Brother Jacob, a young preacher from northern China, delivered a sermon at an event in 2017. Afterward, a believer named Xiaoli asked him to help find a suitable match for her elder sister, Sister Grace. Jacob added Grace's contact information, but the two did not stay in touch.
After graduating from university, Sister Grace encountered the church through her workplace. Following a missionary training session, she became convinced that mission work was her life's calling and began preparing for it. Around that time, the church launched piano classes, which she joined actively, practicing nightly after work. A year later, her instructor invited her to teach at a piano institution. As her skills matured, some encouraged her to marry, believing a couple could better support each other in mission work. It was 2007, and although she met several potential partners, none resulted in marriage.
Prompted by Xiaoli's reminder, Jacob decided in 2019 to learn more about Grace and seek suitable candidates for her. During their first phone call, Grace shared her personal background. As their conversation deepened, Jacob increasingly felt, "Isn't this the person I have been looking for?"
Afterward, they continued to share their Bible-reading reflections, exchange sermons, and discuss their personal experiences over the phone. For seven months, their communication remained by phone, and they never met face-to-face. Eventually, Jacob traveled to her city to visit the ailing parents of a believer.
One week before his visit, Grace often found herself unable to sleep. During prayer, she sensed a voice saying, "You will surely marry, and I will bring you a brother." The night before Jacob's arrival, she received another impression in prayer: "The brother is on his way." Unsure whether this referred to Jacob, she prayed, "If it is him, please let him recognize me."
During their meeting, Grace nodded frequently as they talked. Finally, Jacob told her, "I recognize you." When she asked what he meant, he replied, "I recognize you as bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."
Although her prayers had been answered, Grace initially struggled to accept it, overwhelmed by her fear of marriage and the unexpectedness of the situation. Later, she reflected, "When we met, Brother Jacob spoke while I simply listened and nodded. Isn't this exactly what I hoped for—the spiritual unity, shared purpose, and missionary vision? His words gave me the confirmation I needed." Over time, through continued prayer and mutual affirmation, their conviction about each other deepened.
When they were preparing for their wedding, Jacob's family wasn't wealthy, and he himself had almost no savings, but Grace was unconcerned. Her parents also posed no obstacles and quickly agreed to the marriage. Though materially lacking, God did not abandon His servants. At the time, a preacher's family in the city where Jacob served was relocating and leaving behind a substantial amount of high-quality furniture and appliances, enough to fully furnish their home.
Grace often witnesses God's faithfulness through him. She has seen his WeChat balance nearly reach zero many times, yet whenever urgent needs arise, fellow believers are moved to help. She confessed, "I am truly living a life of faith alongside Brother Jacob."
God not only cared for their lives but also blessed them with offspring. Jacob had longed for children after marriage, yet after three years, Grace had not conceived. This year, however, a checkup unexpectedly revealed that she was pregnant. Initially, Jacob worried about her health and the challenges of raising a child, but he soon reflected, "Why am I returning to the same anxieties as everyone else? Why have I not fully trusted God?" The child's arrival has since drawn him back to God's presence and reliance on Him.
They continue to cherish their dream of missionary work, and Grace is learning and preparing for it. At the same time, they are aware of their current responsibilities: raising their child together and, in the place entrusted to them, becoming a source of comfort to others through their ministry and the challenges they face. Jacob also hopes that, in the future, the Lord will use their family of three even more greatly for His work.
("Sister Xiaoli" and "Sister Grace" are used as pseudonyms for safety reasons.)
Originally published by the Christian Times
-Edited by Katherine Guo and translated by Poppy Chan
