Pastor Bingcheng Feng (pen name: Licheng), renowned Chinese Christian apologist and author of the influential book Song of a Wanderer, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, prompting a wave of concern and intercessory prayer from Chinese believers around the world.
Known for his rational, scientific approach to faith, Pastor Feng has helped countless intellectuals bridge the gap between reason and belief. Now, as he faces a serious health battle, Christians globally are standing in prayer for this faithful servant of God.
A graduate of the Department of Biology at Peking University and a PhD from Michigan State University, Pastor Feng was called to full-time ministry in 1997. Drawing on his academic background, he became a leading voice in Christian apologetics, especially in addressing questions of faith through science and logic. His works, such as The Authority of the Bible and Faith, Science, and Life, as well as his many sermons, have become essential tools for strengthening believers’ faith and for Chinese churches seeking to engage intellectuals with the gospel. Many credit his writing and preaching with helping them break free from the constraints of atheistic worldviews. As he famously wrote in Song of a Wanderer: “The ultimate answer to faith is not found in human reason, but in God’s revelation.” Today, this defender of the faith is experiencing firsthand the grace and faithfulness of the God he proclaims.
According to a prayer letter from Mrs. Feng on March 28, 2025, and subsequent updates, Pastor Feng’s health has been a growing concern in recent months. After two hospitalizations in February and March due to pleural effusion, his condition remains weak. Persistent sleep disorders have led to tolerance of sleeping medications, severely hindering his recovery. Following medical evaluations in the U.S., doctors have recommended a combination of Western and traditional Chinese treatments, with immunotherapy being considered crucial for controlling the disease. With the dedicated assistance of Christian doctors in Fujian, the necessary Chinese medicines have been successfully delivered to the U.S. However, the high cost of immunotherapy remains a hurdle, with insurance coverage still under negotiation.
Thankfully, for now, medical expenses are being covered by insurance, and no additional financial support is needed. In the prayer letter, Mrs. Feng expressed deep gratitude for the love and care shown by the Christian community, saying that God has faithfully provided for all their material needs. She asks for continued prayer, writing, “This trust and humility reflect Pastor Feng’s life of service—from scientist to pastor, he has always pursued truth through reason and looked to the Lord’s grace with faith.”
News of his illness has spread rapidly through social media and Chinese Christian platforms, with many believers responding in prayer. One sister, Grace, shared, “May God keep him! When I first came to the U.S. 20 years ago, Song of a Wanderer was the first Chinese Christian book I read. I had always believed in God, but didn’t know who the true God was. That book opened my heart!” Another believer wrote, “I’m one of the many touched by Pastor Feng’s work. May he overcome this illness by the Lord’s strength, just as Hezekiah was healed.”
Current prayer requests focus on three key areas: that God would open the door for successful immunotherapy; that Pastor Feng would receive deep and restorative rest for both body and mind; and that the Lord would guide the treatment process, making it effective and smooth. Most of all, the global church is praying that the Holy Spirit would sustain Pastor Feng and his wife with heavenly peace and joy even in the midst of suffering.
