Choosing the Narrow Path: The Best Decision of My Life

In Wisconsin, where I was raised, and throughout much of the Midwest, people tend to lead traditional, family-centered lives, rarely moving far from home. So my choice to leave for New York City in pursuit of my dreams came as quite a shock to my family.

My dream was to perform on Broadway. I wanted to step onto the world-renowned stages of Manhattan and eventually become a stage director. To pursue this goal, I majored in theater arts, studying everything from acting and directing to costume design and makeup. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I applied to several graduate programs and was given the opportunity to continue my studies in New York.

Amid countless plans and decisions, it was God who truly guided me. In that city, I chose the narrow path instead of the “Broad Way,” and it took me a long time to realize that this was the road where life’s greatest blessings and true happiness awaited me.

Not long after arriving in New York, still brimming with excitement about pursuing my dreams, I planned to see a play in the park with some new friends. When I stepped out of the subway, however, all I saw were towering buildings—no park in sight. It was then that I met the members of the Church of God, who began to tell me about God the Mother. However, my mind was preoccupied with getting to the park on time, and I barely registered what they were saying.

Despite being born into a Christian family, I had grown to feel a strong aversion to the Bible. Even as a child, I had become disillusioned by church members who, beneath their seemingly kind appearances, were full of hypocrisy. At a young age, I declared that I would no longer attend church, and my mother respected my decision.

In the part of the country where I grew up, most people were Christian, so going to church and believing in God felt like a natural part of life. Though I didn’t attend church, I still joined Bible study groups with friends from various denominations. One day, a friend pointed out that her Bible was different from the version my family used. Unsure of which one was the “right” version, I felt confused and unsettled. I began to wonder, “After passing through countless hands over thousands of years, can the Bible truly be God’s word? Could errors in translation or editing have distorted its message?” These doubts soon grew into deep mistrust of the Bible. I even cynically thought that the only way to discover the truth would be to learn Hebrew and translate it myself. Coupled with the influence of a free-spirited academic environment, I drifted myself ever farther from both the Bible and my Christian upbringing.

Because of this, when I first learned about God the Mother, I was intrigued—but only superficially. The fact that She was “testified in the Bible” and taught in a “church” made it even harder for me to open my heart, and I felt an instinctive resistance.

Several months after arriving in New York, as I became more accustomed to city life, God once again reached out to me with the message of salvation. At the time, I was working at a café near Broadway. One day, a regular customer gave me tickets to a ballet, and I went to see the performance alone. After the show, reluctant to return home, I strolled around the theater and unexpectedly met members of the Church of God. This time, their message about God Elohim resonated deeply within me. Since I had always believed the world was meant to be in perfect balance, discovering that God the Mother exists alongside God the Father felt completely harmonious.

I thought to myself, “Yes, of course—this all makes perfect sense!”

The following week, I went to the Church of God and began studying the Bible in depth. For someone like me, who had long questioned its authenticity, they clearly showed that the Bible is indeed true—both scientifically and historically. They guided me through the Passover, the promise of eternal life, and the truth of the Trinity, all firmly supported by the Bible. As they showed me each verse, it felt as though the truth was pouring into my mind like a waterfall, shattering all the misconceptions I had held for so long.

While the truth was undeniably clear, I still hesitated to resume my faith at the Church of God. I had always viewed a church as a place that imposed restrictions and limited freedom. Sensing my hesitation, a church member who had been guiding me encouraged me, saying:

“Why not? Just give it a try.”

In that moment, I felt a surge of courage. Those words echoed the personal motto I had embraced when I first arrived in New York: whenever faced with something new—be it food, a place, or an experience—just give it a try. Whenever someone encouraged me to try something, I would think, “Why not?” Following God was no different. With that mindset, I received the blessing of new life that very day.

However, it took quite some time for my faith to truly take root. I fell into the illusion that I could attain salvation on my own by simply reading the Bible, without attending church, and so I avoided contact from the members of Zion. Yet they cared for my soul with unwavering love, guiding me back onto the path of salvation. Every time they came to see me, they made sure I felt comfortable and carefully nourished me with the words of the Bible, verse by verse—like a mother gently coaxing a child to take bitter medicine. They adjusted their own schedules to meet me, offering selfless love with no expectation in return. I am deeply grateful to my heavenly family, who held my hand through my spiritual immaturity and waited patiently for me.

My life has been completely transformed since I began following God as my fellow brothers and sisters do. Above all, I am deeply grateful that the knowledge I gained in school and the abilities I have cultivated over the years can now be used to glorify our Heavenly Father and Mother. I have been blessed with the privilege of singing in the choir to praise God’s grace, and I have also taken part in planning and carrying out cultural events and exhibitions that help awaken hearts to the love of our Heavenly Father and Mother. Even though my faith was weak and my spiritual growth slow, God blessed me far beyond I could ever deserve, teaching me countless lessons along the way.

As we prepared a fan dance to accompany a New Song, I learned the true value of thoughtfulness and harmony. To create beautiful formations, every dancer had to move as one, showing respect for one another. Through this performance, Mother’s teachings—gentleness, humility, unity, and obedience—were expressed gracefully within the art itself.

On that stage, as I performed in perfect harmony with my Zion family, I discovered my true self. Working alongside the members of Zion felt like creating a masterpiece with the finest actors and crew. Though each of us had different personalities and talents, we were all guided by the warm love of Father and Mother, and God’s grace overflowed among us. The events we prepared to glorify God and share His love and hope with many became a journey that instilled in me the virtues I most needed.

During my visit to Korea, I was deeply moved by the calm and reverent spirit of the members there. Despite their busy schedules and the fatigue that must have come from attending to every detail of our visit, they were always overflowing with spiritual energy, uplifting us with their encouragement and joy. Observing them closely, I realized that their strength came from being constantly immersed in Mother’s love. By keeping their eyes on Her tireless devotion, they were able to faithfully embody Her teachings day by day. I came to understand that Her selfless love is the very source of our transformation and the power to cultivate a virtuous character. Rather than simply feeling sorrow over Her sacrifice in Her presence, I felt a sincere resolve to truly change and live differently. Since then, in my gospel work, I have consistently asked myself, “What would Mother do in this situation?” and sought to follow Her example. Even in moments of exhaustion or difficulty, remembering Her sacrifice has given me the strength to persevere.

Just before my visit to Korea this year, a sister who had always shown me steadfast love handed me a small postcard. She expressed how moved she was by my dedication to God’s work, and at the end, she wrote:

“Sister, you’ve made the best decision of your life.”

Reading those words, which perfectly mirrored my own heart, I was deeply moved. Choosing to follow the gospel and walk toward heaven was truly the greatest decision of my life. However, I could not have done it alone—Father and Mother’s boundless love, along with the dedication and patience of my fellow members, sustained me every step of the way. From now on, I will continue to unite with my brothers and sisters, faithfully carrying out the mission entrusted to me and giving my all until the gospel is completed.