Salvation Testimony of Pastor Daniel Chong

 

In July 1983, at the age of 22, while I was in Kuala Lumpur, a colleague gave me a Gideon small pocket testament that had belonged to her brother. This marked the humble beginning of a journey where God's word did not return void. As I read the testament over several months, certain verses, such as John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9, deeply touched my heart and inspired me to seek a deeper understanding of God. These verses sparked my curiosity to explore God's character and teachings in the Bible further.

Opening my heart to the truth, I began searching for a church. A friend then brought me to an AG church in Kuala Lumpur in December 1983. This small pocket testament played a significant role in leading me to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Despite attending church in my youth merely to accompany friends, upon discovering the encouraging words of God in the Testament, I was convinced that the God of the Bible is real. Consequently, I discarded all the charms given to me by my parents.

In the same year, I was transferred to Sibu and in December 1983, I acknowledged and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. This decision led me to SIB Church in Sibu to deepen my growing Christian faith. I participated in baptism classes and was baptized at SIB Church in Sibu. Driven by my passion for the Lord, I actively engaged in discipleship classes organized by the church. Embracing my faith in Jesus Christ, I wrote a testimony, made copies, and shared them with my family and friends. My sister was puzzled by my sudden strong religious enthusiasm, which led her to ask about the change in my behavior.

In 1984, I was transferred to Tawau, where I shared my faith with friends. By 1985, I felt a calling to serve the Lord full-time, leading me to resign from my banking job in 1986 to dedicate myself entirely to ministry. Although my father initially disapproved of my conversion to Christianity and departure from banking, God answered my prayers, touching both my parents, who eventually became Christians. I had the privilege of baptizing my father after 30 years. Over time, my father became proud of my role as a pastor, proudly sharing with others that his son serves as a pastor.

Today, Pastor Daniel Chong serves as the Senior Pastor of Calvary Charismatic Church in Lahad Datu, Sabah, giving all glory to God. Amen.

TESTIMONY OF SIS JOYCE HWANG QI HUI

 

TESTIMONY OF PASTOR VINCENT T. MANIAM

 

TESTIMONY OF PASTOR JACKEY TAN

 

"My Life Testimony In Christ" by Sis Louise Lee Jing Sing from Kuching, Sarawak

I was from a family where male was considered more important and valuable. I was living under the influence of my mum’s family who practised strong traditional Chinese culture. 

Here, I would like to share how the Chinese culture that I was brought up during my young age was affecting me. Females can only have second hand things but male can get and use the best of all things. All valuable things, best food and status in family should belong to male. Every male is from God but not female. I was always told to be silent when I was hit or abused from my elder brother or my mum’s relatives. Since birth as my appearance was more toward my father’s family, I was told that I belong to my father not my mother. Whenever my brother did wrong, I was told to bear his sinful deed. Since I was a young girl, I was already being physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially abused and persecuted by my own mother, sister, brother and my mum’s family. I did not experience the true meaning of hugging, loving kisses and comforting words. I had gone through daily scolding, and blaming for not being able to do the best especially in washing dishes and sweeping the floor, even I had tried my best to wake up as early as 4am to do all family chores before walking to school. At the age of 10 years in Methodist Primary School, I was given a small English Gideon Pocket Testament by a Gideon during school bible distribution. He told me that this is a good book and it is good for me. I asked myself this question, “Why would he give me this book if it is good. Everything that is good should belong to man why me? I’ve never own anything at home.” I truly treasured this Gideon small pocket testament and always carried it with me as it may bring good to my life. I put it into my school bag and brought it to the church camp but seldom did I really pay attention to read it only sometimes when I was afraid. At the age of 16 years, I have to totally support on my own living and even help my parents’ needs.

In 1998 to 2003, I was following my husband to Belize in Central America.  Most of my daytimes, I was alone.  I read the Bible aloud not because I was devoted or like to but I was afraid. I had treated the Bible as something that had power to fight for me and protect me if I faced trouble or danger. Through reading this Gideon Bible and praying, my eyes and ears were opened. I came to experience that I was a sinful person. I need a saviour who is able to save me, cleanse me and set free. When I was up in the mountain, I would carry this small Gideon Bible. I used a small torch to read it.  During this period, I was touched by the Lord Jesus Christ and came to know Him personally and received Him as my personal Saviour and Lord when I was in Belize in the year 1998-2003.

I am grateful for Gideon who presented me the bible. Now, I am an Auxiliary President for my Kuching Camp. I have graduated as a Bachelor of Theology in the Seminari Theoloji Malaysia . With God’s given gift, I offer myself to help many hurtful ladies and women who were coming to me.  I am also serving ministry in my local church. God has led me to totally forgive all my family members who had betrayed and harm me. I prayed for repentance to my Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my beloved Saviour. He has transformed my heart to love everyone. Thank you to this Gideon who had given me this Gideon Small Pocket New Testament.

 

God's Words To Comfort The Hurting - Sis Stephanie Chong

 

In Fall 2016, everything good in my life seemed to fall apart. My husband filed for divorce and abandoned our home. We had two young children, who were left confused and hurt, and I was crippled by bitterness and all-consuming pain. I was later diagnosed with a malignant growth in my right thigh muscle. I was surrounded by brokenness in every aspect of my life. Alone, I couldn’t salvage any hope in my life. Believe me, I had tried.

During this time, I would frequent Sarawak General Hospital with my sister, Ann. One day, Ann brought Louise, an Auxiliary, to visit me. Eventually, she gave me a bilingual Chinese/English Testament. I read the Scripture and found the Word comforting. It was in October when I accepted Christ into my life.

Later that year, I had two operations to remove the tumor in my thigh. As a new believer, I had many questions for God. Why were these things happening in my life? Did He care about my situation? What did I do wrong to deserve these things?

I spoke with Louise and Ann, and they encouraged me to keep my faith in God and pray without ceasing. I didn’t know much about prayer and saw it as a Christian obligation, much like reading the Bible. I had no idea there was so much power in it.

I began spending time at night in the Word of God, after putting my children to bed. As days became weeks, I sensed things starting to change because I was shifting my focus to God. I found peace in my heart that was beyond explanation.

With every hospitalization, God’s Word became my best companion—it worked better than medicine. I was in communication and relationship with the Lord when I opened Scripture. The Word comforted my heart and gave me assurance of His presence. Not only did He heal me, but God continues to make me new each and every day.

Rev Timothy Lam saved through One Gideon Testament

 I come from a family of four, where my parents were free thinkers. Although they both were educated in English medium schools, they were not particularly religious. Their parents were practising Taoist, rooted in Chinese religion and customs.

With this as a backdrop, my childhood and early teens was in a non Christian environment except for the seedbed of Christian school system, from my church-based kindergarten until I completed my secondary school education in a mission school. Without a personal knowledge and relationship with God, I spent a lot of time with television and cinema, amusement parks and hanging around with my gangs. I hero-worshipped actors and even aspired to have a career in movie making. Soon, I was not doing well in my studies and became a rebellious child. 

While I was in secondary school, I received my first New Testament distributed by the Gideons. As I started to read about Jesus and learnt more about His exploits, I was so attracted to Him and eventually looked to Him as my new 'hero'. I embarked on a journey to know Him more. As I did so, I grew to love and accept Him as my personal Saviour. I remember using the prayer at the back of my Gideon pocket New Testament; more than once, to acknowledge my need of Him, repent of my sins and pledge to follow Him. As the pocket sized New Testament was handy, it was easy for me to learn to memorise Scripture portions. This helped me to grasp the Word of God. 

As I look back, I am grateful to God for revealing Himself to me as I read the New Testament given through the Gideons. It was a good start for me as when I eventually had my entire Bible some time later, Scripture reading was not strange to me.

A few months later, I attended an evangelistic meeting in a local church. Towards the end of the meeting, I responded to the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. That evening, my thoughts were flooded with how wonderful Jesus is to me, and only He could wash my sins away and make me a new person. I welcomed Him into my life and asked Him to be my Lord and God. 

Soon after that, I attended church regularly and took part in bible study classes as well as home groups. As I was using my Gideon New Testament regularly for some time, I was more familiar with the Word of God making me keen to study more in depth. Eventually I was baptised and continued to grow in the Lord, gradually I also started to serve in church ministries like teaching Sunday School, leading in songs of praise and worship, youth fellowship.   At a youth camp one year, I responded to the call of serving God in full time Christian work although I did not immediately do so. I was trained in computer studies and pursued a career in the IT industry. God blessed me with good work prospects and I could share His Word and love with those in my workplace. I also learnt to put biblical perspectives at work. 

Finally, I took the step to pursue theological education. Upon graduation, I went on to serve as a full-time pastor with a denominational Church. Then, I obeyed the Lord to serve as a itinerant preacher to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, bringing me to different parts of Malaysia and the nations around Asia and the Pacific.