我叫Nathan Luong，是梁家超和方美清夫婦的長子。我還有兩個弟弟，Jeremy和Ryan。我的父母是在這個教會結婚的，並且積極參與粵語堂的事奉。
我在一個基督教家庭長大，從小就去教會，參加過兒童崇拜、主日學和暑期聖經班。我知道聖經中的故事，但我並沒有真正地理解聖經。對年幼的我來說，它們就像我讀的其他故事一樣。那時，我也不理解福音的意義。
我像其他孩子一樣，一成不變地過著上學、和朋友玩耍、玩電動遊戲的生活。這樣的生活並沒有給我帶來快樂和目標。在我十幾歲的時候，曾經歷了一次身份認同和存在的危機。我開始質疑自己的身份和生命的意義。我問自己，我是誰？生命的意義是什麼？我為什麼存在？
我試圖掌控自己的生活，因此與上帝疏遠了。但出於某種未知的原因，上帝要我回歸。祂透過其他基督徒弟兄向我顯明恩慈。他們是這個教會的朋友、青少年團契的同工以及CBM(華人聖經宣道營會)的輔導員。其中一個是Mike Chen，他幫助我瞭解了上帝的本性，也就是在這個時候我理解了福音的意義：耶穌為我們的罪而死，並且復活了。我相信祂的犧牲，也只有祂才能使我們與上帝合一。
我很幸運有關心和愛護我的朋友和家人。通過他們，我能夠經歷到上帝的愛。耶穌是我的力量，是我活著的理由。祂使我成為一個更好的人。不僅是因為這是正確的事情，而是因為依靠耶穌來塑造我成為像祂一樣的人。在信靠上帝之前，我很容易生氣，耐心不夠，也沒有善待他人的心。耶穌讓我有理由原諒別人，並表達愛，因為祂先愛了我。約翰一書4:19說：「我們愛，因為神先愛我們。」這啟發了我想在生活中做出改變。
耶穌拯救了我，並且愛我。上帝填滿了我心中的空虛，並幫助我明白祂在我生命中的旨意。祂拯救我免於陷入抑鬱的深淵中，我願意盡力做到主所喜悅，並活出榮耀祂的生活。
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Finding Purpose and Redemption
My name is Nathan Luong. I am the oldest son of Tim and Liann Luong. I have two younger brothers, Jeremy and Ryan. My parents married at this church and are active members of the Cantonese congregation.
I grew up in a Christian family and attended church from a young age. I attended children’s worship, Sunday school classes, and Vacation Bible School (VBS). I learned about the stories in the Bible, but I didn’t really understand the Bible. To my younger self, they were just like any other story I read. At this time, I didn’t understand the gospel.
Like other kids, I would go to school, play with friends, play video games, and repeat this cycle. Living like this has brought me no joy or purpose in life. In my early teenage years, I experienced an existential and identity crisis. I started to question my identity and the meaning of life. I asked questions such as “Who am I? What’s the meaning of life? Why do I exist?”
I tried to control my own life and because of that, I was due for separation from God. But for reasons unknown, God wanted me back. And he showed me kindness through other brothers in Christ. They were friends from this church, sponsors from youth groups, and counselors from Children’s Bible Ministry (CBM). One of them was Mike Chen who helped me understand God’s character and it was around this time I understood the gospel. Jesus died for our sins and rose again. I believe in His sacrifice and only He can unite us with God.
I am blessed to have friends and family who care and love me. I was able to experience God’s love through them. Jesus is my strength, a reason to live. He compels me to be a better person, not because being a better person is the right thing to do, but because I’m relying on Jesus to mold me to be like Him. Before putting my trust in God, I was quicker to anger, less patient, and had no desire to be kind. Jesus has given me a reason to forgive others and to show love because He loved me first. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love, because He first loved us. ” This demonstrates the change I want to make in my life.
Jesus saved me and loved me. God filled the emptiness in my heart and helped me understand He has a purpose in my life. He can save me from drowning in the depths of depression. I want to do my best in everything and live my life to glorify Him.