The Healing Hand Of God

By Dato Kington Loo

I was baptised during World War II in an Anglican church in India. Although being baptised, and still in my youth, my faith was undoubtedly superficial, and regretfully meaningless. Then, during those important development years in university, when the intellect interceded and everything, including religion, was questioned and tested, my faith was relegated really low down in priority. To be truthful, I was no more than a nominal Christian when I had to fill the blanks on my religion! 

This period of spiritual vacuum and dryness continued throughout the decades of my career as an architect. The demands of self improvement together with the sinful practices in the path of career building were many and I had stumbled and unknowingly fallen on many occasions. 

But having been guided by my parents on the fundamental importance of moral conduct, a conscience and to be charitable, subconsciously, I conducted my life accordingly in the mistaken belief that all this would counteract my other transgressions. 

But now, in my mid-sixties, and I am sometimes told by others that I have already achieved success in my profession and given all our four children their education, there remained an emptiness in my spiritual life. 

This was apparent whenever I attended church and witnessed the glow of happiness and contentment in the faces of the believers when they sung songs of praise and worship. I knew that was what was missing in my own life. I then realised that salvation certainly can neither be bought with all our worldly wealth nor earned by the way we have lived. 

That salvation is only available by God's grace. All that is needed is our sincere repentance of our sins, ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus as our Saviour. Salvation is always free for us to accept.

This realisation was the turning point. And it touched me and symbolised by my baptism on the last day of 1995. I was born again! Praise the Lord!

I would like to share my personal testimony concerning my health. I had a bypass operation 8 years ago. Until recently, my health was good but I had irregular heart-beats and my doctor advised me that these need to be corrected. How?

Most people would have been bothered at one time or another with rats. To get rid of them, apart from the usual traps and sticky-foot boards, another solution commonly used is Wafarin - a deadly poison usually in the form of little pink granules. 

Thus when the rats eat the Wafarin, they would develop severe thirst, they will look for water, and while quenching their thirst, would have severe internal hemorrhage which is followed by certain death.

So what if your doctor prescribes Wafarin for you to be taken daily? It must be more than slightly disturbing. This was what was prescribed for me when my cardiologist diagnosed atrial fibrillation, which is fast irregular quivers of the heart's upper chambers. During these periods, with the heart pumping irregularly and ever so often, even fails to pump any blood at all. 

This is when the blood would remain in the upper chamber and possibilities of formation of clots are high. Then, when blood is pumped out of the heart, the blood clots may travel to the brain or elsewhere. The result - a debilitating stroke. 

Thus, Wafarin, an anticoagulant, taken in closely monitored and regulated dosages is intended to prevent the blood from coagulating, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots which is the cause of strokes.

Understandably, such a regime in my condition, is highly disturbing. Take the deadly rat poison to reduce the probability of suffering a stroke, or stay off it and face the high risk of being crippled!

I had shared my health problems and apprehensions with members of my fellowship and they prayed for me at our various fellowship meetings. Then, one evening, while having refreshments after our fellowship, they prayed over me. Involuntarily, my knees crumbled and I fell backwards stretched face up on the living room floor. While conscious of those around and above me praying, I began to feel my heart-beats increasing both in strength and regularity. I felt my heart beating strongly against my chest. But I was calm and at peace. 

I felt a warm and strong pressure as if someone's hot hand was pressing against my chest. After experiencing this sensation for some time, I 'awoke' to see the radiant faces of the members of my fellowship looking down on me. I asked if anyone had pressed a hot hand on my chest? They assured me that none of them had touched me. 

However, they could see my heart beating stronger and stronger under my shirt. Half an hour later, back home and while changing to go to bed, I looked at myself in the mirror when I saw a distinctly dark pink imprint of a palm and five fingers on my chest. This was incredible because no one had touched me. 

I asked my wife and son to tell me if I was mistaken. But they confirmed what I had seen myself. Truly, not only has the Lord touched me, but He has left a clear imprint of His hand on my chest. The healing touch of God is not only real, it is also visible!

Some months later, I had an appointment in Singapore for another medical check-up. I am now convinced of the effectiveness of God's healing touch as well as Jesus' promise that all I had to do was to ask, and it will be given (Luke 11:9), I continued to pray and asked in faith that I would have a good report and that another by-pass operation would not be necessary. 

After conducting two thallium scans, the specialist pronounced that there was only a minor occlusion in one of the vein grafts which had already been detected some months before by my regular cardiologist. The nuclear specialist said this condition was not unexpected and normal more than eight years after a bypass.

Then the next day, after a series of two echo scans, and to my great relief, thank God, my cardiologist said that I had done very well on the treadmill and that he was surprised that the results were better than the previous time, a few months earlier!

My prayer and those of my fellowship group, have been answered! Praise the Lord! I cannot ask for anything more - except to ask our good Lord to continue to keep me in good health. And that, whatever time is allotted to me, I will try my utmost to contribute to the glorification of His name. The Lord is good and caring. He hears and answers our prayers. 

His healing touch is real. 

Glory be to our beloved Lord.

Into His Marvelous Light

 By Chandrasekaran Sabapathy

Having been born into a staunch non-Christian family, I was made to believe in the universality of all religions and that they all led to God the Creator.

The journey into the light through the tunnel of darkness had for me been a long, agonizing, filled with hopelessness and despair, deceit, manipulation, danger to life, guilt-feelings and disappointments. My daughter’s illness (leukemia) and her subsequent death that shattered my dreams and brought to naught all the material “blessings” I had received up to that point in time.

From my younger days I had a desire to live a holy life. One could say that I was the family priest. I had visited various places of worship locally and overseas and took pleasure in spending my money for religious purposes. 

At the same time, temptations of the world and pride of life constantly lured me into sin. Life earlier had been extremely satisfying and I felt I had everything a man could hope for. I had been blessed with an active and rewarding school and college life as well as good jobs in the civil service. I thoroughly enjoyed my career and worked hard, for which I was rewarded by the Government with pay to study courses overseas. I had a happy family, being blessed with a wife and two children.

It was during one of such overseas stints in the United Kingdom that calamity struck my family with my daughter being hospitalised for a two-year period due to leukemia. I took her to various places of worship locally, visited astrologers (including seeking solace in computerized horoscopes from the US) and indulged in various religious rituals performed in temples and by mediums and ‘faith healers’. Palmists and soothsayers were not left out in my search for help. All these not only drained me of money but also brought me more confusion and despair.

When the doctors gave up hope, my wife and I finally took our daughter to South India to consult a faith healer who was said to be ‘a reincarnation of God’ and to seek other places of worship. My faith in all the gods we took our daughter to was shattered when she passed away later. I convinced myself there are to be no more gods in my life.

It was in Pittsburgh (USA), while studying for a higher degree, that I came to experience the work of demonic spirits in my life; bringing fear, suspicion and oppression. I decided to seek God again by reading religious literature and attending religious prayer meetings. Reading books on positive-thinking recommended to me by the psychologist I visited did not help. It was then that I had my encounter with Jesus while watching a TV Gospel and Healing programme. 

I was convicted of all the sins I had committed. I fell to the floor repenting for my sins and asking Jesus to save me. On repenting for my sins and asking Jesus to save me I felt my burdens lifted away and I was overjoyed with the peace I received. Not realizing I was ‘born again’ (as none of my friends in Pittsburgh went to Church or had any personal encounter with God), I went to celebrate the joyful experience in a pub. Soon with my family joining me later, and much to my regret, I went back to idol worship.

On returning to Malaysia, I again began to visit various places of worship. In addition to rebuilding a temple, constructing a chariot and offering costly sacrifices to the gods, I also re-erected an altar in my house, decking it with idols of all the gods I could lay my hands on. Yet, life was not fulfilling and slowly we had family problems.

Finally, the gods in one of the temples (manifesting through the priest) confessed that a certain ‘power’ was coming over me which they were not able to overcome. Thus began my disappointment with the gods I had trusted (not realising that the ‘power’ they were referring to was Jesus). From then on I began to experience obstacles to my idol worship and I was truly perplexed.

One day I came to know James (a taxi driver) who had earlier taken me home from the hospital after a month of treatment for my stomach ulcers. James began to share with me about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and left me with a pocket sized Bible. In the weeks following, due to increased spiritual attacks, I contemplated becoming a hermit or alternatively, take my life by jumping into the Klang River.

Initially I rejected James’ proposition that I allow Jesus to help me. Later, offended by his suggestion that I clear my altar of gods and worship Jesus in spirit and truth. I ordered him to leave.

Through his love for me, James came back shortly with two lady friends. I accepted the Lord soon after hearing the testimony of one of the ladies who is polio-stricken. Indeed I was ministered to by the Lord through her sharing and was totally transformed with rivers of unspeakable joy were flowing into me. I could feel demonic bindings leaving me and sorrows, confusions and negative thoughts vanishing. A newness of hope and strength overwhelmed me and I was ‘born again’.

Later, we destroyed the altar and had a house cleansing prayer. That night, I had a very restful and peaceful sleep after such a long lapse of time. In the early hour of the next morning I had a visitation by the Lord when I was woken up. The room was lit by an unusually bright and glorious light that enabled me to read Psalms 21:11-12 … ‘though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed, for you will make them turn their back when you aim at them with drawn bow’. The verse assured me He would help me to overcome my predicament.

True to His Word, He healed me of my stomach ulcers, ear infection, drinking and smoking habits. Through a prophecy, which I obeyed implicitly, he united me with my family. My Jehovah Jireh even miraculously helped me to settle all my debts and wonderfully provided all the needs of my family.

God answered my prayers by enabling me to serve Him in a Christian organisation. Only His precious promises keep me going one day at a time. 

Praise His Holy Name!

My Source Of Help

By Stanley Har 

Until Jesus came into my life, I was struggling with my business and with all kinds of guides except the true Guide. My struggle was in vain and as I became more and more anxious I consulted mediums, astrologers, palm readers, soothsayers, bomohs and fortune tellers. I kept going back for consultations costing more money even when there was no improvement in my business and as my debts mounted. Problems with family and marriage grew more and more serious because of my financial problems.

I was confused and frustrated and became arrogant, angry and hot-tempered. Because of my circumstances I was drawn into the worldly prescription for happiness-wine, women and song. I also became a heavy smoker and a gambler. Nothing seemed to be right with what I did and further consultations with mediums of the occult made me more confused and worried. 

As a way out, a well meaning friend brought me to see a Siamese spiritualist although I sensed fear and uneasiness in this encounter I became possessed by the spirit for the next seven years. I made talisman and ‘tangkai’ amulets that were believed to provide protection and power, but despite all these religious artifacts, I was suffering as I have no peace nor joy and no improvement in my business life. I even sacrificed my last few dollars to buy ‘holy oil’ and flowers to worship the spirit and failed to receive any blessing. Even the bar (spirits) business that I had invested in did not improve and as it became worse I became addicted to drinks and would drink to forget my troubles. 

During this miserable period of life, my wife and I discussed divorce and I contemplated suicide as a way. I searched and consulted so-called higher gods and suffered. These bondages were so serious that I was no longer in control of my life as my body was possessed by this ‘unholy spiritual’ marriage.

Then one day a Christian friend came to my house to try and sell me life insurance. He also shared how he nearly went bankrupt and came back to God. God saw to his needs and helped him and delivered him from poverty and his helpless situation. He also shared about the power of the name of Jesus. That night as usual I could not sleep but I sensed an unusual peace. The whole night I was wondering about the God that he worshipped. 

Who is Jesus? He was so great and powerful to see my friend’s needs and fulfilled his desire. Why had my many gods blind and deaf to my suffering? I was very desperate to call Jesus but I could not get the words out of my mouth. After that I dreamed of a beautiful woman asking me for marriage. When I asked her to come nearer, she changed into a ‘beast’. I was so disturbed and woke up shouting at the ‘beast’ to leave me alone in Jesus’ name. 

Thank God for His grace! I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my Lord and my Master that day.

From that day on, God started to change me. At that time, I had started my Fire Protection Engineering firm. I was laden with many heavy debts. All I had was a small desk and a borrowed typewriter from a neighbour. I asked the Lord Jesus to help me and in two months time, I was awarded with construction projects in fire protection in addition to my usual servicing and maintenance works. 

God had blessed me abundantly all these years in miraculous ways. He also healed my marriage and I realized I had a lovely wife. He also replaced not only what I had lost but also multiplied them. All I have to do is to have faith, obey and trust Him and to make Jesus my Lord over everything in whatever I do.

There are so many good things to share, for example, how I was awarded my biggest contract. This contract involved installing a fire protection system for the biggest supermarket building at that time. During that time I was not even pre-qualified to get the tender document forms. 

My business registration had expired. The owner rang and asked me why I had not tender. I told the owner I was not informed about the tender and I would not be able to afford the tender document fees. The owner then asked me to pick up the tender documents personally from him. When I saw the documents, I threw them aside and said “Oh God, that job is like moving a mountain!” I realised that I was not able to fill or complete the documents. At that time, I had no clerical help, but only my inexperienced wife to help me. My business address was my home. I had no past job references, no experience and no bank facilities. I took this almost blank document with price detail and submitted it to the owner. 

The owner looked at the price and rejected it. He asked me to revise it within two days. I replied that I could not complete the document in two days. So the owner tore up the uncompleted document and asked for only the revised price section which I gave. Getting the contract was a miracle. I was awarded the contract worth half a million ringgits, my biggest contract then.

However, after getting the contract, trouble started again. I had no staff, no bank credit and no expertise. How could I complete the job? However, Jesus assured me that everything would be all right if I just seek after Him. I claimed the contract and its fulfillment just like Joshua did for the Promised Land in the Bible. But doubts crept in concerning my finances which were short and the devil whispered to me that I could not complete the contract and could be sued. Again I sought Jesus and I spoke against the devil saying, ”In Jesus’ name I command you to shut out and I want you to know that though I can’t, Jesus can. He is in me.” I prayed for a miracle to happen and this happened when the management decided to offer me all the materials. 

The next problem was the workmen. All left me except six, and of these six, two of them were unable to work as they were attacked by local gangsters when they were having their holidays. Another died in a motor-cycle accident and another fell down from a scaffolding. Without the workmen I could not complete the contract. 

I prayed to Jesus once again and a fat man came to ask for work. I decided to take him on even though he could not hold a hammer properly. And during work he started to manifest evil spirits. As I was already familiar with deliverance, I took authority in the name of the Lord Jesus and commanded the spirits to come out of this fat man and he was completely delivered. 

When he came to his senses he did not know about the manifestations and it was this man who went back to his village to bring a group of farmers (rather than plumbers) to work for me. These are the workers who completed the contract for me within the time allotted. My plight which was well known to the other contractors become a joke but the power of God was undeniable as I depended on Him. He saved me once again in my business!

More project were given to me even though I did not have the contacts. God provided me with overdraft bank facilities and workers to complete all of them including a contract which other contractors refused to accept as the employer was known to be a bad paymaster and had caused other business failures. I ask the Lord’s favour once again and receive prompt payment and cooperation from this “blacklisted’’ employer and the contract was completed successfully with all moneys due to me paid.

All these business experiences lead me to believe that if I look to God for His provisions, He will deliver.Matthew 6:33 says, “ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be given to you as well” I have claimed this verse over again and again in my business. As believer in Jesus, I now have peace, joy, and sound mind. I claim His power with signs, wonder and miracles in difficult situations. My business philosophy is to seek Jesus as my Guide and He never fails me. I thank God for His love, mercy and bountiful grace over me, my family and my business.

Set Free from Bondages!

Coming from a Chinese family I have been practicing my faith passed down by my ancestors. Since childhood, I practiced ancestral worship and all other kinds of idol worship including even the worship of Thai and Hindu idols at one stage, because my parents practiced it and instructed me to do the same. I was quite rebellious at that time and kept on questioning my faith and trying to find reasons to stay away from all those kind activities. At one stage, I even thought that there was no God at all and that God was just a figment of human imagination. Thus I would rather believe in the evolution theory rather than theology.

I acted that way because my parents once told me that by worshipping the idols a person would receive blessings and protection. I thought that belief was rather ridiculous. There was no peace at all in my family, neither was there any protection for my family. My parents often argued and there was always tension in the home. The fact that my mom is the over-sensitive type and my dad, the aggressive type didn’t help; rather, it worsened the family conflicts. As a result of one such conflict, the car we were travelling crashed into a drain leaving the vehicle damaged. This happened even though we were playing Buddhist chants very loudly in the car.

I also questioned the practice of praying to ancestors. Why pray to them after their death? Can they really bless and protect us? If so, why did accidents and conflicts still happen? All these incidents caused me to be skeptical about religion and reject it totally. I could not accept that God is real. Why should we continue to perform various rituals without obtaining anything in return? My behavior was not acceptable to my parents and I was branded as unfaithful and proud. Thus I found it hard to respect them and our relationship became strained.

Then one day, my dad was invited him to the church service by one of his friends. My dad, being a worshipper of nearly every kind of god, accepted the invitation readily. He was looking for financial breakthrough so he thought he could do with more blessings from one more God – this time, the Christian God. Moreover, he was attracted to Christianity, so took the whole family to the church one day. 

I accompanied him although very reluctantly. I thought that this was just another foolish and futile religious pursuit. I decided that I would have no part in any of this religion because there is no God worthy of my worship. What I experienced in that church on that day, however, caused me to rethink my stand on Christianity. I was amazed at the way they worshipped their God. There was no incense or sacrifices offered in the church. All they did was just worshipping God with their heart.

Later, other members of my family believed in and accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord and became Christian. My dad tried to encourage me to accept Jesus too but I declined again and again. I remember that during Christmas season in 2005, I was given the opportunity to say the sinner’s prayer and I complied but I was not serious about it. Although I didn’t feel any different then, I believe something happened to me spiritually. 

A month later, my dad decided to get rid of the idols in my house because he wanted to worship Jesus alone. I personally felt relieved because there would be no more incense smoke in my house. Although I was still not a believer of Christ at that moment, I felt contempt for the idols and gladly participated in the destruction of the idols. We destroyed and burned every idol in the house that day. I was happy because I did not have to listen to all the monotonous chanting in my house again.

Strange things began to happen after that, which I didn’t understand. During Chinese New Year, when I was having reunion dinner with my relatives in a vegetarian restaurant, I felt a weird sensation in my body and my limbs started to shake. To my horror, my nails turned purple which was a shock to my relatives. I was rushed to the nearby clinic because there was no hospital nearby. 

I thought I was dying. The doctor who was present suspected severe food poisoning and gave me a thorough examination but found nothing wrong with my body. I couldn’t stop shaking and the doctor suggested that I be admitted to the hospital immediately. My dad refused to have me admitted although the doctor had issued a letter of admission. He believed in the healing power of Christ and he prayed for me in faith. In desperation, I cried out to the Lord Jesus for help and I felt relieved. Some how I felt that something had come out from my body. 

I understood then that I had experienced what was known as a “spiritual attack”. The demons were trying to take revenge because of my participation in the spiritual cleansing of my house. Tears flowed non-stop and I knew from that moment on that I had been set free by a supernatural power that was infinitely greater than the demonic power. I realized that Jesus was that superior power and that He was real and He had set me free! I repented and asked for forgiveness from Him. That was the point of my real acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

God is so merciful and faithful to me. He keeps waiting for me although I refused to believe in Him at first. I believe I finally came to the Lord because of my parents’ prayers on my behalf. He is always there for me no matter what state I am in . I thank God for this chance of salvation and His never-ending love for me. I praise Him for what I am today.

The admission letter to the hospital still remained unopened to this day. Besides my own experiences of God’s grace, God has also been faithful to my own father. He is a well known businessman in our area. He has been involved in some huge projects and although he is currently in a financial crisis, God still sends a few of His servants to encourage him. This is the reason why he is still firm in his faith in God and he continues to believe in His promise and trust Him for the successful completion of his projects.

Great change has came over our family. There is now a peaceful and harmony atmosphere in the home as our family members know how to love one another and God loves them. To God be the glory.

Yee Cang Ling is the eldest son of Bro Barnabas Yee Chee Keat, Vice-President of the Alor Setar Chinese Chapter. They worship at the Full Gospel Church, Alor Setar, Kedah.

Any Profit with Jesus?

I would not consider myself to be a bad fellow before I became a Christian. I was just your average professional trying to make a success of my life. My father had taught me very many good Chinese values. Values like honesty, hard work, respect for elders, thrift and integrity. But he also taught me some so-called Chinese business norms.

For example it may be necessary in business entertainment to engage the services of paid ladies. Smoking, drinking and social gambling are all part of the Chinese business culture and indeed should be practised if you want to get ahead in the business world. 

I did practise some of these values and had achieved a measure of professional success at a relatively young age. By the time I was thirty I thought I had arrived; travelling round the world in first class, dining on top of the World Trade Centre in New York which I now destroyed in 9/11. But somehow as I got to experience the so-called high life I was not so certain that this was all the success I was looking for. 

All the flying, drinking, smoking, entertaining and late nights was not doing my health any good. When I had to struggle though a bad hangover I would vow that I would not drink again. But by evening that vow would b forgotten. When I find myself short of breath with a little exertion I would determine to stop smoking. But to no avail.

But God is good. He provided me with a friend and mentor who after a couple years of searching became a Christian. Soon after that he began to try to convince me to follow him and become a Christian. He persisted for two years. Finally one day when he was sending me off at the Singapore airport he told me he knew my problem. According to him my reluctance to accept Jesus as my personal savior was because I was an accountant. 

As an accountant I was trying to figure out if there is any advantage or profit in following after Jesus. I was working out the pro-forma profit and loss account just as I would with any investment proposition.

He asked me three questions. Do you believe that there is a God? That was easy as I had been looking for God for quite sometime. In fact I had been aware of a higher power since my secondary school days. I used to ear a Buddha around my neck and I practised transcendental meditation for two years. 

Then he asked what kind of God I had in mind; a fearsome God who would be a real kill joy always watching to catch me out on some sins or a God who loves and cares for you, who is always wanting the best for me? After some serious pondering I answered that I could accept that God would be benevolent, loving and caring towards me. 

Finally he asked if my God is all powerful able to do all things, all knowing and can be everywhere at the same time. I replied that God must be like that or he would not be God.He then assured me that since I had the desire to find God I would most certainly find him. But that I had to take the first step to meet God. And God would take two steps to meet me. It could happen that I may not like what I find. 

But if I did not like what I find I could just return it without any loss. I would have lost nothing, simply back at square one. To me that amounts to a risk free investment. On that basis when I got to Jakarta I knelt down by the hotel bed and accepted Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. 

I started to read the Bible by myself and managed to join some fellowship meeting although I had no one to guide or nurture me in my new found spiritual walk.

Then I began to experience God working in my life, quite unobtrusively most gently but very positively. The day I was baptised in the Holy Spirit I was immediately delivered from my smoking habit of 20 years without even a conscious thought from me. My first stick of cigarette was at 12 years old. At nineteen I was a regular smoker. 

But the time I became a Christian I was smoking all sorts of tobacco, keretek, cigars, pipes besides regular cigarette. I had tried numerous times to give up but the addiction was simply too strong. So I gave up giving up smoking. One Sunday about four months after my conversion I attended a charismatic fellowship meeting in a Kuala Lumpur hotel. When the invitation was made for the baptism the Holy Spirit I went forward without knowing too much about it. I received the baptism and started praying in an unknown language. 

I got home and resumed my smoking the pipe. Took two puffs, put down the pipe and since then had never smoked again, for the last 27 years. There was no struggle, no striving not even the thought that I should give up smoking. It just happened. An addiction of 20 years was broken by the power of God without any effort on my part.

Then there was healing. My two year old boy developed some viral growth on his right chest, those pieces of extra flesh that sometime appear behind the neck or the ear. Being young Christians my wife and I prayed over him when he was asleep. Over a couple of weeks all the pieces dropped off. Today there is not even a scar.

I also experienced His goodness in the provision of jobs and opportunities. Slowly but surely I saw the hand of God upon my life. My life as a Christian was not a bed of roses. I still had my share of trails and tribulations as any human being would from time to time. The big difference was that I now have Jesus to hold my hand and guide my feet as I walk through my troubles. I am no longer alone. As I walk with Jesus day by day my friendship with Him grow stronger and I know He will never leave me or forsake me.

Some of my friends who had known me for years were waiting for me to give Jesus up as I had with my previous experimentation with other religious practices and beliefs. It has now been 27 years. What started off as a risk-free investment has become the most important decision in my life, the best investment I ever made. I found my Savior as He had purposed that I would. My only regret is that it took me 35 years to know Him. I wished I had known Him earlier.

Dr Wong Hong Meng is the National Director for Leadership Development & Training, FGBMF. He and his wife, Irene worship at Calvary Church Kuala Lumpur.

Back From The Brink

By Yeoh Hock Hian

My wife and I share many things in common. We are both from Kuching, Sarawak. We graduated from the same university with degrees majoring in business management. We even have the same surname. After our marriage in 1989, she joined me in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah. However, far from the expected marital bliss, our relationship turned out to be an emotional roller coaster ride. 

My job required me to travel to timber camps and sawmills all over the state. I also made frequent overseas marketing trips and trade fairs visits to keep abreast of changes in the industry. As a result, I devoted little time and attention to my wife. Although she had a job, she seldom socialised because she did not have many friends in KK. 

Suspicion and jealousy developed and quarrels became a common thing in the home. Things did not get better even after our first child, a girl, was born in 1992. In fact, our relationship got worse as I lavished attention on my daughter.

This continued into early 1994. I had, by then, made my fortune in the timber industry and as my ego grew I started comparing my wife to others. Although she was two months pregnant with our second child at the time, I began having an affair with another woman. I decided to end my marriage and went to see my lawyer, Mr. Tan, about drafting a divorce settlement. Mr. Tan, however, was a Christian and refused to do so. Instead, he asked me to allow him to pray for my marriage and for me. 

In April 1994, my wife, who could no longer tolerate my attitude towards her, left for Kuching with my daughter. 

One night, I dreamt that my grandmother was beating and scolding me because I had disgraced the family with my “divorce”. After this dream, I resolved to end my affair and to be reunited with my family. 

In July 1994, my wife and I were reunited and in October, she gave birth to our second child, a boy. My affair stopped for a while but it soon started up again. My wife found out and pleaded with me to end it but I had become too deeply involved and could not let go. In July 1995, a year after she had come home, my wife left again for Kuching, this time with our two children. 

I was now even more determined to end my marriage and I went to Mr. Tan again about drafting the divorce agreement. He was surprised to see me. “I thought your problem had been solved,” he said. Mr. Tan told me that he was supposed to listen to my instructions but that he would not agree to do so in this case. He said that the decision to divorce my wife would be the biggest mistake I would ever make in my life and that he could not allow me to go through with it. Instead, he prayed for me and invited me to his church. 

Unfortunately, I turned down his invitation.

During a visit to Kuching to see my children, my son, who was only around 16 months old at the time, hugged me and said, “Daddy, bring us back to KK, O.K.?” Those words from his little mouth really touched my heart. I realise now that there was a power from above that wanted me to change my decision about the divorce. Looking back at the chain of events, I know that God sent Mr. Tan to save my marriage. 

After that trip, I cooled off my extra-marital relationship and it stopped completely in late 1996. However, my wife had still not forgiven me and we continued to live apart. In May 1997, during our time of separation, my wife accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour in Kuching. She told me about her conversion and I was happy because I knew then that my marriage could be saved. Our relationship improved tremendously and my wife softened her stand so much so that in April 1998, she finally forgave me and she and our two children moved back in with me. Our third child was born in October 1998. 

I found my wife to be a different person after she became a Christian. She had been transformed into someone who was pleasant, positive, joyful, caring and understanding. I was curious about her change. She told me it was God’s power. I began picking up her Bible to read and, as I did so, my personal resistance to God started to weaken. But I still refused to attend church. 

Whereas my family life improved, that of my business worsened due to the 1998 economic crisis and the change in the state’s forestry policy. I was, however, confident that I could pull my company out of its troubles and sold my properties to raise additional working capital. However, rain started falling almost continuously from October 1999 until the following May and production was badly affected. My company’s turnover fell to the lowest in its history, the bank started calling and the sleepless nights began.

In October 1999, the FGB chapters in KK organised a banquet dinner and a good friend of mine invited my wife and I to attend. I was very touched but was still reluctant to go forward when the speaker made the altar call. Both my friend and my wife had to pull and drag me to the front. Even though I accepted the Lord Jesus that night, I still did not want to go to church.

My business problems grew worse and I did not have anyone to turn to for help. Faced with an increasingly critical situation, I thought of God and quietly knelt down to pray to Him for help. It was then that God made me realise that I was not as capable as I had always thought I was. 

Not long after this prayer, a friend introduced me to an Indonesian timber concession holder who offered my company the opportunity to participate in the operations of the concession. Initially, I was very skeptical about the offer. I nevertheless prayed and asked God if it was the correct path and for Him to show me if He wanted me to proceed on it. The concession owner was persistent and finally I sent my survey team to the area. 

I was very surprised when the survey team told me that it was a “life saver”! The Indonesian concession holder and my company subsequently signed the agreement and set up the joint venture company. Deep in my heart I know that God led me to this new opportunity because I confessed my inabilities and my dependence on him as Master. The concession area presented me with the chance to practice sustainable forest management, something that is very difficult to implement in Sabah.

In April 2000, I made a trip to the logging concession and on the way back, for safety reasons, I hired a twin-engine speedboat rather than the usual single-engine one. After the boat had been on the water for an hour, however, both engines seized and we were stranded. In addition, one of the starter ropes snapped in half. 

I started to feel panicky but then I thought of God and began to pray. Instantly, the engine with the broken starter rope ignited! Yet I was not completely convinced that it was the hand of God as it might have been coincidence. I held up my hand again to pray for the second engine. It also started immediately. Hallelujah! God showed His mighty power right before my eyes. 

After returning from the trip, I wanted to know more about God and began going to church. I now never miss church services when I am in KK. I am eager to learn more about His Word and teachings. My involvement with the FGB has grown with the support of my wife and I have also begun to spread the gospel to colleagues and friends. The most rewarding experience I have had is when a friend that I brought to church said to me, “What Jesus Christ has done for me and my family is better than earning a million.” 

Truly what God has done for me is worth more than millions. He saved my family through His love and reunited them with me. All the things that have happened in my life demonstrate the power of prayer. It is sufficient here to say that if you are totally submissive to our Lord, He will miraculously move your “mountains” just as He did for my wife, my children and me. 

What the Lord has done for us, He will also do for you. 

Glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

A Near Bankrupt!

By Dr Harcharan Singh Bhullar

After working many years in both the University Hospital and a group medical practice, I decided to set up my own private medical clinic in Kuala Lumpur. It was a flourishing practice and in a short time, I was able to own a house in a posh area and drive around in a luxurious car, both of which were an indication of my acquired status and wealth in society.

In 1988, for the sake of my children’s education my wife and I together with the whole family decided to migrate to Australia. Malaysia was just coming out of an economic recession then, while Australia was experiencing a big boom.

We chose Perth and the children settled down quickly to their new lives. However, I had hard time in settling down as I could not practice medicine there and there were no other worthwhile activities to help me pass my time.

Soon the prospect of a recession loomed over Australia. 

I decided to invest in some business in order to cushion the effect of the imminent economic downturn. It was in these circumstances that a particular business venture attracted my interest. After all, someone known to me introduced the entire venture and he appeared trustworthy. The business investment did not require my full attention and time. It would therefore not tie me down or restrict my mobility. So I took on the business as an investment as I thought there were limited downside risks. 

How wrong I was! I had taken on more risk than I could possibly handle. By 1991, I lost everything …. my house, cars and literally everything to the ill-fated venture. The situation looked hopeless; yet it was not all! The final blow came in the form of a bank debt equivalent of one million ringgit, which the Australian bank was now pursuing against me. The prospect of bankruptcy now loomed heavily over me.

As I went through all this agony and anxiety, I started to think about the god whom I had prayed to all these years. I felt that since I was so blessed and had everything I needed, I must have appeased my god. Hence, the turn of events must be ‘fated’ and had to happen. That same perception seemed to be in the minds of many people who came to console me, saying my misfortune was fated and such a hardship had taken because of the misdeeds in my previous life.

I decided to return to Malaysia to start life anew and to find the means to repay the debt. It was not going to be easy as all the children and my wife had to be left behind in Perth.

Back in Malaysia, I set up a private medical practice again, this time in Ipoh. The clinic was located on the ground floor of a shophouse and I took residence upstairs. Initially, there were few patients and I had ample time to ponder over my past. So I started to think about God, about a God who gives and takes away blessings. 

I kept on asking why, why, why? I had not done anything to deserve this treatment. How could I suddenly change from being a man of wealth and position to a near bankrupt! My daily reflection gave me no rest or peace. I asked God what wrong I had done or what sin I had committed that I had been made to suffer these consequences. In anger and also hunger for the truth, I started to seek God. Little did I know that even before I began my search, the Sovereign God had already been at work in my life!

It was during this period in January 1992 that two individuals from the Gideons International came to my clinic one day. After a brief conversation with me, they left behind four Bibles in the waiting room of the clinic.

Having covered all the medical journals and literature there was to read, I started flicking through the Bible. Initially, there was nothing much to interest me and further I did not understand much of what I read. I became confused and I began to pray to the One who created us for I had heard very often that there was only one God.

A few days later, as I was getting up one morning I heard a clear voice. It came distinctly from above and said, “Fear not, my child. My light is upon you.” Quickly I wrote down what I heard and hurriedly brushed my teeth and got ready to go downstairs to work. I saw a few patients and then went upstairs again to continue with my search. While excited and pleased that my prayer had received a divine response, I was also more confused. I started to pray again to this Creator God.

Later I heard that familiar voice and it prompted me to read the Book of John, chapter 9. The spiritual meaning that came through reading that text was that I had been born blind! I felt challenged to respond to this declaration. So I prayed that God will show me the truth. God responded to say, “Read the Bible and I will talk to you and explain to you the Scripture.” For the next five months I read the Bible all on my own. I believe that the Holy Spirit was with me and I found answers to the questions I had. He also gave me a new insight and understanding of the Living God.

So started this very unique relationship between the Lord and myself. I realized that Jesus died and He rose again on the third day and that He is alive today. Weeks later, a Christian friend led me to say a sinner’s prayer, accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I gave my life wholly to Him alone. Later church leaders came to pray for me and I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

I started to attend Sunday church service regularly. Late 1992, I was water-baptised. It was a great step that I took in accepting Jesus Christ and becoming a Christian. Around the same time, my wife and many months later my six daughters in Perth came to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. 

The Australian bank in the meantime had placed a statement in the local newspaper in Malaysia, stating their intention to sue the business venture, my wife and me for the debt. My immediate reaction was how to repay the debt and clear our names. 

I agonized over the matter but I kept it in my heart and did not want to go to God with my problem. Of course, He knew about it but I felt I should not trouble Him. I did not want anybody to think that I came to believe in Jesus because of my debt problem. I truly believed in Him with no ulterior motive. I felt it was not fair to burden Him. I thought I ought to sort out the mess myself.

Meanwhile I consulted my lawyer and he studied the whole case and said there was no hope. He could only advised two forms of action: either pay up or declare myself a bankrupt. 

Everything seemed so bleak. There was fear in me and the burden was too heavy to bear. I could not sleep at night. I wanted to push the debt problem aside. Daily I prayed that I would be changed and become more Christ-like. Seeking this was more important than the problem I faced. It never occurred to me to bring this heavy load and place it before my Sovereign Lord and Saviour.

One day while reading the Bible, I came acrossMatthew 11:28: ”Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” I felt convinced that God was with me. He was asking me to come and lay my heavy laden on Him. I quickly looked for and took hold of the newspaper cutting on the debt. 

In faith, I placed my hand on it and prayed. Somehow I felt convinced that I would not be made a bankrupt unless God allowed it.

When the case finally came up for hearing, it got postponed! It happened again the second time. I did not understand the reasons for the postponement or the delay.

During this same period when I was facing this debt, someone returned a sum of thirty thousand ringgit that he owed me. But the cheque bounced and I could not have the money that I so desperately needed. So in anger, I instructed my lawyer to pursue the matter legally with this person. I wanted to choke him the way I was being choked. 

One day, I read the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:32-33) and I knew straightaway I was not doing the right thing. I asked for God’s forgiveness and started to make amends for the situation. I wrote a short note to that person and returned all the evidence that I had against him, including the returned cheque. I stated that I forgave him and hoped that he too would seek forgiveness from the Living God.

Two weeks alter, I received a phone call from my lawyer. The Australian bank was willing to offer a settlement by reducing the debt from one million to one hundred and fifty thousand ringgit only! While excited, I was also in a dilemma. I had to raise this amount of money immediately if I accepted this settlement. To raise this amount meant that I would have to borrow and then I would be in debt again. Without the available funds I told the lawyer I could not take up the offer so I opted not to accept the settlement. 

A few days later, the Australian bank replied stating their willingness to consider any form of settlement I could offer. I was told to offer any amount that I could raise for their consideration. I had nothing to offer as the thirty thousand ringgit was never recovered. Anyway I replied to them, requesting for a statement to show how much the business venture and I actually owed them. There was silence for a month.

Weeks later I received a registered letter from my lawyer. I could not believe my eyes. The letter said that the Australian bank was withdrawing the case against me personally! I was overjoyed; my relief was beyond description. I was told to settle only the lawyer’s fees, which amounted to ten thousand ringgit. We finally negotiated for five! What a Mighty God we serve!