There is a Christian male believer (called M for short) from the northern part of the Anhui Province, whose birth brought great pains and severe sequela to his mother. As her sequela grew worse, she received a critically ill notice from the hospital. However, when a man comes to his end, God starts to work. At that time, a neighbor shared with her the gospel, stating that she could have peace by relying on Jesus. Without other choices to gain peace, she accepted Jesus as her savior. Miraculously, after putting her faith in Jesus, his mother was miraculously healed of her illness and was even able to get out of bed and work.
After experiencing the amazing power of healing, she firmly put her faith in Jesus to attend gatherings regularly for decades. She led her children in becoming Christians, though some of her family members still do not believe in Jesus.
It was under the influence of his mother that M came to Christ during summer vacation when his mother's church offered a class for church staff. Although M was not yet a believer at that time, he was very interested in the class. He attended the class as a truth-seeker to be a Christian. Not long after that, like many young people in the countryside, he left the village to seek opportunities to work in big cities. He eventually found a job in a Christian-owned company where he was both earning money and practicing a life of faith, such as attending Bible study classes held by the local church and the two-month-long catechism class every year.
Growing spiritually, he clearly realized his growing desire to partake in church ministry. About three years later, M started to put more time and energy into ministry, Bible studies, and gatherings than into his work, finding it difficult to manage both well. Then, he realized that he had to make a decision to put down his work and focus on receiving systematic training in theology. Though it was easy to think about it, he had many obstacles in his way to fulfilling his desire, such as whether his family would agree, where to receive the training, and how to pay for it. Knowing that such a choice would greatly affect his destiny, he did not make the decision easier on momentary passion but on the clear guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Gratefully, in less than a month, he solved these three big problems. Receiving support from his family, he successfully entered the seminary, having the ability to pay for his studies.
From this brother's experience, we can see several rules about how Christians walk on the path to serve God. First, sometimes God is patiently leading the man he has chosen according to his growth speed and does not immediately give him the strong desire to study theology and to serve God and the way to satisfy the desire. Secondly, the man must desire with his free will to partake in ministry, since God does not force any men to serve Him nor does Him use other people to force a man. What matters most is a man’s own desire and choice to walk on the path to serve God. Finally, if it is God's will for a man to serve Him, He will make a way out. Even if there are many obstacles in his way, God will remove them so that the person can walk on this path.
- Translated by Alvin Zhou
有一位弟兄就是出生于皖（安徽）北地区，据说，他是在难产中出生，其母亲也因为难产而留下了比较严重的后遗症，后来，他母亲后遗症越发严重，以至到了被下病危通知的地步。然而，人的尽头，往往也就是神的起头。一次，邻居向母亲传福音，告其依靠耶稣可以得平安。在那种情况之下，弟兄的母亲只能选择信耶稣。奇妙的是，弟兄的母亲在信了耶稣之后，身上的病竟然神奇的好了，身体不仅不疼了，而且还可以下床干活。
有了这个奇妙的经历，使得弟兄的母亲坚信主耶稣，数十年来，她一直坚信主耶稣，经常参加聚会，在她的带领和影响之下，家中的几个孩子相继信主，虽然家庭中仍有人未信主。
这位弟兄就是在其母亲的影响下信主的。那是一个暑假，妈妈所在的教会举办了一个学道班，虽然那个时候还没有信主，但是他对于这次的培训班非常感兴趣，所以在没有信主的时候就参加了那次为教会同工们所开办的学道班，然后信了耶稣。没过多久之后，像很多农村青年人一样，他开始外出打工。不这位弟兄进入到一家由基督徒所创办的企业里面去工作，一边赚钱，一边进行属灵方面的学习、造就，比如参加当地教会举办的查经班、每年两个月的学道班等。
弟兄属灵生命上得到了很大的成长，属灵的负担越发清晰明了。大约三年之后，这位弟兄的属灵服侍、学习、聚会超过了在工作上的付出，两者兼顾，明显感觉到很吃力。这时弟兄意识到要做出决定了，那就是要放下手中的工作，专心接受神学上的系统培训。可是，弟兄也深刻的认识到这事想起来容易，落实起来却非常的难，比如家人同不同意、去哪里接受培训、费用怎么办等等。这是一次关乎人生命运的关键性抉择，马虎不得，要的是圣灵的感动，而不是一时的热血沸腾。
感恩的是，大概不到一个月的时间，这三个方面得以陆续成就，他顺利考取了神学院，而且得到了家人的支持，费用也有了着落。
从这位弟兄的经历，可以使我们看见关于基督徒奉献服侍神的几个规律：首先，有时候神对人的带领是循序渐进的，并没有马上让人有读神学、奉献服侍神的负担、出路，乃是一步一步带领人有这样的看见和负担。其次，人在走向服侍神的这条道路中也要有自己的想法，毕竟神不会逼迫一个人服侍，也不需要外人强迫其服侍，关键在于自己，自己内心中要有负担、想法。最后，就是服侍神的这条道路，若是出于神的旨意，那么神就会开出路，即便是前路有很多的阻碍，那么神也会把阻碍排除，使人能够走在这条道路上。
先学道，后奉献--记一位弟兄奉献读神学的经历
There is a Christian male believer (called M for short) from the northern part of the Anhui Province, whose birth brought great pains and severe sequela to his mother. As her sequela grew worse, she received a critically ill notice from the hospital. However, when a man comes to his end, God starts to work. At that time, a neighbor shared with her the gospel, stating that she could have peace by relying on Jesus. Without other choices to gain peace, she accepted Jesus as her savior. Miraculously, after putting her faith in Jesus, his mother was miraculously healed of her illness and was even able to get out of bed and work.
After experiencing the amazing power of healing, she firmly put her faith in Jesus to attend gatherings regularly for decades. She led her children in becoming Christians, though some of her family members still do not believe in Jesus.
It was under the influence of his mother that M came to Christ during summer vacation when his mother's church offered a class for church staff. Although M was not yet a believer at that time, he was very interested in the class. He attended the class as a truth-seeker to be a Christian. Not long after that, like many young people in the countryside, he left the village to seek opportunities to work in big cities. He eventually found a job in a Christian-owned company where he was both earning money and practicing a life of faith, such as attending Bible study classes held by the local church and the two-month-long catechism class every year.
Growing spiritually, he clearly realized his growing desire to partake in church ministry. About three years later, M started to put more time and energy into ministry, Bible studies, and gatherings than into his work, finding it difficult to manage both well. Then, he realized that he had to make a decision to put down his work and focus on receiving systematic training in theology. Though it was easy to think about it, he had many obstacles in his way to fulfilling his desire, such as whether his family would agree, where to receive the training, and how to pay for it. Knowing that such a choice would greatly affect his destiny, he did not make the decision easier on momentary passion but on the clear guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Gratefully, in less than a month, he solved these three big problems. Receiving support from his family, he successfully entered the seminary, having the ability to pay for his studies.
From this brother's experience, we can see several rules about how Christians walk on the path to serve God. First, sometimes God is patiently leading the man he has chosen according to his growth speed and does not immediately give him the strong desire to study theology and to serve God and the way to satisfy the desire. Secondly, the man must desire with his free will to partake in ministry, since God does not force any men to serve Him nor does Him use other people to force a man. What matters most is a man’s own desire and choice to walk on the path to serve God. Finally, if it is God's will for a man to serve Him, He will make a way out. Even if there are many obstacles in his way, God will remove them so that the person can walk on this path.
- Translated by Alvin Zhou
Story of Christian’s Devotion to Studying Theology
