2001 - Bruce Morrison

February 3, 2001

Wuchang, Hubei

One of the saddest deaths to occur in China in recent years is the murder of American missionary Bruce Morrison in Wuchang, Hubei Province. The 37-year-old was stabbed to death just before worship began at the government-approved Wuchang Protestant Church. Although he hailed from a Southern Baptist background, Morrison had been working in China with Training Evangelistic Leadership, an inter-denominational ministry. Although many missionaries prefer to work with the unofficial house churches in China, the Morrisons said, “We want to work within the boundaries of Chinese law. We know we must honor authority.”[1]

Morrison and his wife Valori had six daughters and were expecting a seventh child when the tragedy struck. Morrison, originally from New Orleans, had been working as an English teacher at the Hubei Industrial Institute since 1993, and was known as ‘Teacher Mo’ to his students. Before leaving America, Morrison had studied forestry at Louisiana State University. In China the Morrisons strived to display a Christ-like compassion and love. The following observation was made about them:

“The whole life of this lovely family was concentrated on loving and serving others. They have given their clothes (which were as good as new) to poor students at the local seminary and to any needy people they met. Bruce and Valori befriended many who were unemployed through changes in government economic policies and gave them assistance. They listened to people who had personality problems and sought to assure them of God’s love for them. When they moved among such people, they were aware of the risks of violence which could erupt due to the psychological condition of such people.”[2]

Morrison’s murderer was a man named Gong Zhili, a fellow church member who had mental problems. The two men had been friends, but when the relationship became estranged Gong started to think Morrison no longer cared about him. Gong was an unemployed music teacher who had lost his job due to his mental and emotional instability. Time Asia reported,

“Just before a Christian youth meeting, as worshippers were milling around the church foyer, Gong suddenly walked up to Bruce, muttered a few words, pulled a knife and stabbed him just below the heart. The 37-year-old American was pronounced dead on arrival at the local hospital.”[3]

Valori Morrison was, understandably, left in a state of deep shock at her husband’s death. Still, her deep faith in Christ enabled her to sit down with her six daughters—Hannah, Victoria, Esther, Louise, Mary and Charity—and teach them to love their enemies, even the killer of their father. “‘It’s strange to think about forgiving someone who kills your family member,’ said Valori. ‘But it’s a matter of faith.’”[4]

The murder impacted many Chinese people in Wuchang and the greater Wuhan City area. The Morrisons were well-known for the six little blond, Chinese-speaking girls who ran around the campus where they lived. Locals were enchanted by the large family, and found them especially curious in a country with a one-child policy. Valori Morrison was a tremendous witness to the local community. Not only did she oppose the death penalty pronounced on Gong, she continually expressed forgiveness and declared her intentions to remain in China. “I have spent all my married life here. I had my children here. It is where Bruce’s heart is, and it is our home,”[5] she said.

About a month after the murder, Valori Morrison and her children decided to return home to America for a period of grieving, before coming back to China. At the airport a group of Christians gathered to say goodbye to their beloved missionary friends. In this group of well-wishers

“was an elderly couple who were strangers to the Christians farewelling the Morrisons. When word got around that they were the parents of the killer there were mixed feelings about their presence. But Valori had invited them to come. When she saw them she took a Bible from her luggage and gave it to them, and sat with them. A photo was taken of the two Chinese sitting with the seven Morrisons.

The picture was taken by Lo Enpu, the Treasurer of the local Zhongnan seminary. In a letter about this he commented, ‘This photo has great significance. It speaks of love and reconciliation in a world full of violence, distrust and suspicion. The two families were reconciled in Jesus’ love. The picture should be exhibited in a museum of war and peace to be seen by everyone.’”[6]

Although some may claim the death of Bruce Morrison was one of murder rather than martyrdom, the fact remains that his life was taken while serving in China in obedience to God.

1. Hannah Beech, “A Murder in Wuhan,” Time Asia (February 18, 2001).
2. Norman Cliff & Harold Wood, “A Corn of Wheat Dies: The Influence of a Christ-like Life in Communist China,” Evangelical Now (August 2001).
3. Beech, “A Murder in Wuhan.”
4. Beech, “A Murder in Wuhan.”
5. Beech, “A Murder in Wuhan.”
6. Cliff & Wood, “A Corn of Wheat Dies.”