GOOD FRIDAY TESTIMONIES
Saved by the Gospel
When I was in primary school, I had Christian classmates who would tell me to become a Christian, warning that if I didn’t, I would go to hell. They said that rejecting Christ meant eternal condemnation.
I grew up in a Taoist/Buddhist family, and when I first heard about the consequences of rejecting Christ, I instinctively resisted Christianity. However, around 2010, I met Billy Tan. He persistently shared the Gospel with me, taking every opportunity he could to do so.
I wasn’t sure which approach he was using—whether it was friendship evangelism, direct evangelism, or personal testimony. Friendship evangelism involves building a relationship with someone in the hope of eventually sharing the faith. While this is a great approach, it carries a hidden danger: sometimes, people never actually share the Gospel itself. Friendships don’t save people—only the message of Jesus Christ does.
Billy and I were colleagues, and over the years, he consistently shared the Gospel with me. As Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” He understood that God’s power to save is released through the proclamation of the Gospel. If the Gospel is never shared, then only a friendship remains.
At first, I did not respond to the friendship evangelism approach. Billy then tried direct evangelism, which involves purposefully engaging someone with the Gospel and encouraging them to believe in Jesus for salvation. There are structured ways to walk a person through the Gospel, and Billy did so faithfully. He planted the seed; whether it grew or not was not up to him.
However, my parents, being devout Taoist/Buddhists, strongly influenced my religious beliefs. A common response I gave Billy was, “I’ll embrace Christ in due time.”
In 2014, my dad had a heart attack and was hospitalised in the ICU. In desperation, I prayed to God to heal him, vowing that I would receive Christ. But I hesitated and did not follow through. I knew that breaking a vow was a serious matter—it is a sin, though one that can be forgiven. Nevertheless, I feared God’s discipline for failing to keep my promise.
In 2023, my mother embraced Christianity. My younger sister, Emma Leong, played a significant role in leading my parents to Christ. My father also accepted Christianity in March 2024 when he was gravely ill in the hospital. He passed away shortly after, going home to be with the Lord.
At his funeral, we held Christian services, and Psalm 23 was read. This passage conveys hope and trust in God and is often recited at funerals. Verse 6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” It was at this moment that I felt it was finally time to receive Christ.
Acts 10:43 declares that “through His name [Jesus] whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” On March 10, 2024, I recited the Sinner’s Prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my Lord and Saviour. In your name. Amen.”
On the next Lord’s Day, March 17, I started attending church. I am now seeking baptism to obey Christ’s command, to publicly confess faith in Christ, and to formally commit myself to Christ and His people.
We do not have the power to convince anyone of spiritual truth—only the Holy Spirit convicts non-Christians of their need for Christ (John 16:8). As we pray for those with whom we share our testimony, we must ask our Holy Father to honour the proclamation of His Word, to convict hearts, and to strengthen us as we share the Gospel. Leong Chen Sung
Christian Influences
My father has always been drawn to different religions; as a result, I did not attend church from an early age. Growing up, I was exposed to various religious teachings and practices, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga poses. However, as I neither understood nor was convinced by them, I distanced myself from religion completely.
Despite this, I encountered Christian influences at different stages of my education. My parents worked hard to send me to Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, where I was exposed to Christian songs before assembly. Throughout my primary, secondary, and polytechnic years, I had Christian friends with strong convictions that left an impression on me. However, I was still not interested in attending church.
During my tertiary education from 2011 to 2014, I turned to alcohol as a quick fix to relieve stress during difficult times. Most of the time, I drank excessively to escape my problems. However, the hangover the next day always felt worse, and the problems remained. Around the same time, my mother and brother began attending services at Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church (CPBPC). With much persistence from my mother, I eventually followed them to church. That was when I heard the Gospel fully preached. As I continued attending worship services, fellowship groups, and the 2014 church camp, God convicted me that I was a sinner in need of a Savior—and that only Jesus Christ is the one true and living God. I thank God for saving me by His grace through faith.
After coming to faith in Christ, I struggled for six months with the doctrine of total abstinence taught in BP churches. Eventually, through conviction from God’s Word and encouragement from the Youth Fellowship, God helped me to relinquish my dependence on alcohol.
From 2014 to 2016, I was enlisted in national service. My faith was tested through physical and mental challenges during both my trainee and trainer days. I thank God that despite the difficulties, His grace was always sufficient to help me persevere each day.
From 2017 to 2019, I went abroad to Melbourne to further my studies. I thank God that I was able to attend Bethel Bible-Presbyterian Church, where I enjoyed Christian fellowship and learned more of God’s Word. Living alone for the first time also taught me to trust God more and to give thanks to Him for His daily provisions. After returning from Melbourne, I continued worshipping at CPBPC from 2020 to 2023. I am grateful for the spiritual lessons, fellowship with many brethren, and the privilege God has given me to serve Him.
Since the end of 2023, God has answered a personal prayer, leading me to worship at True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church (TLBPC). I am thankful to God for the spiritual nourishment and Christian fellowship at TLBPC. Now, with a family of my own, I pray for God’s grace and wisdom to continue growing in Christ and to lead my family in the Lord so that we may be a blessing to those around us. Kenneth Cheng
Relationship with Christ
I was a converted Roman Catholic in my early adult years, following my mother’s conversion from ancestral worship to Roman Catholicism. I used to attend a Catholic church regularly on Sundays, but I was never encouraged to open the Bible, let alone read one. As I began to meet friends who shared their Christian faith, I felt that I could not truly call myself a Christian. I was not living a life that reflected Christ, and to be honest, I did not know enough about the God I professed to worship or His Son, Jesus Christ.
After much persuasion from my late wife, Winnie—who was led to Bethesda Katong Church by a fellow Christian friend—I began attending church there. Although I had already been baptised in a Roman Catholic church, I later sought to be baptised again at Bethesda Katong Church. At the age of 53, I came to Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour.
After being born again, I realised that being a Christian is about having a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. I understood that this relationship could only be cultivated through the study of God’s Word. To grow in my faith, I attended Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), a weekly program designed to help people know God through in-depth Bible study and to equip them for effective service in the Church. Even after attending BSF for 11 years, I felt that I had yet to fully accomplish what I had set out to do—develop a vibrant relationship with the Lord. I prayed and was led to Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Clearly, it is the Lord’s desire to have fellowship with His people. So I called unto the Lord, and He answered.
God led me to Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC), where the study of God’s Word was much deeper. There, the Lord revealed great and mighty things to me. Initially, I attended evening classes as an audit student and greatly enjoyed these new revelations. Then, Rev Jeffrey Khoo encouraged me to take the courses for credit instead of just auditing. Immediately, I was overcome with fear at the suggestion—I was 63 years old at the time. It had been a long while since I had attended formal classes, let alone taken exams. More importantly, I doubted whether my aging mind could retain what I learned. At times, my memory would fail, and the pressure of meeting assignment deadlines was something I did not relish. Being retired, I had hoped to relax and enjoy this season of my life.
However, the desire to study God’s Word compelled me to seek Him in prayer for guidance. He led me to Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” With that assurance, I enrolled in the day classes. With Christ strengthening me, I did the impossible. Over four semesters, I accumulated 22 credits, qualifying me to receive the Certificate of Religious Knowledge. One of my proudest moments was on graduation day, May 11, 2014.
For those who may feel apprehensive about studying God’s Word in their later years, be encouraged—it is possible! As the Bible says in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” The thirst for God’s Word continues to grow in me day by day. Psalm 37:4 reminds us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” I truly thank God for the teachers at FEBC, who have equipped me for effective spiritual leadership and service.
Despite feeling spiritually uplifted, I soon realised that life is not a bed of roses. I lost a loved one and faced new challenges. In my grief, I began to question why such trials had come upon me. However, I turned to God’s Word for answers. The Bible offers comforting reminders that God is always in control, even when our circumstances seem chaotic. Whether navigating difficult seasons or simply seeking reassurance, turning to Scripture brings peace and clarity.
I found my answers in these verses: Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Praise be to God! I moved forward in faith, by His grace and mercy. Michael Khoo
Golgotha or Calvary, “the place of a skull” (Luke 23:33)
