Testimony of Calling

 

We thank God that in the past few years, He has raised up a number of brothers from our church to be selected as full time preachers. This year, God has again called from the church a brother and a sister to go and be molded in the seminary. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17) We share here the testimony of their calling with everyone and hope that our brothers and sisters will pray ardently for them and become their rear guard. As well, we wish that the spiritual lives of the brothers and sisters will also grow daily, so that we admire doing the Lord’s holy work, and earnestly equip ourselves.

 

Brother Alfa Pau

Thank the grace of the Lord, I started to attend meetings at the Peace Evangelical Church in 1996, and was baptized on June 13, 1999. During this whole process, I recognized how great the work of God was on my family of four.

At first, I only aspired to be a humble, reclusive Christian, until one day, God reminded me through Isaiah 43:7-8: “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.”

From that day, God rejuvenated my concept of service, and moved me to serve full time at a Christian bookstore. In 2002, the theme for the church’s summer camp was “Calculate the Cost; Submit and Serve God”. At the Dedication of My Heart assembly during that camp, I submitted the resolve to serve wholeheartedly. I felt deeply that to live for God was a matter of course.

Since then, I prayed ceaselessly for God to guide me towards the direction of my service. Yet the necessities of my family and several service positions within and without the church made me set aside the determination to apply to the seminary. But all these duties could not deflect the admonition in Luke 9:62: "Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’" This passage often brought me before God in repentance and grief.

In May 2006 I went back to Hong Kong alone to visit family and spread the Gospel. Upon my return home to Canada, God suddenly brought me a great awakening: since I have been saved, I should be a faithful disciple of the Lord, and use the wisdom of salvation to seize this moment and serve Him wholeheartedly and with all my effort. God has given me boundless blessings, and a calling that is un-relinquishing and abiding. Now I only beseech the Lord to guide my path through the remainder of my days, and grant me the opportunity to serve Him in order to repay His bountiful grace.

 

Sister Josephine Hung

Thank God! He continues to look after me, so that my physical body has not been lacking, and my spiritual life has developed through training and discipline. Canada was truly the academy of my spiritual growth. My graceful Lord led me to gradually understand the Truth, and brightened my eyes so that I espied His gentleness and beauty, and also saw the preciousness and power of the Gospel and the importance of the human soul. He made me understand that the wealth of the world and career advancement are all meaningless, are things that will corrupt, and not worth expending life and time to pursue. Only the rewards of Heaven will last to eternity. Therefore, my desire for the Lord increases daily. As the hymn says, “I would rather have Christ than treasures. I would rather belong to the Lord, and spend my whole life serving Him, faithfully proclaiming His Holy name.”

After several years of struggle, I finally resolved to serve full time at the Dedication of My Heart assembly at the 2002 summer camp. After that, I waited for “God’s time”. Thank the Lord! Last year I learned about the “Christian College” seminary on the internet, so I applied to join. Now, I have successfully completed the first year’s courses. During this year’s studies, God allowed me to further perceive His will, and made me more certain of the road I should travel.

This July, through the stewardship of Brother David Ng, I learned about enrolling into the Full Training for Christian Workers Seminary. I believe that now is “God’s time”. It is God’s confirmation to me through His servant. So I prayed ardently for God to point out clearly His way for me. Very soon, God rendered to me the passage in Isaiah 30:20-21 during my devotion. So I instantly felt relieved, and determined to give up my easy life in Canada and return to Hong Kong to enroll in the 4-year seminary course.

How meticulous and deep is my Lord’s love for me! 19 years ago, I came here armed with God’s covenant in Isaiah 54:10. His word is truly steadfast. It has never fallen short, so that I have peacefully lived my days, received a bountiful life and can “go forth”. I hope that more of those belonging to God will “go forth”, whether to the south or the north, to the east or the west, and enlarge the place of the Lord’s tent; stretch His tent curtains wide. May glory and praise be to the one true God!