First, let me thank my Sunday School teachers and pastoral and church staff for helping me along the way. I am most thankful to our Lord Jesus for choosing me. (John 15:16a states, “You did not choose me, but I chose you….)

When I was a seven-year-old grade school kid in Taiwan, I often saw telephone poles with Christian posters. Messages such as “Believe in Jesus, receive eternal life” or “The Kingdom of God is near” were displayed on the posters. Once I asked a missionary, “What is the purpose of such displays?” His answer was simple: “When you grow up someday, you will understand.” I am fully grown now. Finally, I am also fully enlightened. (John 3:15 tells us “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” And Matthew 3:2 also states, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”)

At age 20, I was often beset with doubts. “What’s the purpose of living?” “How do I succeed in the pursuit of joy?” I asked different people and their answers were quite varied. However, there was one answer that I found very difficult to overlook–to help those who are in need. In my whole life, I’ve been helped by strangers in times of dire need. I have also had many opportunities to help total strangers. These urgent needs that gave others the chance to help me or me the chance to reach out to others were varied in nature–from a need for physical or moral support, to a plea for overseeing an event, or help with running errands. When these sudden needs occurred without warning, my wife would often describe them as “strange and bizarre.” She would attribute them to “coincidence.” Through the years, unlikely “coincidences” have become routine occurrences in our lives.

When I was 33, my wife and I were living in Chicago, Illinois. One day, we saw a lady in her fifties walking near our dormitory. She was listening to music with a pair of earphones. She was going home and appeared to be full of joy–with a spring in her walk and a song in her heart. My guess was, “She is probably listening to loud pop music.” After we exchanged greetings, she told us that she was a Christian and the music was actually church hymns. We were in disbelief until she shared her music by letting us listen through her earphones. We readily understood the source of her joy. (Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”)

We moved to Dallas, Texas when I was 37. My Christian co-worker’s parents had just moved to Texas from another state, and they were looking for a church to attend. I had never set foot in a church at the time. Suddenly, I remembered my pledge to my mother (who is a Christian) when I first came to the States. I had promised her that I would seek out churches and find one to attend regularly. So I joined my friends in worship services at a local church. This was the very first church service I attended. Armed with a false feeling that I had fulfilled my pledge to Mother, I did not go back to the church for a long time. (Ephesians 6:1-2 tells us, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.” After a long absence from church, I prayed to God one day when I was troubled with doubts and despair. I began to negotiate with God: “If you let [this and that] come to pass, then I will surely believe in you.” Instantly, I heard a voice rebuking me and saying, “How can you do this? You cannot play games and bargain with God!” I was overcome with fear and my heart started pounding. What’s happening to me?

The following year, I returned to Taiwan. One day, my colleague gave me a Holy Bible and I began to read it. In my heart, I knew that I believed in a God who is bigger than myself. However, I was not affiliated with any church. A Christian relative reminded me, “Jack, even if you possess a beautiful overcoat, what good is it if you don’t wear it?” (He was alluding to baptism [in the church, as an outward expression of the coat of righteousness].)

Before I reached 40, I was working in different shifts everyday. My job often required me to travel throughout the world. I did not have a definite work schedule or a permanent workplace. I strived to be close to God and abide in Him. However, there were times when some Scriptures would appear irrelevant and inscrutable. I prayed for His Word to nurture my spiritual growth [amidst my difficult work schedule.] I prayed to God: “Lord, please grant me the privilege to wear that beautiful coat of righteousness.” (In other words, I wanted to be baptized as a Christian.) (Mark 11:24 offers us an assurance: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.“)

Last year, on July 26, 2015 I worshipped at Chinese Grace Bible Church for the first time. After attending services for three consecutive weeks, I began to experience doubts and temptations. “Am I truly willing to hand over my life to God [even if it involves sacrifice]?” A faint but reassuring voice began to speak to me: “God is full of love and mercy. To impose suffering or demand undue sacrifices is not His nature.” Other similar questions [about the possibility of suffering] kept recurring in my mind. (1 Peter 1:7 reminds us, “These [sufferings] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.“) These comforting verses helped reaffirm my faith. And I said to the Lord, “I am willing. Lord, please cleanse me of my sins.”

I have shared my life journey from age seven to 41. God has continually prepared the way. Many Bible verses have affirmed my faith. I am willing and ready to be a child of God. I’m drawn to Him by our Lord Jesus’ great love and the steadfast guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Last year, in a seekers’ class on September 6, 2015, I accepted Jesus Christ and invited the Holy Spirit into my heart in the presence of teachers George Kao and Song Zhenghua.. I opened my heart and accepted Christ as my personal Savior–thus receiving God’s promise of eternal life. John 3:16 says it best: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Again I thank God for choosing me, affirming me, and bestowing upon me the hope of eternal life. I pledge to entrust my life in His hand. I pledge to live a growing Christian life–to love God and to love my fellow men. And to bring glory to His name.