ABSTRACT
During the 1850s Xu made several trips to the coast to secure religious literature and to visit his son, who had gone back to school for five years of study at the Lilang seminary preparatory to becoming a Basel Gehilfe. Sometimes Xu accompanied Zhang and sometimes he took converts for instruction and baptism by Lechler. One such inquirer was Zhang Yuyong, a basket maker formerly in his employ and subsequently a teacher in a Basel school in Wuhua. Zhang Yuyong was a product of the cooperative work of Zhang Fuxing and Xu, and his example reveals the way in which they followed through on expressions of interest. Zhang Yuyong reported that upon first hearing Xu's admonition to forsake idols and believe in the living God, he was so moved that he determined to do so. On returning to his home village and coming under family pressures, however, he thought better of such action. Later, Xu visited Zhang Yuyong to see if the latter had maintained his resolve and once again Zhang found Xu's message attractive. Even so, he remained reluctant to accept baptism, a step that required public repudiation of traditional beliefs and practices. Only after Zhang Yuyong had sought out Zhang Fuxing and had received instruction from him did Yuyong find the courage to give up veneration of his ancestors and the worship of protective deities; thereafter he identified with the Christian community.
