Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry

Hi. Dear Friends,
My name is Zhang Xu, a quadriplegic surgeon from Anshan, located in the Northeast of China. It's my honor to share with you my story and my ministry of serving people with disabilities.
I once was a promising orthopedic surgeon in my hometown. But, it seems that just as my future was full of brightness, the disaster happened, which entirely changed my fate and faith. In May of 1997, I broke my neck in a diving accident while serving the Chinese government in the Republic of Yemen.
All of a sudden, my health was gone; all things that I had been striving for in the past years disappeared. I realized how fragile and flimsy a person’s strength is. At that time, what I had in mind only was grief, agony, anger and despair. I really could not find any reason to live in this world anymore.
At this very moment, God began His work in my life. He gave me a meaningful book through a Japanese therapist. It was a tattered, old copy of the Joni book in English. In the book, I saw how Joni struggled out of the despair with the help of her family and Christian friends, and how she began to know God, and finally got a new life…
My heart was warmed by the story. I immediately began translating the book from English into Chinese, hoping that it would encourage more people with disabilities in China. In my hospital bed, I dictated every word while my mother wrote them down. Thank God! We finished our first transcript in only 45 days.
Because of the book, I got to know the Bible and many Christian friends. I continually receive tremendous love, help, and support from them. Like Joni has experienced, I saw God’s grace and Jesus’ redemption in my life, for He saved my soul, which once had been full of selfishness and arrogance. In 2003, My mother and I were baptized in Hong Kong. We became real --- Christians!
My quadriplegic body never prevents me from dreaming. My dream is that I should lead a meaningful life. As a disabled doctor, my mission is to work with people affected by disabilities in China.
We have some 110,000 people with various disabilities in this city. Most of them are living in hard conditions. They are the poorest citizens in the city and have much less support than they should. They are in desperate need of both practical help and spiritual support.
To help these people, I started a non-governmental organization here – Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry. Seeing many disabled people cannot afford a wheelchair, I ask “Joni and Friends” to begin their “Wheels for the World” program in Anshan. During the distribution of wheelchairs, I could see and feel the joy and excitement of the wheelchair recipients and their families and friends. Most of the recipients went there by carts or on their friend's back. That day, they received a precious wheelchair and a more precious gift --- a Bible. My heart was thrilled when thinking that Jesus' love would be transferred through this simple tool --- wheelchairs. At that moment, His name was glorified!
We also have regular home visit to poor families affected by disabilities. The purpose is to find their need and help them to feel the love and hope. We found that because of the expensive medical service, many disabled people can not afford to go to hospital when they get ill. So we started a mobile medical clinic in the poor communities.
Considering that most disabled people are confined at home all the time, we organize volunteers to bring them out to enjoy the beautiful mountains and the sea. It is not an easy task for our volunteers, for we do not have disability-friendly transportation here. But when seeing those joyful faces, we know that our efforts are worthy. Now the outing with disabled people has already become our regular program.
I always believe that the best way for people to know Jesus is to SEE He is living and loving, not only hearing about Him! --- All we have done here in the past is a very good start. Now, I’m thinking about how to provide further support to them and many others in need.
As a matter of fact, I have been praying for God to give me a vision for my mission here. My long term goal is to have a comprehensive center, which can provide basic medical service, rehabilitation, entertainment, family retreat, gathering and worship for people affected by disabilities. I – am – really -- praying --- for – that!
OK! Maybe you would like to know a little bit about my current life. I am still living in a hospital room. Everyday, I spend time studying my distance learning courses, exchanging e-mails with my friends throughout the world, doing some translation work, and dreaming --- for my future ministry!
About my family…My wife left me soon after the accident happened, for I’m a “useless” guy in her eyes. After a two month lawsuit, I was deprived of custody to my only daughter. The reason is that I am viewed by the system as “disabled” and unable to function well as a qualified father!
But God does not see me as “disabled” or “useless.” I am very grateful as he gave me a very good mother. In the past ten years, my loving mother has spent all her time with me, taking care of my life, while leaving my 70 year-old father alone at home. I do often feel guilty for that, but thinking back, I have to view my family situation with a thankful heart.
I know I should be (and -- am!) grateful for what I have experienced, achieved, and fulfilled over the past ten years. I believe that, -- tomorrow, more miracles will happen to me and to other people affected by disabilities in Anshan. I pray that -- like me -- more disabled people will get to know Jesus by seeing our Christian’s good deeds.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask for your prayer for our Anshan Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry. And I ask for your generous help and support to our ministry here in China! Thank you very much!