Tammy's Story

I was born in a non-Christian family and I never thought that I might become a Christian. Several years ago, back in China, I had just done my university entrance exam, but I didn’t do it very well. When I was walking around feeling very sad outside a church in my city, I met an old lady by chance. She began to talk to me about Jesus and gave me her phone number. At that time, I didn't believe what she said to me and I thought she was crazy. A few months later, when I got back from holidays, I began to pack my high school books and I found this phone number. I decided to call her, purely because of curiosity, also because I had nothing to do at that time, and she invited me to the house church. After that, I began to study some different religions, only to find myself very confused and hopeless. Then I began to give Christianity a chance after going to the house church several times.

Later, I went to university and met a lot of new friends, and we had fun together, but if I talked to them about Jesus, they would say, "What are you talking about? What's wrong with you?" Apparently, Jesus is not a very popular topic for college students in China! Also for me, at that time, there were a lot of things which were much more attractive than Jesus. I didn't give up reading the Bible, still just for curiosity - I didn't take it very seriously. But gradually, reading the Bible had an influence on me. As a result, before leaving China, I had already begun to read books about Christianity and to think seriously about the whole issue of the existence of God and my relationship with him.

It's since I arrived in Sydney that God has done so many wonderful things in my life. I met some very alive and compassionate Christians in Barneys. I began to sense my own need for answers in life and to read the Bible and seek God. After a few months of searching and struggling, and with church friends' help, I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I realised that I was lost without God in my life and that I needed him. I prayed that Jesus would come into my life to forgive my sins and to be my Lord and Saviour. I committed myself to Jesus Christ publicly. My life did not change immediately, but over a few months I saw the difference that Jesus was making in my life - I saw how he led me and protected me. I had a desire to understand the Bible, and God began to give me a peace and joy I had never experienced before.

So for me, knowing Jesus, following Jesus, was not one event, it was more like a journey. And I understand that it’s never too late to choose to follow him by admitting your need for forgiveness and by turning to him in simple faith so that he can reconcile you to God.