The Way I Found my Rewarding Life in the Church, M.H.

In October of 1975, I was baptized in a Chinese church. This was the start of my Christian life--attending church meetings with a clear conscience. As days passed by, I found myself struggling to get into the enjoyment of the Bible. I needed help, but no one in the Chinese church could lend me the help. The members in that particular place seemed to have very little interest in learning the truth in the Bible, and were more concerned for their positions in the group. Even the pastor was the same. They were simply a social group. For nearly two years, I could only understand the Word of God poorly as black letters on white paper. My wife had been baptized nearly three years before me. She had seen the Chinese church start from scratch as a Bible study group. By that time, she read and thoroughly enjoyed many books written by Watchman Nee.

In 1976, a year after my baptism, the Chinese church hired an intermediary pastor from the Philippines for a period of about a year and a half. The following year, he started to speak openly against the local church. At first I almost accepted what he said to be true. However, it became evident when he spoke so much with so little fact to back up his arguments. He opened our curiosity and caused us to find the local church. In early 1978, my wife found the meeting place of the church in Houston and tried meeting there. She was so surprised to find their book room full of Watchman Nee's and Witness Lee's books. She was attracted and continued meeting every week. I had to wait until near the end of 1978, when I finished serving a term in helping a deacon edit the Chinese church directory, before I started to meet with the local church. And I have never regretted it. I have found that this was really what I was looking for.

The pastor was surprised. He tried to convince me to leave the local church by bringing me a critical book. I read it and returned it to him, saying that the arguments in the book did not convince me, that I had to try and see for myself, and if what the book said was true, than I would be back. He never came back to bother me.

I received more life from the Bible in two months in the local church than two years in the Chinese church. Only because I had read the book that my pastor handed me, did I have a small question concerning the local church.

For a period of a few years, I experienced the church life with the believers in the local church and I finally came to the conclusion that I had no reason to worry. The church has too many positive aspects. I found the church was not merely a social gathering. Nor was it for personal gain, but for one goal--to enjoy the Lord to the uttermost. The local church is fundamental in its beliefs. The best part is that I get encouraged to pursue the Lord every time I come to a meeting--a very positive encouragement. This is why I can strongly declare that the local church is where I will stay.