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見證 Testimony
Below are testimonies from our very own brothers and sisters in EFCOS Essence Fellowship.
If you would like to post a testimony on this website, please e-mail Gary Tan at
[email protected].
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Testimony |
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Jason Cheng
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Posted: 24 Jun 2003
My name is Jason, and I have been a Christian for about three years now. I was born into a
non-Christian family and my family is made up of dad, mum and two older brothers and a younger
sister. My growing up was a bit peculiar though because I spent most of my life growing with my
grand parent, aunty and uncle. When I was 9 my grand parents moved to Auckland, New Zealand
where I spend the next 8 years going through primary, intermediate and high school education.
After my Bursary Examination I was accepted into a Software Engineering degree in Sydney
University which is the degree which I am currently finishing off.
The first time I went to church was the first year of my university study. I can still remember
singing hymns and sitting through a boring sermon (It's not easy sitting through a long sermon
on hard wooden chairs) but I got to say I really enjoy the fellowship there and you could really
tell that there was something different about these people. After returning from that visit, I
felt tired and reluctant to go back to church again. So I begin to think up excuses of turning
down Tim (the dude that ask me to go to church), and I can still remember that my excuses
usually all revolved around having no time and too busy with university (you guys know how it is
with uni).
But it was not after a long while when I am beginning to run out of excuses as Tim ask me time
after time again that I decided to go back again. And this time around I find myself really
enjoying the small groups and finding the people there interesting to talk to. So from that
point on I continued to go back and begin my journey to know a friend that will change my life.
Before I became a Christian, I have to say that I was living a very good and comfortable life.
I had a loving and caring family; I did not have much to worry about but my duties as a student
which was to study. I had a view that the most important thing in this world was to do well at
school, getting a good job and make lots and lots of money. I was really focused on what others
think about me, and that the way to gain respect of others was to prove my abilities in my
profession and "show off" every opportunities that I have. I was a very self focused,
superficial and fairly materialistic person.
After I became a Christian, I realized and understood that there was a more profound purpose for
our existence which is to love God and love others around us with all our mind and strength.
That there was a Creator which has always looked after me and cared for me through my happy
times and sad times. Someone that I could talk to and will always accepts and understands me no
matter what I have done. He made me see that there is more to life than just work and been
noticed by others. He has change my prospects to life and defined a whole new framework of
what gaining respect from other really is all about. I began to read the Bible from the New
Testament (still battling through the Old Testament... hehe) and I was captivate by the this
Man, Jesus. He had a wisdom in His heart which is nothing like what I have seen. He understood
human weaknesses, and really does knew me personally.
I hope that through this testimony you could see God’s amazing love and that He is a personal
God that could make a real positive impact in your life. To finish off I would like to leave you
a passage from the gospel of Luke: "And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and
you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one that ask receives; and he who
seek finds; and to him who knock, the door will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10).
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May Chien
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Posted: 25 Jun 2003
大家平安! 我的名字是May. 我來雪梨已有11年, 家裡有媽媽,哥哥和Happy (一隻狗 ^^ ). 目前我就讀雪梨科技大學 (UTS) 的Bachelor of Int’l Studies (Japan major) and Bachelor of Laws,今年二年級.
我是來澳洲幾年後才信主的. 信主之前, 我跟著住在台灣的奶奶一起拜拜 (感謝主! 奶奶也已信主) 也算是個滿虔誠的小孩。才十歲而已我就會背誦一些佛經等等的. 雖然那時年紀還小, 給我的影響是很深的. 剛來澳洲的時候, 媽媽因為想認識一些台灣人, 就到了台福教會. 我心底非常反對, 覺得媽媽背叛了我們的神. 常常為此和她吵架.
後來, 媽媽信主了. 我覺得很驚訝, 因為在台灣時媽媽她一向是敬鬼神而遠之, 怎麼會這樣就相信外國人的神?! 之後, 媽媽和牧師商量, 替我們報名參加靈修會. 因為錢已交了, 我就只好去了. 想不到, 神真的有祂奇妙的安排. 雖然我完全沒有聽懂牧師所說的話, 也不了解耶穌是誰, 更不知道救恩和我有什麼關係, 但在牧師呼招有誰願意相信主耶穌的時候, 我忍不住就站了起來. 站起來後, 只覺得心裡很感動, 也不曉得為什麼, 就開始一直哭. 後來才知道， 那是聖靈在我心裡動工. 自從決定信主後, 我的思想, 觀念, 心情, 也都有了 180度的大轉變. 雖然那時我什麼都不懂就信了, 但是我卻因此踏入教會, 而慢慢地, 我開始了解這位神, 原來是這樣的全能, 是唯一的真神. 到了教會, 認識弟兄姊妹後, 從他們身上也看到了許多見證.
最讓我相信神是a living God的因為禱告. 神他真的垂聽我們的禱告. 無論是小事, 大事, 傷心事, 快樂的事, 都能和神分享. 從禱告當中, 我真的學習到神是無所不知, 無所不能, 無所不在的!
我很感謝主給我這個機會來認識祂 能夠受洗成為祂的兒女. 從剛認識主到現在也有7年左右, 真的是越讀聖經, 越認識神, 就越深信耶穌愛我, 為我的罪死, 因神的大能而復活, 越能夠體會神的能力與恩典. 如今, 我的生命裡有主的引導, 我相信無論是什麼事, 什麼困難, 靠著神, 凡事都能做, 凡事都得了秘訣了! 感謝主! Because He reigns!
最後 我要和大家一起分享我的favourite 經節. 希伯來書 13: 8 “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” ! 希望各位弟兄姊妹, 也能夠來信這位信實, 公義, 愛我們, 永遠不改變的上帝!
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Michael Liu
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Posted: 9 Jul 2003
“你真的變了耶”, “哇賽! 你以前不是這樣的”, “你知道嗎? Michael變了好多”…
每次高中同學辦聚會的時候都會聽到那些話. 這幾年來在我身上發生的改變讓每一個曾經認識我的人都驚嘆不已. 神的大能真是奇妙.
自從小學四年級就在雪梨一個叫Carlingford的地區長大. 雖然是小地方, 但台灣人卻是不少. 從小就有許多機會跟其他的台灣孩子一起交流, 常常家裡也會有台灣家長來拜訪, 而我媽就會介紹我哥, 我和妹妹給伯伯阿姨們認識. 我是我們三個小孩裡最安靜的一個. James的表演慾強, 又討長輩歡喜, 所以常常把能說的話通通搶了說, 而我就扮個在一旁面無表情的小酷哥. 在這早期培養個性的年齡就可以看出我高中時還是沒改掉那愛扮酷的樣子.
迷迷糊糊的上了初中, 一所當地的學校 Carlingford High. 由於我們家的孩子都有從小習練小提琴的原因, 我和我哥都很受學校裡老師的歡迎. 有一次老師邀我去一個酒會在大家吃飯喝酒的時候演奏一曲, 賺點外快和經驗. 無法抗拒那五十塊澳幣的誘惑, 我去了. 結束之後老師上來問我, “Michael, 你怎麼都不笑? 你表演的很好, 笑一個啊!” 我其實那時是蠻高興的, 只不過沒笑出來. 回家後還自己在鏡子面前練習怎樣笑才算是看得出來. 這位十四歲的小酷哥慢慢的學會笑了.
我想在這裡應該要介紹一位我很要好的朋友. 他跟我同名叫Michael, 姓也很相似, 所以從小到大我們兩個在班上點名是在一起, 被罵也是一起, 幾乎做什麼也都是一起. 他是個基督徒, 在基督徒的家庭長大. 但是跟我這個非信徒卻一起玩了七年多. 不知道為什麼他從來不對我提起關於基督教的事情, 也許就是因為他了解我那自傲排外的個性吧. 我就是這麼一個讓人覺得很難去改變的一個人. 要讓我對任何事情改觀是不可能的. 用兩個字形容, 就是 “固執”.
縱然固執, 但是我內心深處一直有個疑問. 我想知道人生的意義何在. 從來沒有向任何人透露過我的這些疑問, 也從來沒有得到任何自己滿意的答案. 我到底來到這個世界上, 是要做什麼的? 我為什麼會在這裡? 我的思想和身體合併為一, 只是個巧合嗎? 人不是終究要死嗎? 那活個短短幾十年又何必? 為什麼還要辛苦賺錢? 死之後能帶走什麼? 這些書本上沒記載, 卻又很現實的問題不斷的困擾著我.
高中畢業, 我跟我另外一個很要好的香港朋友去了香港. 當時有部電影 Prince of Egypt, 是關於摩西帶領以色列人逃離埃及的故事. 因為對那些特效和動畫充滿興趣, 我們就去看了. 電影本身是很不錯, 但是我看到上帝逞罰那些人的時候, 我非常的反感. 為什麼一個稱為充滿慈愛, 充滿憐憫的神要如此的濫殺無辜? 在我那以世俗的事物為標準的眼光裡, 這個上帝根本不值得人去信祂.
認定了人生不過如此, 沒有一個死後的盼望, 我變得很頹廢, 整天過著糜爛的生活. 大學也是隨隨便便, 當就當了, 自認為看破了生命的意義. 大好前途耽擱在電動玩具, 跟朋友玩耍到天亮才回家的生活中.
就在我人生走到了這個階段時, 奇妙的事開始了.
對我媽來說, 成功就是做一個有用的人. 這句話我從未忘記, 至今也常常用它來提醒自己. “Michael, 你整天窩在家裡玩電腦, 不能做些更有意義的事情嗎? 年輕人就是要出去跟年輕人玩耍.” 我媽總是這樣的說我. 好在我媽有關心她兒子青年期的交友狀態, 要不然我可要被大家定上個 “geek”的名號. 好啊, 你叫我出去玩, 我還求之不得咧. “多看看, 多交流, 多學習些社會經驗, 培養人際關係” 這是我的任務大綱.
大學三年級的時候我就開始積極的參加學生社團. 同時也有個同學 (Jason)邀我去參加雪梨台福教會的靈修會. 他雖然告訴我說要敞開心裡的障礙來試著了解基督教, 我卻抱著一個心理, 就是我不管聽到什麼, 遇到什麼, 就當它是這些基督徒應該做的, 跟我沒關係, 也不是我的事情. 我是去交朋友, 去接觸不同的世面, 不是去追求一個避難懺悔的地方. 我並不覺得我需要一個神來管轄我的生命. “神真的存在嗎? 祂真的能比我自己還能管我嗎?”
神奇的事情就要發生了.
還記得第一次接觸到台福教會的兄弟姊妹們. 他們身上散發出一種很特別的光彩. 我沒有見過一群這麼團結, 喜樂, 謙卑, 又風趣的年輕人. 更讓我訝異的是, 許多這些綻放光彩的年輕人是我結識許久的朋友, 跟我一起長大的 Michael也在其中. 我在大家的關懷中感覺好像是一個從遠方凱旋而歸的家人一般. 生平第一次感受到什麼是活在基督裡的喜樂.
我毫無遲疑的愛上了這個上帝的大家庭. 看著每個人唱著詩歌, 閉著眼睛專心的向上帝禱告, 感動了我的內心. 無論這些人是學生, 是上班族, 是為人父母, 是醫生, 是老師, 是男, 是女, 個個都有一致的心向著他們的上帝. 這種團結的心在歷史上有哪一種政府機關或是貿易公司是曾經具有的? 這些人深信上帝的存在, 也深信耶穌基督的復活, 在這時候我已經沒有懷疑.
再來就是我自己信不信了. 每次聽完蔡茂堂牧師的證道, 我的小組就會被我搞的很頭痛. 我被稱為那年的 “問題兒童”, 就因為我滔滔不絕的發問. 回想起來我還真是蠻欠打的, 幾乎每個聖經句節都在雞蛋裡挑骨頭.
儘管如此, 我心裡越來越相信這就是我多年來要找的答案. 而也就在天時地利人合的情況下, 蔡牧師一聲呼召, 我從眾群中走上前面, 跪在地上, 淚如雨下.
醒覺, 告白, 認知, 認罪, 懺悔. 我決志成為一個基督徒了. 我告訴自己, 這就是我在找的答案. 我向上帝說, 是的, 我是微弱的, 我沒有能力來掌管我的生命, 懇求你來做主. 我接受耶穌基督為了我的罪過而死, 而他聖潔的犧牲使他復活在你的右邊. 因為你創造了我, 你也帶領了我走到這裡, 我終於看清楚了. 我終於明白了.
靈修會過後, 我開始每個星期天在台福教會報到. 基督的愛在我心中留下的餘味讓我渴望得到更多, 了解更多. 永遠忘不了每次星期五查經之後一群人殺到麥當勞繼續討論的時光. 我不斷的繼續我的發問, 討論的話題也一次比一次的新鮮又暢懷. 那時候有一個弟兄叫 “歪哥”, 已經被我煩到沒時間吃他的雞塊, 但還是很有耐心的翻著聖經, 回答著我的問題. (這個時候, 他買的雞塊已經被別人吃掉了.)
決志兩年多了. 人生也走上了另一層階段. 有著上帝的帶領讓我覺得活著真的是很美好的一件事. 上帝曾經把我從遠方帶回祂的家, 而在祂的家, 祂幫助我成長. 經過了悲傷苦難, 喜悅興樂, 上帝賜給我那永生的盼望是在這個世界上的生命動力. 雖然還有許多事情沒有得到答案, 但是我身邊這些神的光明之子做了最好的見證.
神是存在的, 神就是愛. 祂是一切美好的, 滿有權威的, 至高無上的. 祂的智慧遠超過於人的智慧, 祂的能力遠超過於人的能力. 凡信靠祂的必得永生, 必得安慰, 必得到超乎於想像的喜樂.
“但那等候耶和華的, 必從新得力, 他們必如鷹展翅上騰, 他們奔跑卻不困倦, 行走卻不疲乏.” - 以賽亞書 40:31.
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Gary Tan
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Posted: 15 Jul 2003
My name is Gary, I was born in Taiwan and my family migrated to Australia (Perth) when I was 7
years old. I have two older brothers, and we currently all live separately by ourselves in
Sydney. Only my oldest brother and I are Christians in the family. I am currently studying
Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering at The University of Sydney, and I have
recently graduated from Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Computer Science double major). I
am in my final semester of the five year double degree program.
I first went to church when I was about 11. I attended Sunday School and not knowing what is
going on at all. I stopped going after the first couple of times. I was really too young to
understand anything at that time. In 1993, when I was 13, I went to a church camp. It was there
when the Pastor asked those who would like to follow Jesus to stand up. I stood up. At that
time, the reason I became a Christian was probably influenced by the people around me. I find
them to be so nice and so joyful all the time! I started going to the youth fellowship, and in
November of 1997 I got baptised. After the completion of my year 12 examinations, I came to
Sydney to study. I continued to attend church and fellowships, and it was only during these
times when I really got to know God and Jesus better through the Bible.
I find how wonderful this book is, and how challenging it is to my life. Many parts of the
Bible, I can relate it to my life directly, whether it is during my good times, my bad times or
basically any time! I find God really knows me more than anything and anyone. I find he has
plans for me in my life, and I can really feel it as time goes on. Looking back, every part of
my life was God's plan, and I would not have gone through it without him. A verse I would like
to share with everyone is: "God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect." (2
Samuel 22:33). I find whenever I am down and upset, he gives me strength and power to stand up,
and in him, my life will be perfect. I put this verse next to my desk and on the title of my
website at all times.
What I have learnt so far is that, God is real, as I have personally experienced it in my life!
This life we are in is also real! We need to make the right choice and a serious decision at
every stage of our lives, and there is no better choice than to submit ourselves to Jesus Christ
today. This is a choice I made 10 years ago even until today I still do not regret one single
bit!
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Kevin Chien
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Posted: 19 Jul 2003
It's amazing how God works in our lives so that we can come to know him.
I was brought up in a pretty typical Taiwanese family, not wealthy, but it was great just having
the whole family living together! It's been a family tradition to worship ancestors and make
offerings to the gods (kind of a mix between Buddhism and Taoism). As a child, we would
participate in the rituals, say burning incense and some other stuff, thought it was cool fun.
Even though I wasn't a very big fan of religion, my perception was that all religions are good
since they all teach us to be a good person and being a good person is all you need to be to go
to heaven (otherwise the system would be pretty dodgy wouldn't it?). And Jesus? Well, he's just
the great religious leader of people who goes to church.
My family migrated to Australia in 1992 when I was 11. We were invited to a Taiwanese church so
as to know more friends, since we had no relatives or friends in Australia. I didn't like it at
all! May be it's because I was shy, don't know anyone there and on top of that thought it was
pretty boring. But one thing I've noticed is the people were extremely friendly even though
we've just met for the first time. Couple of years later I was invited by a friend to a church
camp. Don't remember much of the content, but at the conclusion of it, the speaker asked
everyone who wants to believe in Jesus to stand up so that he could pray for them. At the time I
just felt this great urge to stand up, and so I did - something which I wouldn't normally do to
embarrass myself!
It's strange how I become interested in going to church and joined the Bible study group there.
That's when I started learning what Christianity is all about and met the Jesus whom I never
knew before. Through reading the Bible and people's help, I came to recognize that I can never
get to heaven or be accepted by God by just being a good person. Because no matter how hard I
try, I will not satisfy God's standard in loving Him and loving the people around me. But thank
God that Jesus the son of God should become man to die on the cross for you and me, to pay for
the penalty of our failures. And by Jesus rising from the dead, I know that his promise of
eternal life is true also for he has overcame death himself. Even though there wasn't such a
dramatic feeling of emotion inside me when I became a Christian, but I know I already have God's
forgiveness through trusting in Jesus because the Bible firmly tells us that "In [Jesus] we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
grace."
Knowing Jesus also helped me a lot in relating to my mom. You know moms, they always like to
keep on nagging about the same thing and I usually become very impatient and quarrels with her.
But Jesus says to honour our parents, so it's something I've been working hard on and yes I am
slowly getting there!
So friends, if you do not know Jesus yet, I would encourage you to find out who he really is and
what he has done for you. Hope you can also enjoy the great forgiveness that we have in Jesus!
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Lily Wang
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Posted: 24 Jul 2003
I migrated with my family to Auckland when I was 12. In Taiwan, I had no religion and did not
think much about spirituality or God at all. I didn't like 拜拜 (it was a 'tradition' rather
than something we believed in) and avoid as much as I can. Gods, spirits, ghosts are just
stories - why bother?
We were introduced to a Taiwanese church there. Through a few family outings, cell groups, and
Bible studies, we became regulars at the church. My parents then decided for the family to be
baptised. I didn't object and 可以說是『迷迷糊糊的信了』 - I didn't understand fully what was
involved. Jesus is great, loving, God is powerful, and we are saved by believing. I was happily
serving God, but only with my 'spare time'.
What was missing was a change in my life. I was the same old me going my own way. Although I
appeared 'successful' to people, I felt that there was no peace, no rest and little enjoyment.
Then I did not go to church, neglected the Bible for many years because of mainly of study and
exams in high school - I always liked doing well academically. 不是說：『心裡相信，就可以稱義；
口裡承認，就可以得救』嗎？ How easy, I don't have to go to church! (Ignoring 『你們不可停止聚會，
好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉』 (Hebrews 10:25)).
After the HSC-equivalence in NZ, Bursary, and got into medicine at UNSW, we moved to Sydney. In
first year, everyone was so competitive and the stress was not funny! I knew no one here and it
was boring memorising things! I like maths, sciences and logic - memorising was just not in!
L I got to know some Christians in my year. I tried to avoid talking
about 'religion'. When asked whether I was a Christian, I didn't know how to answer. I believed
that there is God and Jesus saved us, but I didn't have the qualities of a Christian. I was
struggling - am I a Christian or not? I wasn't 'good enough' to be one! I'll only bring shame to
God. I was invited to a dialogue meeting by a friend and decided to start doing a Bible study
with her each week although I had 33 hours of uni per week then. Then I knew my problem
immediately - I'm worshiping my idols - 成績, 成就. How can I change? I didn't have time to go
to church, no time for Bible studies, no time to do anything!
Praise the Lord, even though I ignored God so, he has brought me back to Him. Now I understand
that God does not expect us to be perfect on our own - we are sanctified through Christ. "For
you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3). I began by going to
International Unichurch every Sunday and read the Bible more. Then I went to EFCOS. Although
each trip would take me more than 2 hours by public transport, I wanted my family to join me and
being Taiwanese, it was harder to talk them to come to an English church. Praise the Lord that
my whole family is back to God! J Only he can do this to our lives.
I still like studying, but it's not my goal to achieve the 'best' - to satisfy my pride. I study
because it is for the glory of God and I want to know more. "... whatever you do, do it all for
the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31). I enjoy what I do everyday much more because there is
a purpose and reason to life. Uni and study still take up a lot of my time energy but I am
changing my priorities step by step.
If you believe that study, exams, work, and money are the 'achievements' of your life, think
again. When someone passes away, what do you remember about them? How much $ they have in their
bank account? They drove a Mercedes E class? They got an UAI of 99-point-something? If we only
have one life to live for, we should seek out the meaning and do what is really important. "the
time is short ... For this world in its present form is passing away." (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
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Michael Hung
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Posted: 26 Jul 2003
來自於一個傳統家庭背景的我，從小就因為祖孫三代都是長子，背負了不少重要背負了不少重要的責任，除了在過節過年是要祭拜祖先神明，在大家族的聯誼當中更扮演了不可缺少的角色。小時候的我，對於信仰相當地模糊，似乎家裡供奉的神明，需要祭拜時就得在神明面前裝得戰戰兢兢，平常時神明的桌子下卻變成我玩耍最佳的去處，生命當中沒有因此得著任何的慰藉或改變。
到了小學的年紀後，開始跟著爸媽四處去追求人生真正的意義，當時爸爸在工作忙碌之餘感到人生的空虛與無奈，經過了台灣許多法師、道場、法會的薰陶似乎仍在一座永遠繞不出來的迷宮中打轉，到最後，我甚至跟著父母成為一貫教信徒，還記得跪在神壇前，法師口中唸唸有詞，那不是真正的平安，而是被不知名的恐懼、神祕感所捆綁與轄制。
1994年夏天的一個颱風夜，爸爸因為身體不適而至醫院就醫，隨即發現其肝與黃膽指數比常人高出數十倍，因此馬上辦理住院手續，在陸續一兩個月後，爸爸的身體狀況每況愈下，當時的我雖然表面上故作堅強，但內心的惶恐不是一般人所能理會，一直到入冬的一晚，媽媽帶我去醫院看爸爸，見著爸爸骨瘦如柴的身軀，心裡真是不知如何才好，然而爸爸仍是堅強的吩咐我寫下他最後留給我的幾句話，一直到今天那張從數學簿撕下來的紙都還保存著。
當醫生對爸爸宣佈要換肝的那刻，爸爸毅然的決定若他即將地要離開這個世間，他寧願去耶穌應許他的永生和天堂，也不願意去面對那輪迴、地獄、審判或刑罰。於是當時不顧家族的反對，爸爸就受洗接受了耶穌，奇妙的事也就此發生了！在爸爸受洗後的十天內，他的肝臟功能又慢慢的恢復，連醫生也驚奇的說這是千分、萬分之一的機率，一直到完全康復，上帝真的是從死蔭的幽谷中把我們一家人搶救回來。
經過了這次人生的轉捩點之後，使我對人生重新有了不同的看法，我開始進到教會中，在弟兄姊妹的關懷之下聆聽神的話語，感受那基督家庭的愛與溫暖。一年後媽媽帶著家中兩個孩子定居紐澳，在國外的生活雖辛苦，但是我們每一天藉著禱告體驗上帝的信實，見證到「凡倚靠耶和華的，什麼好處都不缺」這寶貴的應許，每天在我上學之前，媽媽給我的祝福禱告成為我一天在學校力量的來源，當時一句神的話給了我相當大的激勵：詩篇20:7「有人靠車、有人靠馬•但我們要題到耶和華我們神的名。」的確，當我們一無所有之時，我們仍有耶和華的名可倚靠，那是何等的寶貴，想到此處，內心流露出的喜樂和平安真是無以言比。
在教會中團契、小組的生活也更為我建立起自信心，開始服事神、服事人喜樂的道路，教會屬靈長輩給予我的關心與指導更幫助了我繼續的走在神的正路上，這福氣如同栽在溪水旁的樹，枝葉因神恩典的灌溉而能茂盛的成長。
放眼未來，我願意將神賜給我的才能獻給祂使用，無論是在音樂、語言、專業知識等方面，求神放一顆願意與他人分享這好消息的心志在我的裡面，因為我確信我已得著了那上好的福份，是世界所奪不走的。信仰有如一場賽跑，在這人生的旅程中我將要學習定睛在那具有永恆價值的冠冕上，就如使徒保羅於腓立比書三：13-14所說的：「弟兄們、我不是以為自己已經得著了•我只有一件事、就是忘記背後、努力面前的、向著標竿直跑、要得神在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。」願榮耀歸於我們在天上的父，阿們！
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Spencer Chen
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Posted: 29 Jul 2003
Hi, my name is Spencer. I'm studying a PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering at Univeristy of
New South Wales. I'm a nerd around computers and a freaky risk-taker playing sports, but
unfortunately, I don't have the gift to do well in neither categories.
I've been going to EFCOS for years upon years. I can still remember about 8 or 9 years ago, I
was asked the question, "When did you become a Christian?" At that time, I could not define an
exact moment; I could not remember if I ever put up my arm up and accepted Jesus. It is like
one never really know when the moon rose from the east, but when you lift your head, there it
is.
God must have been listening and would perhaps said to me, "That's too easy for you, Spencer.
I can't let you become a Christian just like that." Either He didn't spoke aloud, or I didn't
listen; in any case, God composed a plan to change this.
On a May day of 1998, the news of my decision to get baptised reached my parents who were in
Taiwan at that time. My original plan was to get baptised first before I let them know. The
sun has already retired into the night. Darkness gradually engulfed the kitchen window by
window, panel by panel, from the stove to the bench, from the bench to the dinner table, until
the entire room was only lit by the eery green glow of the intercom clock.
In the shadows I sat, the phone held insensibly in my hand. The call was still connected, but
no words was spoken. Two stubborn souls breathed in silence, unable to convince the other,
unwilling to let go of our emotions, incapable of letting go of our emotions, awaiting...
awaiting for words... awaiting for courage... awaiting for the other to give up.
Finally, in courage, in resignment, in strength, and in heartbreak, "If you get baptised, the
day you are baptised, is the day we end our father-son relationship."
This is the moment that changed my life. This is the moment, I felt the pain in Jesus as He
was nailed on the cross, taking up all the punishment for our disobedience to God, the
excruciating pain, feeling so distant and separated from the Father, He yelled, "Eloi, Eloi,
lama sabachthani?" Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?
That day, I became a Christian. That day, I finally knew what becoming a Christian truly
involves. It was the day that the vessel was smashed into pieces by God, each piece grounded
to powder, all so that He can make a better one, a perfect one, one that would show its true
worth, as it is designed by God. And I know, I am able to endure all this pain because God has
designed me so.
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Lisa Mah
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Posted: 30 Jul 2003
What I remember most about my childhood is the sharp distinction between school-days, and
non-school days. The main event on non-school days was church. On church day, my mother would
deck me in an itchy tartan dress and frilly socks. This signalled the beginning of the whole
ritual - the procession to church, the funny smell of old carpet inside the building, enduring
the warble of old people singing hymns, (my sister called them the Choir of the Sheep), then
finally rounded off to Sunday School. This was the Christianity I grew up with, and it was
boring beyond belief. I thought Heaven would be like church, minus the musty smell. However,
given a choice of eternal life spent with stuffy angels, or eternal life frying in the fires
of hell, I chose the lesser of the two evils and resigned myself to church.
During high school, the standard questions every first generation Chinese growing up in
Australia must ask, I asked. Who am I? Australian or Taiwanese? How can I be both when I feel
like neither? Forced to go to church camp in year 9, I spent 4 days surrounded by Taiwanese
people. Overwhelmed by the weird mannerisms, by a language I only half understood, I decided
to act cool and ignored everyone. God did not ignore me though. Having fallen asleep through
most of the dreary talks, he finally got through to me on the last day. 'You are a sinner', He
said. The force of this simple remark left me breathless. How could I, your average teenage
girl be a sinner? I hadn't committed murder, or broken any laws, and only told the occasional
lie. Determined to hold fast to my rosy view of the world, I resolutely put this fact away.
However, the niggling feeling that I was indeed a sinner persisted, resurfaced and was
confirmed one day in a Christian Studies class.
'God is perfect and demands perfection', said my Christian Studies teacher. With a head of
tight red curls and piercing eyes, she looked like she knew what she was on about. 'Whether
the law abiding citizen, or the lowest of criminals, no one will attain God's standard.
Technically, we are all destined for hell.' Thankfully, that was not the end of the story.
She went on to say that there was a way to be right with God, to reach his perfect standard.
That was to believe in Jesus, believe that He died for us, taking our sin, dying the death we
should have died, and rising again, conquering death.
One other memorable event occurred which further shattered my view that Christianity was a
tame religion of stilted ceremonies preformed on Sundays. It was during chapel. The speaker
preached Jesus. Jesus was a man, just like you and I, he said. Jesus ate, got tired, and loved
playing with children. This Jesus, this man, died for you and me, painfully nailed to the
cross. It shocked me, that a person, and not just any person but a sinless person should die
for me. Also, it had never occurred to me that Jesus might feel pain. He had shared the same
legendary status in my mind as Robin Hood or King Arthur, inconsequential and bordering on the
trivial. Confronted with the death of Jesus, of love incomprehensible, something in my life
had to change. I had to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all, and live accordingly in worship and
dependence.
Now, as a child of God, with the help of God's Spirit, I try to work out what this means. It
means loving God with my heart, my mind and soul, and loving the people God created. It means
I live with an eye on eternity, to the time when God will finally bring everything under
Jesus, where all will worship him as Lord, and His glory will be manifest. The question of
whether I am Australian or Taiwanese is no longer relevant. I am a child of God, and that is
all that matters. As I wait eagerly for his coming, I know that neither death nor life, nor
angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord. (Romans 3.38).
(Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©
2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.)
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Glen Wang
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Posted: 20 Aug 2003
My name is Glen; I am a student at UTS hoping to graduate sometime next year. I am stuck in
Japan at the moment, doing a compulsory part of my course and should be back in Oz February
2004.
I lived in Taipei until I was eight, and spent quite a bit of time trying to grow up in the
countryside. My pastime activities consisted of fighting with kids next door, and being chased
by their killer canines. My weapon of choice was a 2 x 4 wooden plank with nails sticking out,
and my shield was a huge wok. I am not sure how it all started - I did almost no homework, I
was always getting into some really big trouble at school and injuring myself, and had to
disobey everything I came across. This continued even after we moved to Australia. I fought my
way up till Year 11, I think by then basketball was taking up all my time and energy.
I cared very little about what I did and how it affected other people. If there was something I
wanted, I believed it was up to me to get it with my own hands. No, I didn't believe any god
had any control over me or how I was going to live. I think I was ignorant and arrogant.
Mum used to take my older brother and I to mass at a Catholic church. I must have been in Year
5, way too young to be able to handle such torture. I remember that was the lowest point in my
week, and that those wooden benches were a real pain in the back. My brother and I found ways
to entertain ourselves during mass and often got kicked out by Mum because we just couldn't
stop laughing for some reason. The only time I looked forward to mass was when they had this
band accompanying the hymns. I enjoyed watching people playing with instruments.
Mum transferred me to a Catholic primary school where we prayed before class and memorized
Bible verses. I had no idea what they were on about at the time but just sort of tried to
follow. The first high school I went to was Anglican where we had regular classes on religion
and praying and more Biblical stories. I then went to a private school where they had a subject
called Christian Studies and we had to attend Chapel Service every week to sing 500 year-old
hymns over and over again until the music teacher was happy with every word. I kind of saw
where that was headed, so I started to wag it altogether.
My older sister Nancy had been coming to EFCOS for a few years already when I fluked the HSC
and got into uni. I didn't know who the people were and didn't care, but I went a few times to
fellowship just so that I could join the dudes for basketball after church. Then came the
fateful day. After basketball I heard Leo say that the guys were heading off to a Men's
Convention that coming weekend. I thought it was better than having nothing to do so I asked if
I could go too. At first there were no vacancies left but I think Eric decided not to go for
some reason, so I took the spot. Even today I have the sneaking suspicion that he deliberately
pulled out so that I could go (thanks bro).
The Men's Convention made a lot of sense to me. The speakers explained everything very clearly
and made me think. They answered questions instead of avoiding them or contradicting them like
a lot of Morman missionaries did to me. I never knew the Bible was so rich in content. I was
attracted by the knowledge of those speakers, who really spoke in truth, in that they supported
everything they said with a Bible verse, and also answered questions that way. I knew they
weren't trying to fool anyone; what they were saying were legitimate and valid.
Not long after the convention I was invited by Big Mimi to join the church camp. I am so
grateful that she did. I am equally grateful that my sister brought me to this church and
prayed for my salvation with the other brothers and sisters. The camp in 1999 was truly
memorable. I had never met such a loving group of people who cared for newcomers and their
questions. I always believed that humans were headed for self-destruction because of all the
hate and greed, but these Christians showed me the other way to live - the only other way to
live.
It was then that all of those Bible passages I had been forced to memorize, even from as far
back as primary school, all of the sudden clicked and began to make sense. I realized that
people around me who cared about me, my mother, had all been planting seeds in me, and God had
been speaking to me ever since I was a kid. I was blinded by my arrogance and rebellious nature
and failed to see Him altogether. The one verse that had stared at me for quite some time at
the old Essence room finally told me who God was and still is - God is love. What I saw in
God's family at the camp was exactly this.
I accepted God's offer to forgive my imperfections and transgressions through Jesus' death on
the cross and resurrection, and want to try and live a better life each day in response to His
grace. I want to do for my family and non-believers what brothers and sisters had done for me
five years ago. This is the total opposite of who I was, selfish, disobedient and reckless. I
struggle everyday to kick my old self out the window and live the way Jesus did. I don't fight
anymore, by the way.
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Kazue Higashi
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Posted: 3 Dec 2004
This is Kazue and this is my testimony, I thank God that he loves me more than I deserve. I also
thank May, she led me the way. I also thank Gary, he was very patient to wait for my
testimony!!
I knew God when I was a 4 or 5 year old kid, but I would say that I finally knew who Jesus is,
20 years later since then.
My mum is a Jehova's Witness. She used to take my brother, sister, and me to their Kingdom's Hall.
Then I knew the word "God", "Jehova" and so on. When I remember the time I was in Kingdom's Hall,
I don't have any bad feeling. People were very nice, friendly, and looked happy to be there.
We went to Kingdom's Hall twice a week, and apart from that, once a week, my brother and me had
lessons (Bible studies) at home with Jehova's Witnesses. We used their own text book with Bible.
Mainly we use their text, and Bible was treated like a dictionary.
When I was 14 or 15, I stopped to go Kingdom's Hall. My brother had already stopped at that time,
I don't know why. We have never talked about it.
The reason why I stopped to go there is, I found out that I don't like some of their policies
and rules. Especially blood transfer, they say that it would be better to die than to be given
someone's blood into their body. When I was injured, my mum insisted on not to give me blood.
For me, it sounds like that my mum does not love me. She respects god more than my life? So what
is god? I felt like that.
Anyway, when I became a high school student and got busy to do my own thing, I left Kingdom's Hall
and Bible studies. High school and uni, everything was exciting. I thought I would be a "Godless
person" like many Japanese are. My mum did not say anything about it, she continued to go to
Kingdom's Hall by herself.
In July 2003, I went to Australia as an exchange student. A week later since I arrived in Sydney,
I met May. I firmly believe that God organized me to be May's partner, what do u think, May? =P
May told me that she is Christian on the very first day, and I said that "my mum is, too."
(I found out JW is cult later ... It's a different story). In September, I visited church with
May. That night, May and I talkd about God, Bible, till late. I felt "something is coming.
something really big, it will change me". After that, maybe you know the story.
It was very exciting to join Bible studies, I loved that. When I was doing Bible studies with JW,
people never asked me "what do u think, Kazue?". But here I can ask! Even thoungh it sounds
like a silly question. "If there is God, why is our world so mad?".
So now, what is the problem? What stops me to be a Christian? Is it because I'm a JW, or
something else that I got in high school and uni. Bible studies helped me a lot, and it was also
helpful to talk to May. She was always there when I was nervous, when I have question about God.
She told me that God loves me many many times. She found Ivy who used to be a JW, it was very
meaningful to talk to her. And Gary, he did one to one Bible studies with me, he spent so much
times on me.
There are so many sisters and brothers who I can talked to, I really thank God about it.
Eventually, on 27th of June, I was re-born.
Before I left, I was staying at May's place and spent a lot of time doing Bible studies with May
and Kevin. It was a unforgettable week.
It was painful to leave Australia, but I had to leave on 4th of July. Thanks for coming to the
airport May, Gary, Candy, Kevin and Rachel.
I was able to find a church soon in Japan, and I have been here since. It is called Kagoshima
International Church, we started Bible studies as well. It is a very small church, but it is
growing.
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Yvonne Wang
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Posted: 24 Mar 2005
雖然我的家沒有人是基督徒, 我很小的時候就已經接觸教會.
我們家對面有一座教會, 我讀的幼稚園也是一個基督教的幼稚園.
我在八歲的時候去美國住了三年, 十歲時在一位阿姨的帶領下還做了一個決志禱告.
當時是完完全全的相信耶穌的故事, 每個禮拜都可以撘便車去教會, 在主日學也很喜歡聽聖經裡的故事.
不過在十二,三歲的時候又搬到另外一個國家. 當時因為種種因素使我無法那麼方便的去教會, 我逐漸的與神疏遠了.
我小時候的思想非常不成熟而且又自我中心, 完全不會從別人的角度來看事情.
在某些事情上, 我是一個很被動的人. 比如說, 要是有人方便帶我去教會的話, 我就會去, 不方便的話就不會去.
因此再1999年時接觸到了另外一個宗教, 不過那一年過的很不快樂.
感謝神在2000年的時候以巧妙的計畫又把我歸回正路. I started going to church again.
那一年充滿著許多不可思議的事情.
這些事情的發生感覺上不可能是因為巧合, 而像是一個特別為我安排的計畫.
我從此以後再也沒有質疑神的存在.
但是當我來到雪梨時, 又因為工課忙碌, 屬靈方面的知識不多, 而很少去教會.
當時認為只要相信神就夠了.
後來我才開始發現那樣並不夠, 漸漸的又跟神疏遠了, 變的不愉快了.
比如說, 每當你看到一個朋友的時候, 要是你只跟他 “Hi, Bye” 而沒有去了解他的近況 你將會跟這位朋友疏遠.
同樣的, 相信神並不夠, 要自己主動的去試著了解神的話語.
但是光靠自己是不夠的, 所以因該來教會, 研習聖經, 讚美神給我們的一切, 並且幫助其他的基督徒互相成長.
I had been living in Sydney alone from 2001-2002. Then, another "coincidence" happened in 2003: my
mom got transferred to Sydney because of her job. When my mom was opening her bank account, one of
her former colleagues from the middle school she used to teach in two decades ago recognized her in
the bank. The colleague turned out to be Lily Wang's mother. I have already heard about Lily Wang
when I was in high school in NZ, and I was aware that she was one of my seniors in medicine, but I
didn't know that my mom knew her mom! There had been no contact between the two moms for more than
a decade! Through this, I started going to EFCOS again.
Although my growth in character and spirit has been slow, there is quite a difference between the me
a few years ago and now. I'm also losing desire for some of my bad habits. These changes could not
have occurred without God's special plans and lessons for me. God has helped me sort out the
priorities in my life and look at things from a much wider range of perspectives. Finally, I hope
everyone in church will apply God's words into their everyday life and experience growth in the
fruits of the spirit as well as help each other grow.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23.
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