I was born into a family that believes in worshipping ancestors and Buddha and I grew up accustomed praying to these idols everyday. Every year, our whole family would go to the temple and say prayers to the dead. My grandma firmly believes that all these actions will protect our whole family from bad luck. I also attended a Catholic middle school and high school, which led me to believe that there is a God who is looking after me. As a greedy sinner growing up in this polytheistic environment I wanted to believe in as many Gods or idols as possible for my own benefit so that my life would be in good hands. I viewed God as my servant who exists to make my life easy. I believed that God should give me what I deserve for being a good person, such as an easy life, loving friends and an ok job.
In 2002, after two years of persuasion from my friend, I decided to go to church to meet some new friends or maybe some female friends considering that I came from an all-boy-school in Hong Kong. I did not really get plugged in at church; I only went to the fellowship on Saturdays. Even during bible study I would only be thinking what to do for dinner instead of paying attention to the Truth.
A year later, I came to the States to attend High school. By God’s grace, my aunt who I lived with had just been converted from Buddhism and became a Christian about a year ago. She was very excited when she found out that I went to church for the past year, so she eagerly brought me along to church near her house every week until I start going to church every Friday and Sunday as a habit. I thought I was saved back then, since a pastor had brought me to a room and went through the whole process (admitting that I am sinner and accepting Jesus Christ as my savior.) But even after that my lifestyle had not changed a bit and I kept sinning without repentance. The Holy Spirit did not dwell in my heart and convict me of the sins that I was committing. I did not have a close relationship with the Father, even though I was hearing His words every Sunday.
By God’s grace, I was able to attend UCLA as a junior transfer. And today I am very grateful that God has placed me at this school, not only because I am attending my dream school, but more importantly because He put me at Grace on Campus (GOC) and Grace Community church and allowed me to have a closer relationship with Him. During my first quarter in GOC, I had considered switching to a different fellowship because I had a hard time fitting in, and I had a lot of struggles with my own sinful heart; but God is loving and faithful. He provided a patient small group leader for me, Jonathan, my roommates and all my friends at GOC. Jonathan has helped me along my difficult way and has taught me about how to become a Christian and how to be saved by a loving God. I realized that I will never be satisfied by this sinful world, but only seeking our awesome creator will fulfill my hunger; and also I realized that I am sinner and cannot be close to the Holy Father, but instead I would be going to hell. I knew I needed my Lord and Savior to save me from hell. Knowing that I cannot get rid of my sins on my own, I have to come to the cross and let Jesus’s sinless blood wash away my sins in the past, present and future, so that I can come in front of the Holy God and praise Him forever. Now that I know I am a sinner, and God has sent his only beloved Son to earth to die for my sins today I want to testify that Jesus is my only savior, and I am to be His faithful servant and do what glorifies Him.
In 2002, after two years of persuasion from my friend, I decided to go to church to meet some new friends or maybe some female friends considering that I came from an all-boy-school in Hong Kong. I did not really get plugged in at church; I only went to the fellowship on Saturdays. Even during bible study I would only be thinking what to do for dinner instead of paying attention to the Truth.
A year later, I came to the States to attend High school. By God’s grace, my aunt who I lived with had just been converted from Buddhism and became a Christian about a year ago. She was very excited when she found out that I went to church for the past year, so she eagerly brought me along to church near her house every week until I start going to church every Friday and Sunday as a habit. I thought I was saved back then, since a pastor had brought me to a room and went through the whole process (admitting that I am sinner and accepting Jesus Christ as my savior.) But even after that my lifestyle had not changed a bit and I kept sinning without repentance. The Holy Spirit did not dwell in my heart and convict me of the sins that I was committing. I did not have a close relationship with the Father, even though I was hearing His words every Sunday.
By God’s grace, I was able to attend UCLA as a junior transfer. And today I am very grateful that God has placed me at this school, not only because I am attending my dream school, but more importantly because He put me at Grace on Campus (GOC) and Grace Community church and allowed me to have a closer relationship with Him. During my first quarter in GOC, I had considered switching to a different fellowship because I had a hard time fitting in, and I had a lot of struggles with my own sinful heart; but God is loving and faithful. He provided a patient small group leader for me, Jonathan, my roommates and all my friends at GOC. Jonathan has helped me along my difficult way and has taught me about how to become a Christian and how to be saved by a loving God. I realized that I will never be satisfied by this sinful world, but only seeking our awesome creator will fulfill my hunger; and also I realized that I am sinner and cannot be close to the Holy Father, but instead I would be going to hell. I knew I needed my Lord and Savior to save me from hell. Knowing that I cannot get rid of my sins on my own, I have to come to the cross and let Jesus’s sinless blood wash away my sins in the past, present and future, so that I can come in front of the Holy God and praise Him forever. Now that I know I am a sinner, and God has sent his only beloved Son to earth to die for my sins today I want to testify that Jesus is my only savior, and I am to be His faithful servant and do what glorifies Him.