felt like the experience of Mr. Lin Yutang, the famous Chinese writer who searched all his life for a spiritual home and finally found Jesus: “The sun has risen, so blow out the candles!” The immense grace, truth, power, sacrifice, and divine vision of Jesus left me momentarily stunned and filled with exceeding joy.

At the same time, I began to encounter Christian culture, where various theologies, denominations, and legalisms, accompanied by strife, judgment, and internal friction, overwhelmed me wave after wave. Jesus remained, yet His living, flesh-and-blood presence no longer seemed to be the focus of attention; Christ had been diluted, and even submerged, by the religious structures of Christianity.

Refocusing on Jesus

Long before believing in the Lord, I noticed that Christianity was gradually declining. Eventually, Jesus revealed the reason to me, for He says: "Apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:5-6)

Later, I discovered that the Holy Spirit had long ago enabled many people to see this crucial point. For example, the theologian John Stott stated in his book Focus on Jesus: “What I want to say is that true Christian faith and authentic Christian living must be Christ-centered.”

The preacher Charles Spurgeon said: “Christianity once separated from Christ is like a day without the sun, a night without the stars, an ocean without seawater, a river without a current, a year without a harvest, a body without a soul, salt without savor, and a throne without a Lord.”

In fact, the Scriptures had already stated it quite clearly, as Jesus said: 

• "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
• "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." (John 1:18)
• "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." (Colossians 2:9)
• "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11)

I saw Jesus looking down upon me from above the surging and clamorous sea.

A Vision from Heaven

Once while on a flight, I dreamt that a pillar of water descending from heaven. I stood in the midst of that pillar, with the water pouring over me. Later, the water pillar transformed into a long loaf of bread, extending into the heavens, suspended in midair. I was holding the bread with both hands. Then suddenly, a knife appeared in my right hand, and I began to slice the bread from the bottom, bit by bit, and the slices fell one by one to the ground.

When I awoke, two phrases immediately surfaced in my mind: “Heavenly Bread” and the “Distribution of Bread.”

What is the Heavenly Bread? Jesus said: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." (John 6:32-35)

What is the Distribution of Bread? To distribute bread is to explain and reveal Jesus from the Scriptures for everyone to see and for everyone to consume. (Luke 24:27; Acts 8:30-31)

This vision became an inescapable inward mission for me. In 2008, I wrote in my journal: “Before the Second Coming of Jesus, I have been commissioned to do this work. Since I have already made a covenant with Him to write plainly according to His will, I am determined to consecrate myself so that my days may be worthy of this task. I also know that those who join me in this work are blessed, for Jesus will tightly embrace both them and me.”

Writing about Jesus

When I first entered seminary, an instructor told me that Jesus is like primary school, whereas Paul is like university. He said the Gospels are like basic arithmetic, whereas the book of Romans is like calculus. Hearing these words made me very uncomfortable, yet I was unable to refute them.

Regardless of how simple the words and deeds of Jesus may appear, the words of Paul deeply resonate with me: “The mystery of God is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ”(Colossians 2:2-3)

Since it is a mystery, how could it be written down? Every time I begin to write, I feel my insufficiency, sensing that the Jesus that I attempt to describe is a far cry from the Jesus in my spirit. I once wrote: “Jesus is a heavenly song. I cannot help but open my mouth to sing, yet I must also stop, because this song is too magnificent and too profound; I lack the ability to chant it, and the world cannot contain it.”

The Framework of Focus on Jesus

For many years, I have paid close attention to books about Jesus. I found those writing about the life of Jesus, those writing about the deeds and words of Jesus, those writing about the doctrines of Jesus, and even those writing about the influence of Jesus, yet I could not find a book that writes about the life-essence of Jesus, nor one that breaks open the life of Jesus piece by piece.

I know that Jesus has called me to do this task. I also know that I am unworthy to do this task. What I can do is dive deeply into the details of the life of Jesus together with everyone, appreciate the grace of His life together, and savor the fragrance of His life together.

• China Soul Foundation (YouTube): Founded in 1999, China Soul for Christ Foundation is a leading Chinese Christian media organization based in California, United States. -China Soul
• Focus on Jesus (YouTube): Focus on Jesus is a 120 sermon series by Pastor Zhiming Yuan. Originally in Mandarin, these sermons have received 3.5 million views on YouTube alone, and 1.5 million more on a dedicated Website for Mainland China viewers

Zhiming also References Xiao Min (Lü Xiaomin) a self-taught Chinese Christian songwriter helped shape the worship life of generations of believers through simple, heartfelt hymns rooted in prayer, revival, and the mission of the church.

Born into a farming family in China, Xiao Min dropped out of school because of health problems.  After coming to Christ, she began writing hymns to express her faith and was imprisoned for a time.  Without musical training, Xiao Min has composed nearly 2000 songs, which are used in churches throughout China and abroad. Links to some of Xiao Min’s songs in her music CD The Love of Cross, translated into English by Mrs. Anita Ho.

More information About Xiao Min: 

Lü Xiaomin, a Chinese Christian woman who has written more than 2,200 worship songs despite never receiving formal musical training. Known as “Sister Xiaomin,” she says her songs come through prayer and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Her journey: Born into a non-Christian Hui family, Lü became a Christian at 19 after struggling with chronic illness and being introduced to church by her aunt. She later joined the Fangcheng Fellowship, a large Chinese house-church network, where a powerful worship experience led her to write her first hymn, “Bring Your Joy.”

How the hymns spread: During the revival of Christianity in China in the 1980s and 1990s, believers carried recordings of her songs from rural house churches to communities across the country. The hymns became especially meaningful to Christians who faced hardship, persecution, and limited financial support for ministry.

What the songs express: Her early hymns often focused on asking God for strength, mercy, and revival. As the Chinese church grew, her music increasingly emphasized God’s love, Christian unity, evangelism, and China’s mission to share the gospel. More recently, her songs have addressed crises such as COVID-19 and encouraged believers to remain faithful during difficult times.

Criticism and influence: Some Christians feel her hymns are too focused on China or sound old-fashioned. Lü responds that worship songs should serve as a means of confession, prayer, evangelism, and mission—not simply as polished artistic products. Younger musicians are now adapting her songs for contemporary audiences, while Chinese churches in the United States, Australia, and elsewhere continue to sing them.

Main takeaway: The article presents Lü’s life as an example of how worship can grow from ordinary believers, personal faith, and difficult circumstances. Her enduring influence comes less from musical expertise than from the way her songs have helped Chinese Christians express their faith, endure suffering, and feel connected to one another.

-Christianity Today