Every time, I was asked to do a testimony, it’s like updating my resume. I’m sure many of you had the experience of updating your resume when applying for a new job. You open up your old resume and wow! It’s like looking at the time capsule of your life. As you read through what you had written in the past. It has a sentimental and nostalgic feeling.
My first contact with the Gospel was during my kindergarten days. I was 6 years old at that time. My parents put me in this kindergarten at the Good Shepherd Church, off Strathmore Avenue. Some of you may be familiar of this old housing estate. Most of the area has been rebuilt with new flats now.
Everytime at the kindergarten, I look forward to 2 things:
First was the tea-break. We were given some snacks like biscuits and Milo for drinks. And I can remember very well that we were taught to put our little hands together and close our eyes as the teacher give thanks in prayer before we eat. It was very nice.
Second thing I remember is that, at the end of the session, we were rewarded with a picture card. On the cards, were color pictures of Biblical characters like Moses, Jesus, David and so on. There was also a Bible verse on each card. It was quite exciting and I look forward to attending the kindergarten every time.
Unfortunately, I didn’t stay very long at the kindergarten. It seems that my parents received a complaint from the teacher that I made a small girl cried. So to avoid the trouble, my mother withdraws me from the kindergarten.
My second contact with the Christian faith was during my Primary 2. Apparently, my father was very impressed with the movie "Ten Commandments" acted by Charlton Heston. And he bought me a Children’s Bible with lots of colorful pictures. At that time, I’m not really interested in reading, so I just enjoy myself by browsing through the pictures like the Red Sea crossing and so on.
When I was in Primary 4, a classmate of mine brought me to a charismatic church located at a Bukit Merah shophouse. During the worship session, the people sited around me were wailing and crying. I got very frightened and I left the place.
Sec 2 was the awakening time in my life. Someone invited me to a Gospel Music Event. Coincidently, it was at the Good Shepherd Church that I attended during my kindergarten days. I like it very much, because that was the first time in my life that I watch live band perform on stage at close range. And it was free of charge.
I remember at the end of the performance, a teenage guy came to approach me and share the gospel message with me. He was using some tracts very similar to what we have in PP. That was the first time I actually receive the Gospel message. At the end of his sharing, he prayed for me and he asked me whether I want to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I said yes. I left the place and I didn’t go back to that Church after that. From that time onwards, somehow, I always have the desire to go to church.
Then other activities creep into my life. When I finished my secondary education, I sign up with the Navy as a volunteer serviceman. Later I met Emily, who was working in Telecom at that time. She was very impressed with this Navy guy and subsequently, we got married.
Along the way, one of my Navy friends invited us to the Trinity Church worship at World Trade Center auditorium. I was very touched by the invitation and I almost went up to be baptized. But Emily at that time was not ready and so I did not step forward.
Later, God blessed us with 2 wonderful children, Candice and Irvin. As they grow up, I needed to look for a nursery and kindergarten for them. I have the desire to put them at a Church kindergarten. I found one along Stirling road. It was a Presbyterian Church.
At that time, we spend most of our weekends (Saturday and Sundays) bringing the children to playgrounds and shopping malls. Then as the family grows, I feel something was missing in our lives. I also feel that it would be good if my children can attend some Bible classes.
So we started looking for a church to attend on Sunday. The first persons that came to our mind were my brother and sister, Khin Wai and Lai Fun. I was aware that they were attending some church, but don’t really know in detail. So subsequently I contacted them and I started visiting PP.
Both Emily and myself follow through the Jules Miller series with our Bible teacher Bro Yong Wee. We study the Bible together and subsequently attended the foundation series taught by Brother James Lim. Candice and Irvin were 7 and 5 years old at that time. They attended the children Bible class.
After several months of visiting PP and attending Bible study, Emily and myself were baptized on 26 Aug 1993. That was 12 years ago.
As I looked back, I realized that my faith did not grow over night. The seed was planted long time ago when I was still very young. Although I do not fully understand the Gospel at that time, the impression was there in my mind. It was not one person’s effort. But it was many people along the way that influenced me. I believe our sovereign God can use anyone and under any circumstances, to speak to us. Sometimes, there were little messages and experiences here and there.
For example, my father was a Buddhist when I was in Primary 2. He gave me a Bible not because he wanted me to become a Christian. But because he was fascinated by the movie "Ten Commandments" It was rather strange. So I believe that God can use anyone to do his will. Both believers as well as non-believes alike.
One example is the movie "The Passion of Christ". Millions of people had seen the movie. I believe that the impression of the Gospel (even if it is not complete) was set in the minds of those people who watch the movie. There will be reflections for some. Questions in their minds. One day, when the Gospel is preached to them, I believe some will be able to relate and respond.
Many of our Church activities were planned for this year 2005. Perhaps some of them will touch someone’s life in a very special way.
One of the things that impact me most when I was added to the Church was that I stop smoking. I had tried to stop many times prior to coming to PP. But was never really successful. During the Bible study in PP, I learnt from this verse in…
1 Cor 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body
I learnt that our body doesn’t really belong to us. It was the temple of God, purchased at a price. Therefore as Christians, we should not do anything to damage it.
Before I became a Christian, I found no strong reason to stop smoking. After all my own body is my business. But after I became a Christian, I have a very good reason to give up smoking. Ever since then, I gave up smoking.
When I learnt about how Christ had died for our sins, I felt very indebted to him.
In one of Ronnie White’s recorded sermons, there was a story about the Jews that was imprisoned in a camp during the holocaust in the world war. The Germans were trying to force the Jews to reveal some important information. Every single day, a Jew has to be executed until someone spills the beans. On the day of execution, The prison guards call out the name of one of the Jews on the list. It happens to be a young man of 20+ yrs old. The young man’s face went pale.
To cut the long story short, someone from behind him spoke. It was a man about 50 yrs old. He calls out to one of the guards to take him. As he walk pass the young man, he whispered to him. Remember me when I’m gone. For the next 50 yrs after the holocaust was over, the man who survived, never fail to visit the tomb of the person that sacrifice his life for him during his death anniversary. It was a very touchy story.
Taking the Lord’s Supper, to me is like visiting the tombstone of my savior. It’s like Christ speaking to me, "remember me when I’m gone".
Since I started coming to PP, I had been worshiping here every Sunday. We had never looked back since. The Lord has been kind to us. He had given us many blessings.
Been a Christian, I have God’s promise of eternal life. Something that this world cannot offer me. Although sometimes, I have my ups and downs. But I believe that God will never leave me, He will never forsake me as mentioned in Heb 13:5
I believe that God is full of love, grace and mercy. He will help me during my spiritual journey.
During the past few Sundays, all of us were studying the book of Jonah. There were many lessons to be learnt. Sometimes, I was like Jonah, trying to run away from the things that God want me to do. Sometimes I make mistakes. But then God was full of grace and mercy. He always gives me another chance. I think the most important thing that keep me going is my faith in God. I thank God for His mercy and grace. Without that, it would be impossible to remain in the Lord.
Heb 12:1-3 says ………….
1. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
And in verse 3…
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus no matter what happens, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. We need to persevere and to stand firm. Trusting in God no matter what the situation is. Be prayerful, contended and giving thanks in all circumstances.
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