From Cheerleader to Church Goer, Katie Robert

I grew up in a Christian home and cannot remember not believing in the Lord. I received the Lord as my personal Savior at a young age. My experience of the Lord and my memories of children's meetings are very sweet. However, as a typical teen I kind of wanted to spread my wings and be on my own a bit. I pushed my parents' limits at home, and even though I was different on the inside, I wanted to be like my peers on the outside. So basically, from junior high until my junior year in high school I got into the “school” experience. I was a cheerleader, I was in a couple of musicals, I sang in choir, and was in a synchronized swimming club. I had a good time in these activities and my parents were glad I was involved, but I'm sure they prayed that I'd show as much interest in the Lord. I do believe they were also concerned because almost every weekend were parties--homecoming parties, cast parties, or just no-reason parties. Instead of going to meet with the young people in the local church on Saturday nights, I often chose to do “the usual” with my non-Christian friends from school.

Then, during my junior year in high school while on my winter break, I went to a weeklong study of the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations in Anaheim. I honestly don't know how my parents got me to go--perhaps I thought it was an excuse to vacation in sunny Southern California (I am from not-so-sunny Chicago). That winter the Bible was opened to me like never before. I'd never seen that the God of the Old Testament was so real and living. He had the same heart for His people as in the New Testament--that they would come to Him and drink of Him as the fountain of living water.

That time away from my “little world” really showed me a lot. I just began to consider that I was trying to fill myself with other things when what I really needed and wanted deep down was the Lord. When I came home, for the first time in my life, I had a genuine desire to be with other Christian young people. My parents met with the local church in Chicago and the young people there got together on Saturday nights. Although outwardly I didn't feel that I had anything in common with these people, inwardly I shared the life of Christ with them. There was something about them, and the whole time we were together, I was very impressed with them. I didn't have to be anybody special or do anything special. I came there just as I was and without a doubt I got encouraged in my Christian life. So that's how I began to enjoy meeting with the local church. This story of course goes on both to and throughout college and up till now, but that was the beginning, and for it I am so thankful.

Being Led to the Fountain or the Ministry Leading to Christ

I grew up in a Christian home and received the Lord as my personal Savior at a young age. Then at the age of 16 I came to Anaheim, California for a weeklong study of the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations given by Witness Lee. At that time I wasn't very interested in the Lord and actually considered it a miracle that I even decided to come. I was a pretty active person and didn't think I could handle a full week of sitting in classes. So I worked out a deal with my aunt who lived in the area that I'd watch her children in the mornings, while she went to the meetings and I'd just go in the evenings. From the very first night the Bible became alive to me. I'd never seen the God of the Old Testament in such a living way. In Jeremiah He even reveals Himself to His people as the fountain of living water and points out that they have forsaken Him and are going after broken cisterns which hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).

I'd never seen that even the Old Testament is for my experience and I'd never seen God's heart for His people--that He loved them and wanted them to come to Himself and enjoy Him as a fountain. I was so excited to know that God was not just a boring old God sitting in the heavens, having nothing to do with man, but he wants to reach me and enter me and even be my enjoyment and satisfaction. This first touch with Witness Lee's ministry changed my relationship with the Lord. Even though I was already a Christian, I'd say it began my relationship with Him in a personal way. Anyhow, a lot has happened since then but still today when I read Witness Lee's ministry, I am led to the Lord and drink of Him as the fountain of living water.

Right side-Up

I am so glad that I decided to come to the FTTA. My experience here has been invaluable and I don't even know yet in how many ways it will help me in the future.

I came to the FTTA in August 1997 after graduating with a BS in Biology. After I had taken my last final I expected to be so happy, but at best I was just relieved. Actually it was a let down. I worked hard for four years and graduated in the Honors College. I was proud of my hard work and I even felt led by the Lord to the field I was in. However, I didn't feel completely satisfied; something in me just felt like, “That's it? That's what I worked so hard for? Now what?” Anyhow I went home, and after telling a friend and sister in the Lord how I felt she just said, “That's because education is not the meaning of your life.” Wow! That was a revelation to me. I knew that only the Lord could fully satisfy me, but I hadn't seen it so clearly. She really cheered me up with that simple response. Yes, I need a degree and yes, I'm glad I worked hard to accomplish something I feel proud of, but I'm so glad that there's something more.

At that point I had already decided to come to the FTTA in the fall, but I didn't really know what to expect. In August when I got here it took me awhile to adjust to the tight schedule, the California heat, and the uniform but since then I've just been enjoying letting the Lord fulfill in me His purpose for my human life. He created me to contain Him, so in all the classes and assignments I know He is pouring Himself into me. I'm also experiencing the joy of sharing Him with others.

As I near my graduation from the training I don't feel any regret that I have “given up” two years of my life. Instead, this time has been the most beneficial, satisfying, and meaningful time in my life. I feel like my life has been turned from upside-down to right side-up.