eternal life investment

[KRC Alumni Sharing] How I embarked on the path to seminary

Photo courtesy/Liao Meihui

▲"Kingdom of God" special correspondent Liao Meihui.

KRC accompanies my spiritual growth

In the summer of 2001, our family immigrated to the United States from Taiwan. That same Thanksgiving, I became the first Christian in my family. Over the past fifteen years, God has done wonderful work in our family, turning me from a "jealous person" who likes to compete for fame and wealth to a Christian who is willing to obey God's will.

In 2003, a sister invited me to participate in writing training at the "God's Kingdom Resources and Culture Practice Camp", which laid the foundation for my future writing. Under the leadership and call of Teacher Gao Lili, Teacher Su Wen'an and Teacher Chen Huiwan, I dedicated my pen to the altar and have been writing non-stop for more than ten years. In addition to teaching us writing skills, these three teachers also taught us spiritual life and service attitude, which gradually expanded the realm of my life.

In 2005, I obtained the "Montessori Preschool Teacher License" and, under the guidance of God, taught in a kindergarten run by Korean Christians. The boss requires all the teachers to do spiritual practice together every morning and lead us in singing, worshiping and reading the Bible. That was the inspiration for my daily spiritual practice. Several times, my Korean colleagues took me to their church’s 6 a.m. prayer meeting. God showed me their passionate love for the Lord and inspired me to pursue my faith more seriously.

In 2007, our family came to Ruoge Church in central New Jersey. The church’s Sunday school, Bible college, Sunday pulpit, and group Bible study all helped me to take root in the truth. At the same time, I continued to diligently practice the "Seven Every" exercise taught in the KRC Literary Camp: daily spiritual practice, writing an experience every week, submitting articles every month, reading a good book every month, serving children's Sunday school every quarter, Take a theology class every six months and participate in literature training every year.

Less than five years after I believed in the Lord, my husband and I made a major decision together - "Home Schooling". This deeply affected our family of four and forced us to trust and follow God even more. My friends have both positive and negative opinions about "home education", but my loving Heavenly Father gave me nine words: "Don't be afraid, don't compare, and don't be anxious." Now that our two children have gone to college, looking back, this tortuous journey of “home education” with God is actually the best memory in our family’s life.

▲During home education, Liao Meihui (second from left) took a photo with her family.

The second half of life - "Don't be afraid"

In 2013, when our children went to college, the couple entered the "empty nest period" and began to discuss "Where should we invest our time, energy, and financial resources in the second half of our lives, and what is the most meaningful thing?" If you don’t do something today, you will regret it tomorrow?”

The consensus we both reached was that we should seize the opportunity now and enter the seminary to equip ourselves while we still have the mental and physical strength to prepare for the second half of our lives and to be God’s messengers. This is the most meaningful investment.

But more than a year later, it seems that we are just "talking on paper." I suspect that I only had a fever for three minutes. Besides, my husband suffers from glaucoma and is frail and sick. Are we really capable and qualified to study theology? Is this a call from God or an impulse of your own?

In March 2014, I traveled to Israel with my husband, and I kept hearing a message in Jericho: "Don't be afraid!" I didn't understand at the time, what was I afraid of? What does "Don't be afraid" mean to me? Arriving at the shores of the Lake of Galilee, in front of the stone monument of Peter's Church, I heard Pastor Ye Hongguang preach the message "Feed My Sheep", which was very heartbreaking. But I still don’t understand, what special meaning do these two pieces of information have to me personally?

After returning from the Holy Land, my husband and I began to study the Bible more diligently. In early April of the same year, I met a school sister who was about to graduate from the North American Chinese Evangelical Theological Seminary by chance at a prayer meeting at Ruoge Church. She encouraged me, "Don't be afraid, take the first step bravely, go to seminary, and be equipped quickly." We are using them for the Lord. There is a large group of Chinese students waiting for us to feed them!” I couldn’t help but shed tears when I heard the words “don’t be afraid” and “feed”. It turns out that God already knew it and was prepared for it. The key question is, am I capable? Am I ready?

eternal life investment

Applying to seminary is like deciding whether to "homeschool" ten years ago. You hear different voices and suggestions, more positive than negative, but the objections are still quite scary: "Be careful, going to seminary will make you a big brain!" "Theological knowledge may not be directly proportional to spiritual life." "It is better to use the time of studying theology and writing reports to serve those in need."...

After two months of prayer and serious discussions with the church pastor and several seniors, my husband and I submitted the application. do not be afraid! The Lord’s grace is enough! Studying theology is not an end in itself, but a necessary medium to achieve it. The ultimate goal is to turn knowledge into a life of service.

Being able to attend seminary is a blessing, and being able to study together as a couple is a double blessing. I have been working in North American Huashen for more than a year, working during the day and attending classes at night. Although it is not easy, my life is fulfilling and meaningful. One of the purposes of the seminary is to cultivate holy workers with balanced development in spiritual life, knowledge, and service. I hope that I will use both "heart" and "wisdom" and "light" and "heat" to renew what I have learned and my personal spiritual life. combine. I pray that in the future, the gospel preached can be meaningful, reasonable, and well-founded. Looking back on the past fifteen years, I am deeply grateful that God has protected and guided me at every important turning point in my life. I firmly believe that attending seminary is a blessing from God and a practical response to God’s eternal love. I hope that in the second half of my life, I will have more love for God and people, more knowledge and various insights, and that I will be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, and that I will bring glory and praise to God.

Author profile
Currently, he is a special correspondent for this magazine and a special correspondent for New Jersey Hanxin Monthly. Currently a Montessori preschool teacher and part-time theology student.