Testimonies

When Mrs. Seung at the BRC headquarters told Rev. Lu and me that we could begin pioneering work in Indonesia, we did not yet know whom to contact, so all we could do was bring the matter before God in prayer. After a little over a week of prayer, God wonderfully opened a door for me: on Good Friday, I suddenly received a greeting from Brother Darmadi, whom I had not been in touch with for many years.

We brought this before God in prayer and shared with Brother Darmadi our hope of traveling to Medan to share about the ministry with local churches. Thank God, the brother not only hosted us for the entire trip but also helped introduce us to local pastors and co-workers and gave us their contact information. From then on, we learned to bring every phone call and every message before God in prayer. Some pastors responded quickly, and some never replied, but God taught us to trust that opportunities to meet come from God's sovereignty, not from human ability.

So before we set out, we prayed every day for these pastors and churches, firmly believing that "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will" (Proverbs 21:1). If God does not open a door, no one can open it; if God opens a door, no one can shut it. Around May 21, the meeting arrangements gradually fell into place, and we saw even more clearly that God Himself was preparing the way. We also kept praying for the pastors we had not yet been able to schedule, because God's leading often goes beyond what we are able to plan.

During this week-long mission trip, we saw how God had prepared the way for the BRC, and we had the opportunity to serve alongside local pastors, co-workers, and brothers and sisters—visiting, preaching, sharing the gospel, and introducing the ministry. Once again we experienced the joy of working together in the body of Christ and the preciousness of fellowship in the Lord. Everyone did their part, complementing one another and serving with one heart. This also helped us understand God's good purpose in establishing the church as a community, and we learned to support and build up one another in Christ.

Finally, this mission trip reminded us that the growth of the ministry does not depend on human ability, plans, or methods; it must be built on prayer. We deeply experienced God Himself opening the way and leading us. May the Lord continue to guide the development of the BRC in Indonesia, just as Zechariah 4:6 says: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." May all glory be to God.

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to take part in this mission trip to Indonesia, to connect with local pastors, leaders, and brothers and sisters, and to introduce the vision and courses of the BRC. In just a few days, I was not only able to share about the ministry but also came to a deeper understanding of the needs of the Indonesian churches, God's work there, and the possibilities for future growth.

What struck me most on this trip was that there are still quite a few Chinese churches in Indonesia, and most of the churches we visited could communicate in Chinese. At the same time, I found that many churches lack pastors who can shepherd believers in Mandarin. This reminded me once again that the church needs not only to preach the gospel but also to keep equipping believers and nurturing disciples. If believers can take root and grow in the truth through a systematic Bible curriculum, it will bring lasting benefit both to their personal spiritual lives and to the church's overall pastoral care and discipleship training.

As we visited different churches, I saw that some had been through the hurt brought by division and conflict. All kinds of troubles, from within and without, can damage a church and affect its believers. This made me realize even more that the church needs not just numerical growth or outward development, but a firm foundation in the truth, so that believers can take root and grow in God's Word. Only with Christ as the head, rooted in the truth, and loving one another with humble hearts can the church stand firm through its challenges. Therefore, systematic Bible study and discipleship training are not merely the pursuit of knowledge; they are an essential foundation for the church to take root in the truth and grow in unity.

When I had just arrived in New Zealand two years ago, I met Sister Lina, and on her recommendation I joined the 4C Bible Reading Class. That is how my BRC journey began. It has now been more than two years, and I still enjoy every class and look forward to the next one.

(1) The BRC as I See It

The BRC courses are true in-depth Bible study—completely different from my past habit of reading the Bible just to check it off. They are very deep and comprehensive.

Before class we need to prepare, with four pages of questions to complete. After class we need to review, and once the class is over we receive the lecture notes. The notes are objective in their wording, with the right balance of detail and brevity, and their views are grounded in the Bible, neither one-sided nor extreme. Beyond that, the notes include an application section that shows us how to apply the passage to our daily lives. In the first half of each class, the group leader leads the students in sharing and answering the questions. This kind of Bible study is never dull; the students build one another up, support one another, and grow together. Each week there is also a separate page on family education, explaining how to raise children according to biblical principles based on the lesson. As a mother of two daughters, I read every one of them carefully and do my best to put them into practice.

(2) What I Have Gained

Over these two years, I honestly haven't known how to measure my own progress. But what I can say for certain is that I am more joyful, my heart is more at peace, and I experience more of the wonder of the Holy Spirit's presence and leading. And without my even realizing it, when I share the gospel with people around me, I seem to have a clearer sense of direction—I have even been able to lead people in praying to receive Christ!

At the same time, my relationships at home have become more harmonious. My husband and I rarely argue now, and I believe that as God sees my trust in Him, He will continue to heal and rebuild our relationship. My older daughter has entered early adolescence, yet we get along well and seldom clash. My younger daughter's temperament has become more stable as well. This, too, comes from my growing closer to God through my studies and my life becoming more mature and grounded. Even when I am cooking for my family, cleaning, and doing all kinds of household chores, I have joy that comes from deep within.

I thank God for His grace in giving me the chance to study His Word with the 4C Bible Reading Class. I have gained and grown so much, and I am closer to God—this truly is God's wonderful provision! I hope more brothers and sisters who long for God's Word and want to read the Bible seriously will come and join!

Through this study, I have come to deeply appreciate how much this course has helped me. I feel that God's Word is always in my ears and has taken deep root in the depths of my heart, reminding me of what I should and should not do, so that I cannot help but reflect and examine myself.

I have also gained a great deal of knowledge I did not have before, corrected some of my earlier misunderstandings, and been helped to know and understand God and His Word more deeply.

I also thank God for not abandoning me, for giving me the opportunity to enter this course on the path of blessing, for bringing me to His side and into His precious Word, and for letting me share this kind of spiritual fellowship with brothers and sisters.

Finally, I pray that all the brothers and sisters of the 4C Bible Reading Class will walk this path of blessing all the way to the end.

Peace to you, brothers and sisters. My name is Zhang Shuying, and I have been studying with the 4C Bible Reading Class for nearly ten years. Thank God! I still remember that when I learned our church was going to start the Bible Reading Class, my youngest child was only three. Back then the BRC still met in person. Even though my child was young and life had many inconveniences, my heart longed so much for God's Word that I was determined to make time to attend no matter what. For me, it was the beginning of taking God's Word seriously again. I never imagined that, in the blink of an eye, it would be nearly ten years.

Through this journey I have deeply experienced God leading and shaping me step by step. At first I was simply learning as a student; later God moved me and called me to serve in administration, and after that I became an assistant teacher. None of these changes in role were things I had planned; God gradually guided me through serving and learning. I know very clearly that being able to serve in the BRC is not a matter of my own ability but of God's provision and grace. It is also an opportunity God has given me to keep being built up and to take part in building up others.

These years of study in the BRC have helped me build a solid knowledge and understanding of the Bible as a whole. In the past my Bible reading was often fragmented and based on feelings, but through systematic study I began learning to understand passages through their context, structure, and themes, and my grasp of God's Word now rests on a firmer foundation. Every part of the BRC's "five-layer sandwich" works together, making the learning both deep and practical.

The sharing questions in the homework often feel to me like questions addressed to my soul. They make me stop and consider the state of my life, and honestly face my inner motives, my weaknesses, and the areas that need to be adjusted. Many times, in the process of doing the homework, I am not just understanding the passage but being illuminated and reminded by God's Word. Through the small group discussions, I also see the different insights and promptings that brothers and sisters receive from the passage. Their careful preparation and sincere sharing often encourage and remind me, and teach me to listen to what others see with a more humble heart.

In addition, the outline training has helped me tremendously. It taught me how to break down a passage in an orderly way, read it thoroughly, organize its key points, and then go on to design Bible study questions. This has not only strengthened my own Bible reading but has also helped me, when leading a small group, to see the context and core message of a passage more clearly instead of stopping at a surface understanding. Together with the teachers' solid teaching and the complete, systematic lecture notes, every part keeps building me up in the truth, making my knowledge of God's Word more comprehensive and secure.

And because I later needed to take part in teaching and serving, I began to search the Scriptures and prepare myself more seriously than ever, not daring to treat God's Word casually. In the process I have learned more deeply to revere God's Word, often reminding myself to rightly handle the word of truth—not to interpret Scripture by my own feelings or experience, but to proclaim God's heart faithfully and carefully. I have also taken "becoming a faithful person who is able to teach others" as a reminder and goal for myself, hoping to be not just a hearer of the Word but someone who can pass on the truth I have received to others clearly and accurately.

Looking back on nearly ten years of learning and serving, I am more and more certain that this is a path of grace. God has not only used the BRC to equip me with a foundation in the truth, but has also used the studying, homework, discussions, and serving to shape my life step by step. My understanding of His Word has become steadier and more solid, and I long all the more to keep being built up and renewed in His Word, and to respond faithfully to the service He has entrusted to me.

All glory to God.

I have been studying God's Word with the 4C Bible Reading Class for over two years. A friend saw that I was interested in God's Word and introduced me to the class.

Before my first class, Rev. Yu sent me the homework to do in advance. When I saw how much homework there was, I started wanting to back out. But in that very first class, I was deeply drawn in by the whole course.

As classmates answered the questions, they shared their own understanding of God's Word, and I gained so much. They also drew on their own experiences and those of family and friends to bear beautiful testimony to God, helping us see how real God's work in our lives is, so that we could not help but marvel at and praise this wonderful God from the heart. After each question, the pastor would add comments or a brief summary, helping us understand the truth and its application more deeply. Under the pastor's leading, the atmosphere of the class was also very encouraging.

Mrs. Seung's lectures move from the simple to the deep and have clear goals. Using examples from everyday life, they make God's Word easier to understand and leave a deep impression. The principles of truth summarized in each lesson are excellent guidance for how we conduct ourselves.

After these two years of study, I can feel God gradually changing my thoughts and intentions. First, I have become more sensitive to sin. Some things I used to think were "no big deal, everyone does it," I no longer want to do.

My attitude toward my children has changed too. In the past, when my children ran into problems or came to me upset, I would criticize and blame them after hearing them out, which only made things worse. I wanted to change, but I found I couldn't do it on my own. Wonderfully, I have recently noticed that I have much more love and patience for my children. I no longer bring my own emotions into it, and I can calmly understand, help, and comfort them, and as a result my relationship with my children has improved. Thank the Lord for working in me first.

Also, I feel that my understanding of God's Word is deeper than before. Some passages I couldn't understand in the past suddenly became clear when I read them again. God's Word is interconnected, and it shines light in our hearts. I am so grateful to be part of a 4C Bible Reading Class study group, learning God's Word together with everyone, building one another up spiritually, and growing together.