Good News for All
15/04/2023
It was my privilege to meet and share in speaking engagements with man whom I greatly admire but is now sadly departed to Heaven. His name was Geoffrey Bull. He was a noted writer of Christian literature and had an almost lyrical style of writing and could write with very great insight on Biblical themes, as well as books for children, but he also wrote about his life. He had been a missionary to the land locked country of Tibet. He arrived, started to learn the language and acquaint himself with the culture and the people. He wanted to share the Gospel and show the love of Christ to those he met.
He had the misfortune to be in the country just before the brutal invasion by the Chinese Red Army which overran that independent country and incorporated it into the greater Chinese Empire. That was back in the 1950s and Tibet lost its independence and there is no sign that it will ever regain it as it is totally dominated by the communist Chinese.
Geoffrey Bull was arrested by the Chinese authorities and for three years he was imprisoned and for much of that time it was in solitary confinement. They took away all his possessions including his Bible. He had to endure extreme temperatures from very cold to very hot. He suffered terrible abuse during the three years he spent in prison and at times was nearly starved to death as he was given so little in the way of nourishment. He was also subject to mental and psychological torture which was utterly terrible and at times he thought he would lose his mind and go insane. Many people had buckled under such terrible oppression.
He kept his peace of mind by studying the Bible. He had read, memorised and meditated upon the Word of God for much of his life and although he had been denied a Bible he forced his mind to dwell upon what he could remember of Holy Scripture. He began to systematically go over the Scriptures in his mind. He started at the first book, Genesis, and recalled each incident and story as best he could. He first concentrated on the content and then reflected on certain points and sought for understanding and help through prayer.
He continued through the Old Testament, reconstructing each of the thirty-nine books chapter by chapter as well as he could remember. It was in many ways painstaking but it concentrated his mind on higher things and lifted his thoughts above the dreadfulness of his circumstances. Eventually he moved into the New Testament and worked his way through the Gospels, epistles and finally into the last book, Revelation. The whole exercise was one of self-discipline, requiring deep concentration and took up to six months. He then started to do it again.
He later wrote, “The strength received through this meditation was, I believe, a vital factor in bringing me through, kept by the faith to the very end.” He found the Bible nourished his soul, calmed his mind and helped keep him in good mental health. On release he went on to develop a radio ministry, a writing ministry and a worldwide work of preaching the Gospel and sharing insights into the Word of God.
His last day on earth was in 1999, a Sunday (the Lord’s Day) he had stood up to speak about the Saviour who had cared and looked after him through the dreadful days of prison and subsequently and who would take him to Heaven one day. His last words were “He is worthy” as he sat down his eyes met those of his wife and at that moment he was taken to glory. His heart had given way and he was with the Saviour in Heaven. It is a marvellous testimony and may we know similar blessing.