Hokkien Testimony #25
Today is the 25th testimony in our Hokkien Harvest series. Pastor James Lim interviews Preacher Hoe Wei Qiang. His life had a lot more bad things than good in it, and was much like living in a bitter sea. He has an interesting story to share. Let’s listen together to his Hokkien testimony. We have also provide an English summary below.
Hoe Wei Qiang’s testimony:
In my family I was the oldest child. I had two younger brothers and two younger sisters. When I was young my father drove a three wheeled vehicle and later he drove a different vehicle. Unfortunately, my father became ill and went to see doctors but it was not getting better. Someone told him what he needed to eat a specific thing that would cure him, and since he was so ill, he was willing to try it. However, it didn’t work.
Since my father was ill, my mother did what she could to bring in money and on Friday evening and Saturday I began to wash cars and taxis and would work all night long to bring in a little extra money. At this time since my family needed help I was unable to go to school. Also, when I was out all night washing cars I picked up some bad habits such as drinking, smoking, gambling and just had a good time with these new found friends. Most everyone around me was doing the same things.
I quit school and found full time work. In the place where I worked, one of the men often shared with me about Jesus. The reason why I was interested was that my sister married and had two girls. They really wanted to have a son, so they prayed to idols for a baby boy. When we found out that she was pregnant, we were so excited and assumed the baby would be a boy. However, not only was the baby a girl, but she had major health issues including the fact that she was blind and deaf. The fact that the baby was a girl was not a problem, but she had so many health problems. We were all pretty devastated and went to our local temple for answers. There at the temple we were told that my sister’s house was not clean (demonized), and they must move into another house. Plus they told her to drink ashes from the temple as well. They used traditional practices to try and solve the issues, but it didn’t change anything.
My sister’s house was rented from the government so to move quickly like this was not really a choice. It was at this time that I really began to lose faith in my religion. I asked myself why the house would have ghosts or evil spirits when the god they worshiped was also in the house. It seemed to me that the god didn’t have enough strength to overpower the evil spirit. So the answer given to them was that they should move to another house. This was a real conflict for me. It didn’t make sense.
As the older brother I really did want to help out. After my sister gave birth to this little baby she really was devastated and almost lost her mind. She was hospitalized. I hurt so badly to see my sister like this and to also see the tears that my mother shed over seeing her daughter in this difficult situation. We had no idea what to do. So when my Christian friend invited me to go to church with him, I thought maybe this might open a way for us. When my friend began to share the gospel with me, I did not have much interest in what he had to say. However, he was passionate and continued to invite me. Later he shared that his church was having a special revival and he really wanted me to come. He shared that they would also be praying for people to be healed. Well, I immediately thought of my sister and felt that we needed to check it out. That was the first time for me to go to church and I went because I had been invited. The second time was on a Sunday, and my wife and I wanted to go and see for ourselves what this was all about. When we arrived at the church we observed the people singing and praising Jesus. When I heard the people singing the songs I felt really happy and peaceful. Then the pastor invited anyone who would like to receive Jesus to come forward to the front. I was very moved and felt that this indeed the true God, and a good God. My friend encouraged me and was willing to go with me down to the front, so I asked Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. One of the men at the front led me to pray, ask for forgiveness and ask Jesus into my life. He made a statement about Jesus dying on the cross for my sin, and these words really touched my heart and I began to cry out. I couldn’t help myself and I just kept crying out loudly with tears much like a young girl. I cried out for about five minutes, and then my heart was so much at peace. I had never experienced anything like this, and I knew that Jesus is indeed real.
One week later my wife accepted Jesus. After I accepted Jesus, every evening I began to earnestly pray for my family. My sister was hospitalized, and about two weeks after I started praying for her she was released from the hospital in good health. I was so touched. I then took her and her baby girl to church with us. The church people began to pray for this little baby for about 3 months. It was a miracle. The baby was healed and could see and hear. She took the baby to the doctor to be examined, and the doctor asked her what happened to enable this baby to see and hear. It was a miracle healing from the Lord.
After I accepted Jesus, I went home to share with my mother and she was not happy at all. Since I am the oldest son, she assumed I would carry on the tradition of idol worship. In fact she told me that if I went back to church she would not claim me as her son, because according to traditional beliefs that when she died there would be no person to worship her in the afterlife. I was very troubled because I knew Jesus was real, but I didn’t want to offend my mother. It was tough for me. However, I did go back to church and after returning home my mother wouldn’t speak to me and didn’t want to claim me as her son. Even though I was very hurt, I prayed to God and asked for help. AND God heard my prayer. Two months later my mother saw the changes in my life and started talking with me again. And even more precious is that before my father died he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
In closing I would like to share a bit more with you. Even though I had asked Jesus into my life, I continued to smoke. I had smoked for years. One day a Christian came to me and told me that I really should get rid of that bad habit. Well I still was a bit of a rebel and was argumentative and told them that they could find no place in the Bible where it said that I could not smoke. That friend was very wise and shared scripture with me telling me that as a Christian, my body was the temple to the Holy Spirit and that I should do nothing that would harm my body. I really thought about that. It was true. This loving Jesus had put His Spirit in my life and I should respect and care about how I lived. From that point on I have never smoked. As Pastor Lim reminded us, when we have Jesus in our life, things that seem impossible can become possible. Our bad habits, thoughts, opinions, etc. can all change.
A word from Pastor Lim:
It is especially moving to see the miracle that God performed in the life of Mr. Hoe’s niece. This is the end of our program today, but before we close I would like to lead us in prayer. If you have the feeling that you would like for Jesus to come into your heart, then your life will experience a big change. Follow me in prayer. I believe that the same Jesus in which Mr. Hoe believes will also help you overcome your problems and the challenges in your environment. The Lord will help you. Please follow me in prayer.
Lord Jesus, I thank you because you came to this earth to save us. At this time I beseech you to forgive my sin, save me from my wrong doing and come to live in my heart to be my Savior and Lord. I know that you will never leave me. Beginning today I will experience your love and the miracles that you desire to perform in my life. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
God bless you.