I was born in Taiwan and grew up in a very traditional Chinese family. They placed much value on respect for parents, to the degree that anything they said was not to be refuted, even if it may have been in error.

I attended church occasionally, but much of the rituals weremeaningless to me. My few years in Taiwan were spent going through themotions, trying to study in school and obeying my parents in their planfor my life.

In March 1974, our well established home in Taiwan was traded in fora life in America. My parents always considered themselves “outsiders”even in Taiwan because they were originally from mainland China. Bymoving to the USA, it gave us better opportunity to earn money andenjoying life.

We settled in Bethesda, Maryland, where I attended elementaryschool. My mother stopped attending church in America because of thelanguage barrier. This indicated to me that religion perhaps wasn’timportant; that maybe it was just a superstition people had about lifeand it was up to the individual to find one that fit him best.

In 1977, our family moved to a small town in Virginia to manage amotel. Now we were even more isolated from some old Chinese familyfriends that lived around Washington, D.C. We were visited by anAmerican family who invited us to his church. Our parents decided wekids should attend church because religion was good for us andChristians were always nice people. I started to learn about JesusChrist and some other things about Christianity, but my parents warnedme to not get baptized if the church people ever asked. They explainedthat by committing myself to such a degree, I would have no control ofmy finances (I would have to give a certain percentage of my salary) mytime or my life.

In 1981, my parents were naturalized to be American citizens. SinceI was still under 18, I automatically received citizenship because wewere children of new Americans. My parents continued to stress theimportance of education and how it would open up more opportunities. They stressed how I’d always be looked down upon because of my skincolor rather than who I was. I was taught how important it was for meto be in control of my life. One day, a young truck driver stayed atour motel. He brought a Bible with him to share with us a story. Itold him we had been attending Sunday School at church. I don’tremember all the details, but I and my father and my brother bowed ourheads to pray. I think we did this just to humor the guy. He sharedwith us a verse labeled John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that Hegave us His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall notperish but have everlasting life.” Somehow, I took this verse to heartand sought to find out more about what I had prayed.

After high school, I continued my education at Virginia Tech. I hada confident knowledge of Christianity and was ready to give it a restso I could enjoy my college years. But during the second week there, Isaw a sign about a dinner held by the Chinese Bible Study Group. Idecided to check it out. I met some very nice people and continued tovisit with them on Friday nights.

Through their ministry, I was reassured of my faith in Jesus Christ,that He came to earth to pay for my sins and that we can haveconfidence in Him, and that we can have true freedom in living. Itsays in the Bible, “He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The evidence wasstaring at me in the face that Jesus Christ did come to earth and Hewas who He said He was, not just another religious leader. I believedthat Christ did die for my sins! I followed up my decision and wasbaptized on the Saturday before Easter in 1985. Baptism was animportant step to publicly announce my faith. But afterwards, I didnot feel any real difference and I couldn’t tell if I was really livinga Christian life. I would try to abstain from doing wrong things. Itseemed that I had good fellowship with other Christians. But myChristian maturity was slow in growing. Sure I attended church andBible studies, participated in Christian activities, tried to set anexample and share my faith, but I didn’t feel like God was working inmy life.

After graduating from Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering,I was in need of a job to earn some money before returning to graduateschool, as my parents desired. I was unsure of what was in store forme as I searched around the United States job hunting. But God was incontrol. I had some offers that seemed attractive, but there wassomething about Southern Maryland that made it unique. My decisiondeadline was close and I decided to take the offer in SouthernMaryland. It turned out to be a real blessing. I became situated witha good company where the people are great, but even more significantly,I met a fellow Christian on a computer bulletin board. He invited me toattend a Bible-centered church, and to check out an organization calledCBMC. At these places, I’m learning how to apply God’s word in mylife, that I may be used by God to do His work. I know there is aloving God who cares about me and every other person on earth. Hecares so much that He won’t force me to do anything, but knows the bestfor me and instructs me through the Bible. I look back and see all themistakes I’ve made in the past, and how my own human nature often failsme. I now know victorious Christian living isn’t just in my ownefforts to live a Christian life, but that I must put my complete trustin Christ’s leading my life.

I know God is using many opportunities to help me grow closer toChrist. I am just beginning to learn what it really means to be aChristian and to take on the responsibility I have in letting othersknow about Christ and to seek God’s plan and involvement in my life.

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