The Joy of the Lord, Christina Katie Chow

I grew up in Irvine, California where my parents met with the local church in Irvine. When I was old enough, I began attending the meetings of the church for children and young people. At these meetings, I was provided a healthy and loving environment and given the proper foundation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Bible, and my role as a Christian to gain and enjoy Him. All the meetings of the church were really precious to me. As a young person, I appreciated the genuine care of the believers in Irvine. It was through their care and encouragement that I developed a hunger to know and experience the Lord Jesus Christ myself, not just through my parents. Though I actively participated in high school activities such as sports teams, student government and volunteer clubs, I can testify that I was only genuinely happy when I was with other brothers and sisters in the Lord pursuing Him.

Upon graduating from high school in 1996, I began attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Instead of moving to the dormitories, I moved into a sisters' house, a living arrangement for Christians who wanted to live with other active Christians, organized by the church in Los Angeles. I spent four wonderful years in the sister's house, pursuing the Lord with other Christians. Upon graduating from UCLA in 2000 with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering, I began the Full-Time Training in Anaheim. I am currently in my second term.

Through the care of the brothers and sisters both in Irvine and in Los Angeles, along with the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, I have experienced the joy of being a Christian. This ministry has caused me to love the Lord more and more each day and given me a way to go on practically as a Christian by helping me to grow in the Lord's life. Under this ministry, I am encouraged to read the Bible and as a result, I love the Bible as the very Word of God. While reading Watchman Nee and Witness Lee's books, I have never felt that there was any other focus than Christ and the church. This focus has become my focus as a Christian.

The local churches and this ministry have played a major role in my life. I consider it a real honor and privilege to be under this ministry which has opened to me the meaning of my human life centered on Christ and the church.