Shi Lishi and Shi Wuting

Shi Lishi and Shi Wuting were house church leaders in Henan Province who became known among local believers for steady shepherding, prayer, and practical compassion. Accounts describe them as men who did not separate gospel proclamation from mercy: they visited the weak, encouraged the fearful, and cared for those society overlooked. Their ministry was carried out in unregistered gatherings, where faith was often practiced quietly yet boldly, with Scripture, hymns, and mutual aid shaping daily life.

Henan Province House Churches (Early 1980s)

Henan’s house churches grew through family networks and small meetings, especially in rural communities where hardship made spiritual hunger more visible. Unregistered believers were frequently treated as disruptive or suspect, and leaders could be targeted as “threats” simply for organizing prayer and discipleship outside approved structures. In this environment, courage often looked ordinary: opening a home, sharing food, tending the sick, and refusing to deny Christ when questioned.

Execution of September 14, 1983

On September 14, 1983, Shi Lishi and Shi Wuting were executed in Henan after being accused of murder—an accusation remembered by many as a pretext following their prayer and compassionate care for a terminally ill woman. The Shi family reportedly anticipated reprisals, yet continued serving in Christ’s name, choosing mercy over fear. Their deaths exposed the harsh cost of discipleship for unregistered believers and underscored that faithful love can be misread as danger in times of suspicion.

Scripture prepares believers for such trials: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet Christ also names the blessing that rulers cannot erase: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

Legacy and Christian Witness

The witness of Shi Lishi and Shi Wuting endures as a portrait of steadfast faith: praying without bitterness, serving without calculation, and entrusting justice to God. Their story encourages believers to hold fast under pressure, love neighbors in costly ways, and resist evil’s demand to answer cruelty with cruelty: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).