C. Zhang-Sterling - Home

Praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father. He gives me a family with two wonderful children. In heaven, He prepares us a Heavenly Home, and in every stage of my walk with Jesus Christ, He led me to different spiritual homes.

When I was in high school in Suriname, God led me to my first spiritual home. A high school friend invited me to the church’s fellowship. In the fellowship, we played games, sang worship songs, listened to Bible stories. We had lots of fun.

Touched by the Holy Spirit, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Savior and Lord at a Gospel event with a humble and simple heart. It is all God’s grace!

Before I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I often saw scary things in my dreams. I was very afraid. Not long after I invited Jesus into my heart, I experienced the power of Jesus. His name is above all spiritual realms. He set me free from my fears. Praise the powerful name of my Lord Jesus Christ!

After I became a Christian, I got baptized, started discipleship, joined the choir, and taught Children Sunday School.

Most of the Bible verses I remember are from the discipleship class. I can’t sing well but I like to sing. I joined the choir which was made up of a group of high school students. Every Saturday afternoon, we practiced and rehearsed for Sunday morning worship. In this group, we worshiped, joked, laughed, took trips together. Those moments are memorable.

I am not fluent in Chinese. I learned my Chinese in the Chinese afterschool program. It is the only Chinese School in Suriname. However, the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Cai asked me to teach some children who were new to the country. They couldn’t understand Dutch. I didn’t understand why she asked me who just got baptized and didn’t know much Chinese to teach Children Sunday School in Chinese. Thank God! Teaching Children Sunday School and Children Worship have become the ministry I join all these years. Teaching children has also become my profession. It is all God’s grace!

God led me to The New York Alliance Church in Manhattan after I came to the United States. It became my second spiritual home. In this home, I had many opportunities to grow spiritually. I joined the choir, taught Children Worship and Children Sunday School, served in the youth fellowship, took Bible classes, initiated a small group for young mothers, joined and served in the College Fellowship.

One of the things I remember about College Fellowship is that our counselor Pastor James Chung encouraged us to come to church on Saturday morning to clean the church’s basement and bathrooms before fellowship. I made it to the cleaning most of the Saturdays although I had to work until 11:30pm on Friday night at a Thai restaurant. I believe that as a member of the family, I had to do my part.

My faith and relationship with Jesus grew stronger by learning more about the Bible and serving God and others. It is all God’s grace!

After my son was born, God led me to Staten Island Chinese Christian Church. Since I had to take care of my son, I didn’t get involved in any ministry. For the first few years, I received grace and support from brothers and sisters in this home. I still remember the yummy lunch prepared by brothers and sisters with love.

When my children are older and Mrs. Ma invited me to join the Children Ministry, I joined without even considering it. I believe that it is time to share some responsibilities in this home.

Thanks to all the youth and high school counselors, my two children have the opportunity and environment to grow spiritually as well. We are very thankful to God and all the counselors who pour out their energy, time, and heart into serving our next generation.

All grace and glory to our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit!