WATCHMAN
NEE (1903-1972)
Watchman Nee was born in Swatow, Fukien province, China in 1903. He was converted at the age of 17. From the beginning his consecration to the Lord was without reserve. At age 18 he met Miss M. E. Barber who was a freelance missionary sent by Surrey Chapel, Norwich, a church which owed much to the great Robert Govett. Miss Barber was to have a meaningful influence on Watchman Nee, first by matured spiritual advice and secondly by introducing him to the best Christian literature; lending him Christian classics. Watchman Nee was a serious student of the bible, his wanting to see and do God’s will and desire led him to have a Bible rooted ministry.
Beside
the Bible, he read unceasingly, especially the classics by the Christian mystics
(he translated madame Guyon’s little book on prayer into Chinese), Andrew
Murray, Robert Govett, G. H. Pember, D. M. Panton, G. H. Lang, J. Penn-Lewis
and others. He had a large
collection of the Brethren writings (J. N. Darby, W. Kelly, C. H. Mackintosh…),
he also read Bible expositions, biographies and had an acute knowledge of
church history.
He was in
close fellowship with Theodore Austin-Sparks and the brothers who were at Honor
Oak Christian Fellowship, London.
In fact Watchman Nee considered brother Austin-Sparks as his spiritual
mentor, their fellowship was rich and fruitful.
Watchman
Nee’s ministry lasted for about thirty years. He was the divinely chosen vessel through whom hundreds of
churches were raised up and cared for, not only in China but throughout the Far
East. His understanding of the
Christian life and of the expression of the church was as close to the biblical
revelation as could be. One has
just to read and study such books as The Normal Christian Life and The Normal
Christian Church Life to be convinced.
He was
helped in his work by gifted co-workers like Witness Lee, Stephen Kaung,
Faithful Luke, Simon Meek, James Chen and others who saw to it that the work
was strengthened through rich ministry.
Watchman
Nee was arrested and imprisoned by the Communists in 1952, he was never
released and died in prison in 1972.
His
ministry has had a significant impact not only in the Far East but throughout
the world. We can still greatly
benefit from him today through his many books (which are all nearly transcribed
messages) readily available, thanks to some of his co-workers who have made it
a point to publish his ministry for the greater benefit of worldwide seeking
saints.
Didier LEBEAU
Angus
Kinnear: Against the Tide – The Story of Watchman Nee; (Victory Press,
Eastbourne, 1973).
James
Chen: Meet Brother Nee; (The Christian Publishers, Hong Kong, 1976).
Watchman
Nee: Watchman Nee’s Testimony; (Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, 1981,
1991).
Witness
Lee: Watchman Nee – A Seer of the Divine Revelation in the Present Age;
(Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, 1991).
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.html