author
Shangjie Song
1901–1944
Remembered as one of the best-known Chinese Christian evangelists of the early 20th century, he paired intense preaching with a surprising academic background. His writings and sermons grew out of a short, dramatic life that still draws readers today.
1 Audiobook
灵历集光
by Shangjie Song
About the author
Born in Fujian in 1901, Shangjie Song — often known in English as John Sung — was raised in a Methodist pastor’s family and said he wanted to preach from an early age. He later studied in the United States, earning several degrees before returning to China in the 1920s.
Back in China, he became widely known as an evangelist, preacher, and revival leader. Accounts of his life describe a demanding preaching schedule across China and Southeast Asia, and his name remains closely tied to the Christian revival movements of the 1930s.
He died in 1944 at just 42 years old, but his influence lasted far beyond his lifetime. Readers still seek out his diaries, messages, and biographical studies for their mix of personal intensity, faith, and historical importance.