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A Beijing Christian shares his story of conversion

By Wu Yiyao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-17 07:54

Simon Zhang, a 22-year-old student in Haidian district, Beijing, says he was converted to Christianity two years ago when trying to figure out the meaning of life.

Zhang spoke on condition of only being identified by his surname and English first name instead of his full Chinese name.

"People wondered why I would challenge myself with such a question," said Zhang. "Other people my age were preoccupied with more pragmatic things, such as school, job hunting and romantic relationships."

A Beijing Christian shares his story of conversion

But he was already on top of his studies, winning scholarships every term, and had a growing relationship with a girl. He had interned at a Fortune 500 company, and still felt like he was looking for something.

"Good academic scores, a girlfriend and bright career prospects may really have been something for my peers, but I found having it all pointless and insignificant," Zhang said. "I was just bored of everything."

When he started reading a Bible a colleague gave him, his perspective on life changed.

"I didn't hesitate much when I started to believe in Jesus, despite my usual skepticism," he said.

"All of a sudden all my questions about life were answered and what could be as amazing as that?"

Zhang's conversion was seamless, but he had trouble choosing a church.

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"Some churches asked congregation members to donate at every meeting and the priest would say those who did not donate were spiritually challenged," he said. "I disliked the feeling of being judged by the amount or the frequency of donation."

He then read about criminal groups disguised as Christian house churches holding secret meetings and committing rape, murder and fraud in his hometown in Jiangxi province.

"Since then I have avoided secret meetings of any kind," he said. "Secret meetings can easily go too far."

Another church he tried frequently distributed publications about non-spiritual issues, prompting him to quit.

But he says he is now happy with a 700-member house church in Haidian district, which meets openly almost all the time. He said he has gained a new appreciation for his studies and girlfriend.