Timely Help, Amy Lee Bradley

I am a 21-year old graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. I started school there just after I turned 17 and I'd like to tell you about how relationship with the Lord Jesus grew during my four years of college. Mainly it was due to the care I received from my spiritual brothers and sisters in the local church in Austin.

I grew up in a Christian home in Anchorage, Alaska. My parents, dear Christians, encouraged me to pursue a relationship with the Lord and meet with other Christians. I chose not to while I was in high school. But, toward the end of my sophomore year in high school, the Lord made Himself very real to me during a summer youth conference. At that point, my heart softened toward God and I decided to graduate high school a year early so that I could have a new start away from my old friends and lifestyle. I chose to go to the University of Texas because I knew about the campus group, Christians on Campus, and saw this as an opportunity to be with believers my age who could encourage me in my pursuit of Christ.

What I found when I arrived in Austin was more than just a campus group. I found a family. Not only were there other students to meet with, but the believers meeting with the local church in Austin opened their hearts and their homes to me. Through all of their care and encouragement, not only did I have an easy transition from high school to college and being away from my family, but also my love for the Lord started to take root and grow. They took care of me by having me over for dinner, at times helping me with my studies, and sharing their experiences of Christ with me. I found them to be rich with the Word of God in addition to living upright, admirable, normal Christian lives that were a good example to me.

During my college years, I also began reading spiritual books written by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. These books began to unlock my understanding and enjoyment of the bible and my Christian walk. Books such as the Life-Study of John; Sit, Walk, Stand; The Overcoming Life; The all-Inclusive Christ; and especially the Recovery Version Bible with footnotes by Witness Lee were a tremendous help to me. They stirred up my love for the Lord, answered my many questions, fed my spirit, and sustained me through hard times by unveiling aspect after aspect of Christ. Through meeting with believers in the local church in Austin and the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee my Christian life and relationship with the Lord have become stronger and richer and more delightful every day, and the Word of God has become the joy and rejoicing of my heart. I thank the Lord for all of my time with the beievers in Austin and feel blessed to have spent my four years in college meeting with them. I am currently attending the Full-Time Training in Anaheim and I love it here, but often get homesick for my church-life family in Austin. I know they are still caring for me through their prayers.