The Spiritual Growth Journey of Walking with God

Wing-ka and his wife, Sze-ling , and daughter, Wai-yan

An Answer That I Could Never Have Imagined

　　My past three years of seminary life has been a time of spiritual growth and a special journey with God. From this journey, I have come to a deeper understanding of how God works. He works through family support, teachers’ teaching, and fellow students’ watch. He leads me step by step to be His servants. I am ready to set out to serve God and minister to His people now and throughout my life.

　　I still remember at the time when I first decided to study in the Seminary, I experienced God’s wonderful leadership. At that time I was wondering how to tell my non-Christian parents about my plan to serve God full time. My situation made me perturbed and nervous. I was sure that even if they did not utterly object, they could not possibly understand or support my decision. I had already prepared a series of “contingency plans” in response to the various reactions my parents might have. Who could predict that God’s leading would make things turn out so wonderful. Not only did my parents make no objection at all, but they even gave me their full support. They said, “Since you have been active in the church for so many years, it makes sense that you would want to do something for the church. Work hard at your studies!” This was an answer I could never have imagined!

　　After that, another wonderful thing happened: In a banquet occasion, many relatives came up congratulating me, overtly showing their support for my decision to study at seminary. Later I learned that it was my parents who had told them of my decision. This experience made me understand that God’s leading can go beyond any conceivable boundaries. The experience also led me to reflect on how little faith and it also reminded me to renew my confidence in Him as I followed Him. Another wonderful blessing is that my wife, Sze-ling, and her family silently supported me in action so that I was able to experience God’s grace again and again. God has continually provided me with grace in these three years, allowing me to keep a balance among my ministry, my family, and my finances. Consequently, I could whole-heartedly devote myself to my seminary studies without any worries. Above all, it is God who has looked after me and has shown mercy to me throughout my seminary studies.

A Concern That Was beyond Our Expectation

　　When applying to study at the Seminary, I had thought about the practical things I would have to face. They included a radical change in the environment. I needed to resign from my job and to leave my work environment. Also I needed to make changes and adaptations in my living environment. Originally, my wife and I lived in Yuen Long. Due to the long distance apart, I would find commuting between home and school every morning tiring. Therefore, we intended to move into the Seminary’s student quarters. Yet, this idea remained in the back of our minds and we had not yet seriously explored the possibility of living in the student quarters. I supposed that I would wait until the interview session when I could ask more about campus housing. I did feel a bit worried that waiting so late might make moving a bit rushed.

　　On that day, Sze-ling and I went to the Seminary and met with President Cho, Miss Lo (Dr. Grace Lo, the honorary Dean of Students’ Affairs) and other members of the Student Admissions Committee. Besides asking me questions about God’s call and my thoughts about ministry, they wanted to know more about my family conditions. I mentioned my concern about living so far from the seminary and the possibility of moving into the student quarters if I was admitted for study. After the interview, despite not yet knowing whether I would be admitted, Miss Lo volunteered to take us to get the forms to apply for housing and explained the details about student housing. I was so impressed by this lady who had just met us but was so concerned about our well-being. We were deeply grateful for the Lord’s grace and we learned from her example to serve.

Teacher’s Encouragement Helped Release My Mental Burden

　　This journey to equip myself in theology has not been all plain sailing. Although I was not old enough to be classified as a mature student, I had some of the problems of a “mature student.” After all, I found it a big challenge to pick up studying again after I had stopped being a student for so long. In my first semester, I found myself studying archaeology as well as the Bible in the Old Testament class. This came as a complete surprise to me. Facing my first class assignment, I looked over the article and I found it completely incomprehensible. At this point, I was heavy-hearted as I kept asking myself if coming to seminary had been a big mistake. Should I even quit school? All along, I could affirm in so many ways that God had called me and was leading me, yet that moment, my confidence dropped to the very bottom.

　　Since it was a small group assignment, I was accountable to other group members. Knowing that I belonged to a group, I decided to bit the bullet and focus my undivided attention on this assignment. I spent day and night using the internet and dictionaries, trying to understand the meaning of the article’s words and phrases. As a result, after about three weeks I was finally able to work on my part of the assignment, together with a summary of the text. It was with fear and trembling that I handed in the assignment, still unsure that I had met the teacher’s requirements. Now that my work had been completed, I told myself to let go of my worries and insecurities. Later, after we had made our oral presentations, it was time for the teacher to hand back our written reports. All my fears rushed back. Then to my utter surprise, I saw that the teacher had actually given a positive response to my assignment. The teacher went a step further to recognize how hard I had worked. His encouragement was what I so badly needed to help me lift my mental burden and regain my confidence.

My Soul Mates Were Surrounding Me like a Great Cloud of Witnesses

　　In the subsequent stages of my theological education, my course grades were sometimes high and sometimes low, but the teachers’ comments about me were positive. Our teachers have shown us hospitality and acceptance as they have opened their homes to us, played basketball with us, and reached out to us in friendship in the canteen as well as in class. I can only declare that their encouragement and support have helped me survive the hard times of study and filled my heart with intimate sentiments and sweet memories. God has allowed all these positive episodes with my teachers to encourage me and increase my understanding. Although the path of ministry might be tough at times, I could look around me to find fellow company as I persisted in my efforts. I was surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses to cheer me on. Behind it all, I can see that God walks with me and I can recognize countless traces of His guidance and love.

　　Speaking of warmth and support, I must share about a group of fellow students who have accompanied me in my growth. God has granted me a group of good classmates for me to learn from among them humility and unity.

　　I remember when we first studied Greek, all the class members were nervous. It was after all a completely strange foreign language to us. Facing a series of tests and examinations with increasing levels of difficulty, we found our scores going from bad to worse. It was not surprising that the whole class became enveloped in a deep fog of melancholy. At that time of crisis, some students volunteered to help other students to do their revision. Others suggested that we gather together to pray before the examination. That way, we could turn our eyes away from the textbooks and hardship for a short time and lift up our eyes in prayers. We needed to remember that it was God who had called us and promised to be with us. We also needed to claim the support of our fellow students in the community.

　　Besides, I thank God for my fellow students for their desire for peacemaking. Each time, when there was a moment of indecision, every one was willing to submit to a common consensus. That meant they sometimes had to let go of their own interest for the sake of the group’s unity. There were also some of our fellow students who showed their kindness by never forgetting the birthdays of other students and our teachers. These students offered birthday cakes and prepared birthday greetings to share at the Seminary. All these efforts of love and support have helped me understand the impact such offers of concern can have on others.

A Stepping Stone for My Future Life of Ministry

　　The above mentioned experiences together with countless other big and small life episodes constitute the best of my three years at the Seminary. I consider this special time as even a stepping stone for my future ministry life. Through all that I have experienced in this period of my journey of growth, God has taught me that the path of ministry involves more than mere knowledge or ability. Rather, the path of ministry must include a thirst for God and the patience to wait on Him. I have also learned that on the path of ministry, we must also develop an attitude of loving concern and passionate understanding of others. In this way we can truly be Christ’s disciples, become His witnesses, and live out lives imbued with faith, hope and love.