Turning to God from Idols to Serve the Living and True God

I was born in a village full of idols seventy years ago. There were less than four hundred people in the village, but there were four temples. On the east side of the village, there was a temple for the warrior god. A temple on the west was for the Buddahivva. On the south side was the temple for the money god. On the north side was the Eighteen Warriors temple. In the middle of the village was the temple for the ancestors of my family, “Wu”. There were no elementary schools in this village. My brothers and I finished our elementary education in the temples, which were also used as schools. I followed my parents to worship these idols who could not speak even though they had mouths, and who could not see even though they had eyes, and could not hear even though they had ears.

I left home for junior high and senior high in the middle of World War II, in 1941. I went to Taiwan from Chung-do, China in 1949, and met Mr. Lien-jane Zhou, and Mr. Li-yi Ding, who were Christians. Through their speaking and living out this true and living God, an idol-worshipper such as I came to know the true God, Jesus Christ. This is a great salvation and grace.

I was saved into the Lord’s name in His grace in 1965. Time went by fast. Thirty-five years passed by in one blink of the eye. In these thirty-five years, our whole family met in the local churches. My son and daughter are both serving the Lord in the church in Los Angeles.

My wife and I live in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. We serve the believers and meet in the local church in Surrey. We have to thank this true God, Jesus Christ, who created all things in the universe. We often read Watchman Nee’s writings in these years. These really touched the deepest part of people. Before he went to be with the Lord he said, “Let me love and not receive men’s gratefulness in return; let me serve and not receive men’s reward, let me give my best and not be remembered by others; let me suffer and not be seen by others.” I bow my head to pay my respect to a heart like this. In reading his writings, we can see that he, as a forerunner, lives and speaks the same thing. He is a pattern to us.

In these thirty-five years of my Christian life, I have also read Witness Lee’s teaching and writings. I have not finished reading the Life-study of the Bible yet, but I have received great benefit already from the footnotes in the Recovery Version translation of the New Testament. When I come to a part of the Bible that is difficult to understand, I can get clear by checking with the Recovery Version. I give my thanks to these two brothers in the Lord, Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, who have gone before us. “The opening of Your Word gives light, imparting understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

I really thank You, Savior Jesus. You let me live in Your Body to be a useful member to spread Your gospel. You desire “all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). You brought me to Your House to express and live Christ with other believers.

Mark Wu

Back to Table of Testimonies