A Brotherly Tribute to Br. Joseph Yang

 Furthermore we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you and take the lead among you in the Lord and admonish you, And to regard them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, RecVer)

Br. Joseph Yang was specially gifted by the Lord in shepherding the saints and the new ones in a very fine and detailed way, yet all in a hidden way. The Lord sovereignly used him in my life while I was struggling inwardly to take spiritual turns. At some crucial junctures, amidst my inward struggles, on my spiritual journeys forward, he was very instrumental in shepherding me step by step and ushering me into the church life in the Lord’s recovery. Below are some instances where the Lord used him to shepherd me.

In Discerning My Inward Struggles

In 2002, as a student seeking the Lord for His leading concerning the church and not being satisfied with the degraded and denominated system of Christianity, I was spiritually stuck not knowing how to go on. I was desperately praying for a clear sky whether to leave the denomination I was in. At that juncture, I came into contact with the saints and Br. Joseph Yang took a special interest on me. One day, he visited my hostel room and brought a book by Witness Lee, The Genuine Ground of Oneness. He proposed that we read that book together weekly. As we read a few pages in ch.1, my spiritual eyes were opened, I felt light dawning within, and I knew immediately that this book addressed the very questions I had on the ground of the church. After a few pages of reading in turns, he paused, stopped the meeting, and proposed to meet again the next week to continue the reading. Deep within, I saw light dawning concerning the questions on oneness and division. I just tasted something I had been longing for! After he left, I continued reading the book until I finished the entire book. Then I saw the ground of oneness which enabled me to come out of the denomination I was in. My two years of struggling to leave the denomination came to an end. I got the answers! Then, I became very clear about the ground of oneness and fully came into the church life!

In Seeing the Vision of the Age

I was just a Master's degree student in Chennai. Surprisingly, he invited me to attend a "Responsible Brothers' Training in Mumbai" for which he paid the price for my two ways train tickets along with the training registration fee. In fact, I was not qualified for that training as I had not yet taken the way of the Lord’s recovery, much less, a responsible brother. But the Lord used that training to open my eyes to see the vision of the Body as the training subject was on the vision of the age. The messages I heard, the book and the outlines I read were very timely. In that training, I saw the vision of the age, the need to do the work of building up the Body of Christ in this age! If brother had not invited me for that training, I would have missed seeing the vision on time.

In Giving Me Hospitality When I Needed the Most

I just graduated from my Master's degree and I had to leave my hostel. I was wondering where to stay for a week before I went home. I did not have any guts to request for hospitality. Surprisingly, Br. Joseph Yang discerned my need though I did not mention it to him. He invited me to stay with his family. He even came to pick me up from my hostel with all my luggage. Oh, what a cherishing it was for a student to find a home far away from home!

In Genuine Care and Concern

He exhibited a genuine care for me in action. In ushering me into the church life and in shepherding me to join the training, he wanted to confirm my decision before the Lord. One day, he came alone to my hostel room with a lot of burden for me. He fellowshipped with me about the church and the church life, and the need for training to be equipped with the truth. Then, he requested me to kneel down and consecrate my life to the Lord. So, he and I, we both knelt down and prayed a prayer of consecration. First, for me to fully come into the church life. Then, to join the full-time training. I could sense his heartbeat in all his deeds as a serving one who cared for me genuinely. 

In Suppling My Material Needs

While I was serving full time in the church in New Delhi in 2005, brother came to visit me. He enquired about my well-being, shared his recent enjoyment of the ministry imparting what he learned, and prayed for me. Then, he took me to a woolen shop and purchased for me a navy-blue woolen sweater as it was a winter time. I did not mention this need at all to him, he just discerned my need and supplied immediately.

Since he had impacted my life at crucial turning points, I felt so blessed to be shepherded by such a brother. I felt the Lord had sent him to India to shepherd me. Though I received help from other brothers too, his portion was very unique and it came at special times when I needed the most. I praise and worship the Lord for such a member in the Body from whom I receive a specific shepherding at crucial and critical times of my life.

For these reasons, when as a family we visited Taiwan last June 2024 and heard about his ill-health, I determined to visit him or at least his wife, at whatever cost. Though we could not meet him due to hospital restriction for critical patients, at least we met Sis. Marline Yang and their son Zion. I reckoned that as a sign of honor to a brother the Lord had used to shepherd me.

Render to all the things due: …, honor to whom honor is due. Romans 13:7

As the Lord used him as a pattern to me, may the Lord grace me as well to be a pattern to others. All glory to God! 

Much grace to sister Marline and brother Zion.

 

Palmei, INDIA 12 July 2024