"The word of God reveals to me Jesus' obedience and his self-sacrificing love, and it also shows me my selfishness and pride. The word of God changes my life day by day. Sharing Jesus' precious words and the good news about how our lives can be transformed through him has become an important part of my life."
At the online closing ceremony of the 2020 Global Chinese Mission Convention on the 28th of December, the organizer of the conference broadcast the testimony of Sister Lu Jiayin, who is currently serving in a Chinese church in Southern California, USA.
Established 35 years ago, the annual "Western American Chinese Mission Conference" was changed to the "2020 Global Chinese Mission Convention (CMC)" this year and held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme of this year was "The Gospel", focusing on Christ, the kingdom of God, and His salvation.
Sister Lu shared that knowing Christ changed her life. As a first-generation immigrant, she is being sent to serve in Japan, hoping to become someone who will spread the gospel.
Lu mentioned that her participation in the Global CMC at the end of 2017 ignited in her a missionary heart.
"It was the first time I saw believers from all over the world who are passionate for the Great Commission... I heard that there are still 3 billion people in the world and more than 7,000 ethnic groups who have not heard the gospel. There are no witnesses of Jesus, no Bible, and no church among them. And only one out of ten preachers is working among the unreached people. I was very sad. When the chairman of the conference called for persons to serve the unreached people, the said:‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?’The Holy Spirit urged me in my heart, and I raised my hand and said, ‘Here am I, send me! In this way, I was called to be a cross-cultural missionary to unreached people," she stated.
She added, "But, back to reality, am I really willing to let go of the American dream? Can I let go of my high income, my career, my family members who do not believe in the Lord, and my elderly parents?" Sister Lu continued to share the true struggle in her heart when God's mission came:
"I prayed, 'Lord, my elderly parents, they are in their 80s and 90s; they need my company. '
The Lord said, 'Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.'
'Lord, if I work for another 3 years, my pension will increase by 50%.'
The Lord said, 'Do you love these more than you love me?'
'Lord, I still have family members who have not believed in you. They need me.'
The Lord said: 'Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.'
God's word removes all the worries that hinder us from becoming missionaries, and gives us peace."
Lu testified, "Now I want to go to Japan with my husband even earlier than planned. The king of this world will use many reasons to prevent us from doing God's work. But the Lord said, ' As long as it is day, we must do His work. Night is coming, when no one can work. ' God’s will is to let all nations be glorified and let all races and people know him, to complete the task of Matthew 24:14 that the gospel of the kingdom of heaven must be preached throughout the world and be witnessed to by all people. May God help us seize the opportunity, change our view of the kingdom and sense of mission, may the Holy Spirit help us to see God's work in us. "
- Translated by Xiaodan Zeng
