这次受洗的10位弟兄姊妹中有3位少年。是什么原因让他们在小小年纪就下定接受基督为主，一生跟随效法基督的决心？答案就在他们的见证里。他们的见证是用英文写的。
Eric：
Hello, my name is Eric Qi and I am twelve years old. Today I am going to tell you the story of my faith.
I grew up in a Christian home. Both of my parents are Christians and started taking me to church at a young age. Every Sunday I would go to Sunday School and learn about God. I was interested in the many stories that were told. Soon, my parents got me my own bible. I’ve had trouble reading it, but God has helped me a lot with the process.
I am proud to say that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I trust him with my life fully. Before I believed in God I was just another normal kid. When I sinned, I had nobody to ask for forgiveness except my parents. Even when they forgave me I still felt guilty.
When I first went to church and learned about how God, the ultimate creator of the universe was willing to forgive me for my mistakes if I believed in him, I was all in. After the first few times I went to church I started feeling more comfortable with God. I started reading his word more often and memorized his key points. I was so thankful that I had a merciful God that was willing to help me in times of trouble.
I confess that I am a sinner. I have done many things that I regret. I know that I can’t do anything to be saved. It’s all God’s grace that saves me. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). When I first read that verse I then knew how great my God was. He is willing to give everybody a second chance.
My life today is so much more relaxed because of him. He helped me so much in my faith journey and it is so amazing how far I have come. My favourite verse I have ever read is this: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV). This verse speaks out to me because after I read it I knew how powerful God was. As the verse says, we don’t even need to move a muscle! God is in control. He takes every negative thing and uses them for good (which is mindblowing).
In conclusion, I confess that I am a sinner and I thank God for sending Jesus to save me and I am ready to start my new life.
Jay：
Hi, I’m Jay. I’m 13 years old and I’m in grade 8, going into grade 9 in September. I was born into a Christian family. Throughout my whole life, I’ve learned about the Bible and about Jesus. I knew all the things that a Christian should know, and I even memorized many Bible verses, but I never felt that I was ready to accept Jesus. I kept on feeling that it was too early, that I wasn’t old enough, and that I wasn’t ready to accept Jesus.
I’ve been homeschooled for many years. I joined a Christian homeschool group at the start of the past school year, from which I learned many things. Each family took turns hosting devotional meetings on every weekday, which allowed me to have a daily relationship with God. I acknowledged everything that the people there said, but I didn’t really take them into my heart. This meant that although I knew a lot about God’s grace and how it affected others, I didn’t let it affect me.
There were catechism classes that I joined every other Wednesday to help me understand the perplexing ideas of the Bible. There was the church to teach me about God. There were my parents to support me (and rebuke me), and lastly, there was the homeschool group that maintained a relationship between God and me.
But, the entire time, I was at a point where I pretended that I was a good Christian in front of other Christians, whereas I didn’t really live a Christian life elsewhere because I didn’t have a close relationship with Jesus. It’s like knowing that he’s there, but not permitting him near me. That’s how it was my whole life — that is, my old life.
Near the beginning of July, I attended Word of Life youth camp. During a sermon one day, the preacher asked the campers to close their eyes. Then, he asked the campers who were willing to accept Jesus to look up and leave the room with some counsellors to pray about their decision. I did not look up, because I felt that I wasn’t ready to go.
The next day, I asked my counsellor, “When do I know that I’m ready to accept Christ?” He told me that there is no time where you are really ready. As Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We will never deserve his grace, and we can’t do anything to deserve it, we just need to accept it. This really encouraged me. After that, I decided that I wanted to accept God’s grace. I felt that even though I didn’t deserve his grace, I wanted so that my path to hell can change to a path to heaven. I don’t think that I will ever forget the counsellor.
Two days later, another chance emerged for me to accept Jesus Christ. One afternoon, the leaders led us campers out to a big campfire, which represented the fire that burns for Jesus. We were prompted to pick up a stick and throw it into the fire, which would represent the dedication of our life to Jesus. I felt an urge to do so. I knew that accepting Jesus was the goal of my life, and I felt that my urge would disappear when the time passes. I picked up a stick, went to the fire with the other willing campers, and threw it into the fire. Later, I prayed with a counsellor to accept Jesus Christ as my saviour. When the prayer was finished, I was overcome with emotion. I felt that a part of my mind cleared and that I finally made the ultimate decision that was the most important decision of my life. I felt very satisfied, and my life had a new purpose, which was to serve God. I have a new mindset now, which is to strive to do what Jesus would do in my place.
Thank you.
Joshua （天牧）：
My name is Tianmu He, And am now 13 years old.
I grew up in a Christian family, so I was surrounded by God and the church from the very beginning. I was raised in a Christian home, but just followed through the motions of doing “Christian things” that I thought you were supposed to do. I didn’t know Him, I just knew about Him.
After a while, I started learning more and more about christianity, mainly the fact that I
am a sinner and therefore cannot be with god. Before, I thought that I was the “Perfect child”. From growing up in a Christian home, I knew what to do. I agree with the verse “You must be born again.” (John 3:7). I knew that He could save me if I just let Him. I confessed that I am a sinner and that I was trying to find life in other people and myself. I acknowledged that He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that I can be saved from my sins and have eternal life. I committed to living for God.
I am not perfect and I still mess up, and have trouble sometimes controlling my emotions, but God loves me despite my flaws and imperfections. God has never once left me. And now, I want to be baptized because “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27).
My name: 何天牧 the first character is my last name, and the following ones means “God” and “shepherd” respectively. It comes from the bible verse: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;” (Psalms 23).
I also have been in a situation where I could not tear myself away from video games, but God helped me control this urge, and suppress it. I am ready to receive Christ as my saviour, and will gladly be baptized. I know that I am ready for God to come help me, and I will accept his grace and kindness.
When I was 11 years old, I started going one of Nuke’s Weekly Bible studies, with my mom, and that was when I realized that I wanted to be baptized. Nuke helped me make sure that I’m ready, etc. by having a discussion with me about God and his infinite knowledge and Grace, and about how man cannot achieve salvation by good works, but by believing and accepting. A few weeks after the discussion, I decided that I am ready.
评论：我们都需要神的恩典
李牧师
我们分三期刊载了这次在贵湖受洗的10位弟兄姊妹的见证。这些弟兄姊妹所讲的心路历程有一定的代表性。他们的背景、经历有许多不同，有年长的、中年的、年轻的、少年的，有移民、学者、工作族、学生，他们人生或十分坎坷曲折、或比较平坦顺利。但是他们都有一些共同点：都在人生中深切感受到对生命意义追寻的迫切，都有对上帝永恒恩典的渴望，他们都殊途同归，来到一个转折点：遇到了上帝的爱、得到耶稣基督的救恩。
也许读到这些见证的人，你也处在人生中的困难、挑战之中，你也感受到了对超乎人类之上伟大的、有能力的、又爱我们的永生真神的渴慕，那么上帝就是在借着这些见证向你说话，呼唤你也回到祂的永恒计划中；
也许有些人可能觉得没有遇到什么麻烦、困难，日子过得挺滋润。觉得自己不需要上帝的帮助。但是我确信，无论你多厉害、多成功、多富有，你仍然有你的局限。如果我们之间是毫无戒备的知心朋友，我会理解你对前途的忧虑，感受你心中的压力。就是你的钱多得八辈子花不完，可是你没有八辈子，人一辈子一转眼就过去了。钱越多对时光的飞速流逝就越不甘心。如果你是个诚实的人，你会承认命运不掌握在自己手里。如果你是个有思想的人，你一定会思考人生的意义，人生的归宿。
其实我们每个人都需要上帝的恩典。
有一位永生真神，宇宙万物和人类的创造主，对按照自己的形象所造的人类有一往情深的爱。对于不认识祂走在必然灭亡罪恶道路上的人类，祂有一个美好的计划，就是要把人拯救回来，进入祂所设定的永生美好结局。圣经说：“神爱世人，甚至将自己的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡、反得永生。”
神的恩典体现在祂奇妙的拯救计划之中。神的救赎恩典是为每一个人预备的。上帝也不断呼召人来享受祂的恩典。主耶稣说：“凡劳苦担重担的，可以到我这里来，我就使他们得安息。”
神的恩典是让人得自由的恩典。我们明白神的圣洁慈爱大能之后，就能意识到自己是处于远离、悖逆神、与神为敌的罪中不能自拔，需要神的赦免拯救。耶稣基督在十字架上成就的救恩就是在为我们付罪的代价，叫一切愿意悔改认罪归向神的人可以罪得赦免，得到最大的自由，就是脱离罪过圣洁生活的自由，得永生恢复神儿女名份的自由。
神的恩典是让人得平安的恩典。我们明白了生命的意义之后，就能活出生命的最佳光彩；我们的生命就有了明确的方向后，我们就不在世界上各种飘忽不定的潮流中挣扎，不在各种自相矛盾的说教中彷徨。我们确信自己有永生的归宿之后，就不在世界上转眼成空的事物上耗尽心力，而是怀有真实永远的盼望。所以我们的生命中有喜乐平安、我们在家中有和睦，在社会上有和平。来自神的恩典会伴随我们直到永远。
盼望刚刚了解基督信仰的同胞朋友能继续来到我们中间深入了解这个关于永恒、关乎万民的真理，能够认识救主耶稣基督，得到宝贵的救恩；盼望来过教会，又很长时间不来的弟兄姊妹朋友，能回来一同敬拜神、活出丰盛生命，享受神全备的祝福。