Book Description

During the first few months of 1959, Brother Witness Lee's first wife was in the final stage of her terminal illness, and he spent most of his time accompanying her. No conferences were held, and no messages were recorded during this period of time. His wife died on April 24. On May 26 through 30 Brother Lee began to have a series of meetings with the co-workers on a new direction of the work in Taiwan. His speaking during this period is included in the first part of volume 1 of this set. After this, on June 4 he traveled to Hong Kong and stayed for two days, during which time he had a brief meeting with some of the co-workers. He then traveled to the Philippines. There he released some messages on Christ and the church and conducted a Bible study on the Gospel of John. His speaking in the Philippines is included in volume 1 of this set. After his visit to the Philippines, he returned to Hong Kong at the end of July and conducted a two-week young people's conference on July 25 through August 9. At the end of this conference he held six question-and-answer sessions with co-workers and district serving ones. Brother Lee's speaking during his two visits to Hong Kong are included in volumes 1 and 2 of this set. On August 16 he returned to Taiwan and began planning for the new stage of the work in Taiwan. Beginning on September 20 he conducted six days of gospel meetings in the largest stadium in Taipei, with more than ten thousand in attendance. This was preceded by three preparation meetings and four follow-up gospel truth meetings. On October 5 he began a training on how to perfect new ones, which extended until January 22, 1960. His speaking in Taipei during the second half of 1959 is included at the end of volume 2 and in volumes 3 through 5 of this set. The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1959, volume 1, contains messages, personal letters, and reports given or written by Brother Witness Lee in January through November 1959. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1959 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of this volume. The contents of this volume are divided into six sections, as follows: 1. Personal letters and reports that were published in Church News, Issue Nos. 19 through 23 and 26 through 33, in January through November. These letters and reports are included in this volume under the same title. 2. Two messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 26. These messages are included in this volume under the title The New Direction of the Work. 3. Four messages given in Manila, Philippines, and Taipei, Taiwan, in 1959. The first three chapters were previously published in a book entitled Our Vision--Christ and the Church. Later, a fourth chapter was added based on notes taken by Brother K. H. Weigh. The four messages are included in this volume under the same title as the previously published book. 4. Twenty-eight messages given in Manila, Philippines, in the summer of 1959. These messages are included in this volume under the title Revelations in John: Seeing the Essential Significance of Life and Building. 5. Four talks given in Hong Kong in June through August. These talks are included in this volume under the title A Record of Several Talks in Hong Kong. 6. Six messages given in Hong Kong on July 25 through August 9. These messages, plus an appendix, are included in this volume under the title Experiencing God as Life to Live the Church Life.