One man's story changed my perception of Christianity

Romans 2:4, “... the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

During my days of studying in university, I also started to work as a part time sales promoter for Sony during the holidays. I remembered clearly, although I do not remember his face anymore, my divine appointment with this thin Denon sales promoter working in the same SAFE superstore at Bishan Junction 8. Denon is a brand of audio systems. Lets call this person Mark.

There was once I had the opportunity to have lunch with Mark. During lunch, we made casual conversation to find out a little more about each other. It was then when he took the opportunity to share his life testimony with me. He was telling me how he used to be a gangster and how God changed his life on that day when he went home crying and hugging his mother and asking her for her forgiveness. As a matter of fact, that shocked me a little as I thought he was sharing something very personal with me. Moreover, I was intrigued by the kind of stories he shared with me during his hey days like drug parties in hotels behind closed doors, gang fights etc. These are affairs of life which I would never encounter in my life given our different backgrounds.

It was the very first time someone shared with me about Jesus in such a personal and life changing manner. I even went home thinking about what he shared. Never have I ever heard of something like this regarding God. All these while what I know was this person called Jesus and a vague knowledge (not understanding) of the Christmas story. There was something special about Mark that I actually wanted to hear more from him. There was something that drew me to him. Later Mark introduced himself as a cell group leader in City Harvest Church and invited me to his church. However I rejected again. Not because of him but because of the notion of attending church. A few days later I left Bishan after my short stint and we never contacted each other again.

Nevertheless as time passed by, 10 years later, somehow I know in my heart that there was something very special about this particular encounter with Mark. After becoming a Christian and learning more about God, I believed he was speaking to me under the anointing of the Holy Spirit during that time. God has used his testimony to catch my attention. I know that Mark had played a pivotal role in watering into my life. I looked forward to see him again in Heaven.

Through this experience, I learned that in addition to sharing the gospel with a pre-believer, sharing how God changed your life with someone could also make a big impact on him and glorifying God in the process.

JY