Stories

From China With Love

A Heartwarming Story of God’s Incredible Providence

By Rex Bell

Eight years ago, a precious baby was born in China—a girl. Her gender generated a death sentence. The newborn’s mother placed her in a small box, took her to an alley and left her among the rats and squalor. She trusted scavenging dogs to take care of all evidence.

But God had other plans for baby Ciana—plans of good, not evil (Jer. 29:11). He placed His hands over her, preserving her fragile life for His service. The rejected infant was discovered and rescued for adoption.

Meanwhile, Colorado residents Mark and Sylvia Neeley traveled to China to adopt a child. Ciana was one of the last Chinese children allowed by the government during that time to be adopted by American families. The Neeleys gained custody of Ciana and brought her to Colorado, where she now has a home with them and two American brothers, also adopted, Harrison and Ginja.

Early in 2007, Sylvia Neeley decided to bring her adopted children to a local Baptist church, returning to her own religious background. Harrison and Ciana soon requested baptism, which created a problem—not for them but for the pastor. At that time, the interim pastor of the Brighton First Baptist Church was Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Rex Bell, from the Brighton Adventist Church. The Baptist congregation had experienced an internal division, and the remaining congregation asked if Bell would pastor them until they could grow and afford another Baptist pastor.

The Neeley’s request presented Bell with a dilemma. Could an Adventist pastor baptize a Baptist? This question did cause some interesting conversations, but the ultimate answer was, yes, he would! But only after Harrison and Ciana took Adventist Bible studies.

On August 4, 2007, Harrison and Ciana were baptized into the Adventist Church. Sylvia and then Mark joined by profession of faith.

Sylvia, who holds several college degrees, is now on the staff of Brighton Adventist Academy and the local church. Mark, a professional electrical high line installer and supervisor contractor, serves at church alongside Pastor Rene Lopez, providing praise music for the church planting ministry.

Ciana? She is a joy in the third grade at Brighton Adventist Academy. She plans to take care of other children by becoming a pediatric surgeon. Harrison, a 10th grader, looks forward to Campion Academy and possibly pastoral ministry. Ginja enjoys the second grade.

The Brighton Adventist Church family often considers what life journey God has in mind for dear little Ciana, plucked from a back alley of China and transplanted to a Christian family in Brighton, Colorado. Her story illustrates how God has His hand over each human life, never leaving or forsaking us.