If not for Jesus - by Keith July 31, 2007
Posted by Han in : Testimony , trackbackHey guys! My name is Keith. I am a pastoral staff in City Harvest KL. God has been amazingly real to me all these years. I remembered it was a Saturday morning in 1995 that my elder brother (the author of this website) woke me up from my sleep and started sharing his testimony to me.
He shared how God has been real in his life, allowing him to complete his diploma and then being offered a dream job in a MNC in Singapore! He then challenged me to accept Christ in my life that morning. Well, to be honest, my decision was 50/50. Partly because I am touched by his testimony and partly because he is my ELDER BROTHER!
I have to say that the past 12 years has been simply amazing! Walking with the Lord has become so much more exciting and rewarding. He is more real to me than 12 years ago.
I grew up in a family that have much freedom. Most of the time mum and dad were never at home. Dad’s expression of love is to work hard and provide the best for our family without complaining. And mum would always buy me whatever I want since I am the youngest. Because of wrong friends I was into gambling since primary school!
I would also catch spider to sell, steal fish from the shops to sell, and even collect limited editions card from Singapore to sell. I would gamble in every situation I can. As I grew older in my high school I even begin to spend a lot of time in the arcade or friends’ house gambling. Until today, my “buddies” would casually said to me that “Keith if not for Jesus I wonder what would you become today.”
Well, all those are my past. I completed my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with a local college and continued my degree with Monash University Malaysia in Sept 2002. The journey wasn’t easy at all, my dad left me 1999 while I was completing my final semester in my diploma. His departure was a sudden, and I was totally devastated, but through the grace of God I went through the whole season.
My brother begins to take up the responsibility as the head of the family and even financed me throughout my whole degree. There are thousands of things that I could share, but the reality of the whole matter is that God has been in control. Many would say that, if God was there, why do all these things happen? But to me, I could imagine if God weren’t there, what would have happened to me and my family.
Around end of 1999 I got to know Pastor Kevin who was serving as a pastor in an Anglican church in Sunway. While doing my final year thesis, I stepped out in faith to support Pastor Kevin to pioneer City Harvest KL, and then was known as City Outreach Harvest Church in 2001. From a humble beginning of one cell group six years ago, we have grown to more than 80 cells now, and average attendance of 1000 people.
I have got the privilege to pioneer a cell from the beginning of the church to now it’s growing to 33 cells, and it is still growing today! The journey has been fun, and I remember that I was once leading a zone of 9 cell groups and was working in the marketplace as well. That was really stretching, but nevertheless it proved that God is really able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine.
For all those that are reading this testimony, I want to encourage you to trust God. Do not limit Him in your life. Think of a life that you would truly enjoy life, while being spiritual. I can be prospering in my relationships, career, ministries, and finances while loving God and serving Him whole heartedly.
All the stories in the bible, and all the great testimonies that you have heard would only remain a theory or just a story unless you stepped out to trust Him. My friends, I believe that my days ahead are bright. It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be bed of roses, and smooth sailing, but it’s going to be a life worth living!
If it can happen to me, it can happen to you as well. Jesus loves you!
Comments»
Praise God! I have the privilege to be working along Keith. He is indeed a testimony of God’s goodness and wisdom. His preaching is always Relevant and Real! Keep up the good work bro!