Although following the Lord for over a decade, Sister H (pseudonym) had never been able to establish herself in the teachings of the Bible, commit to a church, or join a fellowship due to her busy work schedule. She experienced a move of the Holy Spirit this year following COVID-19, establishing a consistent devotional routine that includes daily Bible reading, prayer, and attendance at church events. The article shares her life-changing testimony.
Five years ago, Sister H came to Church R for Sunday service since the W church she attended was unable to have meetings due to a small number of believers and some other reasons. Later, I noticed her attending the Sunday service weekly with a habit of frequently checking her mobile phone during the meetings, coming and leaving in a hurry. I often suggested she join the group, but she refused because she was too busy at work. Upon knowing a believer is in need or is sick, she, a good cook, immediately offers help, visits, accompanies, and makes nutritious meals.
Later, we got along well with each other, becoming close spiritual friends. However, she felt discouraged about reading the Bible, praying, and committing to the church for fellowship, claiming a lack of time. At the beginning of the pandemic, her newly opened restaurant was forced to close, which even caused her debt. As a 40-year-old, when most people have settled down, she has already changed several jobs, all in remote places. Her job was mainly in catering management, which required regular late-night work, leaving her no consistent time to read the Bible, pray, and be close to God. Being a believer for more than ten years, she has read the Bible only two or three times.
In the five years since we met her, I had been constantly praying for her. Whenever she changed jobs or relocated, I would contact her and advise her to find a local church for meetings, no matter what. Later, she did find several churches, but after a few months of attendance, she changed her job and church again.
This year, two of her friends invited her to start a business in another place. She said that it was more attractive to her financially. She prayed with me for God’s will. I began to repeat the old words I had been saying for five years, reminding her that to put God first, she needed to maintain a consistent devotional life. I also suggested she stay and work locally, commit to a certain church, and base job decisions on the availability of time for devotions and church meetings.
Then a miracle happened, which changed her mind to give up the generous treatment in other places. When she was so poor that there was only 20 yuan on her, her house in Chongqing, which she had been unable to sell for several years, was suddenly sold the next day. She could not only pay off all the debts but also have a surplus. Regarding the invitation to establish a business, she resolutely gave up after some prayer, preferring to work as a part-time worker at a local housekeeping company, where she may schedule her time freely.
In the recent Sunday services, there has been growth in her life. She became humbled and started taking the church's Alpha course for new members. She attends every Sunday service with full attention to God’s messages rather than her phone. Outside the church, she also shares her reflections on Bible reading every day in our online small group chat.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Sichuan.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
有位H姊妹信主十几年，常忙于工作的事情，一直无法在圣经真理上扎根，也没有委身教会参加团契。经历几年疫情后，自今年开始，被圣灵感动，她终于开始每天早上读经、祷告，持续参加教会的聚会，有了稳定的信仰生活。她分享了自己生命改变的见证。
五年前，H姊妹因为当时她所在的W教会人很少，由于某种原因无法聚会了，她来到R教会参加主日。后来，每周日见到她来参加主日聚会，也是有个特点，聚会时候爱看手机，不停止地看，来匆匆去匆匆的。我始终建议她进入小组，她说工作很忙无法参加。她很会做美食，遇见肢体哪个有困难或生病，她义不容辞前往帮助，探访和陪伴，做营养餐。
之后，我们彼此谈得来，成为了要好的属灵朋友。可是，每次说到读经、祷告，委身教会过小组团契生活，她就很苦闷，称自己没有时间。在疫情初期，她刚开的餐馆被迫关停，还欠了债务。四十几岁的她换了好几次工作，都在外地。她工作主要是餐饮管理，经常加夜班。也没法有相对稳定时间段读经、祷告亲近神。信仰十几年，圣经也就读了2-3遍。
认识五年以来，我恒切为她守望祷告，每换工作到了一个新地方，我就打电话嘱托，无论如何找到当地教会去聚会。后来她确实也找了好几间教会，聚会不到几个月，又换工作地点，又换教会。
今年，她有两个朋友，邀请她到外地去创业，她告诉我，在经济收入上，比较吸引她。她和我一块祷告求神的旨意！我又开始苦口婆心重复五年的老话，唠叨给她说：把神摆在首位，必须有稳定的信仰生活；并且建议她留在本地工作，固定委身一间教会聚会，工作决定前提是保障有时间灵修和去教会聚会的时间。
接下来发生一件神迹奇事，让她终于决定放弃外地优渥的待遇。就在她困难到有一天身上只有二十元钱的时候，第二天，她在重庆几年都卖不出去的房子，突然全款出手了。不但还清债务，还有盈余。面对好友邀请创业，她经过一段时间祷告，她毅然放弃了，宁可选择本地一家政公司做普通的钟点工。因为这样她才有自由安排的时间。
这几周主日聚会，发现她生命进一步的改变，她谦卑下来，从教会新人启发课程学起，并且每周日聚会听道，不再看手机，专注于聆听神的话语。还在群里分享日日读经心得。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系四川一名基督徒。
见证：H姊妹生命悔改，有了稳定的信仰生活
Although following the Lord for over a decade, Sister H (pseudonym) had never been able to establish herself in the teachings of the Bible, commit to a church, or join a fellowship due to her busy work schedule. She experienced a move of the Holy Spirit this year following COVID-19, establishing a consistent devotional routine that includes daily Bible reading, prayer, and attendance at church events. The article shares her life-changing testimony.
Five years ago, Sister H came to Church R for Sunday service since the W church she attended was unable to have meetings due to a small number of believers and some other reasons. Later, I noticed her attending the Sunday service weekly with a habit of frequently checking her mobile phone during the meetings, coming and leaving in a hurry. I often suggested she join the group, but she refused because she was too busy at work. Upon knowing a believer is in need or is sick, she, a good cook, immediately offers help, visits, accompanies, and makes nutritious meals.
Later, we got along well with each other, becoming close spiritual friends. However, she felt discouraged about reading the Bible, praying, and committing to the church for fellowship, claiming a lack of time. At the beginning of the pandemic, her newly opened restaurant was forced to close, which even caused her debt. As a 40-year-old, when most people have settled down, she has already changed several jobs, all in remote places. Her job was mainly in catering management, which required regular late-night work, leaving her no consistent time to read the Bible, pray, and be close to God. Being a believer for more than ten years, she has read the Bible only two or three times.
In the five years since we met her, I had been constantly praying for her. Whenever she changed jobs or relocated, I would contact her and advise her to find a local church for meetings, no matter what. Later, she did find several churches, but after a few months of attendance, she changed her job and church again.
This year, two of her friends invited her to start a business in another place. She said that it was more attractive to her financially. She prayed with me for God’s will. I began to repeat the old words I had been saying for five years, reminding her that to put God first, she needed to maintain a consistent devotional life. I also suggested she stay and work locally, commit to a certain church, and base job decisions on the availability of time for devotions and church meetings.
Then a miracle happened, which changed her mind to give up the generous treatment in other places. When she was so poor that there was only 20 yuan on her, her house in Chongqing, which she had been unable to sell for several years, was suddenly sold the next day. She could not only pay off all the debts but also have a surplus. Regarding the invitation to establish a business, she resolutely gave up after some prayer, preferring to work as a part-time worker at a local housekeeping company, where she may schedule her time freely.
In the recent Sunday services, there has been growth in her life. She became humbled and started taking the church's Alpha course for new members. She attends every Sunday service with full attention to God’s messages rather than her phone. Outside the church, she also shares her reflections on Bible reading every day in our online small group chat.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Sichuan.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Testimony: Stable Faith After Repentance
