See Me as I Am, Myrna Penner

I was born in a German Mennonite community called Spanish Lookout in Belize, Central America. I was only a few years old when my dad heard of Witness Lee. The Mennonite pastor we knew went to Irving, Texas to meet Witness Lee and was really impressed with what he saw. He got some books written by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee and when he came back he preached what he liked from the books to his Mennonite congregation. That's when my dad, after searching for years for something more real and solid, heard the writings of Witness Lee and heard about the local churches. Then he received some addresses from the pastor and went to visit the local church in Oklahoma City. From that time on, my dad was so impressed with what he saw, enjoyed and experienced of Christ that he shared it with all of the family. Then we, mostly family members and neighbors, started to meet as the local church in Spanish Lookout. At that time I was seven years old and saw a change in my parents. They were much happier and really enjoyed the Lord. I confessed the name of the Lord, got saved, and started enjoying the meetings of the local church. When I was eleven, we moved to Belmopan, the capital of Belize, and we met there as the local church in Belmopan. I've been living there ever since. There I finished junior college and then taught and tutored for 1½ years.

During those years I grew a lot spiritually. The Lord became so real to me; He's a person living in me! I began to see how wonderful the local churches were, and I gained a real appreciation of the local churches and Witness Lee. Christian brothers and sisters in local churches from other countries came to visit the local churches in Belize and it was from these times of getting together that I learned what the Lord had in store for me. He just wants me to enjoy Him and feed upon Him daily. After getting a taste of the local churches, I wanted to personally go and visit local churches in other countries. That was really beneficial. I was encouraged to read the Bible. Since I was twelve, I've read the Old Testament and the New Testament 2 ½ times. God's Word is the richest and most life giving of any book in the world.

Oh the Riches in Christ

I am so grateful and thankful for the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. I cannot be thankful enough. Their ministry has greatly affected my life. In a sense it has become a part of me. How happy I am that I came in contact with this ministry.

Praise the Lord. So far, all the books that I've read by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee have conveyed to me one thing, Jesus Christ. Christ is so rich and He wants all His riches to become my riches and all His divine attributes to become the reality of my human virtues. He loved me to the extent that He came down to earth, became a man, lived a human life and died a terrible death on the cross bearing all our sins and unrighteousness. He resurrected and as the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b) He come into me to bring me out of a condition of death and darkness into eternal life and light. I never realized this until I read some books by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and I'm seeing so much more. Through my reading I have learned that Christ can be and wants to be everything to me. When I am sad, He's my comfort; when I am sick, He heals me with His shepherding and comforting care. I have come to know how rich the Christ whom I love and give my whole life to is. I am ever so glad and thankful for these two brothers whom the Lord used to reveal many wonderful truths from the Bible to me.