Once, when I was eight years old, I was watching an ant and had the realization that I was wonderously made and that there must be a God. I began from that day on to speak to Him. My parents, having been brought up in different religions, did not always agree. Knowing this, my first prayer to God was that someday I could be in His very best, whatever that was. I trusted Him to show me. For the next seven years I found myself drawn to Christians and going to many different places. When I was fifteen I was baptized again and gave myself anew to the Lord. I remember asking Him to be real to me. Shortly after this prayer, a new family moved to my neighborhood and they hired me as a babysitter so they could attend local church meetings. I was drawn to this couple. They had an enjoyment I wanted and a simple but full life I had never seen before. They were planning a conference and had invited Witness Lee from Los Angeles, California. I invited myself, asking if they could hire a new babysitter.

The message I heard that evening echoed in me like nothing I had ever heard before. In every word there was an immediate response in me that said, “Amen”. Witness Lee shared that as believers we received the life of God, and that His life, as any life, has certain characteristics. One of those characteristics is to meet together, to flock together. He spoke from John 10 where the Word speaks clearly that we are the Lord’s sheep, the Lord’s flock. Just as the sheep flock together, we as Christians have a life that flocks, meets together. What a blessing to hear these words. I realized that the Lord was shepherding me right then. The next December, which was in 1969, I was invited to a young peoples’ conference in Los Angeles. I heard the word on consecration for the first time and again there was a response in me. His love was so real to me I responded in kind.

I have been meeting with the local churches for many years now. I married my husband in the church 25 years ago and have raised three children in the church. The one thing that has been consistent in my life is this inward response to the ministry. The ministry has always born witness with my spirit and has nourished me and kept me in the rich fellowship with the Lord and in His Body. I am thankful to the Lord for answering that simple prayer He put in me so many years ago.

R.W.

Back to Table of Testimonies