If you only look at my application form, it might seem a bit strange — my first time attending our gathering was September 8, 2019, and my date of believing in the Lord was September 15, 2019. It may seem like I accepted Jesus very quickly, but I actually went through a rather long period of exploration before that. After entering high school, I went abroad for the first time and saw viewpoints I had never encountered before. I gradually formed the idea that "pursuing personal freedom is the ultimate goal of life." I read and thought a lot about related ideas, such as "freedom is relative," "freedom and responsibility," and so on, and I thought I would be someone who lived "a wild and uninhibited life loving freedom." Then in the summer of my sophomore year, as I was preparing to come to the U.S. as an exchange student, after completing my visa in Shanghai, I walked past Moore Memorial Church on Xizang Middle Road. I saw a line of text above the main entrance: "The truth will set you free." This was the first time I had seen "freedom" discussed this way, and it sparked my strong interest in seeing how the Bible explains social issues. My determined thought at the time was that to acknowledge and accept the Christian faith, I must first read the Bible once to know what it says. That summer, when I visited relatives in Hong Kong, I learned from them that my grandfather had been baptized in Hong Kong when he was young, but after returning to mainland China for work he could not serve the Lord, and most of the family was unaware. In my junior year in the U.S., I learned that several of my good friends from middle school had also chosen to follow the Lord after studying abroad. The experiences of people around me always had a great impact on me. So in August 2017 I began reading from Genesis, and by August 2019 I had read all the books of the Bible. My motivation for reading the whole Bible was really to read its wise sayings; I can't say I remembered them all, but I did read and reflect as I went, and my thinking gradually shifted from understanding the content of the Bible to considering "what impact does the content of the Bible actually have on my life?" My connection with CBG and MGC actually goes back to April 2019, when one night I suddenly Googled churches near Columbia University, thinking I could come learn more about the Bible and faith. The first Google result was CBG, and through CBG I came to MGC. I originally thought I would only be a seeker attending the gatherings, but coming to faith just happened like that. On the Saturday of Mid-Autumn Festival, September 14, I went with friends to the "Stream of Praise" worship concert, mainly drawn by their reputation since I knew little about worship music at the time. But at the concert, the worship music had a great impact on my heart. I saw everyone's faith, and as I listened I kept thinking, "Why are such beautiful things possible?" Around that time I thought I would probably have an answer soon about whether to commit to the Lord. Then partway through the concert, a preacher suddenly asked, "Is there anyone here today who is encountering Jesus for the first time and wants to accept Him? Please raise your hand." I raised my hand, even though I didn't consider it my "first" encounter, but I did not put my hand down. At the time I had no idea this was actually a call, nor did I know that "decision" was a step — but God let it all happen this way. The next day on Sunday, Siyu walked me through the Four Spiritual Laws, and then Duncan led me in the prayer of commitment. I am very grateful that Duncan asked me if I wanted someone to witness with me. After some thought, I asked two friends I was close to at the time, and a whole group of people came along to witness with me. After deciding to follow the Lord, I was no longer satisfied with what I had gained from reading the Bible once. I began to enjoy study and devotion, and wanted to read more related books. I was no longer content with reading and exploring alone, and I am thankful for good fellowship, church, and small groups. Before believing, I only underlined verses that struck me, like "Love your neighbor as yourself" or many sayings in Proverbs; now I want to strive to obey the Bible's teachings and am willing to spend my whole life pursuing these truths. As for the topic of "freedom," I am now gradually learning to pray to God first when things happen and then follow His guidance as I act, slowly changing my old habit of relying solely on my own abilities and judgment. Also, before believing, I would think about certain "coincidences" — like when I needed an idea, I would happen to talk about it with a friend — wondering if they were God's arrangement. Now I realize that all of this is God's best plan for me.

Chris
December 2019