The Prodigal Returns: Responding to the Lord’s Love

　　My parents divorced when I was in kindergarten, leaving me with a deep yearning to love and be loved at home. It was not until secondary school when a classmate introduced me to church that I began to feel the love and care of the church members and elders. Naturally, I projected the concept of “home” onto the church, believing it was a place where I could give and receive love, and soon I became deeply involved in church life.

　　At eighteen, I was baptized and joined the church, becoming increasingly involved in various ministries. At that time, there were regular drama performances in the church’s gospel events. My interest in drama was sparked by participating in one of the church plays. Since then, I joined such church performances frequently, which enhanced my interest in drama and fueled my passion for development in the field. As a result, I joined a local theatre group, devoting myself to acting but gradually drifting away from church life.

A Sudden Realization at the End of the Rope

　　At the theatre group, I served in various roles for three years, finding a great sense of accomplishment in drama. I aspired to succeed on the stage. On one occasion, I, along with several other members, joined an original drama competition organized by the group, and I took up the roles of playwriting and directing. However, the process was not smooth; with only two weeks left before the competition, I still could not complete the script. I was anxious yet hesitant to seek help, believing I could finish it on my own. Finally, I found some lesser-known stories online and adapted them into a script for my team to rehearse and compete with. Ironically, my script won the “Best Original Script” award. I was very afraid at that time, constantly worrying that others might discover the script was plagiarized. But the truth could not be hidden. An audience member who had come across the story online exposed it to the theatre group. As a result, I was sidelined by the group.

　　This incident left me heartbroken and feeling like a failure because I had shamed myself. Feeling disappointed, I remembered Jesus and the angels He had placed around me. Even when I was absent from church, my brothers and sisters continued to care for me. Special mention must be made of a mentor and a respected church elder, with whom I always shared the details of my life. During a year of uncertainty about my future career, the respected church elder offered me a job at his company, giving me ample time to find my path. I am really grateful to them for their support and help along the way.

Returning to Church and Receiving the Call

　　At that time, a preacher invited me to return to church and I agreed. I did struggle to readjust myself to church life but reminded myself to be more proactive and devote more to the Lord. I actively filled any need in the church and found joy in doing so.

　　In 2018, there was a vacancy for a male preacher at the church. Being used to filling needs, I felt that I should take on the role. However, I lacked theological training, so I discussed with my pastor my thoughts about full-time ministry. He suggested I attend a camp for experiencing seminary life to discern my calling. At the camp, I learned about Paul’s journey from his calling to his mission, involving over a decade of waiting and praying with the church. This made me realize that I shouldn’t rush into confirming God’s call. I knew God had replied by telling me to wait. Therefore, I shared what I realized at the camp with my church community and asked them to pray for me.

The Prodigal Returns: Affirmed by the Lord’s Love

　　During this waiting period, the church minister, knowing my theatre background, invited me to direct a youth drama evangelism event. Despite my great fear due to past failures, I courageously accepted the invitation. This experience turned out to be a blessing. Throughout the rehearsals, I kept recalling Peter’s repeated denials of Jesus and his subsequent encounter with Him at the Sea of Galilee, where the Lord asked him three times, “Do you love me?” I felt like I was standing up again at the place of my fall, deeply moved by God’s great love, and more certain of responding to His call with my life.

　　In 2019, when the church was trying to recruit a gospel worker, I applied at once. I was eager to experience full-time ministry. I committed myself to serving God in that role for three years. Despite inevitable challenges, I experienced more of His grace. When I left the position, my heart was full of gratitude. I should say, “I came empty-handed but returned with full harvests.” My journey from believing in Christ, leaving and returning to the church, and finally receiving the call has been interwoven with the church which is the community that has shaped me into who I am today. I hope to carry forward the love of my brothers and sisters, which is the manifestation of God’s love, and continue to move forward, becoming a good shepherd who walks with others.