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Journeys of a Visitor (Part 3)
We're Family
July 19, 2006

"Where in the Bible does it say that you have to wait one or two years to be baptized?" asked a worker from the church. He had walked up to us and started the conversation with this question. He continued, "we used to think like this, but after looking in the Bible, we realized that it says to repent, believe and be baptized." Through careful study of the Bible, it is now these believer's understanding that if someone says from their mouth they are ready to believe and they fully understand what being a Christian means, they can be baptized. "It does not say, repent, believe, and wait one year to be baptized," he said emphatically.

As we talked to these believers in the largest TSPM church of this city, we were a bit shocked to hear these views that were so contradictory to every other church that we had been to, even those within their own city.

We had the opportunity to speak with Sister Wang*, a believer of ten years who serves as an evangelist in this church. She praised God that she has been able to perform this role although she has never attended seminary or local training at the church. "Being called by God is more important than having schooling," she explained.

Sister Wang does not go outside of the city to evangelize, however, because she has an eight-year old daughter. She and her husband dedicated their daughter to God before her birth. She takes seriously her role of raising her daughter. "How can I teach others that they are first to serve their families if I don't first serve my own family," she said. It was during the early years of taking care of her daughter that she started to study the Bible in her home. Over the years it has turned from her individual study of the Bible to studying with others in her home.

As we sat talking about our common struggles with these believers, it was so apparent that what they spoke about was lived in their lives. Sister Wang talked about the flesh and how the "persecution" of the flesh was the worst of all, especially as we try to serve him in our flesh. She also asked for us to pray for leaders in the church, that they would truly be called to their role in leadership, and for members in the congregation, that their lives would truly show His presence. Another worker also expressed these sentiments. He asked us to pray for his 25-year old daughter who believes there is a God, regularly attends church and daily reads her Bible. But her daily life does not show that she truly believes.

This worker also told us of President Bush coming to Beijing University. His speech was about our need to love everyone, even the terrorists that attacked our country. "President Bush told us that most people are only looking out for themselves and if they love other people, it is only for what they can receive. As Christians, we need people to see His love in our lives."

Sister Wang summed it all up by saying, "If we were not family, what would we be talking about? What is America like? What do you like to eat? But we are family so we can talk about Him."

* Name Changed

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