Union Baptist Association

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How a Chinese Barber Started Church Planting in South America

Do you ever feel that your contribution to the Great Commission is too small?

Cris Alley encourages us not to overlook the “small” acts of faithfulness with the story of Lough Ah Fook.

Lough Ah Fook was born in China in 1841. He was working as a barber when Baptist missionaries led him to faith in Christ. In the early days of Christianity in China, a good bit of suspicion surrounded those who became followers of Jesus. When Lough asked his boss for time off to attend church, he was fired on the spot.

After his public profession of faith, things were tough for Lough, but he thought he saw an opportunity. He heard the British were hiring Chinese workers and sending them overseas, so Lough signed a contract [much like indentured servatutde] and boarded a ship for Guyana in South America.

Lough wanted to reach the Chinese diaspora living abroad in South America. He labored for years in Guyana, sharing the gospel and discipling new believers while he served as a barber.

Lough Ah Fook died at the young age of 43, but God blessed his leap of faith. Lough is credited with starting the first Baptist church in Guyana.

Not much has been written about Lough Ah Fook, but you can read about this pioneering barber’s life in the IMB’s Heroes of Faith or Meredith Cook’s children’s book Go Tell Everyone.

May we take encouragement from Lough Ah Fook’s story. God can use whatever “small” thing you’re doing for the gospel today to make an impact you could never imagine.

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