I was born into a good traditional Chinese family. Being the eldest in the family, I grew up being the most well-liked among my family members including my grandfather. I was given practically everything that I wanted. Thus, I cultivated a habit of asking for every single thing because I knew it will come my way.
Furthermore, I grew up being stubborn and rebellious. I will fight to get hold of everything even though I do not need those things. I would talk back whenever I am being scolded. Things got worse as I continue to grow. During my times in primary 4 to secondary 5, I was out all days with my so-called best friends wandering the streets. We were not involved in secret societies but the things we did were bad enough. We stole from departmental stores, football jerseys, branded clothing and many more. We hung around billiards salons all day long. Soon we got ourselves into smoking but I managed to quit it before I got addicted.
Things at home were also not getting any better. During my O-levels period, my father decided to leave the family and follow his mistress. The whole family was devastated. I could not concentrate on my studies for my O-levels. Instead, I spent long hours playing games and hanging around at lan-gaming centers. Soon I bear a strong hatred for my father. I began to curse and swear for any misfortune that will befall him.
Not long after, I got my O-levels results, I did not make it to the polytechnic because my grades were simply not good enough. I blamed my dad for my failure. I told myself I will never forgive him. Left with no choice, I reluctantly enrolled myself into ITE. It was a place I dreaded.
But I never knew that at ITE, it will be a place where I am going to prosper. I was doing fairly well in my first semester and I thought it must be a fake. By then, a stranger came along. He is someone I met over the internet. He is also a student at the ITE I am studying at. So we decided to meet up. After a long chat in school, he popped the question asking me to go to church with him. I rejected him immediately. Anyway, he did not give up but I gave up and decided to follow him to church after a rejection of three times.
So there I was, stepping into church for the first time. It was City Harvest Church. It was so different from the way I thought it was going to be. The building was awesome. During service, everyone was so different. They were all jumping and singing happily. I asked myself, did I come to the right place? Is church really like this? Nevertheless, I was touched and I still remembered Pastor Kong’s preaching on God’s blessings moved me to tears. At the end of the service, I gave my heart to Jesus.
My life became more vibrant. I began to feel all the changes in me gradually. I stopped wandering around and doing time-wasting stuff. I also started to study more and one day, I found my purpose while doing my own prayer with God. I wanted to study until I get my degree and to earn as much money as possible to support my family. At this point, I also decided that I shall not bear any more hatred for my father so I prayed for healing of my heart.
As my walk with God matured, I also grew to become more and more on fire for God. As for my studies, I completed my ITE course by topping my class and in the top 5% in the course in the whole of Singapore. At the same time, I was awarded the most Outstanding Counsellor in the Students’ Council for my cohort.
Even when I was in the army, God never stopped blessing me. I was given a lot of respect and recognition by my superiors. I became someone that they can trust upon to deliver the results. At the end of my BMT, I was given a leadership position. I began to lead together with my superiors and many of them were surprised at my leadership skills. I believe that everything I do, it is from God.
Today, not only am I a polytechnic graduate, I am also on my way to fulfill my dream of completing my degree. God had changed me tremendously over these past eight years. Never a day, I am left behind by Him. I am also happily serving Him in church as a photographer, cell group guitarist and also a connect group leader. Despite the heavy load of my university program, I had the extra strength to handle multiple tasks. God indeed has expanded my capacity to serve Him the way He loves me to.
Furthermore, with prayers, I had long forgiven my dad and he had also returned home earlier this year. In additional, my sister had also given her heart to Jesus. God had turned my family around. The Bible says that when one in the household is saved, everyone will be saved. Right now, I am believing for the salvation of my whole family.
Looking back, I believed that without God, I would not be who I am today. I want to thank all my past leaders who relentlessly showered their prayers upon me through my hard times, the friend that brought me to church (and he is still in church together, in fact, I am going to be his best man at his wedding next year), my friends around me who never stopped encouraging me and of course my pastors who always taught us to live life the righteous way. And last but not least, the most important person in my life, that is the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me a second chance to live. Amen.
