In September 2012 I attended Indiana University, Bloomington, to participate in a PhD program. While there, I was led to a Lutheran church and for the first time in my life I heard a law and gospel sermon. I started to realize how sinful we humans are and how sweet the gospel is.  

Several months later, a friend asked me if I was interested in attending a seminary. I thought that was a ridiculous suggestion. However, as the Word of God drew me closer to the truth, I became hungry to read God’s Word, and my belief in the theory of evolution was challenged.  

After a deep conversation with my wife, we applied to attend the seminary my friend mentioned, but were rejected by them. While we were in this dilemma, a friend I met 10 years ago suddenly contacted me, and inadvertently I mentioned my desire to learn more about the Bible. He was excited to tell me about AFLTS and asked his father to drive me to visit the beautiful campus.  

The Bible verse I heard three times from three different people the day I visited the campus was, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  

God did open a door for me! He made the impossible become possible. 

Miao Zhao [AFLTS senior] and his wife, Jia, and two children, Ann and Joshua, are from China. 

This article first appeared in Kinship Magazine, Fall 2018 Edition.

Kinship is a magazine of the Free Lutheran Schools. Stay up to date on latest news, student stories, classroom highlights, and fun tidbits about life on the AFLBS and AFLTS campus.

View the latest edition of Kinship here: