Boen Wang

I asked him once if he ever had any regrets, and he told me this story about how, when my sister was a baby, he discovered that she'd torn up an important piece of mail. My dad yelled at her and made her cry. And then he thought to himself, why did I do that? She's just a baby. She doesn't understand what she's doing. And he remembered that moment forever.

I asked him once if he ever had any regrets, and he told me this story about how, when my sister was a baby, he discovered that she'd torn up an important piece of mail. My dad yelled at her and made her cry. And then he thought to himself, why did I do that? She's just a baby. She doesn't understand what she's doing. And he remembered that moment forever.

So he's always been a kind, thoughtful, reflective person who wants the best for us. He's also always been a true believer, going back to the very beginning. June, 1989. My dad has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma. He applies for his passport and visa so that he can leave Beijing.

So he's always been a kind, thoughtful, reflective person who wants the best for us. He's also always been a true believer, going back to the very beginning. June, 1989. My dad has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma. He applies for his passport and visa so that he can leave Beijing.

On the evening of June 3rd, my parents watch the news on their landlord's TV since they don't have one of their own.

On the evening of June 3rd, my parents watch the news on their landlord's TV since they don't have one of their own.

And on the morning of June 4, they wake up.

And on the morning of June 4, they wake up.

All the government offices are shut down. The entire city is shut down. To get his passport, my dad now needs a letter from his workplace saying he didn't participate in the demonstrations. But there's a problem. He had to quit his job to apply for the passport, and they're saying that since he doesn't work there anymore, they can't provide him with that letter. My dad is freaking out.

All the government offices are shut down. The entire city is shut down. To get his passport, my dad now needs a letter from his workplace saying he didn't participate in the demonstrations. But there's a problem. He had to quit his job to apply for the passport, and they're saying that since he doesn't work there anymore, they can't provide him with that letter. My dad is freaking out.

He staked his entire life on studying abroad. This was his plan, his future, his chance to leave his boring job in a Jeep factory, living in his tiny room in Beijing with no running water or heating or cooling. Now, his future is crumbling before his eyes. In this most desperate hour, my dad does something he's never done before. So I prayed to God, or Sang Di.

He staked his entire life on studying abroad. This was his plan, his future, his chance to leave his boring job in a Jeep factory, living in his tiny room in Beijing with no running water or heating or cooling. Now, his future is crumbling before his eyes. In this most desperate hour, my dad does something he's never done before. So I prayed to God, or Sang Di.

Were you specifically praying to the God of Christianity at the time?

Were you specifically praying to the God of Christianity at the time?

I never knew this story. I thought my dad's first encounter with God was in America. But two months earlier in Beijing, my dad naturally and spontaneously cried out to a God he didn't yet know or believe in. And then when his workplace finally gave him the letter that allowed him to leave China, it had to be God answering his prayer. So my dad was already primed to believe.

I never knew this story. I thought my dad's first encounter with God was in America. But two months earlier in Beijing, my dad naturally and spontaneously cried out to a God he didn't yet know or believe in. And then when his workplace finally gave him the letter that allowed him to leave China, it had to be God answering his prayer. So my dad was already primed to believe.

And when he came to America, he would have encountered a Christian eventually, inevitably.

And when he came to America, he would have encountered a Christian eventually, inevitably.

You would have eventually been exposed to Christianity and you would have always, after having considered it, accepted it. Is that right? Yes, yes. Why?

You would have eventually been exposed to Christianity and you would have always, after having considered it, accepted it. Is that right? Yes, yes. Why?