Testimonies

Finding the Way

I was saved in a little denominational church in Oregon when I was 16 years old. I just knew that this was the place for me. However, time and many events in my life proved me wrong.

During a three-year hitch in the army I received a “Dear John” letter from my first wife. We had two sons which were awarded to me. I remarried and we had three daughters. With five children now, and my second marriage failing, and life again driving me to find the way to God and some answers to life’s dilemmas, I began to seek the answer. Surely He must be the answer to life, but how? How do you apply religion to your life? We sought the way in a gauntlet of denominations, free groups and even a Christian commune, where we lived together, hoping to keep the oneness of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3-4). All our attempts ended in a dead-end. Trying to be one in our selves did not work. This was not the way.

In February of 1969 I heard about the local church and a man named Witness Lee in Los Angeles, California. I could not believe that there could be anything any better or higher than what we had tried, but some Christians encourage me to go and see for myself.

I went to Los Angeles for one week to see. I stayed with a family in their home. As I observed the meeting and listened to Witness Lee, at first I was very skeptical, and did not participate. I could not see what was so special, and the format of the meeting was different than I was used to. However, I had spent the money and the time to be there so I opened up my heart to the Lord and joined in with them. They spent a lot of time in each meeting just calling on the Lord’s name (Romans 10:12-13) and prayerfully reading over the Word (Ephesians 6:17-18). Once I opened up and tried it, I discovered what I had never known. The way. I had a human spirit, and Christ lived in my spirit (2 Timothy 4:22). I discovered the way in my Christian life to experience Christ and understand the Lord’s revelation in His Word. The Spirit of Reality in John 16 became my reality. I discovered the law of life in Romans 8, the life-giving Spirit in 1 Corinthians 15:45 and much more in short, the reality of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32).

It is now 30 years since I began meeting with the local church. I am now in the church in Roseburg; so are my wife, five children and 13 grandchildren. My wife and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary on October 22.

Although Witness Lee has passed on his ministry which is full of Spirit and life continues to nourish, strengthen and build me up with other believers in Christ, not only in my city, but with all the local churches we are being blended together into the one new man (1 Corinthians 12:24; Colossians 3:10-11).

Tim L.

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