Manna issue 83 - My Journey to the True Jesus Church 我進入真耶穌教會
God's patience in guiding a sister
to find, and grow in, the truth.
神耐心的帶領一位姐妹，
尋找真理，在真理中成長
My Journey to the True Jesus Church
Patsy YM Seow—Neili, Taiwan
台灣內歷 Patsy YM Seow
THE JOURNEY BEGINS:
SEARCHING FOR GOD
旅程開始：尋找神
Growing up in Malaysia, my
childhood was far from ideal. My
family would often have quarrels and
fights, and sometimes the police had
to come to our house to settle these
disputes. These experiences affected
me emotionally, and I could not
comprehend why my family life was
so chaotic. I envied my peers because
their families seemed so normal.
Gradually, loneliness began to seep in,
especially when I could not find solace
in other people. In search of answers, I
began to seek God in my life.
在馬來西亞長大，我小的時候一點都不好。
家裡面常常有爭吵，有時候要警察來調解這些紛爭。
這些過往的經歷影響我情感的表現，
我不能明白，為何家裡的日子是這麼的混亂。
我很羨慕同學， 因為他們的家看起來很正常。
漸漸地，寂莫滲透進入我的生活，
特別是當我不能從別人的身上找到安慰的時候。
為了尋找答案，
我開始在自已的生命中尋找神。
At the age of nine or ten, I first
heard about Jesus through my two
older siblings who had attended
Christian Sunday schools. I later
learned more about Christianity by
reading free publications. When I
was fourteen years old, I attended a
Christian event organized by a group
of churches in Malaysia, and I decided
to become a believer. At the church
I attended, the congregation was
taught how to “speak in tongues,”
and sang lively hymns. Nevertheless,
I did not experience God’s presence
there. Over time, I started to doubt
God’s existence, and stopped going to
church.
在九歲或十歲的時候，經由二個參加基督教主日學校的兄姐，
我第一次聽到耶穌。
後來，我才因為閱讀免費的刊物，得知更多有關基督教的事。
當我14歲的時候，我參加由馬來西亞基督教團體所主辨的基督教活動，
我決定成為信徒。
而我去的教會，會眾被教導要"說靈言"，
要很活潑的唱讚美詩。
儘管如此，我並沒有體驗到那裡有神的同在。
經過一段時間，我開始懷疑神的存在，
就停止去教會。
MY TIME IN THE UK: BEING LED
TO THE TRUE CHURCH
我在英國的日子：被引領進入真教會
In September 1997, I arrived in
Portsmouth, UK, to complete my
undergraduate studies. Towards the
end of that year, two Malaysian friends
on my course, who were members of
the True Jesus Church (TJC), invited
me to the church in Portsmouth.
1997年九月，我到了英國朴次茅斯，
要完成大學的學業。
直到那年年末，在我的課堂中有二個馬來西亞朋友，
他們是真耶穌教會的信徒，
邀請我到朴次茅斯的教會聚會。
During my first visit to the TJC, I felt
uneasy about the way the members
prayed in tongues, and praying on
my knees was uncomfortable. I was
not interested in returning, but my
two friends were persistent. They
kept preaching to me, and one of
them would even invite me to church
activities after we both returned to
Malaysia. But I would always decline.
在我第一次到真耶穌教會聚會的時候，
我對信徒用靈言禱告，有些不自在，
而且跪下來禱告很不舒服。
我一點也沒有興趣再來一次，
但這二個朋友一直很有耐心。
他們一直向我傳福音，
其中一個，甚至在我們二個都回到馬來西亞之後，
邀請我去參加教會活動。
但我都會拒絕。
A SECOND CHANCE AFTER EIGHT
YEARS OF WANDERING
八年流浪之後的第二次機會
From January 2002 to June 2003, I
worked at a non-profit organization
based at the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT) in Thailand. I was
sad when it came time to leave, but I
had a feeling that I would be able to
return in the future. A month later, I
returned to Malaysia and found a job.
But after a while, working life became
meaningless and monotonous. Every
morning I would commute to work,
spend the whole day in the office, and
go home when the sun sets. When
the weekend came, I would either be
at home resting or doing chores, or
hanging out with friends. I felt that
there must be more to life—I sensed
that God must exist, and my desire to
find Him grew stronger.
從 2002 年一月，到 2003 年六月，
我在一個泰國的亞洲理工學院的非營利組工作。
當要離開的時候，我覺得很傷心，
但又感覺，以後還能夠再回來。
一個月之後，我回到馬來西亞找到工作。
但是一段時間之後，上班的日子變得很沒有意義，很無聊。
每天早上通車上班，辨公室的工作用了一整天，而日落就回家。
當周末的時候，我不是在家休息，就是作家事，
或是和朋友一起出去玩。
我覺得，生命中一定有更多東西 -
我覺得一定有神存在，
想要找到神的想法，越來越強烈。
In a bid to experience God, I
started to attend services at different
churches. There was one particular
church I felt good about, where
I fitted in nicely with the church
members. In August 2004, I accepted
their baptism in a bathtub. Yet, during
the time I spent in this church, I did
not experience God.
為了體驗到神，我開始到不同的教會參加聚會。
有一間特別的教會，讓我覺得很好，
在那間教會裡面，我和信徒相處的很融洽。
2004年八月的時候，我接受他們在浴缸的洗禮。
然而，在我參加這間教會的時間裡，
我並沒有體驗到神。
After this, I decided to further my
studies, and took up a language
course in Italy in April 2005. The
following June, I went to the UK to
visit the Malaysian TJC sister who had
remained there. Again, she invited
me to Sabbath service at Portsmouth
TJC. After the service, she asked me
to give the TJC another chance when
I returned to Malaysia. “Just attend
for one month,” she said. But then
she changed her mind, “It would be
better if you attend for at least two
months.” I promised, reluctantly, that
I would.
這件事之後，我決定要去進修，
2005年四月到義大利進修語言課程。
接著六月，我到英國訪問馬來西亞真耶穌教會的姐妹，
她一直都在英國。
再一次，她邀請我到朴次茅斯的真耶穌教會參加安息日聚會。
聚會完之後，她請我在回到馬來西亞的時候，
再給馬來西亞的真耶穌教會再一次機會。
"只要參加聚會一個月就好"，她說。
但是之後她改變了想法，
"若你可以最少兩個月去教會，就會更好"。
我答應了她，雖然很不情願，但是我會去。
It had been eight years since I last
stepped foot into the TJC, but this
sister did not give up on me, and
neither did God. And this time, I
realized that if I wanted to personally
experience the true God, I needed to
humble myself and be submissive to
His guidance.
自從我最後一次，踏入真耶穌教會之後，
時間已經過了八年，但是這個姐妹並沒有放棄我，
而神也沒有放棄我。
而這一次，我才明白
若我要親自體驗到真神，
就要謙卑自已，順服祂的帶領。
STUDYING IN THAILAND:
EXPERIENCING GOD IN THE TRUE
CHURCH
泰國讀書：在真教會體驗到神
In June 2005, I returned to Malaysia
from Italy, but it was not long before I
would leave again. After two months,
I flew to Thailand to undertake
a master’s degree in information
management at the AIT.
2005年六月，我從義大利回到馬來西亞，
不久之後，我又再次離開了。
二個月之後，我飛到泰國，
我去就讀亞洲理工學院，資訊管理的碩士課程。
During the first year of my master’s,
I was very busy with my coursework
so I could not fulfill the promise to my
friend in the UK. But in my second
year, with only my thesis to write, I
had more time on my hands.
在碩士課程的第一年，我的課業很忙碌，
所以我不能覆行對英國朋友的承諾。
但在第二年的時候，因為只需要寫論文，
所以就有更多自由的時間。
So in October 2006, sixteen months
after making the promise, I finally
found myself at the TJC in Bangkok
attending Sabbath service. I travelled
for hours by public transport to get
there, but when I arrived, I could not
find the church. I contemplated giving
up. But thankfully, after a phone call to
the church, someone came to pick me
up. At the church entrance, despite
mental and physical exhaustion from
the four-hour journey, I was filled with
an indescribable joy.
2006年十月，立下承諾的16個月之後，
我最後可以參加泰國曼谷真耶穌教會的安息日聚會。
我花幾個小時，搭乖大眾運輸工具到那裡，
但是當我到那裡的時候，卻找不到教會。
我正在考慮放棄。
但是很感謝的是，打電話到教會之後，有人來接我。
站在教會入口的時候，
雖然因為經過四個小時的路程，心靈和身體都很疲累了。
但是心中卻充滿了無法形容的喜悅。
The Sabbath service was conducted
in Chinese and Thai—two languages
in which I lacked proficiency. But this
time, I willingly knelt down to pray.
During the prayers and hymn singing,
the conversations I had with my
friend in Portsmouth suddenly came
to mind—I was moved as I recalled
her genuine concern for my faith.
After the service, I was invited to
have tea and snacks in the communal
area to get to know the Bangkok
members. By God’s arrangement, a
Singaporean brother happened to
be there on a business trip and could
interpret for me. Later that night,
I returned to my dormitory feeling
exhausted, but joyful.
安息日聚會是用中文和泰文講道 -
這二種語言我都不熟悉。
但是這一次，我願意跪下來禱告。
在禱告和唱讚美詩的時候，
我和朴次茅斯同學的對話，讓我突然想到 -
我很感動，因為我想起，她是真正很關心我的信仰。
聚會完之後，我被邀請到交流區那裡，喝茶，享用點心，
也認識了曼谷教會的信徒。
因著神的安排，有新加坡的弟兄到那裡出差，可以為我翻譯。
後來晚上我回到宿舍，覺得很累，但很開心。
At church the following Sabbath,
I received a stack of English TJC
publications; I read each one cover to-
cover that very night. Almost nine
years after first coming into contact
with the TJC, I finally understood the
basic beliefs and acknowledged that
this could be the true church. To my
mind, the teachings of the church
seemed to be pure, genuine, and true.
So, for the first time, I began to pray
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I prayed to receive the Holy Spirit, in
order to confirm that the TJC is indeed
the true church.
下個安息日在教會的時候，
我收到一英文真耶穌教會的刊物；
那裡晚上我看了每一本書的封面。
在第一次來真耶穌教會接受之後，幾乎九年了，
我終於了解基本信條，明白了，這才是真教會。
在我心裡，教會的教導，看起來很純潔，是真正的，是真理的。
所以，第一次，我開始奉主耶穌基督的聖名禱告，
禱告求聖靈，為了可以証實，真耶穌教會確實是真教會。
From then on, even though the
journey to Bangkok TJC took more
than three hours, each visit brought
me joy. During my third Sabbath there,
my arms shook so much as I prayed
that I thought the pew was unstable.
I continued to pray diligently for the
Holy Spirit, at any given opportunity,
with support and encouragement
from the brethren.
從那時候開始，即使到曼谷真耶穌教會的路程超過3個小時，
每一次去聚會都會帶給我喜悅。
在第三次參加那裡安息日的時候，
禱告中，我的手震動的很厲害，所以我以為是座位很不穩固。
只要遇到任何機會，有弟兄姐妹的幫助和鼓勵，
我都會繼續很努力的求聖靈。
One night in November 2006, I
attended evening prayer service at
church and stayed overnight. Even
though I had prayed fervently during
the service, I still had not received the
Holy Spirit, so I decided to continue
praying in my bedroom. Within an
hour, I started to speak in tongues,
and I cried tears of joy. I had received
the Holy Spirit!
2006年11月有一天晚上，
我參加教會的晚間禱告會，
留在教會過夜。
雖然在禱告會的時候，我逼切的禱告，
仍然沒有得到聖靈，
所以我決定在寢室繼續禱告。
禱告一小時左右，我開始說靈言，
我就很開心的哭了。
我得到聖靈了。
Just before I completed my studies
and returned to Malaysia, I was
baptized into the TJC at Bangkok
on May 20, 2007. I had wandered
for almost ten years since my first
encounter with the true church. In
fact, I had been searching for the true
God since childhood, and had finally
found Him in the True Jesus Church.
It was God’s timing and grace that
finally brought me to His church.
在我完成學業，回到馬來西亞之前，
我在2007年五月20日，在曼谷受洗歸入真耶穌教會。
自從我第一次遇到真教會，
一直在外面徘徊了幾乎十年。
事實上，自小時候，我一直在尋找真神，
最後在真耶穌教會找到祂。
一切都是神的時機和恩典，
最後把我帶進祂的教會。
RETURN TO MALAYSIA: THE
STRUGGLE TO STAY ON THE
PATH
回到馬來西亞：繼續維持信仰道的困難
When I returned to Malaysia in June
2007, I started attending Sabbath
services as a TJC member. However,
the congregation was much larger
than in Bangkok, so I felt somewhat
lost in the crowd. I started to lose
interest in church, and my faith
declined further as I struggled to
find a job. When I was able to find
employment, I had to work on
Sabbath days, and found myself
becoming stressed and overworked.
After changing jobs several times, I
decided to return to my studies—this
time to pursue an overseas doctoral
degree (PhD).
當我在2007年六月回到馬來西亞的時候，
就開始參加安息日聚會，成為真耶穌教會的信徒。
然而曼谷，信徒數卻是更多，
在眾人之中，我覺得有些失落。
我開始對教會失去興趣，而我的信心低落，
因為我努力要找一份工作。
當我找到了工作，在安息日也有工作要作，
而且發現自已壓很大，過度負擔。
在換了幾次工作之後，我決定要回歸到自已的學業 -
這次要追求國外的博士學位。
A key criterion in deciding which
university to attend was whether
there was a TJC in the area. I ended up
applying for the PhD in information
management at Yuan Ze University of
Neili in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Even though
I only achieved an average grade for
my master’s degree, I was awarded a
full four-year scholarship to the PhD
program. This could only have been
God’s wonderful guiding grace. While
I struggled to maintain my faith in
Malaysia, where I was more focused
on achieving financial independence,
God sent me to Taiwan so that I would
again seek Him with all my heart, and
strengthen my faith.
決定要去那間大學的最主要標準，
就是在那裡附近有沒有真耶穌教會。
最後，我在台灣桃園內歷的元智的大學，
資訊管理學系申請申請就讀博士班。
即使在碩士班我只有拿到很平均的成績，
我得到四年獎學金可以就讀博士課程。
這就只能是神奇妙帶領的恩典。
在馬來西亞的時候，
我要努力維持自已的信仰，
因為在馬來西亞，我比較想要可以自已經濟獨立。
而神送我到台灣，以便我可以再一次，
我盡心來尋求祂，加強自已的信仰。
SENT TO TAIWAN: BEING FED IN
THE WILDERNESS
派到台灣，曠野中得到餵養
In August 2010, I landed in Taiwan.
Living alone in Taiwan was not only
challenging but, at times, lonely.
Because of this, I learned to rely more
on God, and to pray fervently, even
over trivial matters. God also arranged
my circumstances such that going to
church was very convenient—initially
I lived about twenty minutes’ walk
from Neili TJC, but in August 2014, I
moved to accommodation that is less
than a minute’s walk away.
2010年八月，我來到台灣。
獨自一人住在台灣，不只很有挑戰性，
而且有時候，很寂寞。
因為這樣，我學會更依靠神，逼切禱告，
即使是遇到微小的瑣事。
神也安排了我的環境，例如，去教會很方便，
一開始我住在走路到內歷真耶穌教會，要20分鐘路程的地方，
但是在2014年八月的時候，
我搬到新房子，走路到教會不用一分鐘。
Unlike in Bangkok, where I was
driven by spiritual thirst to travel for
hours to attend church, God brought
me to Taiwan so that I would have
no obstacles in drawing closer to
Him. He sent me to the wilderness,
away from the distractions of family
life and my non-believing friends in
Malaysia. He led me away from the
comforts and patterns of my old life,
and the worries and pressure of work,
so that I would rely and focus on Him
alone. Even though God had placed
me in an ideal situation, I still had
to avoid distractions so I could stay
on this path of spiritual cultivation.
Studying towards a PhD requires
round-the-clock commitment, but
I made the effort to attend church
services regularly, and avoided secular
activities on Sabbath days.
不像曼谷，在那裡我會感受到靈性的飢渴，
通車數小時參加聚會，神帶領我到台灣，
這樣，我就沒有任何阻礙，來就近祂。
祂派我來到曠野，遠離馬來西亞，
脫離家庭生活和未信主朋友分心的事。
祂領我離開自已舊生活方式和舒適圈，
遠離工作的憂慮和壓力，
以便我可以單單依靠祂，放注意力在祂身上。
即使神已經把我放在這麼理想的環境下，
我仍要避免世事來分心，
這樣我才能堅持走在這條培養靈性的道路上。
博士班的學習，需要全天候的投入，
但我努力定期去參加聚會，
避免在安息日有任何世俗的活動。
Throughout my time in Taiwan, I
can see how God has changed me. I
used to be impatient, and constantly
quarreled with my parents. But living
in a dormitory with up to three
roommates for four years taught me
to become more tolerant and patient
towards others. When I visited my
parents in Malaysia, they were taken
aback by how much more patient
and less quarrelsome I had become.
I even started to play hymns from
the TJC hymn book on our old piano.
My parents had previously been
uninterested in the TJC, but upon
seeing this change in me, they willingly
started to attend church events. In
essence, our Christ-like behavior
allows others to acknowledge that
Christ indeed lives in us (Gal 2:20).
從我到台灣的時間，從頭到尾，
我可以看見神是怎麼改變我的。
我以前很沒有耐心，一直和父母吵架。
但是住在宿舍，同時和多達三位室友相處四年，
教會了我能更加容忍，有耐心對待別人。
當我回去馬來西亞探視父母的時候，
因為我變得更有耐心，而且又不愛爭吵，
讓他們嚇了一跳。
我甚至在那台舊鋼琴上，
彈奏真耶穌教會的讚美詩。
父母之前對真耶穌教會一點也沒有興趣，
但是一很到我身上的改變，
他們願意開始參加一些教會活動。
基本上，我們像基督一樣的行為，
會讓別人認知到，基督真的活在我們身上。
(加 2：20)
Another way that God has changed
me is through church work, and the
gifts He has bestowed upon me along
the way. When I first came to Taiwan, I
could barely speak Mandarin Chinese;
so I began to seriously learn one of
the world’s most difficult languages,
praying for God’s spiritual wisdom
and guidance to help me. It took
me almost two years to write Hanyu
Pinyin for more than four hundred
hymns in my Chinese hymn book.
As my Chinese improved, I could
begin to participate in church work. I
started off with catering duties, then
ushering, and then I spent three years
as a member of the adult choir. I was
eventually able to testify and lead
discussions in Chinese, and interpret
from Chinese to English. By God’s
grace, since arriving in Taiwan with
very little Chinese, I can now serve
Him with my new language skills.
而神改變我的另一個方式，就是透過作聖工，
一路走來，祂賞賜給我很多恩賜。
當我一開始到台灣的時候，
我幾乎不會說中文；
所以我開始很認真的學習，這個世上最困難之一的語言，
求神給我屬靈的智慧，帶領我，幫助我。
我花了幾乎二年的時間，
在我的中文讚美詩上面的四百多首歌譜上，寫上漢語拼音。
因為中文進步的原故，我就可以參與教會工作，
一開始我加入伙食的工作，然後是招待，
然後用了三年的時間，成為成人詩班的成員。
最後我可以作見証，用中文帶領討論，把中文翻譯成英文。
因著神的恩典，一開始只會很少的中文到了台灣，
到現在我可以用這個新的語言技能來服事祂。
GOD’S GRACE AND WISDOM ARE
SUFFICIENT FOR MY ONGOING
JOURNEY
神的恩典和智慧足夠我繼續旅程
Throughout my time in Taiwan, I
have experienced constant grace and
blessings from God. Though I spent
much of my time at church, I obtained
good grades for my PhD coursework
and my research papers were readily
accepted for publication. These results
could only be possible through God’s
blessing. Furthermore, I could survive
financially despite being unemployed
for over seven years. I lived a frugal
life, but God has never let me go
without. I have experienced, firsthand,
that He blesses and provides for us if
we put Him first in our lives (Mt 6:33),
and that His grace is indeed sufficient
(2 Cor 12:9).
經由生活在台灣的時間，
我已經體驗到，從神而來經常的恩典和祝福。
雖然我花了很多時間在教會，
我博士班的課程得到好成績，
我的研究論文很容易就被承認，等待出版。
這些結果，都是經由神的祝福，才可能實現。
不只如此，在經濟上我可以獨立生活，
雖然幾乎七年多沒有工作。
我過著節儉的生活，但神讓我沒有缺乏。
我有體驗了，親自體驗了神，
若我把祂放在生活中的第一位。
祂就祝福我，為我安排，
(太 6：33)
而且祂的恩典真的很充足。
(林後 12：9)
CONCLUSION 結論
The twists and turns of my spiritual
journey have not been coincidental,
nor have they been according to my
own plans. Instead, my footsteps have
been guided by God’s higher will. As
the Lord declares in Isaiah 55:9:
我靈性旅程的扭轉和改變，一點都不是偶然的，
其路徑的走向也不是根據我自已的計劃。
相反的，我一路走來的腳步，
一直都被神更高的旨意所帶領。
就如神在以賽亞書55章9節大聲說：
“For as the heavens are higher than
the earth,
So are My ways higher than your
ways,
And My thoughts than your
thoughts.”
9天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。
Ever since I began searching for
God in my childhood, God has guided
me and opened the way for me to
find Him in the true church. Although
I turned away several times, for years
on end, God patiently waited for me
to turn back. Although I still have
much to learn, and a long way to
go, I know I can trust in His loving
grace. And my sincerest hope is that
my non-believing family and friends
will give the TJC a chance, or in some
cases, a second chance, just as I did all
those years ago.
自從小時候，我開始尋找神，
神就帶領我，為我開路，
讓我在真教會找到祂。
雖然我在這幾年間，持續轉頭離開了好幾次，
神卻耐心的等著我回來。
雖然我仍有很多要學的東西，
有很長的路要走，
我知道可以信賴祂慈愛的恩典。
我真誠的希望，我那還未信主的家人和朋友，
他們會給真耶穌教會一次機會，
或在某些情況下，再給第二次的機會，
就像我在多年以前一樣。
May all glory be given to God.
願一切榮耀歸予天上的真神
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
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