MY SALVATION AND CALL

Dr Wee Tiong Soon

I am now 70 years old and had often wondered how I came to be what I am and doing the things I am doing. Surely I had not planned it at all. Now I know I am being led by the Spirit of Christ in me to do the things He had assigned me to do.

One thing that is clear in my mind is that God called me. It was not me seeking for God as I was too happy and busy with the things of the world.

When Christ called me through Rev John Ling, I was very busy with the things of the world. I was married with three daughters. My wife was still working in the District Hospital, Kemaman, Trengganu, Malaysia. We both worked hard and had our own schedules with her doing shift duties and house chores. I was a general-practice doctor with my own clinic, working 10–11 hours a day for six days a week. We had a house and a car loan to pay every month and we helped to support our parents. These were common responsibilities in those days, even today.

On Friday, the Muslim rest day in Trengganu, I would be busy at sea fishing for fun. It was fishing from sunrise to sunset in my much admired speedboat. I had many fishing friends with me. It was my joy to bring home the fresh fish for dinner. It was eat and be merry (I do not drink). I never touched alcohol since my university days. This was due to what I saw one night. I was with a fellow student having supper in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, and saw a young Indian girl 3–4 years old pulling her father’s hand calling him to go home. He was lying on the floor drunk and semi-comatose. There was another drunkard who was full of anger and shouting at the top of his voice. From that day I never went to Brickfields again. Now I know it was God who made me see the evil of alcoholic drinks.

When Rev John Ling saw me in my clinic because he had some medical problems, I told him I was already a Christian. He then invited me to attend his church. I told him there was no reason for me to go to church as his was a Chinese-speaking church. I was English-speaking. At that time, my wife and I were going through a great tribulation. My second daughter was secretly persuaded to follow the Islamic religion by her school teachers and she had with her Muslim prayer clothes which were given to her. She even wanted to fast during the fasting month. The headmaster even wanted to adopt her should she decide to become a Muslim. When confronted, she said she wanted to explore all religions. To cut the long story short, we sent her almost immediately to Singapore to CHIJ.

Dr Wee chairing the 24^th Kemaman Life anniversary service with brother Chin as interpreter.

One thing my daughter said to me which I will never forget was this. She said, “You also never go to church.” Rev John Ling spoke to her, even the pastor from a charismatic church spoke to her and laid his hand on her to drive out the evil spirit. I thank God she agreed to speak and hear the pastors. With this problem in my family, Rev John Ling felt that Kemaman needed an English service as there were other families having the same problem. There is a spiritual battle going on. So he contacted Rev Timothy Tow to help set up an English church service.

During the inaugural service in 1994, my whole family was there happily. We were babies in Christ. There was a mature American Christian family in the worship service who led in Bible studies. My wife attended but not me as I worked at night. Now I know it was to my shame. My wife became more zealous in church work and got more involved than the older members of the church. When Rev John Ling heart failure became worse, she began to wake up 4–5 am to wait for the Singapore preachers when they arrive by bus to Kemaman and to take them to the church guestroom. The Word of God in the Bible study worked in her heart.

Worshippers at the anniversary service (English and Chinese congregations).

Then when Rev John Ling had to go to Singapore for treatment we were confronted with a new problem. The Presbyterian Synod of Malaysia wanted to take over the English service and said they would appoint speakers for the service. At that time we already knew about Biblical Separation as Rev Ling had taught us. Four of us who were baptised by Rev John Ling decided to leave and form the Kemaman Life Bible-Presbyterian Fellowship. We started as a house church. The Presbyterian members were very angry with us, spreading rumours that we were not registered and would be arrested by the police. Even my mother was against me moving out, but thankfully she also moved out with us as we also had a Chinese service and I thank God for Rev Lee Kim Shong who had assisted us in our time of need ever since. God will send angels when the need arises.

Then when Rev Timothy Tow left Life Bible-Presbyterian Church (LBPC) in 2003, I was not aware that the mission centre in Kemaman was given over to LBPC to manage. We had close friends from both sides of the divide, even more from LBPC, but I decided truth is more important than friendship. So I wrote to Dr Jeffrey Khoo just before our 10^th anniversary (2004) stating our stand for the doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP). Rev Timothy Tow must have been joyful that the tiny outpost in Kemaman which God moved him to set up remained faithful. I know how painful it must have been for Rev Tow to suffer the pain of separation from the church he had founded. I am proud to stand beside him in this spiritual battle.

Children presenting their praise item.

As I walk the path God has chosen for me, I find the things of this world growing dimmer by the day. I sold my speedboat and my clinic. I now find new joys in singing hymns and His Word. I am but a late comer into His Kingdom. Now at 70 years of age I will do what I can as I know God is still leading me every day. I cannot boast of what I can do or will do, for all work is according to His plan, not mine.

I have put more effort in our Sunday School because I know what spiritual battle we have in our schools and we do not want other parents to suffer the things that happened to my daughter. Teach them the Word of God and they will have strength to resist the devil, and the falsehoods and temptations of life. Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Although the young people leave Kemaman after secondary school, I know they have the Word of God in their heads. I can only pray God will write His Word in their hearts and find a true church to worship and serve in wherever they may be. I will continue to sow the Word of God according to His will. Amen. (Dated 22 June 2016.)

Dr Wee taking Dean Burgon Oath at his ordination as Elder in Kemaman Life BPC on 6 July 2018.

The door to Kemaman Life BPC.

Pastor at Calvary Jaya BPC, July 8, 2018