From A Bystander To A Believer – Brother Thian Kok Wah

Kat has been our mutual friend for many years.  We had come to know the church through her many invitations.  Stepping into this church was our first step in knowing God.  In fact, I am no stranger to Jesus, as my father was blessed to have known Jesus before he passed away.

I first came to church just wanting to understand Christianity.  It was through, in particular, the Basic Bible Class where Pastor Andrew patiently shared and resolved numerous concerns in our hearts. 

This helped us understand deeply the Lord’s greatness and grace..  Jasmine and I would make it a point to attend Sunday service.  This went on for the next few years.  But then, I was more like accompanying Jasmine to church.   As time went by, my heart gradually opened up.  Reading the Bible before bedtime also became a daily habit.

At that time, I hesitated in making a full commitment.  I did not take the initiative to register for baptism on numerous occasions because I had too many concerns.  But when Jasmine entrusted herself fully to the Lord, I saw in Jasmine her commitment and faithfulness to the Lord.  I also saw that Jasmine has found spiritual sustenance.  Furthermore, she often shared with me prophecies found in the Bible.  I could feel that Jasmine has indeed been transformed from an atheist into someone who wholeheartedly trusts the Lord.  From then, I started to trust Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.  Under her influence, I learned to pray.  Whenever I felt helpless in any situation, I would start to pray.  I found that prayer was my only source of strength.  I believe that now is the time to commit myself to the Lord.   I thank the Lord for truly accepting me who is a sinner.

After knowing the Lord, I learned to be grateful for all blessings in life.  I believe that nothing in this world exists by its own ability.  Rather, it is the Creator who has planned all things.  I want to thank and praise the Lord for giving us this opportunity to know the Lord and to be led by the Lord through life’s journey.

My Walk Towards Salvation – Brother Jason Lim

My first experience with God and Jesus in my life was when my mother got me a crucifix during primary school.  On Easter and Christmas, my mother would bring my siblings and me to attend church service.  We are not, however, regular church attendees.  I never had the opportunity to meditate on and understand the purpose of Jesus and the wonders of God for a large part of my life.

In my school days, I sought to be “successful” in life in terms of academic achievements and extra-curricular activities.  It would largely revolve around trying to outsmart or outshine my peers.  This mentality, however, did not bring me true happiness, as no one could always be a winner in every situation or circumstance in life.  I stumbled during my junior college education and I was made to drop a subject.  During my “A” level examination I met another hurdle of doing badly for a subject and was disappointed with my local university applications.  When I tried to seek overseas education, funding for my matriculation fees placed a big burden on my parents.  It must have been, however, the grace of God as well as my mother’s help, which placed me with a spot in a United Kingdom university.  I started to attend a Chinese Christian church while I was abroad.  I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior during university.  I need him as my Savior as he washes away all my sins.  This allows me to draw near to God. He has always watched over me during tough times and throughout my education abroad.  I also made it a regular commitment to attend church service, cell group meetings, and serve in the Church.  I did the best I could while I was overseas.  God has been kind to me and I graduated with good grades and returned home safely to work.

Transition into work life is yet another big challenge in my life.   It was not long before I became so consumed with work, trying to gain satisfaction by excelling other people at work and being upset with all the negative circumstances at work.  I did not turn to God but stopped attending church service.  Not many things in life gave me true happiness.  Seeking worldly things only brought me emptiness and despair.  Unknowingly, I always felt an inner urge to listen to God’s Word again.  Fortunately, I met a colleague who invited me to Tree of Life Christian Church.  This made me start reading the Bible again.  Looking back at my thirty odd years, I think God has always given me all the truth and answers I need.  The Bible says that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).  God has placed all the seasons in my life and taught me perseverance.  The Bible also exhorts me to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).  He taught me to stand firm and to be always equipped against temptations.   He also always provides for my needs.  In all of my imperfections, God gave us His only Son, Jesus, who is the way and truth to life.  He heals broken lives and the sick, teaches us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, and gives comfort and rest to those who are worn out in life.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

It is time for me to receive baptism, to receive life, and to affirm myself as a child of God.  Nothing in the world is perfect, except God, Jesus, and His love for us.  Rather than having a troubled mind and seeking meaningless pursuits of life, God has made everything beautiful in His plans for me.  “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  I hope that my faith will be firm, and I would not turn my back on God, but always meditate on His Word.  In my new life, I hope to be wise and always seek Him and his righteousness, and put my trust in God to be my Savior in life.

My Journey to Knowing God – Sister Eliane Hong

I was introduced to God at a young age.  It all started with my tuition teacher whom my mother engaged when I was 7 years old to guide me in my school work.  The tutor, instead of helping me academically, at each weekly session she spent more than half the time sharing with me fascinating stories of a wise man.  This man was loved by many and sacrificed his life to save common people like me.  I remember how enraptured I was by her stories, how I listened attentively to her every word, and wondered how such a person could exist.  Together with the gospels that I heard during masses in my Catholic primary school, these stories filled me with intrigue.  I wished that this God was also my God.  This was how I started to believe in Jesus.

I also gradually discovered the power of prayer.  I have always been a quiet introverted individual.  This was even more so when I was younger as I did not have any close friend.  In times of anxiety and uncertainty, God was the first one to whom I turned.  There was nothing that prayer could not solve.  When an issue troubled my mind, I would be restless the whole day until I prayed at night in my bed.  Talking to God took my troubles away.  He also answered my prayers, big or small.  I began to excel in my studies and I knew that this was His blessing.

Unfortunately, as I grew older and achieved more, I became proud.  As a sinful human being, I believed that my achievements were all due to my efforts alone.  I stopped praying and stopped seeking Him.  God and I grew apart.  Looking back, I can see that this may have been due to a poor foundation of my faith.  Although the seed was planted, it was not properly nurtured.  This lapse in my relationship with God carried on all the way to my university years.

I went to an overseas university.  Hence, I finally had free rein over my lifestyle.  When fellow Singaporean friends invited me to church, I admit that I agreed for two reasons.  Firstly, I wanted to be included.  Secondly, however, I knew that it was an opportunity to get to know God again.  Looking back, I am very thankful that I made that decision for it was one that set me on the correct path to righteousness.  For the first time, I learned about the true meaning of Christianity and the privilege of being a Christian.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Despite our sinful nature, we need only confess our sins to receive eternal life.  I began to understand that there was more to life than just our worldly and materialistic achievements and desires, for our time on earth is only temporary.  Instead, my motivation in life should be to store treasures up in heaven.  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).  His Word gave me comfort and assurance in difficult times, for I know that He is always in control.  Matthew 6:33 says, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I have been blessed to have known God from a young age.  He has always been faithful even when I lost my way and drifted away from Him.  He is kind and has blessed me abundantly and loves me despite my sinful nature.  How can I not make Him the Lord of my life when He has done so much for me?  For that reason, I was baptised in 2013 in Glasgow before returning to Singapore after graduating from university.  The move back home was another stumbling block but God was faithful and I found a church to which I can belong again.  As we continue to settle here, I resolve to work hard at growing in my faith, to learn so as to develop a Christ-like character, and to be the salt and light of the earth, in order that His kingdom may be glorified.