Across the USA Visiting Local Churches, Scott W. Parker

Starting point. Greenville, SC. Destination. Anaheim, CA. In August, 1997 I embarked on a wonderful journey across the US. Loaded down with clothes, books, guitar, and personal items, my 1988 Toyota Camry took me across the plains, hills, mountains and desert on $105 of gasoline. I had my cooler packed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit, snickers, and Mountain Dew. Along the way, I had arranged to stay in the homes of members of the local churches. My trip was to take 5 days and 4 nights. By calling friends and strangers in local churches in different states, I plotted a 5 day 4 night trip to California. Dinner, a nice bed, and breakfast were all provided for me by Christians who just love the Lord and meet with the local church in their city. I stayed in Memphis, TN; Norman, OK; Albuquerque, NM; and Prescott, AZ. The evenings I spent with the Christians in these places were truly memorable. My evenings were filled with singing love songs to the Lord, fellowshipping over the Bible, and praying to the Lord. Not only did I see the countryside, but even more I gained more enjoyment of Christ and love for the Lord. I appreciated so much the Christians I stayed with. Many I had not even known prior to arriving at their house to spend the night. In each home, I was cherished by the love of Christ through the members of the Body of Christ. We were really brothers because we were born of the same Father. We were linked and joined together because of the same divine eternal life of God in us. We talked about what the Lord was doing in each of us. How real the Lord Jesus was to me during that whole trip. It really showed me that God's chosen and redeemed people can be one as God is one. I really experienced how practical it is for Christians to be one with each other in the city where they live. This practical oneness then makes it so easy when traveling to find the brothers and sisters that we can stay with when passing through. Thank the Lord that I am in the local churches.

An Unending Supply of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ

The ministries of brothers Watchman Nee and Witness Lee have refreshed me with Christ. I have been watered, enlightened, exposed, encouraged, exhorted, sustained, maintained, and supplied by the words of grace proceeding from them. I believed in the Lord Jesus when I was 6 years old and I was baptized when I was 10 years old. In my senior year of high school and through my 4 years of college at Clemson University I read through all 36 volumes of the Life-Study of the Bible by Witness Lee. These volumes helped me to receive the river of water of life that is flowing throughout the Bible. I felt so happy and refreshed. Although the supply of grace I was receiving was so great, I realized that I was so short in living a life that magnified Christ. However, I knew according to the Bible that the Lord could live such a life through me.

Since graduation, I have continued to read more books by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee. When I read, I am often led to pray over what I have read. This allows the Lord to touch me with whatever matter He would like to. Then I confess my shortages, sins and failure. I am always encouraged by the Lord that He will accomplish these things in me. He can do it, He can make it and He can be it. He will do it in me and through me. Through my years of experience in these writings, I feel that the worth and value of Christ I have received is priceless.