Around 1928, Watchman Nee settled in Shanghai where he based his have speaking & publication operate, a Shanghai Gospel Bookroom, which published books by Watchman Nee and others, besides when occasionally Chinese translations of English-speaking authors - most notably a Christian teacher & writer T. Austin-Sparks, with whom Nee had a very close relationship fostered during his significant time at the Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre on Honor Oak Road in London, England.

Through the labour of Nee & his colleagues, local assemblies were raised up a lot all over China & among more Chinese-speaking communitites in the Far East. A few of Nee's co-fellow worker therein operate late became known in their best outside of China (ie - Stephen Kaung, Witness Lee, Faithful Luk, Simon Meek, and others).

Within 1952, Watchman Nee was imprisoned by the Chinese government for his faith. He remained around prison until his dying twenty years late. Watchman Nee's writings in matters of the single Christian life develop been the source of inspiration to Christians throughout the world, though his writings on the local churches--which he considered to be central to his ministry--stand been largely ignored by mainstream Christianity. His virtually all popular operate is The Normal Christian Life.

His English title seems to become the literal variation of his Chinese title. 柝 (pinyin tùo) is a Chinese security guard's knocker or even plaque, sounded to mark a hours of nighttime. 聲 (pinyin shēng) means healthy.