Chinese Missionary Nora Lam Dies

Chinese evangelist Nora Lam, who pioneered missionary ministry for women, died Feb. 2 in a nursing home in San Jose, Calif., at the age of 71. She had suffered a massive stroke six months before.

“Nora Lam liberated thousands of women for missionary ministry, and she especially helped Christians respond to the needs of persecuted, underground believers in China on many different levels,” said William Bray, who serves on the board of directors of Nora Lam Ministries (NLM).

“Most people probably think of her work only in terms of Bible distribution, evangelism and support for persecuted house churches and Bible schools in China, but she was also very concerned for children and the humanitarian needs of Chinese people everywhere,” added Bray, who is a staff member of Christian Aid Mission.

Lam, who fled her native Shanghai in 1958 as a refugee from Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, is best known for her book China Cry, which chronicles her suffering under communist persecution. The book, which the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) made into a movie in 1991, tells how Lam refused to deny Christ even while enduring physical abuse. She immigrated to the United States in 1966.

“Nora Lam was a dedicated soul-winner, prayer warrior and precious saint of God,” TBN founder Paul Crouch told Charisma. “Our lives are richer for having known her. Jan and I, along with all of us at TBN, will dearly miss her.”

Lam spent 30 years traveling around the world holding evangelistic crusades and raising awareness about China’s persecuted church. She supported Christian humanitarian ministries working there and hosted radio and TV broadcasts to free Chinese around the globe.

“Nora Lam’s life on this earth is over, but the work she started goes on,” said her youngest son, Joseph Lam, vice president of NLM, Assist News Service (ANS) reported. “Every one of us is still inspired by the life of sacrifice and service, which she taught us to live. We are still distributing Bibles, saving orphaned babies and helping persecuted believers.”

Her oldest daughter, Ruth Lam Kendrick, head of NLM, added: “Mom loved the house churches of China and needy children everywhere, and that is the legacy she has left for us to fulfill,” ANS said.

Lam is survived by three daughters–two of whom were adopted–two sons and seven grandchildren. A memorial service was held Feb. 24 in San Jose.
Eric Tiansay