10.28.04

Fanny Tain

Erskine Seminary student builds on newfound faith

Fanny Tain has packed a lot of dramatic events into the months since she became a Christian in May 2003. Erskine Seminary Dean Emeritus Dr. Randy Ruble believes Tain may be the first Erskine Seminary student from mainland China.

A series of changes, including marriage and a move from China to the United States, has culminated for Tain in admission to the seminary, where she started working on a master’s degree in theological studies just a year after her conversion.

Brought up in an atheist family in northeastern China, Tain now lives in Charlotte, N.C. "So I was a Yankee in China, but I'm now a redneck in the United States," she jokes.

"My family taught me to be a useful person, useful to the improvement of our society," she said. "I should depend on myself to gain success — there is no 'savior.'"

But Tain's journey from her hometown in China to Charlotte is remarkable, and it is amazing that a young woman who had never even heard the word "theology" until recently has already become a seminary student. And Tain has an explanation for that.

"Actually, it's a long story. Many things happened during this process," she said. "And it's God who brought me here — so don't be surprised at the ability of our Lord!"

The first event that Tain includes on her personal timeline is graduation from college in China.

Stepping back a few years, Tain explains that she was majoring in computer science. "I did not like it and did not go to class," she said, adding that she put in an appearance for exams. Her personal life at that time was unhappy.

"I had a bad relationship with my ex-boyfriend," she said. "I thought of suicide." Instead, she tried to make changes in her life, studying education and working as a teacher.

"My life did change, but I didn't," Tain said.

But when she began teaching in a private school, some of her colleagues were Christians and told her about their faith. "I could see the joy and peace in their daily lives."

Meanwhile, another boyfriend, Michael, a college classmate, came to the United States as a Ph.D. student after graduation. So while colleagues at the private school were sharing their Christian faith with Tain, Michael's host family was sharing its faith with him.

"Of couse, God used other things and drew us to Him at the same time, though one was in the United States and one in China," Tain said.

The next big step for Tain was marriage in June 2003, when Michael came back to China. In July, Fanny and her new husband were baptized in Shanghai, the city where they had been students together and where Tain had worked.

"God blessed us," Tain said, so that she was able to get her visa in August despite a SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in China. "We traveled to three cities to say goodbye to families and friends."

The newlyweds arrived in the United States in August. "So I came here first as the spouse of a student," Tain said. They stayed in the home of Michael's host family for a year.

"Now I would not like to say they are our host family, but our close friends," said Tain. "And it is this family who gave me the sponsorship."

Tain's initial plans for her stay in the United States called for applying to graduate school in education, but she developed a stronger interest. "As a baby Christian, I was eager to know more about the Bible and Christianity," she said.

"Gradually, I realized this was what I really wanted to learn," she said. "And my friend told me 'theology' was such a study. It was the first time I heard of this word."

With their host family, Tain and her husband attended Back Creek ARP Church, where Wayne Frazier serves as pastor, and this turned out to be an Erskine connection. "Our associate pastor was an Erskine Seminary student at that time," she said. "And our pastor's daughter, Lydia, was an Erskine College student, too."

Tain said she heard from her associate pastor and the Fraziers' daughter "that the professors are nice" and this encouraged her. "I was afraid that language and lack of related knowledge would be barriers for me," she said.

When Frazier, who formerly served as Moderator of Synod, came to give a speech at Erskine, Tain accompanied him and his wife, Jane, and also sat in on a class. "Jane showed me around the campus," she said.

She loved it, decided to apply to the seminary, was accepted in April, and made a trip back to China to visit family in May.

Arriving back in the United States May 20, she began her studies May 22. "I think my previous study experience was a good preparation for seminary," she said.         

So far the most rewarding aspect of her seminary experience is "the study environment, including the dedication of the professors and the diversity of other students."

She doesn't know what's next for her.          

"I don't know what God wants me to do with my study in the future," Tain said. "Now I try to be a good student."

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