Where Jesus is, My Joy is There, Chrystie Haynes

My whole life I have been meeting with the local church in New York City. My parents both came to the United States from Barbados in the 60's. Shortly after that they met, eventually were married, and began meeting with the local churches. My uncle introduced them to the local church in New York City because he believed that this was where he found God. My dad always tells me that the minute he walked into his first meeting he knew that he was home. His search for a church was over because God's presence was there in that meeting. So, a few years later I was born and have been meeting here ever since.

I am now 23-years-old and as I look back at life, I can truly see how the Lord has kept me for Himself. As a young child my time was occupied with children's meetings, home meetings, church conferences (regional, national, and even international). In the local churches we were always getting together. I loved it! Our house was always filled with lovers of Christ and we were always visiting their homes, near and far. It's so awesome to be a part of a huge, universal extended family! I had so much fun during these times because I was surrounded by children, young people, and grown-ups who were full of the love of God. What a joy!

As I got older, the world with all its pleasures and attractions began to tempt me. It all just looked so wonderful. I attended many special schools for their advanced programs, including a prestigious boarding high school. There, all my friends had all the wealth and power to do whatever they wanted to do. All around me, they were doing all sorts of things, and appeared to be having the time of their lives. Within me there was a real struggle. Was all the “fun” that I had experienced growing up in the local church life real, or had I been “missing out” on life? Was I really just a “goody-goody” that was afraid to “live a little”? Today I can honestly and firmly answer “No!”

Through many difficult experiences I came to realize that my enjoyment of the Lord with the local church is the only real joy in this universe. Nothing else is real nor does anything else bring real joy and satisfaction--not success, not money, not pleasure, not companionships. It's all empty without God and without people to enjoy Him with. The Lord has captured my heart. Here with the local churches I just enjoy the sweet presence of the Lord. As I continue to meet here, each day I gain deeper experiences of the Lord and my love for Him increases. I continue to learn more about the Lord through the believers who meet with us, and mainly through the word of God. I thank the Lord for bringing my parents to meet with believers in a way that we can fully pursue the Lord. Here we don't seek after anything else, just Christ. I have given up the search for satisfaction in the world. I have seen the “fun” in the lives of all my friends run dry. I have found the secret to happiness! Here in the local churches we enjoy the only One that truly satisfies - Jesus!