Hello friends, I’m glad to have you back with us again. David’s life testimony offered people a remarkable insight into the challenges that traditional Chinese believers struggle with when they try to live out their faith in relevant ways. As we continue his story, let us be encouraged by how wonderful our Heavenly Father prepared David’s path.

God’s second provision came when David was 18 years old. During those days where internet, DVDs and shopping malls were non-existent, camp was an excellent retreat for youths during school holidays after the final school examinations. David yearned to join the annual Bible camp which included inspirational messages, singing and games. Most importantly, many of his friends signed up. But he could not afford the $10 camp fee.

David’s mother worked from early morning until 10pm at night for a big family with two wives, a dozen children, together with in-laws and grandchildren. He remembered vividly how he helped his mother squeeze out water of a washed bed sheet. The harsh detergents that she used in her daily washing disfigured her fingers. It also caused her hands to become whitened and shrivelled as if she had leprosy. The weight of the washed bed sheet became too heavy for her skinny hands to press out water. So, David grasped one end of the bed sheet and she held the other end. They twisted it in opposite directions to squeeze out the water.

Knowing how hard she earned every single dollar, David really did not have the courage to ask his poor mother to sponsor him to the camp. As a two-year-old Christian, David committed his request to God as Miss Ho often encouraged him to trust the Lord for help during hard times.

Jimmy Teo, a close friend whom David came to know in Inter-School Christian Fellowship in 1968, just got his first job with a salary of $120. He approached David during Sunday school session, “Dave, do you want to go to the Bible camp? I just got a new job. I can sponsor you.”

David was surprised and so thrilled to see God’s provision. He did not reveal his need to Jimmy or others in the church but God answered his prayers.

A Memorable Mission Trip

After the Bible camp, David served his National Service the following year. The two-year training with the Singapore Armed Forces was another opportunity for David to experience God’s providence.

David had the pleasure of training a batch of highly educated recruits in the army camp. There were dedicated Christians and some of them eventually held high positions in the government service today. On countless evenings after their training, all of them – recruits and instructors – gathered to sing and share God’s Word for mutual edification.

Jimmy Teo had a passion for soul-winning. David wanted to follow him and his church friends for an evangelistic outreach in Ipoh and Sitiawan in Malaysia. However, David had already taken up 14 days of official leave prior to that. It looked unachievable to get another two weeks off from the army camp to attend a mission trip. While he was doubting his leave to be approved by Captain Richard Ong, a demanding instructor, David practised singing as for usual. Jimmy and the team on the other hand were determined to pray for David as if a miracle was coming the way.

One day, David approached Captain Ong with pounding heart.

“Good morning, Sir. I want to take 14 days of unofficial leave.”

“What for?” strict and firm, the Captain asked.

“Sir, I want to go for a mission trip in Malaysia.”

“See me when the time comes.” The reply surprised David. To prevent soldiers from dodging their training by feigning sickness or making up ridiculous excuses, getting additional leave was difficult in the army camp. But the reply was unfamiliar - the captain neither scorned his ludicrous request nor gave David his usual tirade like he had in mortar training.

The mission team kept praying for God’s intervention in the seemingly impossible situation. Meanwhile, David continued to practise his repertoire of songs as if he was certainly going. But a few days before the team was due to leave for Malaysia, David went to see Captain Ong again.

“Sir, do you remember when I asked you about the unofficial leave recently?”

Captain Ong simply answered, “Go and fill up the leave form, and let me sign it.”

It was not just a prayer answered. It was a God-sent miracle!

Working Days

David completed his National Service in 1972. He did not have to apply for a job like many others. Instead, God provided him with a sales job. Jimmy recommended David to work as a salesman for Yashica cameras.

Though the commission was lucrative, David did not do well because his interest was not in cameras or photography. So, he joined another company as a sales representative for Silent Night mattresses and Caroma toilet seats. At the same time, he took up a marketing course at night where he came to know Joe, his lecturer.

With Joe’s recommendation, David joined Cortina Department Store as a Floor Manager. Being hired at 22 years of age created some jealousy among the most senior and long-serving staff. The eventual termination of his service that came two years later was a setup, but David believed it was allowed by God. In Romans 8: 28, the apostle Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

David realised that ever since he became a department manager, he had come to love the world more than God. His job required him to socialise with many big shots in the industry. Very often, suppliers took him to nightclubs for entertainment and dancing. There were countless invitations to product launches, company dinners of his suppliers and staff birthday parties that David had to be present in person. All that and his frequent association with non-Christians had cooled down his heart towards God. Eventually, daily devotion became a routine and prayers became brief and short. There was no communion with God. David admitted that he backslid.

Although the setup that led to his dismissal saddened David, he sensed an indescribable peace from God. He believed God had revived him again and he had a deep assurance of His love.

David managed to get another job through Joe again. His new boss owned two companies: one was being the sole agent for a brand of Japanese cigarette lighters, the other, the agent of all sorts of toys and games. At the age of 24, David became the sales manager for both.

The new job required David to visit Brunei and different towns in Sabah and Sarawak frequently and periodically. He went there to visit clients, introduce new products, take orders, collect payments and arrange for the return of damaged goods. His itinerary was tight and uniform.

Once, he looked out of the window of the plane. The people on the ground looked like ants. With curiosity, David pressed his head against the glass panel to look down at them moving.

“How are they going to hear the gospel?” I asked God, without thinking of the consequences of my question.

“You!” a voice inside told me. I was terrified!

“God, please don’t call me to be a missionary. I want to be a millionaire,” I told Him. “I don’t mind giving you all the money I earn. But don’t call me into the ministry. Please!”

For the next three months, David became depressed whenever he thought of his encounter with the Lord on the plane as he knew its ramifications. But he was not ready to give up his job. His family was poor and not many people with such a background got a good paying job like him. David refused to bulge even at God’s command. However, God had a way to prod David into obeying Him.

A furious storm struck swiftly in David’s office. Misunderstandings and misconceptions between David and his fellow colleague became abound. Suddenly, it was like having crouching tigers and hidden dragons around the office. Perhaps due to some successful projects David made for the company, his boss did not fire him. But David felt the cold shoulder from everyone and he made a voluntary departure.

David resigned from work and spent time seeking the Lord for a new job. He left home in the morning as if he was going to work, afraid his mother would get to know he was out of job. Those days, the Singapore Zoo, the Botanic Garden, the National Museum and Paya Lebar Airport were his regular haunts. The places provided him the solitude that he needed much then – to pray for a new job. As he was quite upset with his encounter with God, David shared with his friends and pastors about his encounter with God in Sabah. Strangely, everyone he spoke of the incident asked him whether he heard God’s calling to full-time work. That sounded like all of them were like conspiring to make him into full-time ministry!

God somehow showed David a hint one morning when he was reading the Gospel of Mark in the Bible: “During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” (Mark 8: 1-3)

As David meditated the verses, God showed him an image of a huge Bible being lowered from heaven to a group of people. They were sinking in quicksand and desperately stretching out their hands to grab that Bible. David heard God’s voice! God is calling David to feed the people.

At that moment, David felt the awesome presence of God fill his room and he was so overwhelmed that he jumped from the sofa.

Since that morning, David became very puzzled each day. On one hand, he wanted a new job. On the other hand, he suspected that God was calling him. David was unwilling to consider His calling yet.

Late one night David called Judy Chung. He knew Judy when they both attended Inter-School Christian Fellowship during school days. David shared about his encounter with God and her response took the wind out of him. Another brother, Francis Yong, gave the same response about David’s calling to full-time ministry. Then David recalled what Hudson Taylor said, “If you know God’s will and refuse to do His will, you are living on His second best.” The vision of the tribes in Sabah, the image of people sinking in quicksand, the prayers and the urgings of the pastors – they were evidence hinting at David to respond to God’s calling.

After his conversation with Judy, David was determined to stop fighting with God and obey His call. “Lord, I surrender my life to you this time. Whatever you want me to do and wherever you want me to go, I’ll obey. All that I ask from you is to provide me enough food, enough money for travel expenses and enough clothing.”

David did not ask God for any other things. His request was merely pre-requisites that would keep him on the move without any worry.

Immediately, David sensed the joy and peace of God flooding his heart once again – an encounter he had not experienced in a long time.

David had a revival!

Friends, God’s intervention was right on time - before David sank further to materialism. What comes next for David? Stay tuned for more exciting sharing next week.