Editor’s Note: Faye Pearson and Gwen Crotts, who work with the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in China, edited the following seminary student’s story. Pearson formerly served with the International Mission Board (IMB) as area director for East Asia. Gwen Crotts is a former IMB missionary in East Asia.
I was born into a non-Christian family. From my childhood, my textbooks and teachers taught me that there was no God. However, I knew in my heart there was a one true and living God. I was very eager to know Him. There was no one to tell me how I could find Him.
One night during summer holidays in 1995, I called upon the heavens. I said, “Oh, heaven, if there is really a true God, You know me but I do not know You. Please help me to know You. Please deliver me.”
Shortly afterward, the words “Seek the church” came to my mind and my heart. I began to look for the church. Finally, one day I saw a new beautiful building in the far corner of the city. I walked into the building with great anticipation. However, to my great disappointment, it was empty. The building was being decorated.
First visit to a church
An old man with white hair greeted me as I turned to leave the building. I told him this was the first time I had been to a church and I wanted him to introduce the church to me. He nodded with great pleasure. He not only told me about church but about Jesus and his experience with Jesus.
He had known the Lord and served Him for more than 60 years. He still serves as pastor in Kaifeng in Henan churches.
He told me the more he believed, the sweeter was the taste. As I was leaving the church he said to me, “It’s not enough to just tell you that Jesus is tasteful. If you refuse to taste the sweetness of Jesus, you will never know how marvelous it is to receive Jesus as your personal Savior.”
On my way home that day I thought, why not taste it for myself? Maybe I will not lose anything, but on the contrary, I may gain something.
In 1995, a junior in college, I started attending church. I read my Bible with interest in my spare time. I knelt in my room one day and prayed, “My Lord Jesus, is it true that I am a sinner? If so, please show me.” Suddenly, the many things that I had committed against God came to my mind.
God’s Spirit made me realize I had lived a sinful and dirty life for 21 years. I cried out, “Oh, God, I have fallen short of Your glory. I can’t live any longer without Your forgiveness.” I confessed my sins and prayed for God’s mercy upon me.
I thank Jesus He lifted the burden of sin from my life and I gave Him my life.
When I finally stood up, I felt like a bird flying in the sky of God’s love. Joy and peace filled my heart. I wanted to dance, to sing and to praise my heavenly Father — I was God’s child! From the day I met Jesus, I wanted to be on His staff. I wanted to be employed by Jesus. He was my boss. I talked with my pastors about my thoughts and desires. They told me I must clearly know God’s call for my life. So, I spent one month in prayer, seeking to know God’s will for me. Whatever God wanted me to do — serve the society or serve the church — was okay with me. I would obey Him. Shortly before I graduated from college, I received God’s direction for my life: Serve God and serve people. These words were printed on my heart. I knew it was God’s pleasure that I serve Him and His church all my life. With His grace, I shall gladly do this.
Discovering seminary
After I graduated from college, I studied at a training center for one year. In 1997, God guided me to the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary.
During the four years in Nanjing, God’s gracious hand was upon me. He built up my spiritual life and enhanced my knowledge of the truth.
Before I entered seminary in 1997, I met and married my husband. We met in church. We were both new believers. He has a strong desire and call to serve God. However, he serves as a lay leader in the church because he is not theologically trained. We are a team. I thank God for bringing such a fine, dedicated Christian man into my life.
After I graduated from the Nanjing Seminary, the Henan Christian Council arranged for me to teach at the training center in Zhoukou City.
The area has 850 thousand Christians. I have 107 students in my class.
During this year of teaching I have learned that I need more biblical truths. I need to be better equipped for ministry.
I prayed that God would open the door for me to receive advanced training, in order that I might be a more effective servant of our Lord.
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