Josephine Wong
Salvation Experience
I grew up in an atheistic home. But my father who was an Asian American soldier and fought in WWII in Europe, encouraged us, 4 kids, to attend church to become "good". Easter 1966 I chose to follow our Lord Who found me and loved me first. Here is what I recalled how my salvation came to be:
I had a high school classmate (whom I will call "Hannah" here) who one day said something odd sounding to me. In discussing our upcoming Latin exam, Hannah said, "I believe in prayer."
Instead of writing her off, I listened. I was curious why Hannah would believe in an invisible God. Hannah invited me to her Friday night college/high school fellowship, "Souls for Christ Fellowship (SFC)" in Oakland. I accepted her invitation as a way for me to have something to do Friday nights. There was laughter, Singspiration, creative skits and BIBLE STUDY, and sincere sounding Prayer. It was my first exposure to young believers. I wondered why they seemed so happy and sincere in their faith. I listened and observed. I attended for months.
And then I got scared and quit coming Friday nights. I knew that I wasn't one of them. This troubled me.
But Hannah remained my friend and invited me to join her at a 3-day Spring retreat at Redwood Alliance woods. By a church scholarship gift, I went, but by the 2nd evening, I decided not to participate in that night's campfire. I still could not "see" and understand God like them. This troubled me.
That evening, I skipped dinner and before I fell asleep in my lonely bungalow, I found myself asking God to show Himself. With a sad heart, I fell asleep in the darkness and stillness of the bungalow.
The next thing that happened is hard for me to explain. The bungalow light suddenly flashed opened awakening me from my slumber. Individuals were returning from the campfire. One of the girls threw herself on her bed sobbing and crying out, "I'm no good. No good! I failed Him." Other girls surrounded her giving words of comfort.
It was what she blurted out and her grief for being useless, that my heart finally understood that there was a Loving Father God Who loved me for being "NO GOOD. NO GOOD!". I can't explain it but on that Easter 1966, I became an authentic Christ-follower. I became born-again (John 1:12). I loved Him then, I love Him now and His WORD is precious to me. For once I was blind but now I see.
By God's grace, I have served our Lord in many different ways as He's provided me service opportunities. My heart is to "GO! GO! GO and tell others!" I've been told that I'm Evangelistic. I can't help myself! I've had opportunities to serve in various capacities in the church, serve as a facilitator for 17 years in BSF, and recently in Griefshare. I am called now to pray for my children and grandchildren, for my family members, for my neighborhood, for those missionaries who serve sacrificially. Presently I'm called to serve my husband who is learning to manage his partial blindness with the help of the Society for the Blind.
He has granted me a loving family with my children also following our Lord. My parents, my brothers, many of my friends have become Christians because God has emboldened me then and now to share how REAL God is. By His Spirit, I live on this side of the River telling others of Him being real and I look forward to being in the Presence of Our Heavenly King. For those who have gone before me to enjoy His presence, I just think, "What a wonderful reunion that will be!"
Key Scripture
Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants you to do.”
Galatians 4 speaks of the struggle Paul saw between those of the law and those of Spirit. Just as twins Esau (flesh) and Jacob (God's promise) struggled in the womb, I struggle in my weakness yet in Christ.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Paul's warning not to be swayed by the flesh and stay with old comfortable habits. Thank You that even though Paul could have thrown in the towel, he kept on course and completed his race. Thank You that I understand You in Your Word now.
Thank You that I can hope in the reality of a Kingdom that I will soon become a part of. Help me not throw in the towel. Help me stay the course. Help me complete the race that You set before me. Help me rely on Christ alone to guide my thoughts. Give me Your Peace I boldly ask in Jesus Precious and Holy Name. Amen.
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