For many years I was a Christian without any idea what my purpose in life was, or where I belonged. Although I believed in and loved the Lord very much, the Bible was a mystery to me, and I had no desire to meet with other Christians because it seemed hard to find any who were serious about knowing God. I eventually came to the conclusion that as far as the Christian life was concerned, I would just have to be content with being alone.

However, there came a point in my life when I desperately needed to be with other Christians. I was going to the University of Texas at Austin to begin my master’s degree in music, and I was also leaving home for the first time. I didn’t want to be alone anymore, especially being so far from home, so I asked the Lord to lead me to a group of Christians that He wanted me to be with. It was at this time that I found the local church.

The first meeting I went to was a meeting for college students, and I was astonished. There were so many young people there, and to my amazement they were seeking after the Lord just as seriously as I was, if not more seriously. These students could have been doing anything on their Saturday night, but they chose to come together and worship Christ. The atmosphere was so warm and friendly, and I could tell by the smiles on people’s faces that Christ was having a profound impact on their lives. Many students stood up and shared their testimonies and recent experiences of the Lord, and I was deeply impressed that I had finally found a group of Christians who were getting to know the Lord in an ongoing, daily way. I felt that I had finally found where I belonged.

Over the next months I began to meet with the local church. Very quickly, the Bible ceased to be a mystery to me. I read the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and began to see at last what the purpose of my Christian life was according to the Bible. By nature I am a very critical person, so I very diligently checked to see if what they taught matched the Bible, and it always did.

In conclusion, the Lord answered my prayer in ways I could never have imagined. He led me to a wonderful place, where I was able to see what the Christian life is all about, and a place where I could “pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:22) I can never thank the Lord enough for such a positive change that has come over my life because of the local church.

B.T.

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