I'm a Satisfied, Happy, Growing Christian

I have been fellowshipping with the believers who meet as the local church in Berkeley for four and a half years. Everything about my experience has been wonderful.

First, my involvement with the church in Berkeley has been characterized by the believers' all-inclusive care for me. I received the Lord Jesus and was saved two months before I moved to Berkeley, California, in September of 1994. Although I had no place to live, upon arriving in Berkeley, a family who meets with the local church in Berkeley opened their home to me. They housed and fed me for two months while I looked for a full-time job and another place to live. Daily they also supplied me with spiritual nourishment. Morning by morning, we prayed together and enjoyed the riches in God's Word.

Today I am still receiving so much care from the older sisters in the local church in Berkeley. Weekly I walk, fellowship and pray with a sister. While we enjoy the physical exercise of walking, we sing hymns, praise the Lord, fellowship about our enjoyment of the Bible and pray for other believers. I have found a true friend and spiritual companion. Similarly, I meet weekly with another sister. We fellowship about my daily experiences of the Lord and the truths of the Bible. Through this spiritual shepherding and care, I am growing in my experience of and love for the Lord Jesus.

Second, during my four years of meeting with the church in Berkeley, the Holy Word has been opened to me like I never thought possible. While growing up, I had never been encouraged by my Christian denomination to read the Bible. However, through my involvement with the local church, I began to read the Recovery Version of the Bible in regular way. Now I have read the Old Testament twice and am about three-fourths of the way through the New Testament for the fourth time. Even more than being encouraged to read the Bible, the meetings of the church in Berkeley have helped me to understand the truths in the Bible. The Bible is no longer a mysterious and incomprehensible book to me; rather, I see God's purpose and plan running throughout the length of the Scriptures. The entire Bible, even the passages that once seemed to be unrelated or even contradictory, now make sense to me. This is all due to the riches of Watchman Nee's and Witness Lee's ministry.

Third, my involvement with the church in Berkeley has enabled me to experience the indwelling Christ in a daily way. Even moment by moment, I am learning how to exercise my spirit to contact the Lord Jesus who is one with my spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). I am no longer groping to find the Lord, but I know right where He is – with my spirit (2 Tim. 4:22). Additionally, in the church in Berkeley I am able to see other believers who shine forth Christ because of their many years spent exercising their spirits to enjoy, experience, and gain Him.

In sum, I would not be a satisfied, happy, growing Christian without the church in Berkeley. I owe so much to all of these believers for their care for me, for their ministering the truths of the Bible to me, and for their providing the environment for me to pursue Christ. I praise and thank my dear Lord Jesus for the church in Berkeley.

T.S.

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