{"id":8277,"date":"2024-04-08T18:16:05","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/?page_id=8277"},"modified":"2024-04-08T18:34:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:34:01","slug":"2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3\/","title":{"rendered":"\u8b93\u6211\u5011\u4e00\u8d77\u9748\u6027\u9577\u9032 (9)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"8277\" class=\"elementor elementor-8277\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ed585e1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ed585e1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2cda67c9\" data-id=\"2cda67c9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4f47a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"3e4f47a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div class=\"trp_language_switcher_shortcode\">\n<div class=\"trp-language-switcher trp-language-switcher-container\" data-no-translation >\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-current-language\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_TW.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_TW\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-language\">\n                <a href=\"#\" class=\"trp-ls-shortcode-disabled-language trp-ls-disabled-language\"  title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault()\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_TW.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_TW\" title=\"\u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7e41\u9ad4\u4e2d\u6587\t\t<\/a>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8277#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"English\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/en_US.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"en_US\" title=\"English\"> English        <\/a>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8277#TRPLINKPROCESSED\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"trp-flag-image\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/translatepress-multilingual\/assets\/images\/flags\/zh_CN.png\" width=\"18\" height=\"12\" alt=\"zh_CN\" title=\"\u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587\"> \u7b80\u4f53\u4e2d\u6587        <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <script type=\"application\/javascript\">\n        \/\/ need to have the same with set from JS on both divs. Otherwise it can push stuff around in HTML\n        var trp_ls_shortcodes = document.querySelectorAll('.trp_language_switcher_shortcode .trp-language-switcher');\n        if ( trp_ls_shortcodes.length > 0) {\n            \/\/ get the last language switcher added\n            var trp_el = trp_ls_shortcodes[trp_ls_shortcodes.length - 1];\n\n            var trp_shortcode_language_item = trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-language' )\n            \/\/ set width\n            var trp_ls_shortcode_width                                               = trp_shortcode_language_item.offsetWidth + 16;\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.width                                  = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n            trp_el.querySelector( '.trp-ls-shortcode-current-language' ).style.width = trp_ls_shortcode_width + 'px';\n\n            \/\/ We're putting this on display: none after we have its width.\n            trp_shortcode_language_item.style.display = 'none';\n        }\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<br><br><br><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-721f08e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"721f08e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-69e9a08f\" data-id=\"69e9a08f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49ef0106 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49ef0106\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/><\/p><p class=\"p1\">This testimony is about my journey of faith that led me to the truth. I hope it is encouraging and you can feel God\u2019s grace as I experienced it. A key verse for my testimony to reflect on is <i>Ephesians 1:4-6.\u201d Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.&#8221;<\/i><\/p><p class=\"p1\">Growing up, I was raised in a Christian household, but it was not TJC. I learned all the basic things you\u2019d see from the mainstream evangelical church. Even though I didn\u2019t grow up in TJC, I think many who did grow up in church can resonate with finding their own faith. Since I was born into a Christian household, my faith never felt like my own. Why did I go to church? Because my family went. Why did I believe in Jesus? Because my family did. I never felt the love of God through all of this. Each week of church was more of a chore in my life than an actual sabbath rest. Due to this, I never grew a real relationship with God and I had many doubts with Christianity as a whole, but still kept my title as a \u201cChristian.\u201d Though I claimed myself to be Christian, my relationship with God was non-existent. I struggled with anxiety growing up and never had peace due to not having God in my life. To cope with my anxiety, I sought temporary \u201cpeace\u201d in the things of the flesh. I thought if I just asked for forgiveness God would forgive me. But through this, I never found true peace.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">While attending a Christian university and still not finding peace, truth, or God\u2019s love I decided to leave Christianity as a whole and I embraced Islam for almost 2 years. I had a lot of Muslim friends at that time and only through them did I see the love of God and they seemed to have peace. Despite this, I still struggled with understanding how Allah forgives sins in Islam. My issue with Islam came to be that Allah has no justice for sins. For example, if I\u2019m before a judge and jury because I committed murder, but do so many good deeds like give all my money to the poor, love my family, and so on\u2026 the judge and jury will not care. I will still go to prison because I committed murder. This is the issue I had with Islam. Our sins are not justified in Islam. Where do our sins go according to the Bible? They are placed into Jesus as <i>1 Peter 2:24 <\/i>says,<i> \u201cwho Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness\u2014by whose stripes you were healed.\u201d<\/i><\/p><p class=\"p1\">Due to this, I left Islam as I saw God\u2019s love exists through Jesus and understood what Jesus truly did for us. Despite this understanding I still felt lost within Christianity as no denomination seemed to have the pure truth or love of God and peace I longed for. So, I prayed for God to lead me and guide me there as I felt lost with nowhere to go. After a few months of praying this prayer, God led me to a sister and her family who\u2019d introduce me to TJC in the fall and winter of 2022. On my first sabbath day God blessed me with the Holy Spirit and from there everything made sense. I no longer had this anxiety I encountered daily for my whole life, I saw God\u2019s love, I felt His peace, and I was baptized. I was under His grace and finally could have a good conscience towards God as 1 Peter 3:21 explains.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">To summarize, God\u2019s love brought me here. Never forget your first love. I seek to grow closer to Christ, I want to grow in showing love for my brothers and sisters in Christ and above all I want to glorify God in all I do.<b> I now have hope, peace, and joy.<\/b> And I give thanks, glory and praise to God for He gave the increase. Brothers and sisters, whatever suffering you may endure, cling to Christ. Cling to His Word. Cling to Him in prayer. God isn\u2019t looking for a fancy prayer or the right words, but He\u2019s looking at your heart. God wants a relationship with you; so, pour out your heart to Him. Our hope is Christ. If I gain the world and lose my faith, I\u2019ve lost everything. If I lose the world and become homeless, bed ridden, stuck in the furnace of suffering and despair, and yet still keep my faith, I have all I need. No matter where God sends us, if we seek with a pure heart, God will guide us exactly where we are meant to be. It may not be easy, but God is always with us. God will give you strength. He is our hope.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><i>\u201cFor there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.\u201d <\/i><i>Job 14:7-9 <\/i><\/p><p class=\"p1\">We warmly invite you to come to the True Jesus Church\u2019s bi-annual Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation.\u00a0 See details below.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">18-21 April, 2024 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation<\/p><p class=\"p5\">Thursday, 18 April, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM<br \/>Friday and Saturday, 19-20 April, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM<br \/>Sunday, 21 April, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM<br \/>Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.<\/p><p class=\"p5\">Please find our church location below:<\/p><p><b>4N550 Church Road<br \/><\/b><b>Bensenville,\u00a0<abbr title=\"Illinois\">IL<\/abbr>\u00a060106<br \/><\/b><i aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/True+Jesus+Church+Chicago\/@41.945266,-87.9536702,18.39z\/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x880fb39f5fbd433d:0x72d82c41e185bf3e!2s4+S+Church+Rd,+Bensenville,+IL+60106!3b1!8m2!3d41.9448745!4d-87.9534209!3m5!1s0x880fb3a1e4e2dd49:0xd44299b704de1192!8m2!3d41.9453743!4d-87.9533863!16s%2Fg%2F1tdn02z1?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>\u00a0Google Maps<\/b><\/a><\/p><p>For online streaming, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/service\/live-sabbath-service\/\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p>For regular service hours, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/\">click here<\/a>.<b><\/b><\/p><p>Email us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org\">ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-200cbf9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"200cbf9c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53c078bb\" data-id=\"53c078bb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-779fc017 elementor-align-center elementor-button-success elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"779fc017\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Find Spiritual Growth with Us (8) <\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78420bff elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"78420bff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"632\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN-1024x674.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8085\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN-1024x674.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN-300x197.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN-768x506.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN-18x12.jpg 18w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_8_EN.jpg 1030w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-33807e56\" data-id=\"33807e56\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4347e87d elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4347e87d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-ellipsis-h\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b> More to come<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2158530f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2158530f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1eb12cad\" data-id=\"1eb12cad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae2e0f elementor-align-center elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2ae2e0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/overarching-message-on-your-needs-in-life\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Your Needs in Life<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c0ec9e6\" data-id=\"2c0ec9e6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57be0fcc elementor-button-info elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"57be0fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/physical-wellness\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-bed\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Physical Wellness<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70033f01\" data-id=\"70033f01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f76295a elementor-align-center elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4f76295a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/peace-and-love\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-heart\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Peace &amp; Love<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-558d7b36\" data-id=\"558d7b36\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ec08701 elementor-align-center elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"5ec08701\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/college-and-career\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-id-badge\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>College &amp; Career<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ca714ab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ca714ab\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-720b1ae8\" data-id=\"720b1ae8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-208ebf64 elementor-align-center elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"208ebf64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/truth-about-god\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-eye\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Truth about God<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c2ba1e\" data-id=\"7c2ba1e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38eea1fe elementor-align-center elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"38eea1fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/life-balance\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-balance-scale\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Life Balance<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f4e8869\" data-id=\"3f4e8869\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-413d70ec elementor-align-center elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"413d70ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/family-balance\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-home\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\"><b>Family Balance<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-32696538\" data-id=\"32696538\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-25b4ee47 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25b4ee47\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-559be9ad\" data-id=\"559be9ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d8176aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"4d8176aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1301\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1301\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Previous Articles (click me to show list)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1301\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1301\"><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-2\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (8)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-7\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (7)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-6\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (6)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-5\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (5)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-4\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (4)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-3\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (3)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-2\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (2)<\/a><\/h4><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/spiritual-growth-1\">Find Spiritual Growth with Us (1)<\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6370ce06 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6370ce06\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d02e4f6\" data-id=\"6d02e4f6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6885f422 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6885f422\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3-ia-1\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"638\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN-1024x681.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8262\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN-1024x681.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN-300x200.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN-768x511.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN-18x12.jpg 18w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_1_EN.jpg 1028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bb51ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3bb51ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">In my personal reflection on time management, I recognize that God is the true arbiter of time, a lesson underscored by the lives of biblical figures like King Hezekiah and David. Embracing a heart of dedication, I strive to prioritize God\u2019s eternal work over temporal pursuits, aiming to serve with a spirit akin to Mary of Bethany\u2019s abundant love. I am constantly learning to set aside time, untangle from worldly concerns, and align my daily walk with the sacrificial example set by Christ.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4276f861\" data-id=\"4276f861\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62c166dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"62c166dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3-ia-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"538\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN-1024x574.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8263\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN-1024x574.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN-300x168.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN-768x430.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN-18x10.jpg 18w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_2_EN.jpg 1028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a0d08f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a0d08f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">In January 2017, after thirty-one years dedicated to full-time preaching, Elder Jonathan Chou retired. Invited to share his faith journey and service to the Lord, especially with the youth, he brings a message filled with grace and wisdom.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e8ba247\" data-id=\"5e8ba247\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1de4d970 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1de4d970\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/2024-spring-essc-spiritualgrowth-3-ia-3\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"638\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN-1024x681.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8264\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN-1024x681.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN-300x200.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN-768x511.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN-18x12.jpg 18w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024S_SpiritualGrowth_9_IA_Content_3_EN.jpg 1028w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fe0d9aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3fe0d9aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">In my testimony, I share the profound influence of my family&#8217;s faith and my own spiritual awakening. I recount how, from a young age, I was immersed in church life, which laid the foundation for my commitment to serve. Facing trials and recognizing God&#8217;s guiding hand, I responded to His call, leading me from a mischievous childhood to a purposeful life dedicated to ministry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This testimony is about my journey of faith that led me to the truth. I hope it is encouraging and you can feel God\u2019s grace as I experienced it. A key verse for my testimony to reflect on is Ephesians 1:4-6.\u201d Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8277","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 09:24:15","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8277"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8303,"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8277\/revisions\/8303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tjc-chicago.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}