A Privilege Untold, Patty Sisson

I was in my high school freshman year when I became a Christian by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. I always knew about Him and prayed to Him often, but this experience was very different. On this night I became a regenerated child of God by receiving His life and nature (John 1:12-13; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4). I still remember that night so vividly. It was New Year's Eve and my friend and I went to a “Jesus Happening”. We gathered with a group of young people that loved the Lord and loved to be with others who enjoyed the Lord Jesus. At the end of the night someone stood to share the gospel, to tell of a wonderful Savior who died for me so that all of my sins could be forgiven. Having grown up in Christianity this story was very familiar to me. But there was something very different that night about this gospel story. It was the moving and working of the Holy Spirit within me. I was drawn by the Lord's love to give my life to the Lord. Upon hearing the gospel I had an appreciation within my heart that I had never had before. I opened my heart and opened my mouth (Romans 10:9) and gave myself to the Lord Jesus.

Seven years later with a family of my own, the Lord by His sovereign hand led us to the local church in Anaheim, CA. Shortly thereafter, a local church was established in my locality. We raised our family in the local church and to this date, I have been in the local church for 22 years.

It was after my children had grown and were no longer living at home, that the Lord began to touch me about serving Him. Up to this point in my life I had been pretty much involved with my family, career, and the church. The Lord began to put a stirring in me that was new to me, and for awhile I didn't know how to respond. Some events at my job began to take place that would involve my long-term future there. The Executive Director had given me a new position, but it would not take place for another year. The Finance Director was retiring and I was offered his position. This would have reduced my workload, which I believed would be great for spending more time with other believers, and doubled my income. During the next year this stirring within me became stronger and stronger. One afternoon in particular I received a definite sense within from the Lord; He said, “Go”. That is all He said. I remember rising to my feet and responding to Him audibly saying, “Go? Go where?” I began to pace the floor in my office, repeating this to the Lord. I shut my office door, locked it, and got on my knees praying to the Lord, “Lord, me?! Go?! Go where?! Lord, I don't know what this means!” Knowing that this thought would never come up in my own mind according to my natural inclination and disposition, I was before the Lord in fear and trembling. This situation caused me to have many conversations with the Lord. I needed to seek His face more and more, day by day.

Within that very week the door had been opened for many workers to go to Europe and labor there for the gospel. With much prayer I brought this to the Lord over and over again. I shared it with my children and with the brothers and sisters in my locality. They responded very positively and the fellowship encouraged me to move in this direction. Through fellowship and prayer I decided that I would come to the Full-Time-Training in Anaheim for one term. This was an attractive opportunity to me since I felt most unqualified to serve the Lord. I then felt a responsibility to inform my employer that I would not be working for the organization much longer. The Lord gave me the grace and supply through the prayers and support of the Body to make this move.

Soon after arriving at the Full-Time Training in Anaheim (FTTA), I realized I needed to stay much longer than one term, so I committed myself to stay the full two years. The daily schedule in the Training is full to the brim with studying the truth as revealed in the Bible, contacting people with the gospel, and being trained in life, service, and character. First and foremost, we are required to spend personal and intimate times of fellowship with the Lord. As a mother, housewife, and sister in the church, these kinds of days in the past were a rarity. But here in the Training I am given the time for these spiritual life practices. Sometimes it seems as if I am dreaming. This opportunity is a priceless treasure! I am so happy that I have the opportunity to come to the Full-Time Training! The Lord has afforded the way for me to be trained and perfected in the FTTA with much fellowship and encouragement available. The trainer's days are spent cherishing, nourishing, and shepherding the trainees.

I am so thankful to the Lord for the faithfulness of Witness Lee, who taught us and trained us in the truth with a view to the building up of the Body of Christ for the Lord to eventually have an eternal expression Revelation 21:9-11). Every aspect of the Training is designed to be of maximum benefit for this purpose. Witness Lee really had the Lord's interest in his heart when he started the Training. I am looking forward to my fourth term of more perfecting and training (Ephesians 4:12). I am also looking forward to meeting a new group of young people whom the Lord has touched to join the FTTA this coming term.

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