Hello! This is Lin. I joined the ISEED program in March. I’m still kind of new in Columbus but I already received lots of love and encouragements from my brothers and sisters in Christ.
During this past month, I joined different Bible studies every Friday. I witnessed different styles of ministry through Bible Studies. I noticed since the first day I arrived here that meals are provided at every Bible Study, which is kind of unique for me because I didn’t have much Bible Studies where meals were provided.
In a class I took in March and April called “A meal with Jesus”, which is included in the ISEED program, I learned that food is very important in building relationships. Within a meal shared among friends, friendship can be strengthened. I came from a family that doesn’t value meals as we should. This class and the Bible Study experience made me rethink the concept of food and its necessity for building relationship.
Another observation I had from Bible Studies is that every time it starts with worship songs. Also, in the class “A meal of Jesus”, I learned that worship is one of the five elements of a Bible Study group, which also made me surprised since I didn’t think it as a necessary thing. I notice that IFI values worship very much since it has a music team, which does an excellent job every week. Also, the church I go to also has a wonderful worship team.
Those worship experiences taught me to really say to God what the lyric reads from the bottom of my heart. Also, through my Chinese fellowship that teaches spiritual warfare in the past few weeks, I learned that God conquers everything including the evil spirits. Instead of being scared by the evil spiritual power, we should worship God and focus on God. Worship helps me understand how great is our God.
Speaking of worship, last month I went to two worship concerts, “Outcry” by Bethel Music, Elevation worship as well as some other Christian bands, and “One Night” by lots of local churches. I cried in both concerts. I was touched by the Holy Spirit. When the worship songs reminds me “I’m no longer a slave of fear; I am a child of God” and when the speaker reminds me that all my shame got washed away by Jesus’ death, my tear just can’t stop falling down. Through singing the worship songs, I feel strengthened emotionally and spiritually. Worship is so powerful!
Since I didn’t post a blog last month, I have a lot to say. But I want to briefly list some of my other thoughts here:
- The annual banquet went really well.
- I sensed the importance of fellowship.
- I deeply realized my weakness and that self-dependence doesn’t work.
Here are some of my prayer requests. If you see my blog, maybe you can pray for me;)
- My family’s salvation and the ministry God wants me to do when I returned to China.
- Reliance on God when different lies are attacking me.
- Learning to seek help from fellowships (brothers and sisters).
- Seeking God consistently. Read the Bible and pray consistently.
- God bringing students to me that I can meet one on one with.
Thanks for reading!
Lin~