Hokkien Testimony #44
Today we welcome you to the 44th testimony in our Hokkien Harvest series. Each week we have different people from different churches share their stories with us. Today Pastor James Lim interviews Mr. David Ho. Let’s listen now to his Hokkien story. An English summary is also provided below.
David Ho’s testimony:
To begin my story, I was 13 years old when I accepted Jesus. My teacher led me to Christ. I have three older brothers and four older sisters. So even though I was the youngest in my family, I was the first to become a Christian. My mother had to work hard taking care of the house and feeding animals like chickens or pigs as well as taking care of other jobs. It was a lot of work. After I became a Christian I really wanted my parents to also accept Christ. When I was 22 my father was diagnosed with cancer. Earlier I had bought a large Bible and was trying my best to study it. When I found out that my father had cancer, I told him about Jesus.
Earlier when I accepted Christ I didn’t let my parents know about this. I would sneak out of the house and go to church. However, when I found out that my father had cancer I wanted to tell him about Jesus. I spoke with him and he asked me if I had a Bible. He began to read the book of John and read the entire book. At that time Billy Graham had also been to Singapore and someone shared several of his evangelistic tapes with us. My father listened to all three tapes as we translated. I asked him if he wanted to receive Jesus, but I really didn’t know how to talk with him about this. So I went to church and asked an Elder in the church if he could come and share with my father. I told him that my father was in his 70’s and had cancer. The Elder himself spoke Cantonese, but since my father only spoke Hokkien, he invited a Hokkien friend to come with him. He shared Christ with him and my father accepted Jesus.
It was interesting that after my father left the hospital he didn’t want to come inside the living room. He wanted to stay outside. Whether it was rainy or very hot and sunny, my father still remained outside. He said that he could come inside; however, we would have to remove the idols first. My mother was very angry and rebuked him and refused to do this. At this time he returned to the idol practices that he had known all his life. Since I was the youngest in the family I really couldn’t say much. He was elderly but I did believe that he had asked Jesus into his heart.
When I was about 40 years old my church asked me if I was willing to serve as a pastor. I had a family and thought about it and I felt that God was really calling me to serve in this way. Every day I would go and check on my mother. She was still living in the house. At that time she was in her 70’s. One day when I went to check on her, I found her sick. She didn’t want to go out of the house. At that point, I asked her to come live with me because since she lived alone and if something happened to her no one would know. So she agreed to come to our home. There were no idols there. I also hosted a family worship group in my home each week. The group leader would come early and use Hokkien to share with my mother. My mother was not educated so she couldn’t read or write. At first when the group came to my house, my mother would stay in the background. However, she gradually drew closer until she was invited to join the group and she willingly accepted. The group used Hokkien with her and each time encouraged her to come to church. She always said ok, but wasn’t really willingly to follow through with it. However, one day when I invited her to go with me, she agreed.
I told the Lord, even though the church had asked me to serve as a pastor and I had not yet answered that call, I made a request of God that my mother would accept Jesus. When she went to church with me one of the pastors asked for anyone who wanted to receive Jesus to raise their hands, and she did. I was so moved and agreed that I too was willing to follow Jesus and serve as a pastor.
When my mother came to live with us, we took the idols out of her house. My mother lived to be 94 years old and just passed away. At first because family members were not Christians she was not baptized. However, she later told me that she was ready and had accepted Jesus. There is one Hokkien song that was very special to my mother, “Hold My Hand’, and it was part of her funeral.
There is also more to my story. One of my brothers had a daughter who was an airline stewardess and a very beautiful sweet girl. However, she was diagnosed with cancer. I shared Christ with her and she accepted Jesus into her heart. Within three months she passed away. Before she died she told me that she has already prepared to meet Jesus and asked me to baptize her. I told her that I was willing to baptize her, but only if she had her parents’ permission. So she asked them, and they both agreed for her to be baptized. I had two purposes in this. First of all I wanted them to give their permission and see this happen, but after the baptism I also wanted to share the gospel with my brother and sister-in-law.
I had to leave for a conference in Australia, but the second day I received a call saying that my niece had passed away. So I immediately bought a ticket to return home. However, when I arrived at the airport I couldn’t find my passport. I was trying to think what I should do, go to the Embassy or what. However, I first called the church where I had been and asked them to search for me. Praise the Lord, they found it.
My brother told me that since his daughter was a Christian they wanted me to handle the funeral service. My brother and sister-in-law have not yet accepted Jesus; however, as Pastor Lim said, we must continue to pray for my brother and his wife that they will come to Christ. The Bible tells us that when we accept Jesus that our family can also come to Christ. So one by one we see how God opens the doors for people to know him as Lord and Savior.
Pastor Lim shares:
Brothers and sisters thank you for participating in our Hokkien testimony time today. As you listened or read this testimony I am sure that you realize that Jesus really is wonderful and desires to help us. Today you can also experience this by following me in prayer to ask Jesus into your heart. You can receive eternal life and experience his blessings. If you desire to do this, then follow me as I pray.
Dear Jesus, I thank you for being my Lord and Helper. At this time I admit that I have sinned. Please forgive me, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I ask you to lead and bless me. This is my prayer. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
May God bless you.
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