Is There Anything on Earth Today For Me Like the New Testament Church?, C.A.

As a young person who loved the Lord Jesus very much, the governing desire of my heart was to serve Him with all my time, strength and ability. Since I was endowed with musical talent, I pursued an education and training in church music at a Christian College and eventually became fully involved in the music ministry of one of the largest churches in Atlanta, Georgia.

Serving as assistant organist, director of children's choirs, a leading soloist, etc., in one sense I experienced much satisfaction and joy; but there was something deep within, a seeking, a hunger, a question: “Is this all there is?” Through my reading of the Bible, seeing something of the church, the dwelling place of God, the Body of Christ, I knew in my spirit that I wasn't in it, at least not in a practical way. In an attempt to quench my thirst, I tried small group prayer meetings and Bible studies; those met the needs temporarily. However, despite all efforts to keep them together, the small groups were short lived and there remained the deep sense: “There's got to be more.”

In our seeking, my husband and I had read numerous books, including The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. That book gave us much hope and encouragement, so when we were invited to attend a meeting in which his co-worker, Witness Lee, was speaking, we went. After being in that meeting, although my mind was full of questions and my emotions were torn because I genuinely loved the congregation where I had poured out my whole being for many years, there was an unexplainable and inescapable knowing: “This is what I'm longing for.”

It took almost a year for my husband and me to be clear beyond any doubt that our Shepherd, Christ, was leading us out of the denomination where we had been all our lives, into something totally new to us. Eventually however, we followed Him, and now after twenty-eight years there has been no turning back, and never a doubt or regret. We had found the church as it is described in detail in God's Word, here, on the earth to satisfy the need of both man and God!

Our thoughts and feelings have been perfectly penned by Sister Eva of Friedenshort:

I have found life's Giver, and the Prince of Life;

He has quenched my thirst, and vanquished all my strife.

He, my living bread, became my daily meat;

Death has died in me, Life's triumph is complete.

In the Church, what glory! Far Horizons glow!

And His Name all radiant on each brow doth show.

Christ doth breathe upon her, He's her living Rock,

Shepherd of His sheep all gathered in one flock.

There one holy flame doth burn within each breast;

By one blood redeemed, in Christ they find their rest.

All their thirst He quenches from one living stream;

They in adoration lowly worship Him.

There as Bread of life faint souls He ever feeds;

There each hungry soul may take whate'er He needs.

Lovingly He draws each soul that truly lives,

And in bread and wine Himself to them He gives.

Gone is all the earth-taint thru abounding grace;

Hear the song of triumph from the ransomed race.

All in glory shining, glory not their own,

Blended into oneness, they approach the throne.

Hymns, # 827