Yanyan Case - My Journey to Ordination

"Although you don’t know what I am doing now, hereafter you shall know.” (John 13:7)

From being an atheist living in China to a Methodist Presbyter serving in the UK, my journey seems a little different than those who are born and raised as Methodists. About 18 years ago, God turned my world upside down and redirected me to the UK which is totally “opposite” to where I wanted to be. He took away my pursuit of life and replaced it all with one person- Jesus Christ.

For the first 25 years of my life, I had no knowledge about Christianity at all. Life had been good to me which had made me believe that my future was in my hand. However, in 2004, when I was trying to obtain an MBA degree in Australia, the process turned against me halfway, so I could not go any further. Amid all frustrations without knowing what to do, my trusted close-to- get-married boyfriend broke up with me. I also lost all my IDs and legal documents for some weird reason. That was the first time when I felt that my life was not in my hand after all. My world collapsed on me.

When you fall into a dark pit and all around is wall against you, you can only look up. So for the first time, I cried out to God: “Get me out of here!” Also, for the first time, I went to a Christian church. I heard a soft whispering voice saying to me: “Don’t worry my child. You are fine. It’s not the end of the world. You are back home now…” I was deeply comforted right there and cried like no one was watching. At the same time, I felt that this was like a very warm, peaceful and somehow powerful family I should belong. So, I asked Jesus to be my personal Saviour that day.

After that, my life was redirected 180 degrees. Instead of Australia, a door was opened for me to come to the UK. I was not sure about this move at all. While hesitating what to do, I opened a daily devotion and this verse jumped out of the page: “Although you don’t know what I am doing now, hereafter you shall know”, which made my heart ponder that “maybe something good is going to happen in the UK”. Just with this little flickering hope, I decided to come to the UK.

I was invited to a bible study group as soon as I arrived. The Gospel truth I encountered completely transformed my worldview and my way of living. When all my family members became Christians one after another, also some of my relatives and friends, I thanked God again and again for guiding me here. Propelled by deep gratitude towards God and towards English missionaries who gave their lives to China, I felt an urge to serve God with the best years of my life through the Methodist Church in this Gospel heartland.

Who would have ever thought that I would become a Methodist Presbyter? Although I still don’t know what He is doing, hereafter I shall continue to find out more.