SALVATION TESTIMONIES II

Rich Spiritual Feeding

I was born into a Christian home, and grew up learning Bible stories and singing Christian songs. I thank God for my parents who taught me the Word of God from as far back as I can remember. Church was never an “option” for us—it was a regular part of our lives every Sunday. As such, I cannot say for sure when exactly I was saved, but I believe it was a gradual process that took place even as I matured in my understanding.

The first time I clearly remember saying the “sinner’s prayer” was during a VBS class when I was in Primary 3. The teacher asked who would like to receive Jesus as their Saviour, and I raised my hand confidently. I remember staying back to pray with her during the break, and thereafter I happily told my mother on the way home about what had happened. Sometime later during my upper primary years, I recall one occasion when I was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of dread over what would happen if I were to die suddenly. I recall asking my mother tremblingly and tearfully, “What would happen to me if I went to bed that night and never woke up?” Her gentle words reassured me—if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you need not fear death, for you would wake up to find yourself in heaven. I prayed once more that the Lord would truly save me from my sins. I slept in peace that night. I believe my understanding of the gospel was rather shallow at that time. I went to church more because of my friends, and Sunday School was a chance for me to “show off” how much Bible knowledge I had, rather than to learn more about God.

I believe it was during my teenage years that I started
to really grow and deepen in my understanding of what it truly meant to be saved and to live a consecrated life. At my first teens camp when I was in Sec 1, I was first introduced to the idea of Quiet Time, and I began a life of daily personal devotion with the Lord. Also at this camp, a video was screened of the life of Rachel Joy Scott—the first student who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre because of her unyielding testimony for Christ. I was deeply moved and affected by her testimony, and as I lay awake in bed that night, I kept asking myself: what would I have done if I were in her shoes? Would I be able to bear that same unwavering testimony for Christ? If not, am I truly a Christian? I do not know if I had been truly saved up to that point, but that night, I once again prayed the prayer of salvation, and since then I believe that I have been truly saved, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin. Though there have been countless times when I have fallen into sin and yielded to temptation, the Lord was ever gracious and merciful to forgive and draw me even closer to His side, and to keep me walking on the strait and narrow path.

I thank God greatly for my previous church, Calvary Pandan BP Church, in which I received rich spiritual feeding and many opportunities to serve the Lord and mature in my faith. Following our holy matrimony last December, I have been attending True Life BP Church with my husband, and I thank God for the rich spiritual feeding that I am able to enjoy here as well. I look forward to becoming a member of this church, and for many more opportunities to serve the Lord together with my husband and to enjoy the sweet fellowship with like-minded brethren here.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:57–58). Ko LT

A Spiritual Home and Family

I was brought to Mount Hebron Bible-Presbyterian church by Aunty Esther in 1984 when I was three years old. Aunty Esther is my mum’s younger sister and she is the first Christian in my extended family. I remember that I was brought to Sunday school and there was story-telling. I cannot remember if I heard the Gospel back then. In 1985, Aunty Esther was posted to the States to work and I followed my maternal grandparents to their church in Queenstown. We attended the Hainanese service in True Way Presbyterian Church. Holy Grace Presbyterian Church rented the auditorium there. Attending the Hainanese service was alright for me as it was the first language I learnt. I am fluent in the language and by God’s grace, I can understand the songs and sermons in Hainanese although I was still very young. My maternal grandparents were only fluent in Hainanese; so from young I had to learn the language in order to communicate with them. The Hainanese service was attended mainly by the elderly. There were some middle-aged adults and less than ten children and teenagers. Thank God that there was a lady there who could teach the children and teenagers in Sunday school. While the adults were listening to the pastor preaching in Hainanese, the children were in Sunday school listening to Bible stories and the preaching of the Gospel in English. I attended Sunday school until I completed secondary school.

Growing up in a non-Christian home, family life was something I dreaded as there were always lots of tension between my parents. Being the only child made it all the more difficult as I had no siblings to turn to on a regular basis. When I was about ten years old, due to my sinful nature, I secretly wished that my parents would divorce so that I could be spared the daily quarrels and unhappiness. I wanted to escape from the unhappy situation. Although my maternal grandparents were born-again Christians, I had no spiritual feeding at home. My parents were not Christians at that time but many years later, they were converted and baptised. Today, they are with God in heaven.

By God’s grace, I heard the Gospel numerous times when I was growing up and each time I was assured that God was there for me all the time and I was never alone. His grace is sufficient for me to sustain me each day. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

When I was 16, my pastor at Holy Grace Presbyterian Church asked me if I believed in Jesus Christ and if I wanted to be baptised. It was a resounding yes in my heart! I had prayed the sinner’s prayer many times but I didn’t know what to do next. I knew that I had believed in God who had sent His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. The shedding of His blood redeemed me. I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again three days later. I believe that Jesus Christ will come again to take me to heaven. As I was only 16, I needed parental consent. By God’s grace, my parents agreed and I was baptised in December 1998.

Shortly after my baptism, my uncle suggested I transfer to the English service of Mount Hebron Bible-Presbyterian Church. As I was growing into a young adult, I thought that by attending the English service I could learn more about God. I could also socialise and fellowship with other young adults. The same year I entered Junior College and began another chapter of my life. I struggled with school work and it was demoralising. There was also no proper or suitable cell group in church which I could attend as well. My life was literally in a mess. At that time, it seemed I was unable to get out of the mess. There was no follow-up from the church for a young Christian. I was lost!

Slowly, I drifted away from God as I was more caught up with school. I was relying on my own strength instead of God’s strength. I was miserable. Although I remembered God and I still attended church every Sunday, I knew I was far away from God. This went on for some time and soon I was due to leave for further studies in Adelaide, Australia.

Leaving Singapore for further studies was a dream come true for me. I learnt how to rely on God. God was my sole support spiritually when I was alone overseas. He provided me with a good church and a good fellowship group. He gave me a family of brothers and sisters in Christ. God has always provided more than what I ever needed.

Upon graduation, I returned to Singapore to work. God saw me through several challenges including searching for a new church to attend. Finding True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church was a huge turning point in my life. Prior to that, I visited several churches but I never managed to settle down in any of them. To me, finding a church is like finding a spiritual family, a spiritual home. I was unable to settle for anything less.

I attended True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church after my mum passed away in June 2013. God has answered all my prayers and provided me with several brothers and sisters in church. I know that it is the place God has provided for me. As I grow in knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ, I learnt how to rest in Him and to acknowledge Him in all my ways. He alone will give me peace and strength. When I look back, I can see God’s hand guiding my every step. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” To God be the glory! Priscilla T.

Entrust Everything to God

I was born in a Roman Catholic family. My mother is especially very active in the church because she is one of the leaders of my hometown parish. I first applied to work for Hong Kong. However, it took a very long time to get a job offer, so I decided to transfer my papers to another agency hiring domestic helpers for Singapore. After only one month I received a call from the agency that I have an employer.

I thank God for giving me His guidance on where I should go. I arrived here on December 24, 2017. That night, my employers (Chun Hian and Jenny Teo) asked me to go with them to church the next day. It was my very first time to attend a Christian church. Later, my Ma’am shared with me about Jesus Christ and encouraged me to believe Him as my Saviour. My employers encouraged me to go to church every Sunday. I also attend the Filipino Bible Fellowship. From these services, I learned to entrust everything to the Lord. After a while, I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour with all my heart. Caballero J.