Peaceful Night
A Persecuted Church Story
Jun and Hua are a young Christian couple in Asia raising two young daughters and working to equip churches to do effective children’s ministry. Though the government is working to restrict the spread of the Christian faith, Jun and Hua are finding creative ways to spread the gospel.
However, when their friends start to get arrested for their outreach efforts, it becomes clear that Jun and Hua are no longer safe–they must leave their country. Even amidst the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, this young family experiences God’s mercy and protection, and the true peace that comes from following Him.
Christmas in China
In Chinese, Christmas Eve is called “Píng’ ān yè,” or “Peaceful Night,” taken from the Chinese translation of the beloved Christmas Carol “Silent Night.” This sounds similar to the Chinese word for “apple,” so it has become a tradition to paint apples and exchange them with friends and family on Christmas Eve!
Christianity in China
Jun, Hua, Yan, and Ling were part of a small but strong community of Christians in China. Practicing Christianity in China can be dangerous, as the government strictly regulates the operation of churches and surveillance is common. As seen in this story, there are sometimes scary consequences for participating in or organizing Christian activities!
However, even amidst these challenges, many churches are still finding creative ways to spread the good news of the Gospel, and the Church continues to grow. Remember Christians in China in your prayers!
Resources for Further Learning
Want to learn more about Christianity in China? Here are some resources to explore about how God has used missionaries throughout history to grow the Church in this country!
John and Betty Stam
Almost 100 years before the events of Peaceful Night, John and Betty Stam also faced persecution for their faith in China. Amidst the expansion of the Communist armies, this missionary couple made the ultimate sacrifice, but their legacy of faith lives on.
Hudson Taylor
In the late 1800s, Hudson Taylor faced many trials and tribulations bringing God’s truth to China. He founded China Inland Mission, known today as Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF), which has over 2,500 individuals serving countries across East Asia.
Behind the Scenes
The Artists
Bethany and Olivia Moy have worked on many BVI projects, including Peaceful Night! These sisters are incredibly talented, and we greatly value the time and effort they put into bringing this story to life for you. Other projects they’ve illustrated include two Family Worship books: Mark’s Gospel and Philipians, Filling a Little Space, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, and The Life and Death of David Brainerd.