I grew up in China during the 1970s, surrounded by strong ideological messaging that portrayed communism—and Chairman Mao—as flawless. By my early teens, I began to question what I had been taught and made a personal decision: I would not be deceived again. That resolve shaped my identity as I pursued science and eventually moved to Ontario, Canada in 1994 for graduate studies. For years, I was a committed atheist, shaped by my education and driven to succeed in academia. Even when spiritual movements (e.g., The Toronto Blessing) were happening nearby, they had no impact on me. My life was defined by intellectual pursuit, ambition, and independence. After earning my Ph.D. and beginning a postdoctoral position in the United States, my life began to unravel. My first marriage ended—a decision I initiated to seek “personal happiness”, but what followed instead was a season of emotional collapse: panic attacks, sleepless nights, and deep inner turmoil. In search of relief, I explored everything I could find—therapy, self-help, meditation, Eastern spiritual practices, and eventually New Age beliefs. I admired Jesus in a general sense but rejected Christianity. In my mind, the church lacked authenticity, unity, and spiritual power. I believed I had found something better. Yet underneath that confidence was a longing—for peace, for meaning, and for love. In 2012, while starting a new faculty position in Mississippi, I had a supernatural dream that deeply affected me. It stirred something personal and led me to reconnect with a woman from my past named Lily. What I did not realize was that Lily had her own encounters with Jesus, including a clear sense that she would meet her future husband around that same time. As our relationship developed quickly, I began to see something I could not explain away: Jesus was actively at work. When Lily’s pastor asked me if I would receive Jesus, I said yes—not out of full understanding, but because I recognized that something greater than myself had brought Lily and I together. Soon after, I was baptized, married Lily, and began attending church. But internally, little had changed. I still wrestled with anxiety, insecurity, and a drive for success that left me empty. Though I had taken a step toward faith, my heart had not yet fully surrendered. That began to change through a series of pivotal moments. One night, while reading the Bible, I encountered Jesus’ statement in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” That claim confronted my belief that all spiritual paths were equal. I resisted it at first, even arguing internally against it. But eventually, I yielded. For the first time, I accepted that truth might not be defined on my terms. That surrender marked the beginning of real transformation. Later, while reading about healing and the power of God, I came across Matthew 10:8, where Jesus commands His followers to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Something broke open inside me. Years of disappointment, pride, and spiritual confusion came pouring out. I experienced what felt like a deep inner cleansing—layers of bondage being stripped away. Still, I struggled to feel personally connected to Jesus. That changed when I read John 17:20, where Jesus prays not only for His disciples but for all who would believe in Him through their message. Suddenly, I realized He was praying for me, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of being known, loved, and rescued. Even then, fear and anxiety lingered—especially regarding my career and future. I knew Jesus promised freedom in John 8:31–32, yet I still felt trapped. In 2015, I prayed a simple but bold prayer, asking Him to free me completely, even if it meant rewiring my mind. Shortly after, during a Christian conference, I experienced a profound encounter with God’s presence. Over the course of several days, something shifted permanently. The anxiety that had plagued me for years lifted, and I began to see myself differently—not as someone striving to prove myself, but as a son who had been found. From that point on, my life took a new direction. Though I continue my work as a professor and researcher, my deepest passion is no longer academic success. It is helping others encounter the same Jesus who rescued me—bringing hope to the broken, freedom to the bound, and truth to those still searching. Looking back, I see a clear thread through my life: despite my resistance, my pride, and my wandering, Jesus pursued me—and ultimately rescued me.