Testimonies

Jason goes to Christ the King Church. You may contact him at [email protected]

Actually, the feeling of being a Christian is ever a great wonder to my life. I was born into a Buddhist Family. My parents were strict with me when I am young. I was caned ocassionally for being lazy, for not doing my homework properly. But there was once when I looked out of my window, I was comforted by a little blue cross on top of a church beside my block. (I didn't know it was a Catholic church). The next time I was caned hashly, I wept terribly and went to my window again, looking at the cross and mumbled to myself, "What is this religion which makes me so consoled? So peaceful?" I didn't have any friends who were Christians at that time. But in my heart, I asked the "God" of that church, "One day, let me know about you more".

After my PSLE, a group of Boy's Brigade missionary came to my primary school to give a talk. I joined the group as my secondary school ECA(extra curricular activity). That was my first time hearing about this special man known as "Jesus". I told myself, a devoted Buddhist at the time, that I would not convert. I left the Boys' Brigade after a year and joined another ECA NPCC.

As my mum was always naggy, the only way to escape it was to look for camping activities organised by the Community Centre. But the durations all were too short. I chose to join Church camps as they were always 5 1/2 days. I experienced fully about Christ and sang lots of hymns in St Hilda's school. On the 2nd last day of the camp, I accepted Jesus into my life. I started going to this Anglican Parish ever since I was in Sec 1.

Years passed by. I never joined any youth group and I didn't enjoy being with them. To me, a church is a place to pray 100%, not to play and pray. (Laughs.) I wished to get baptised earlier, but I couldn't. My dad would throw my Bible away or even disown me! I cried every night and prayed. My church mates encouraged me a lot. I later backslided due to pressure from by my dad. I then went astray, joining gangs and getting into fights. Thank God that I kept away from drugs! I went back to church occassionally.

Later, I worked as a cook during my weekends. I neglected my spiritual life, until I entered NS in 1999. I then realised that I couldn't cope with my military life without God. I met with an accident in camp and dislocated my shoulder. My girlfriend, who was a backslided Methodist, and I, decided to turn back to God again. We went to my old church, and was I shocked!! Its atmostphere turned totally different. I just didn't feel comfortable at all and my girlfriend laughed non-stop at the new method of prayer-"Charismatic". Then my girlfriend requested that we visited her church too, Wesley Methodist Church. Their choir was so nice, and it encouraged our hearts to open to God in singing. Finally, I decided to leave my church and proceeded to join my Anglican Diocese (HQ) St Andrew's Cathedral. Wow, that was what I was used to pray in! Liturgical and Traditional. I attempted many times to adjust myself to charismatic form of worship but I still couldn't feel intimate with God. I actually tried for 2 yrs.

After an accident and operation, I took a long medical leave and stayed at home for a year and 3 mths. That was when I started to take on debates with other Christians and Catholic in local and foreign forums. I did theological studies myself and also at Theological colleges. Finally, I felt that the Catholic churches are more like to be what a "Church" should be if you really study into them through their source, instead of from my ex-pastor who was very biased against the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). I asked my Catholic friend to bring me to his parish, and wanted to check with them whether they pray to Mary and I heard with my own ears, "NO." Also, a Catholic shop was newly open below my house last year. I was curious and thought of buying a picture of The Good Shepherd. After I paid for it, I was nervous when the boss told me,"Brother, the priest is in church now, get it blessed!". Bless? Why bless a picture? I called my ex-pastor and asked; he said it was nonsense. I disregarded his reply. This issue kept on pondering in my heart. I prayed and prayed nightly and asked the Holy Spirit to enlighten me. After a month, I searched into this issue through a Catholic search engine and through early church history. I finally prayed again, and I felt the answer was "YES". I went to the Catholic church beside my house and stood at the gate with my friend whom I brought to Christ recently. I asked one of the members there where the priest was. He told us he was giving a course in the sanctuary, and told us to go in and pray while waiting for the priest. We agreed and moved in.........

On seated with the rest, we suddenly realised we were listening to what the priest was teaching. Oh my God! It was a baptism course! It was also a course for baptised Protestants to inter-convert! It was called RCIA, and the forms were passed to us and unwittingly we filled it in! I got my picture blessed and was told to come back next Tuesday. I went home feeling uneasy and pondering on why God was leading me into this confusion! I remembered during my secondary school days, the upper secondary students always had a card with a picture of St Paul and his prayers, plus a ring and with a cross.(I didn't know it was a rosary ring, until this year).

I prayed almost every time of the day asking God, did he want me to join the Catholic Church? I asked and asked, I was "slained by the Holy Spirit" and wept bitterly, I felt lost. Monday came, and the answer was yes. I went weekly for the course up till today. My friend lost his faith and backed out. I was bapised as Anglican last Easter. I couldn't bear to leave my Anglican church where I nourished my faith, but God's call was, "You have to serve and learn in the Catholic way." I abided. Life changed in my life, most of my problems were lifted by Christ. The members treated me so well and every new member was given a gift of a Bible by the Church. Meals were provided and we was taught Love and Peace come first even before the Gospel was preached.

My parents are delighted that I have changed a lot after entering into the Catholic Faith. I have become more religious harmony, I feel happier always having fellowship with the nice old members of the church. The old people really have a lot to share with and teach us. My faith grows deeper as I attend Mass(service in Protestant term) almost daily as different readings and gospels are preached daily. As in Acts, the Christians shared and broke bread daily in their gathering grounds, I read my Bible and did prayers more often.

From young, I grew up interest in listening to Christian Chants, those were 12th century Christian songs sung plainly, using human vocals to create the music background.... so peaceful. Chants are crying to God your pains, sorrows and telling God how much we love him in ancient methods. I just love being "Medieval". I learnt what an Apostolic church which Christ established 2'000 years ago. And chants are heritage of the Catholic monks. I learnt about Mother Theresa's great compassion. My girlfriend also got more interested in Catholic faith. Instead of staying on in a Protestant circle of so many different denominations, worship styles, different interpretations, different confusing doctrines, I preferred to stay in an Apostolic Church believing what Christians believed throughout the ages since Christ. What Christ taught is, "One Faith, One Church, One People, One Heart". No matter what worship style, in teaching, we must be in one and harmony. In Catholic, I love the harmony preserved, though there are different orders, but the Mass Order is always the same. We believe in the Real Presense of Christ in Eucharist(Holy Communion) that he said once before, in Matthew 6, unless we take his blood and body (In spritual sense), we could not be his disciples, for his life-giving bread and sins-forgiving wine, gives us unity with him as one, thats how we got our harmony as one family.

I will stop here first just in case you got bored of my long-winded testimony. Actually there are more, but if you like to ask me some questions, pls do so, I would be very happy to answer; I am a defender of my Catholic faith, but would like to make peace with all denominations, explaining their wrong conception of my church. Remember, I was once a Protestant too, so I know how a Protestant was taught and whats on his/her mind. (Laughs.) God Bless.