On the path of serving God, the love of countless believers whom I had never met before helped me turn my life around, making me realize the true meaning of "giving thanks in everything".
Like many children born into Christian families, I grew up surrounded by the care of the church and that of my brothers and sisters.
When I entered the rebellious period, I began to deny and doubt everything. " If it were not for my father, I'm afraid no one in the church would know me!" At that time, I began to have such assumptions about my fellow brothers and sisters.
Although the influence of my family had made me never doubt my faith, I had never once received the truth. As I entered the school and got a job, I gradually drifted with the world, and my heart gradually closed in frustration and trial.
Even though my heart was so stubborn and rebellious, the Lord who was full of love and mercy did not forsake me. A year ago, my family introduced me to join a writing ministry. Then I came to a foreign land by myself.
"When you go to a new city, you must first find a church!" This church was far from home, but I felt the love and warmth of a family, and my life was turned upside down.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the church service was suspended, so I tried to ask the pastor of the church if they had any plans for the baptism of seekers. The pastor told me that the church service would resume that week and baptism registration would begin. He asked me to contact Sister Z who was in charge of reception for baptism registration.
"How can anyone care about me, such a stupefied out-of-town kid?" I was very passive and indifferent and planned to rush home after filling out the registration form.
"Young man, wait!” A voice came from behind me, and Sister Z, who was busy sorting out the application materials for the seekers, stopped me. "You're not from here. Do you live far from here? Do you live alone? Let auntie know if you need anything..."
Although it was only a few short greetings, it reminded me of the kindness I felt in the church as a child. I always have a sense of distance from others, so I shared with sister Z the process of my faith growth.
During the follow-up study with seekers, with the support and trust of the pastor and Sister Z, I was fortunate enough to become the "monitor" of the seeker’s class, leading the seekers to study scriptures together every day, and after the weekly class, Z left me again to share about my faith and testimony.
Once, the seeker’s class ended late. It was past lunchtime, and the church was already empty, so I was going to take the bus home. Unexpectedly, Z said to me with a box of lunch, “Child, your home is too far from here, while the meal is not cold, eat your lunch before going back!" It turned out that she who also didn't eat, was always thinking about me, and she had to walk all the way around the thousand-square-meter churchyard to find me.
I thought, "Ah, so I am also loved by my brothers and sisters!" My eyes instantly became wet. It was also from that day that I secretly made up my mind that in order to repay this grace, I must be baptized smoothly and do my writing ministry well!
- Translated by Leo Liu
主呼召我踏上了服侍之路，无数素不相识的主内信徒对我的爱，助我生命翻转的同时，也让我领悟到了“凡事谢恩”的真谛。
与许多生在基督徒家庭的孩子一样，我从小也是沐浴在教会与弟兄姊妹的关怀中长大。
进入叛逆期，我开始对一切产生否定与怀疑，“要不是因为我父亲的缘故，恐怕教会里都没人认识我吧！”那时的我开始对弟兄姊妹产生如此臆断。
虽然家庭熏陶让我对信仰未曾怀疑，但也没有领受过一次真道。随着入学、就业，我逐渐在世俗中随波逐流，心门也在挫折与试炼中逐渐关闭。
即便是内心如此刚硬叛逆，满有慈爱怜悯的主也没有离弃我。一年前，在家人的介绍下，我只身一人来到异乡，进入主内事工从事文字侍奉。
到新城市先要找教会！”在这座远离家乡的教会里，我却感受到了家人般的关爱与温暖，也让我的生命得以翻转。
由于正值教堂疫情暂停，我尝试着向常去教堂的牧者询问是否有慕道受洗相关安排。牧者告诉我当周恰好恢复聚会，且开始受洗报名，并让我联系负责新人接待的Z姊妹进行报名。
“我这么一个愣头愣脑的外地小子哪有人会在意我呢？”消极淡漠的我本计划填完报名表就匆匆赶车回家。
“小伙子等一下！”一个声音从我身后传来，正在忙着整理慕道友报名材料的Z姊妹叫住了我。“你老家是外地的啊，住的离这里远不远啊？是一个人住吗？有什么需要就跟阿姨说……”
虽然仅是几句简短问候，却让我体会到了童年时教会里那番亲切的感觉。总是对他人怀着距离感的我，遂将自己的信仰成长历程一五一十地向Z姊妹进行了分享。
在随后的慕道学习中，在牧师及Z姊妹的支持信任下，我有幸成为了慕道班“班长”，每天带领慕道友共同学习经文，而每周课程结束后，Z姊妹又将我单独留下，交通信仰、分享见证。
一次，慕道课程结束的时间较晚，已经超过了中午饭点，教堂里早已空无一人，我准备赶车回家，没想到，Z阿姨端着一盒午餐对我说：“孩子，你家离这边太远了，趁着饭没凉，先把午饭吃了再回去吧！”原来，同样没有用餐的Z阿姨一直惦记着孤身一人的我，自己绕着上千平米的教堂大院找了一大圈才找到了我。
“啊，原来我也是被弟兄姊妹爱着的啊！”看着这盒午餐，我的眼眶瞬间湿润了。也是从那一天起，我暗自立下心志，就是为了报答这份恩典，我一定要顺利受洗，做好自己的文字服侍！
在爱中，我学会感恩——一位迷途知返的“信二代”自述
On the path of serving God, the love of countless believers whom I had never met before helped me turn my life around, making me realize the true meaning of "giving thanks in everything".
Like many children born into Christian families, I grew up surrounded by the care of the church and that of my brothers and sisters.
When I entered the rebellious period, I began to deny and doubt everything. " If it were not for my father, I'm afraid no one in the church would know me!" At that time, I began to have such assumptions about my fellow brothers and sisters.
Although the influence of my family had made me never doubt my faith, I had never once received the truth. As I entered the school and got a job, I gradually drifted with the world, and my heart gradually closed in frustration and trial.
Even though my heart was so stubborn and rebellious, the Lord who was full of love and mercy did not forsake me. A year ago, my family introduced me to join a writing ministry. Then I came to a foreign land by myself.
"When you go to a new city, you must first find a church!" This church was far from home, but I felt the love and warmth of a family, and my life was turned upside down.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the church service was suspended, so I tried to ask the pastor of the church if they had any plans for the baptism of seekers. The pastor told me that the church service would resume that week and baptism registration would begin. He asked me to contact Sister Z who was in charge of reception for baptism registration.
"How can anyone care about me, such a stupefied out-of-town kid?" I was very passive and indifferent and planned to rush home after filling out the registration form.
"Young man, wait!” A voice came from behind me, and Sister Z, who was busy sorting out the application materials for the seekers, stopped me. "You're not from here. Do you live far from here? Do you live alone? Let auntie know if you need anything..."
Although it was only a few short greetings, it reminded me of the kindness I felt in the church as a child. I always have a sense of distance from others, so I shared with sister Z the process of my faith growth.
During the follow-up study with seekers, with the support and trust of the pastor and Sister Z, I was fortunate enough to become the "monitor" of the seeker’s class, leading the seekers to study scriptures together every day, and after the weekly class, Z left me again to share about my faith and testimony.
Once, the seeker’s class ended late. It was past lunchtime, and the church was already empty, so I was going to take the bus home. Unexpectedly, Z said to me with a box of lunch, “Child, your home is too far from here, while the meal is not cold, eat your lunch before going back!" It turned out that she who also didn't eat, was always thinking about me, and she had to walk all the way around the thousand-square-meter churchyard to find me.
I thought, "Ah, so I am also loved by my brothers and sisters!" My eyes instantly became wet. It was also from that day that I secretly made up my mind that in order to repay this grace, I must be baptized smoothly and do my writing ministry well!
- Translated by Leo Liu
'I Learn to Be Grateful', A Lost-Found Second Generation Christian Says
