How Hurricane Sandy Changed an Atheist Student’s Religion
The Shelter Rock Church, Manhasset, New York, in which Chandler Zhang was baptized on November 2, 2014. Photo credit: Mia Xiang
Hurricane Sandy changed one Chinese student’s life so much that he converted from atheism to Christianity. He celebrated his baptism into the church this past month on November 2, 2014 in The Shelter Rock Church.
Chandler Zhang (Left), 23-year-old, addressed his testimony before the baptism at The Shelter Rock Church, Manhasset, New York, on November 2, 2014. Deborah Chan (Right), 63-year-old, translated the Chinese testimony into English. Photo credit: Mia Xiang
Hofstra graduate student Chandler Zhang, a 23-year-old from Beijing, lost power, heat, and water after Hurricane Sandy pounded ashore in October 2012 on Long Island, New York.
Chandler Zhang, 23-year-old, at the front door of School of Education, Health and Human Services of Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, on November 8, Monday, 2014. Photo credit: Mia Xiang
Zhang, arrived in America to study at Hofstra as a Human Resource Management major graduate student in 2012; he’s currently pursuing the second master’s degree of Health Administration. Since studying here, Zhang has kept participating at the weekly Bible study group which is hosted by the Christian Testimony Church at Long Island (which usually rents the building of The Congregational Church of Manhasset). This church consists of Chinese and Chinese Americans, most of whom are Taiwanese, Hongkongers and Chinese from Shanghai immigrated to United States during the 20th century.
Chandler Zhang lived in this house, 1100 Braxton St, Uniondale, New York, when the Hurricane Sandy attacked in 2012. Photo Credit: Google Maps
Zhang’s conversion came about after the church helped him cope with the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The graduate students in the house lost water, electricity and heat, but the church elders helped him and his roommates. They would get hot Chinese food sent to his home directly. When he said “Thank you,” they replied: “Thank God,” which he said touched him deeply.
Since studied in Hofstra, Zhang has been joined the Hofstra Bible study club, and kept studying the Bible for over two years. “We know Chandler from years back, so we know him pretty well, we know his faith is turning to God,” said Deborah Chan, a 63-year-old Chinese American, who is the member of the Christian Testimony Church, and she translated Zhang’s Chinese testimony into English. She added, “This September, he joined the Gospel Boot Camp in New Jersey. He participated the ceremony in which people decided to follow Jesus that day. So he is ready to be baptized.”
After two years of studying the Bible, Zhang decided to be baptized this year. “I felt reborn at the moment of they immersed me in the water and brought me out again,” he said.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfX_A_QUOIs
Source List:
1. Chandler Zhang: 516-857-5196, contact via WeChat; meet at The Congregational Church of Manhasset, New York, meet in person on December 14, Sunday, 2014; and The Shelter Rock Church, Long Island, New York, meet in person on November 2, Sunday, 2014.
2. Deborah Chan: 516-849-6580; meet at The Congregational Church of Manhasset, New York, meet in person on November 23, Sunday, 2014.
Mia Xiang 
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