Having received a few feedback regarding certain entries in our competition, we feel we need to clarify a few things:
- This competition is based on each writer’s individual experience and provided they can testify to them being genuine, we consider all testimonies valid and eligible for running. We hold to the guideline that each writer is entitled to their own opinions about their experiences, and in their expression of said opinions.
- Currently, this is still part of an ongoing competition. As such, the articles listed on this page are still under the prerogative of each writer and Asian Beacon will not meddle in any way with any content by any writer. If we ever publish any articles under the name of Asian Beacon, we will clearly state our stand on our statement of beliefs.
- This competition is judged purely on the writer’s testimonies and not on the finer points of theology. While the competition is still ongoing, in all cases, and in line with our respect for each writer’s individual testimonies, we adopt a ‘spirit rather than the letter of the law’ approach to each writer’s testimony.
- The Asian Beacon team will endeavour to its utmost to be fair to all participants, without any discrimination, prejudice, or favoritism to any single participant.
- In all cases, the Asian Beacon team will hold true to the conditions we have outlined in our Terms and Conditions for the competition. You may find these terms on https://asianbeacon.org/writing-competition/
Asian Beacon would like to reiterate here that we are all members of Bible-believing churches and we hold to the evangelical creed. We thank those of you who have raised your concerns and hope this will help answer your questions.
Renewal
by Jeremy Llewelyn Fidelis
“Relax, take a deep breath, and it’ll be over quickly; and don’t worry I won’t let you go”.
Growing up as a “pious” good Christian boy, my life was well, kinda normal. Being born in the small and quaint town of Seremban made this story even “normal-er”, if there’s such a word. Small town living surely has its perks. I remember going out every afternoon after I had done my homework and play football in the local ‘padang’ until sunset, riding my bicycle from dusk to dawn on the weekends, and watching MacGyver with my family at 8:30pm every week, wishing I had his good looks and genius-level inventiveness to get out of any situation.
Life was like a vanilla-flavoured ice-cream train, chugging along the tracks, nice, uneventful, somewhat bland in a sense. Now don’t get me wrong, thinking back, I have no complaints but at the back of my mind even at a young age, I always felt that I was made for more. I’m not sure if it was my love of the films I grew up with like The Goonies, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars, but the theme in all these films was one where the main character or characters are the “special one”, the one that rises above and takes charge, the one that is not “normal”. And the fact that they get the “girl” at the end was an added bonus. Hey, coming from an all-boys school, the only interaction I had with someone from the opposite sex was during Catechism, not the best venue to think about dating.
My Christian journey was probably as bland as my life was. Go to church on Sunday mornings followed by the said Catechism (can’t lie, I don’t remember anything that I learnt), and prayer groups every first Wednesday night of the month. My knowledge of Jesus was shallow, to say the least. That’s not to say that I didn’t revere or “love” Him, but in a sense, I did not think much about God or what it meant to be a “Christian” on the other six days of the week. Oh, it ramped up when it was a day of obligation like Easter or Christmas, or also if I was preparing to complete a sacrament like my First Communion or Confirmation. I would go into “holy” mode by praying whatever I was taught and also the “dreaded” Confession with the priest, always hoping that he did not recognise me by my voice. That “holy” feeling usually lasted a week tops and then it was life as per normal.
My idyllic youthful life came crashing down on the 12th of April, 1997. My sweet mother, the one I loved more than anyone one in my life went to be with the Lord. “The Lord”, I pleaded with Him, begged Him, prayed a thousand Hail Marys, shouted at Him, none of it, none of it made any difference. It seemed that He was so far away, just when I needed Him, he ditched me and my mum. Ok God, two can play at that game, my young foolish mind thought. I hardly went to church after that, and even when I drove my father there, I mostly stood outside, waiting for service to end and drove back home without a slither of thought. I never went off the deep end though, I did dip my toes in the “dark side” of town but never really went full in. Looking back, I know it was God who was trying to call me back, my guardian angels surely had their work cut out to keep me safe (reminder to give them a hug when I see them in heaven one day).
Life moved forward so quickly that in a blink of an eye, almost ten years had passed and I was due to start my first day at work in the big (and scary) city of Kuala Lumpur! Oh boy was I excited, for this small hillbilly to experience the city life, it was all that I had dreamt of. Not only that, but it was also for one of the largest IT companies in the world, who cares if it was a temp position, I was in and that’s all that mattered. Being late and dropped off the bus at the wrong location (it was pre-Google Maps era), I asked a few people for directions and sprinted to the office, hoping I wasn’t too late. Perspiring and panting, I stepped into the office and was brought into the room for new hires. As the door opened, I noticed a beautiful lady decked out in jewellery and dressed fashionably. But the “one” thing I noticed was her eyes, it was mesmerising and had an honesty about it. She immediately gave me a big smile and introduced herself. Turned out, she and I were the two new hires of the day. Soon after, the hiring manager came in and he started to give us the introduction of our roles and responsibilities. Honestly, I don’t remember much of the day, but I do remember during lunch, my new colleague said that her mum used to work around here and she knew a great place to get lunch. We walked in the hot sun, but I was happy to spend some time with her, and in the next few weeks, I regarded her as a good friend. Coincidently, we both actually stayed in the same housing area in Seremban when we were younger and her brother was coached by my father who was a hockey coach in school. My time in the company was about to end but she was offered a full-time role and we parted ways. As Shakespeare said it rightly, parting was such sweet sorrow.
A month later, I was surprised when she called me and said there was an opening in the same company for a full-time position and if I was interested. I immediately said yes, went to the local internet cafe (younger readers, do ask your older siblings about this), and emailed my CV through. I got a call and to cut a long story short, I got hired with a starting salary of RM2,000! For a single guy with no commitments, that was equivalent to King Midas’ riches. But the best thing about being re-hired was that I could reconnect with my awesome friend. There was something about her that made me so comfortable, the fire inside of her could light up any room, and it began to de-frost the cold hollowness inside of my soul and we got even closer.
One day, she asked if I was interested to attend a church service. I had nothing to do so I said yes, we went to a shop lot and I asked, so where is the church. She said upstairs and I was perplexed, a church was supposed to have a cross on its steeple. We went in and was greeted warmly. Everything started off well but then suddenly, everyone started dancing, clapping, and singing loudly. My mind tried to comprehend what was happening. You’re supposed to be quiet in church, not be so boisterous! But I did notice the joy on everyone’s faces. They were not crazy but contended.
What I did not know was that God was planning all this from the start, like a master builder, He was putting everything in place and ensuring I knew the way home to Him.
In 2008 I was baptised with my friend, who is now my beautiful wife, next to me. I am still learning from Him and His word. I am forming a new relationship with Him, as my Friend, Father, and someone who is closer than a brother. Thanks to my wife who has guided me, God has healed me and filled my every need. We have been blessed with a beautiful daughter in 2012 as well. If He can do this to a prodigal son like me, He can do it for you as well.
