A Faith Walk

I Want to Walk With the Lord

In 1957, I was born in a rural village in Hunan, China. Both my parents were Buddhists. Quarrels among poverty, and struggling to survive were all that I could remember. In that rural environment, I witnessed selfishness, lying, stealing, adultery, and fighting. Bullies would win. I worked in the local government for two years after graduating from High School, during which I learned about how to survive in a communist social system. Later on in my 20 some years working in the management in the field of pharmaceutical research, I have seen more or less similar kinds of twisted relationships between people. Because of good academic performance in schools, people can also smell some arrogance in me. I would say, in my 30’s, I had been a self-centered, negative, insecure, skeptical person. A man full of sins.

Some time in 1990, my wife Jenny took me to a Baptist church next to the Medical University of South Carolina to learn English. In the next three years, the sisters over there taught us foreigners English. So many people around us were Christians including the foreign student director and my graduate advisor. They had given us much help and showed us a new world and a new humanity.

In 1993 after I graduated with a PhD in Biostatistics, I joined a Bible study group in the Mountain View Chinese Christian Church in California. I was baptized one year later. Then we moved to the Chicago area because of job, and joined the church activities regularly. However, I considered myself a lukewarm Christian.

In 2001, our church conducted a marriage renewal ceremony for a few couples, including us. On the way home, I was listening to a Moody radio program playing the hymn “Be thou my vision”. I felt like my head was struck by lightning and a strange feeling lingered for a few minutes. I wanted to cry, and at the same time was full of joy. Since then, I liked to read the Bible and pray. My spiritual life grew a lot. In 2001 and 2002, we adopted two lovely daughters from Hunan.

Now my devotional life becomes a routine. I have gone through the whole Bible a couple of times. Usually I read a passage before going to work. Then I review the passage during lunch break. In the evenings, we have a family worship. Before bed, I have one more round of prayer for the church and specific people. During these years, I have led small groups, children Sunday School, adult Sunday School, and participated in short term missions, the Chinese Ministry Committee, the Deacon Board, and the Elders Board. The church is my second home.

I have dedicated the rest of my life to Christian ministries. Beginning from 2014, I have been taking classes at the Trinity International University towards a master degree in Counseling Ministry. So far I have completed 41 credit hours, with 5 theology courses. I am considering a theological studies degree at the same time. Hopefully after I retire from work next July, I will have more time to study full-time and to equip myself for future ministries.

Although I desire to be used by God, I fully understand that I have been born and raised in sin. I am thankful that God has sent His only son to die for me on the cross, and took away my sin. Now I am at peace before God. I came from “a village of lepers” and can feel the pain and the shame of illness of others. I am grateful that the great physician has healed me and made me whole. As a survivor from the deadly disease, I want to know God more, and walk with Him, till I meet with Him one day.

Dr. Shawn Yu

The North Shore Chinese Christian Church, Deerfield, Illinois