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I Found Answers
Retirement from the workforce was four years ago. My work experience was in public school education and state government. From young adulthood on I was involved in such activities as church choir, Sunday school work and church administration. I began teaching and was also busy in community service, but at the same time I wondered where my life was heading. I thought I'd find some answers through all of these involvements, but then began to realize that life was meant to be something more than busyness with community affairs, school activities and religious functions. I asked myself, “What is the church? Why do we have ministers? Why are there so many different church buildings? Why are “churches” called denominations? What are the responsibilities of elders, deacons, pastors, minister, etc...?” I searched in books, among free groups and in different meetings of denominations, trying to find answers. My wife and I even cared for foster children to help solve some of the problems of society. One of our foster children, (age 18, at the time) recommended that we read something written by Watchman Nee. The book was entitled The Normal Christian Church Life. I couldn't put it down, and read it completely one evening. It answered many of my questions and some I hadn't even thought of. I woke my wife up and told her, “If we find a place like this, we are going.”
That summer we had the opportunity to attend some conference meeting, in which Witness Lee ministered - we were thrilled with what we heard and saw. During the conference, which was on Revelation and Ezekiel, the verse that spoke to both my wife and me was Revelation 3:8 - “I know your works; behold, I have put before you an opened door which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept My word and have not denied My name.” (Recovery Version) We felt that the Lord was telling us to visit the churches which were meeting on “the ground of locality” in the Northwest where we lived. We were in awe, with quite a sense that we were seeing Christians practice The Norman Christian Church Life, a book we had recently read. Our visits led to a move to a locality where the local church met so that we could take part in the meetings. Now, after more than twenty-five years, we are still very happy in the church, enjoying a life that is full of meaning, and taking part in meetings that are overflowing with the riches of Christ.
D.B. | Back to List
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