Peter Lee

Taken from two Apostolic Faith papers published in the late 1950’s:

When the Almighty Creator made the "one kind of flesh of men" (1 Corinthians 15:39), He created them all with the same spiritual desire and the same spiritual need—deliverance from the bondage of sin and sinful habits.

In 1862, Peter Lee was born in China to generations of idol worshipers, and he too, grew to worship the idols. When he was thirty-one years old, he said farewell to his wife and children, and leaving them with his mother in China, went to Australia to seek his fortune. For ten years, he operated a restaurant there and then returned to China.

That same year, he decided to travel again and came to Portland, Oregon, where he became the proprietor of the Shanghai Restaurant, which was popular with newsmen.

After a time, he became a member of a Chinese mission and forsook his idol worship. He thought this made him a Christian, but the Lord spoke to him saying, “You hypocrite! You hypocrite!” He was astonished and realized that he needed to seek the Lord for real salvation.

In 1913, he was invited to attend an Apostolic Faith meeting, and prayed. God gave him a genuine knowledge of salvation. He then wrote to his wife about the great change which had taken place in his heart, and he asked her forgiveness for his unkind treatment of her. Eventually she too, became a Christian.

He tried to bring his family to Portland, but it was a futile effort and his wife and two of his daughters died in China. In 1948, the remaining daughter and her husband moved to New York.  Upon her husband’s death, she received a letter saying that her aged father longed to see her and had been praying that Jesus would come into her heart. She agreed to visit Portland.

The plane bearing the daughter landed in Portland very early one morning, and after she had a little rest, she met her father at the church. At the close of the service, the two of them walked down the aisle and knelt at the altar together. There, she found salvation. Now, the two of them live in Portland together, worshiping the God who has washed away their sins.

The daughter speaks very little English, but reads her Chinese Bible and expresses her love for Jesus and joy at being able to attend church with her father. At age ninety-seven, Brother Peter still loves to tell what God has done for him. Here is his testimony in his own words:

I praise God for wonderful Gospel. God spoke to my heart, “You hypocrite! You Hypocrite!” I don't know what is the matter. Bible in my pocket. What shall I do? Go to my room, kneel on my two knees, open my Bible, read Nicodemus come to Jesus by night. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” I said to God, “How to be born again?” I said, “Oh, Lord, help me!” He said, “Go to Apostolic Faith Mission on Burnside.” I heard a brother testify there many times, but I said, “I don't believe it.”

Then a brother talk to me. He said, “You come to the mission hall and you will see. You kneel, and when God take your sins away, you will know it.”

Next Sunday night, I come to the Hall, kneel on my knees, said, “Dear Father, You save my soul and take my sins away.” I get it! I know it! God take my sins away, and I know it. I say, “Glory to God, Jesus Christ call me to come here.” God call me. God love me. In a few minutes God come into my heart, blot out every sin.

What I do? I go home to my room. Chinese gin in my room. I throw it away! God cleaned my heart—I never touch again. I found Him. He called me.

My wife sick in China—consumption, blood in her mouth. I buy a handkerchief, take it on platform. These ministers pray. I send handkerchief to my wife. My boy write and say, “Mamma healed.” Glory to God! I am so glad the people prayed for me.