II. Their First Personal Contact

Brother Du and Witness Lee then went to their former denomination and proposed that they invite Watchman Nee to come speak to them. Although they had left that denomination, they left them with a very good impression. They accepted their proposal and invited Watchman Nee to come speak. When Du Chung-chin was returning to Shanghai, Witness Lee asked him to extend his invitation to Watchman Nee to come visit their town, which he did. At the same time the Southern Baptist Seminary in Hwang-Hsien, a city close to Chefoo, also invited Watchman Nee to speak there. In the summer of 1932, he came to speak at these two places. Witness Lee, with others, went to meet the steamship on which he was arriving, and when Watchman Nee and Witness Lee saw each other, immediately they knew one another. They had corresponded with each other for some time, and there was a mutual recognition. Watchman Nee spoke with Witness Lee of the things that were on his heart. He spoke to a large crowd for approximately one week in the auditorium of the Chinese Independent Church. Witness Lee received much help from his messages, and following that conference he also accompanied Watchman Nee to the Southern Baptist Seminary in Hwang-Hsien.

Watchman Nee put himself into Witness Lee’s hands and spoke with him of the things that were on his heart

In those years the Pentecostal movement was very strong in north China, and the seminary where Watchman Nee spoke had come under the influence of this movement. In those meetings Witness Lee saw for the first time the practices of the Pentecostals. Some were jumping, some were laughing, and some were shouting. After the presiding pastor, with some effort, calmed down the meeting, Watchman Nee gave his message. He gave an inspiring word on the gospel of God’s love from Luke 15.

Following the first meeting, Watchman Nee and Witness Lee walked home together. On the way Witness Lee said, “What kind of way is this to have meetings-shouting, jumping, and rolling?” He replied that in the New Testament there are no ordinances telling us how we should meet. His word shocked Witness Lee and made him wonder whether Watchman Nee was agreeable with those practices of the Pentecostal movement. Eventually, Witness Lee discovered that Watchman Nee did not agree with that kind of practice, but neither would he insist on any outward form.

Witness Lee was staying in the seminary dormitory. One afternoon while a Pentecostal meeting was being held in which Brother Watchman Nee was not speaking, Witness Lee stayed in his room to have some time with the Lord. He read Isaiah 44:22 and deeply sensed as he read, “Return unto Me, for I have redeemed you,” that the Lord was calling him to serve Him. He deeply felt that the Lord gave him verse 21 as a promise: “You are My servant; you will not be forgotten by Me.” Also verse 23 seemed to be a clear word to him concerning the goal of His calling: “Jehovah has been glorified in Israel.” The Lord’s presence was very real to him there, and he was thoroughly anointed, refreshed with His Spirit, and filled with joy and encouragement.

The Lord’s presence was very real to him there, and he was thoroughly anointed, refreshed with His Spirit, and filled with joy and encouragement

Following the meetings at the seminary, Watchman Nee returned to Chefoo and stayed in Witness Lee’s home for two or three days. They had some excellent fellowship concerning the Lord’s interest.

While staying in his home, Watchman Nee asked Witness Lee to introduce him to Mr. Burnet, the founder of the Newton Brethren Assembly in Witness Lee’s hometown. Mr. Burnet was an aged man and an excellent Bible teacher who had learned at the feet of the Brethren teacher Benjamin Newton. At the time the three of them came together, Witness Lee realized that Mr. Burnet did not appreciate Watchman Nee’s testimony for the Lord. Mr. Burnet stressed the accuracy of biblical knowledge, while Watchman Nee emphasized the necessity of life.

Witness Lee’s time with Watchman Nee during those days deeply impressed him with the sweetness, loveliness, attractiveness, and newness of the Lord. Those days provided a new start for him in following the Lord and caused him to have a basic turn from knowledge to life. Because of those days with Watchman Nee, Witness Lee began to have fellowship with the Lord in a more intimate way. The Lord became more precious to him. That experience was even greater than his experience of salvation. Those days in 1932 with Watchman Nee affected his pathway in the Lord for the rest of his life. For eternity Witness Lee would never forget those days! What a mercy and grace it was to him.

The day before he left, Watchman Nee charged Witness Lee to do nothing after his departure; otherwise, others would think he was following him. Witness Lee replied, “How could I do anything? In this town no one is standing with me.”

Because of those days with Watchman Nee, Witness Lee began to have fellowship with the Lord in a more intimate way. The Lord became more precious to him

But on the day of Watchman Nee’s departure, something happened. In the evening a brother who was a member of the board of the denomination Witness Lee had left came to ask Watchman Nee if he would help another believer in distress. When Witness Lee told him that Watchman Nee was gone, they agreed to have a time of fellowship together. It was summer, so they went down to the beach. After a lengthy time of fellowship, about ten o’clock that night, this brother turned to him and said, “You must baptize me tonight in the sea.” After much hesitation, he did it. Through this event a meeting started in Witness Lee’s home. He wrote to Watchman Nee explaining what had taken place.

Watchman Nee Visits Witness Lee

Watchman Nee came in April of the following year to confirm and strengthen them in the Lord’s recovery and was a guest in Witness Lee’s home for about ten days. Watchman Nee ministered to them in the Shanghai meeting hall in the evenings and spoke to the denominational Christians in the Chinese Independent Church auditorium in the mornings. His messages greatly edified all the attendants and helped the building up of the church there in the Lord’s recovery.

At this time Witness Lee related how the Lord had called him to serve Him when they were in Hwang-Hsien the year before. To this Watchman Nee made no comment.