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Testimony of Salvation
I was born in a family that did not believe in Jesus.
When I was 10, I began to go to meetings at a Presbyterian church in Taipei, Taiwan, with
my uncle who is an elder in the church. I joined the youth fellowship and the church
choir. I enjoyed listening to Pastor Chen's strong preaching more than the children's
Sunday school. I was able to understand many spiritual truths. I was baptized on Christmas
Eve when I was 12 years old. Before my water baptism, I kept weeping uncontrollably with
deep conviction that I was such a sinner that I could only be saved if I cry out to Jesus.
When Pastor Ko laid his hand on my head to baptize me, I felt a surge of power and
numbness all over my body. I did not dare to mention that experience with anyone. Next few
years following my new-birth were full of joy and peace. Yet I began to feel confined not
knowing much about what was going on outside the church. There were many "rich and
prominent" people in the church, but I rarely saw those "lower-class"
people there. John 3:16 told me that God loves the world so much. Who is going to tell
those people the "good news"? At 14, I dedicated myself to God and made a vow
that I will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I began to make contact with some young
people outside the church. Because of ignorance and immaturity of my spiritual life, I was
not able to bring them to church. Ironically, I became one of them. I began to smoke,
drink, gamble, party, and game fight, etc. Eventually I grew further and further away from
God and the church.
When I was 16, I passed the examination and was admitted to Jian-Chung
High School, the number-one high school in Taiwan. Nevertheless, I became one of the few
rebellious youngsters on campus. Everyday after I put down my backpack at school, I went
hanging out in the West Gate downtown area Taipei. I was partying around, riding a
motorcycle without license, and cheating on the exams. My school military counselor could
not make me change. My teachers were saddened as they saw my empty seat in class. My
parents were doing business and had no idea I had become like this. I acquired a bad
temper and I was treating my home like a hotel. In two separate occasions, just before the
gangs started fighting, by the mercy of God, He used total strangers to pull me off the
scene, so I could avoid being charged and thrown into jail. Yet later I caused some
trouble and was about to be expelled from the school. Then I suddenly realized that I was
at the edge of a bottomless pit, yet I could not help myself. I was full of rebellion and
would not listen to anyone. I was in a deep darkness. I wanted get away from those
"friends" but they won't allow me. I was always afraid that someone would hunt
me down and kill me. One night, when I was alone and helpless, I remembered Lord Jesus
whom I believed since youth. So I prayed to God to change my heart. The God who keeps
covenants of love, heard my cry and changed my heart. I was promptly changed and wanting
to behave and stop wasting time. I no longer wanted to wear those strange clothes to
attract people's attention. The day after, even my military counselor was amazed and left
wandering what changed me. Although wanting to do good, I failed time after time because I
was depending on my own strength. I would still do some of those bad things even though I
did not like doing them. I began to study hard and really wanted to make up all the
foolishness in the past. I was deeply disappointed because I was not able to pass the exam
to enter college. That was when I was 18 years old. So I began to help out with my
family's retail business. After working over 10 hours everyday, I would go to the pubs and
have many drinks with some friends well past midnight. I was totally lost with no goals.
When I waked up next morning, I had more frustration after each hangover. Finally I asked
my dad to allow me to study and prepare to retake the exam in the next three months. The
night before the exam I was suddenly awakened and realized that I have not reviewed a few
course materials. In a rush, I read them over roughly. Because of that studying, I was
able to be qualified for the college admission. It was again the mercy of God, because
otherwise I would have been drafted into the army without another chance for entering
college.
When I was 20 years old, I was admitted to Tan-Jian University as a
computer science major, to the department with the highest dropout rates in the country. I
made a decision to study diligently to redeem my wasted years. I was able to do really
good in schoolwork and graduated as the number-one student in the class. I began to feel
that nothing is impossible for me if I work hard enough for it. Before I knew it, I became
very proud and arrogant. There were some bad habits of mine that never changed. Again
God's hand of discipline came upon me. I worked my way to pass the test for an officer
position yet ended up being drawn into the Marines. I realized that my life is not in my
own hands but in God's hand. My complaint about this situation would not change anything.
When I was in the Marines I still depended on my own understanding and wit, drinking and
partying all the time. I was the training officer and once I even dared to change military
orders. Another time I caused some trouble when I was drunk and about to face charges. At
that point, I already received the admission and assistantship from US for my graduate
study. It looked like I could not study abroad because of that incident. Awakened again by
crisis, I remembered the Lord Jesus whom I believed since youth and cried before God for
help. I have not been reading my Bible for a long time. I took it out and then finished
reading the Book of Romans that night. That incident was overlooked and I was able to
study abroad. Prior to my departure, I was still drunk-driving and fighting. I was injured
in a motorcycle accident and almost died. Again it was God's mercy to spare my life from
total destruction.
Leaving the familiar environment and to the US, while looking back over
my entire life and many crises and hard lessons, I knew it was time for me, the prodigal
son, to come back home. I joined the Bible study fellowship at Penn State University. At
every Friday night, I was comforted from my pressure of schoolwork and daily life by
studying the Word of God. Yet I still set my goals as getting straight A and a Ph.D.
degree to become a professor in Taiwan. God was still not the number-one in my priorities.
I was disappointed that I got a B in a final course when I obtained my master's degree. I
was going to argue with my professor; yet there was a inner voice in me saying:
"Forget about it. What's the point?" Finally I let it go. After I graduated, God
led me to California and I found a high-paying job as a computer software engineer. Now my
car and house were bought. My parents were able to come to live in the US. It looked like
everything was fine and I should be satisfied, yet I felt so empty. I, being a Christian
attending church regularly, was not different from people in the world, as I was chasing
after worldly desires, weak with no testimony, and still serving the Lord in my own flesh
in the church.
Although I had a burden for China and admired what Dr. Sun Yet-San has
done for China. I remembered what I said even when I was total drunk in my young age:
"We are the lost generation of China". I knew that God had led me to the US for
the sake of China's future. When I was 30, I was deeply disappointed with the church and
also with myself. Just I was feeling that there's no point in life and about to commit
suicide, God did not forget His child. He has been molding me since birth. His love and
grace has never left me. He remembers the vow of my youth. When I was so frustrated and
about to join the Over-sea Chinese Revolution Political Organization to fulfill my vision
by another way, God sent his servant Rev. Edward Miller to speak on the revival fire at
San Jose Chinese Alliance Church. After some thoughts, I decided to give God one last
chance and see if He can rekindle the spiritual fire in me. To my surprise that at this
meeting, I met this man of God who walks so close to the Lord. After all these years of
drought, it was like light shining into my darkness. It made me want to meet God and know
Him in a higher degree. God waited for me more than ten years. I was like a rough rock
that has been through so much hammering. I finally admitted my sinfulness and uselessness.
My life in the past has been ruined because I was letting myself be the lord of my life.
The hardest part for me was to change the sinfulness of my heart. At the end I surrendered
and gave up the lordship to Jesus. Although the battle raged in my heart and the devil
would not give up on me, as I truly said to God in my heart: "I give you all of my
life and everything I have", the Spirit of God fell upon me. He washed away every sin
and broke every fetter in me. I had been set completely free. I received the baptism of
Holy Spirit and personal revival. I, the prodigal son, finally came home to wander no
more. My loving Heavenly Father happily welcomed this child, who was lost and then found,
without any punishment. Finally I indeed repented and my old-self died with Christ, now He
is the Lord of my whole life.
This experience was like Paul's experience on the way to Damascus; it
changed my whole life. God also revealed himself to me along with his calling and his plan
for my life, including my past and my future. Everything in my life has been for a
purpose. After all, my whole life is in His hand. Most importantly He allowed me to truly
know him. Just like what Job said "My ears had hear of you but now my eyes have seen
you". Years after I continue to grow in relationship with Him. He has also been
equipping me in order to serve him, beginning with leading the youth group at church. I
began making mission trips to China since 1992. I received the vision of the revival fire
being spread over entire China. God also promised that the Cross and the Blood of Jesus
Christ would save China. In 1996, I began serving full time and founded Tabernacle of
David Ministries International. I started to preach gospel in prisons and leading
prisoners to Christ in Taiwan. In 1997, I began to travel to other nations of the world
and spoke at various meetings and churches. Miracles followed to confirm the words that
had been preached. In 1998, our daily short-wave radio program - "Revival
Sound", began to broadcast to China and Asia. God continue to lead me to build up the
body of Christ and to reach the lost for His glory. |