boston commoner.

welcome home

About a month ago, I had the priviledge of attending my first outdoor baptism service. An international student and long-time attendee of the Sunday evening evangelistic Bible studies, Mandy (Jia Man) had recently been attending the Sunday morning worship services, as well. One Sunday after the worship service, we were all cluttered in the hallway, as usual, pretending to leave. Our group is always pretending to leave. We’re hopelessly unskilled in the art of exodus. We’re always finding other excuses to stay, initiating new conversations, sitting down again after we’ve stood up to go…twice…

Usually, though, there’s good reason to hang around, and this particular Sunday was no exception. Several of us ladies were blocking the main route of escape, when Pastor Bill ushered Mandy into our midst and said, simply, “Mandy has something to tell you.” And she did; she’d accepted Christ.

You can imagine that what meager progress we had been making towards the door was somewhat stymied, and the hallway thereafter hopelessly clogged. But just like that, with deep, but understated enthusiasm, Mandy was embraced and accepted, and we will not let her go. Praise the Lord, neither will He.

Soon after, Mandy shared her testimony with the church and was voted in as a member of the International Baptist Church of Boston upon her baptism (see above photo). Mandy shared her testimony of God’s grace in her second language. Her expressions were so sweet and fresh, and her story such a blessing to me, personally, that I’ve gotten a copy of her transcript to share with you here. I’ve only corrected some punctuation and one word spelling, where the meaning of the word might have been misunderstood. The emphasis is also mine. The rest comes directly from Mandy herself. I hope it’s as much of a blessing to you…

“I came to USA in 2003. Before that I lived in China. Neither of my relatives nor friends are Christians. Through those more than 20 years I had not met any Christians. Fortunately, I like reading. Several books opened me a window to religion, to God. From reading, I get a positive affinity to God. Here I’ d like to mention my favorite novel “Jane Eyre”, my favorite writer “Lin Yutang”, and an excellent Chinese woman
“Madame Chiang Kai-shek”. The books credit the good points of their character to their religion belief. Although at that time I was not sure whether these persons are all strict Christians (and now I know the answer isno .Thanks to pastor William Edmondson for helping me understanding the differences between Christian and other religions), they let me get an idea that belief to God is not a bad thing. This kind of vague,uncertain but positive emotional impression to God is very important. That is why I accepted the dinner invitation to pastor’s house at the first time. That is why I will not debate about the existence of God with pastor like some other Chinese.

I joined the Bible class at Pastor’s house every one week from last September. Thus I started formal study of Bible. Along the way my
understanding to God is increased, and corrected. One day in this February in the break during a Bible class a friend asked me how my study went, I answered I got better and better. Then Pastor said to me, “Man, one thing you should know: God loves you no matter you have good performance or not good performance.” That sentence moved me deeply. I met great difficulty in the transition to life USA especially in study. I studied hard; some nights sleep only two or three hours. This kind of hard working let me plan to give up several times. When I sit before my desk to do my homework, I was so tired, and I said to myself, “I want to quit. I’m so tired.” But immediately I could hear a magic voice sounded from far
far away, “Keep on. You can do it.” This happened for several times.

That voice encouraged me greatly. Pastor’s words let me realized that voice was from God —–God is helping me to get through the tough time,
God is helping me to get everything better and better. I have been aware of his love to me.

I used to be a reserve person. I’m not good at communication with people. I used not to confide my feelings to anyone, including my parents
and my close friends. Thus I lived in a small world alone, which I build by myself and I locked the door and windows. But after I knew God loves
me, God helps me, I start to confide to God, to Jesus, about my happiness, my sadness and all the things in my mind. I find I like this kind
of talk. I like to pour my heart to God. Later Deb Edmondson told me that was prayer, and I must pray in Jesus name thus God can hear. From then on I pray in Jesus name. God hears me.

In this August Deb Edmondson lent me a video of Jesus. I watched it in a quiet night. There was no one else in the room. The video told me a
lot about Jesus that I did not know before—–such as he helps the poor to get grains and bulls, he helped the blind to restore his eyesight;
he walked a long way without tiredness, he suffered much before he was crucified……….My tears fell down when Jesus was pinned to the cross . I turned my eyes from the screen, and then I saw the cover picture of the video —-where Smiling Jesus, whose eyes full of love, is holding a child, and a lot of people gathered around Jesus happlily…….The noise of beating the metal pins “kuang! Kuang!” sounded in my ear
…… At the end of that video the narrator said in a powerful and inrejectable voice: “No matter where you are, please speak after me……” I
repeated those sentences automatically after him, “Jesus died for my sin……….” Yes, I have sins—-although not evil deeds according to
law, but some unrespectable deeds tortured me for many years. And Jesus died for my sins. I believe this from that moment.

This is just the beginning of me. I will walk on with the direction and guidance of Jesus. And now I ‘m not locked in the small prison .I live in an open sunny world , governed by Loved God, with Jesus, and with many many brothers and sisters. Praise God at last I’m saved.”