English 
繁體中文 
简体中文 
Renewing Our Understanding—What is Faith
Faith, for Christians, is not an abstract concept but a tangible, traceable reality. Often, my faith in God has been simplistic, but this year’s Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC) baptism brought a profound realization.
During the Fall 2024 ESSC baptism, one of the participants was an elderly woman who was physically weak and required a wheelchair, making the baptism especially challenging. According to the Bible, an effective baptism must meet certain criteria: it must be performed in living water, involve full immersion, and the person being baptized must face downwards, symbolizing union with Christ in death. The day was cold with strong winds, adding to our challenges, but I believed God, who controls the wind and waves, would be pleased by the baptism. As we reached the shores of Lake Michigan, I held onto this belief.
Given the woman’s age and physical condition, we chose a shallower part of the water for the baptism. Assisting her into the water with the help of a chair, I was thankful for the opportunity to aid in her baptism. Although the wind and waves did not cease as we entered the water, God’s wonderful will and mercy were evident. As the minister declared, “I baptize you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ,” we gently lowered her face down into the water. Due to the chair, part of her body remained above water, and as full immersion is required, even a single strand of hair out of the water would have been insufficient. Just then, a wave gently rolled in, perfectly timing to cover her entirely, allowing the baptism to proceed smoothly. Witnessing this from my perspective, I could see that the timing and size of the wave were just right—truly God’s arrangement and grace. My faith was initially based on what I saw, but God’s planning and grace manifested through the wind and wave. At that moment, I truly understood what it means to walk by faith, not by sight.
Faith is not blind belief but is grounded in an understanding of God’s capabilities and His teachings, knowing what pleases Him, and having a pure heart that walks by faith, not sight. This ESSC experience deepened my understanding of my own faith and clarified my direction of “renewal,” aligning with the theme “All Things Become New.”
We sincerely invite you to visit our website to view the video (A New Aim: We Please The Lord) of this ESSC, to renew your understanding, knowledge and to know more about the True Jesus Church. We also warmly welcome you to join us at our church to pursue the Truth about God through sermons, bible studies, fellowships, hymnal singing and more.
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
Google Maps
In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org