I was born in Singapore in 1980, into a traditional Chinese family rooted in the Taoism and Buddhism beliefs.
I remember vividly the cakes, food and fruits which would be proudly displayed at the alter every first and fifteenth of the lunar month ; how the house smells of incense, and even the folding of the little square papers into shapes of ingots ready to be burnt as offerings to the dead. That is the practice of the majority of Chinese families in Singapore. The great news of salvation was far and mystical. All I knew were the stories told on TV – where there is this monkey, a pig and a blue humanoid accompanying a monk on a white horse, battling monsters and spirits to attain enlightenment.
The God I have come to know, works in mysterious ways. Looking back over the years, it seemed that He had planned everything to make me into who I am today.
First, he arranged for my family to stay near a Methodist school, so by default, I enrolled in a school which was only walking distance away. The school was located in a dangerous neighbourhood, right in the heart of Geylang where vices often occurred. There were ever present gang-related activities in and around the school which brought about much fear amongst the pupils. Despite all that, I fondly remember how we used to sit in the chapel daily to sing songs from the hymn book. That gave me a sense of calm and peace; that was my first encounter with God.
My next encounter was a more personal one. It was 15 years later in 2004 when I was a young working adult. I can still remember it was the 1st of May when I was sitting in a pub with my cousin, talking about the tough situations at work. I really needed to get out of my job. My cousin (a brother in Christ) asked, “Do you remember anything about Jesus and how God answers your prayers?”
That night, I started praying. Like all believers, we turn to God when in need. I was asking God for a new job.
Miraculously, 2 days after, I got a call for an interview for a new job and I was hired. That experience made me follow my cousin to church and I was eventually baptized in 2005. Amen!
The walk with the Lord was not easy. Very often, it feels like you are taking one step forward and three steps back in your spiritual battle. As time passed, I grew away from God but He never stopped looking out for me. I simply did not know how to be a Christian and how to walk with Christ.
When I drifted further and further away, God sent people to reel me back in. He has been gracious. He never deserted me and was still answering all my prayers every time, in His time of course. God stayed true to His promise to bless me as long as I asked Him.
Fast forward to 2013. By that time, God had blessed me with a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter even when I was not attending church. He blessed us with a beautiful house which was located next to Carmel church and yet I never stepped foot in it.
On 24th Dec 2013, an evil spirit visited my house and that was the wake-up call I needed from God to get back to him. This led me to ask the pastor of Carmel church to pray for my house and by God’s power, the evil spirit was sent away.
God has never given up on me. He has showered me with love, care, protection, blessings, courage and most importantly, his grace for leading all four of us at home to Christ and we continually pray that God continues to use us for His kingdom and glory. Amen!
KL – 20th Feb 2019
