Tonight, at American Chinese Fellowship, where my family ministers together every Friday, I had the incredible privilege of witnessing a precious young lady place her faith in the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior, and become a daughter of the King!
(Photo taken in December, 2007)
Sophia (10) has been faithfully coming to ACF for almost a year now. She could barely speak English when she first arrived here from China. As a result, she joined my junior high/senior high girls' Bible study rather than the elementary class because one of our class members could translate lessons into Chinese for her, and she also enjoyed the smaller class size. Not only has Sophia learned English quickly; she has also proved an eager student of the Bible. As we have been steadily making our way chronologically through Scripture from the beginning (using Michael Pearl's "Good and Evil" illustrated Bible), Sophia has demonstrated a keen understanding of each lesson and a love for learning about God.
This past semester, we have specificully been studying the life of Jesus. I have sensed a tender heart in Sophia toward Him and a child-like faith in Christ, but I was not certain of anything. So, tonight after Bible study, at the specific encouragement of the Chinese pastor who has also been keeping his eye on Sophia, I met with her to discuss the matter of salvation.
It seemed like all the puzzle pieces came together for Sophia during that converasation. While she has "believed" in Jesus since we began reading about Him in the Bible, she said she did not know for sure that she was saved. I asked her if she wanted to know for sure, since the Bible explains it very clearly, and she said yes!
While using several verses from my Bible, I sketched a simple little diagram called the Bridge illustration that clearly conveys the Gospel message. Sophia followed along beautifully and by the end of our discussion, she was ready to "confess with [her] mouth the Lord Jesus" (Romans 10:9), confirming her belief and trust in Him as Savior. She had never prayed before in her life, and at first was a little nervous about "what to say." :-) I told her to just talk to Jesus about what we had been disucussing. What followed was one of the most beautiful, eloquent prayers I think a ten-year-old has ever uttered! Never mind the broken English grammar; Sophia spoke to Jesus from her heart, and it was priceless to hear! We wrote down today, May 16, as her spiritual birthday that she could carry with her as a special day forever.
Truly, there is no greater delight (outside of Jesus Himself), than that of watching a person receive Him as their Savior!
When I think about why the Lord leaves us Christians here on earth after we get saved, the best answer I can think of is because He wants us to spread the Gospel before we depart for heaven; to tell as many people as we can about Jesus and how to have a relationship with Him. There is Kingdom work to be done, and He gives us the immense privilege of being a part! Jesus is passionate for lost souls, and that is something I long to emulate.
To God be the glory; great things He hath done!
1 comment:
Wow, Katrina, that is so exciting! I'm sure there is no greater joy than when God uses you to lead a precious child to Christ!
Praising God with you!
With love,
Kate Bridges
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