The unexpected discovery of one small house church was enough to confirm Carl’s belief that God was at work.

Carl Hunker traveled all night in a Chinese military vessel to reach the shores of Matsu, about 100 miles from his home in Taiwan. He was with a group of about 30 Chinese and missionary pastors, who planned to hold worship services throughout the day in hopes of introducing a few to the gospel. As they walked through Matsu, Carl longed for the spiritual freedom of those on the island.

To Carl’s surprise, he met a soldier who was a Christian and had taught Sunday school in the Hunkers’ church in Taiwan. The soldier explained that there was no church in Matsu, but that Christians were meeting together in homes and leading others to the Lord. This encounter was evidence to Carl of the power of the gospel to lead someone to witness wherever he is, under every kind of circumstance.

Throughout their years in China, the Philippines and then Taiwan, the Hunkers experienced the faithfulness of God. Carl served as a pastor, a church planter and a seminary professor and president. Jeannette was also an educator and taught in the Religious Education program of the Chinese Baptist Convention and as professor and dean of women at Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary. When she became too ill with cancer to go to the seminary, her students came to her. She taught in their home until six weeks before her death. When Carl returned to the U.S. after Jeanette’s passing, he continued his work among the Chinese living in Kansas City.

Asia circa 1950

IMB Photo