In Western churches especially there seemed to me to be a growing desperation among believers who were sick and tired of tradition and the status quo - they know there must be more to the Christian life than they had experienced. I knew that despite his weaknesses and flaws, here was a man who walked with God in a way that Christians around the world hungered to see demonstrated. First, I knew the book would touch and bless many people's lives, simply because Yun's testimony is remarkable. To gather background information and verify the testimonies included in the book I interviewed many people in China who were eyewitnesses to the events, as well as spending a few weeks with Brother Yun going over his story.Įven while writing the book I knew two things would happen. It is the testimony of Chinese Christian Brother Yun.

In 2001 I wrote a book called The Heavenly Man. I write this Open Letter simply as a friend wanting to testify on behalf of another. I am not a member of any board or committee of the Back to Jerusalem movement, nor do I receive any royalties from The Heavenly Man book, as I agreed to before I started writing the book. Nobody has asked me to write this letter. After consulting close friends and advisors, I am convinced that now is the time to speak out on the matter which I am about to. This verse has been weighing on my heart.

Edmund Burke once famously said, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' In a similar vein the Bible says, 'Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil' (Rom. The desire in writing this letter is to stand up for the truth, and to let the Body of Christ know that there is a totally different side to a controversy currently raging throughout Asia and in many places around the world. My request is that I might be able to openly share my heart about a matter of concern that has grown among some sections of the Body of Christ in recent months.įrom the outset of this letter I want to clarify that I have no desire to attack anyone at all. I would like to ask you for your most valuable commodity - your time. Please mention the source of this article as Other translations: It can be posted on other websites, but only in its entirety. No permission is needed to reprint it or forward it to those who need to hear this message. Note: This 'Open letter' is just that - open.

The Heavenly Man by Paul Hattaway