If you had told me a year ago that I would be a Christian today, I would have laughed.
For 40 years, I was Buddhist – not just in name, but in heart. The temple was my safe space. The incense, the chants, the statues – I knew them well. They were familiar, comforting, and a part of my identity. Christianity? That was a religion for other people. Not for me.
But sometimes, life takes a turn so unexpectedly, that when you look back, you could only say it was divine intervention.
My First Encounter: He Reached Out First
April 4, 2024. The day everything changed.
I was lying in a hospital bed, waiting for a major surgery. My surgeon had just told me that this was the second most complex procedure he had ever performed – after a liver transplant. A thousand “What ifs” raced through my mind:
What if something goes wrong?
What if I never wake up?
Fear wrapped around my heart like a vice. I had never felt so powerless.
And then, it happened…
I didn’t hear it with my ears. But deep in my heart, a voice spoke.
“Follow Me… I will forgive you.”
It was clear. Gentle. Loving. Real.
Was it my imagination? I didn’t know. But in that moment, an indescribable warmth washed over me. A peace I had never experienced before. The fear that had gripped me just moments before – vanished. It was as if someone had lifted it off my shoulders.
I let go. I surrendered.
And when I woke up, I was alive. In pain, yes. But alive.
As I recuperated, my mind kept returning to that voice. I couldn’t explain it, but I couldn’t ignore it either. I started listening to the Gospels on YouTube. I started seeking answers. I wanted to understand.
My Second Encounter: He Brought Me to Church
People often ask me, “Who brought you to church?… Was it a friend? A relative?”
I always tell them the truth. “It was God.”
May 21, 2024. I was driving along Chun Tin Road, lost in thought when suddenly, I burst into tears.
Not just a tear or two. I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably. I couldn’t understand why or what was going on.
And then, I heard it again. That familiar voice…
“Come to Me, My son.”
My heart trembled. I knew it was Him.
Without thinking, I pulled over. My hands were shaking as I grabbed my phone and typed one word into Google:
“Church”
The first result? Eternal Life Assembly – a church I had never heard of.
But I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to go.
It was a Tuesday afternoon. I had always thought churches only opened on weekends. But something told me – go now.
So I went.
I knocked on the office door. Someone opened it. And the moment I stepped inside, I wept.
I asked for a pastor.
Pastor Isaac led me into a room, and simply listened.
I poured my heart out. I told him everything – the voice in the hospital; the overwhelming feeling in the car; the deep, undeniable pull toward God.
Then he asked me one question.
“Do you want to follow the Lord?”
I nodded.
That day, everything changed. My past was behind me. I knew, without a doubt, that God had forgiven me.
Since then, I have been learning and growing in my faith. My wife is not a Christian yet, so I had to balance my time between family and church.
I soon found a place in the Chinese service. It was a blessing – everyone was so welcoming. I gradually grew to understand more about God, His love, and His plan for my life.
My Third Encounter: He Told Me Not to Fear
I was undergoing follow-up treatment, waiting anxiously for important test results.
Every night, I prayed, “God, are You really here? Are You really with me?”
Then, one night, I had a dream.
In that dream, I was sitting beside God. I was happy. I was at peace. I felt a joy beyond words.
When I woke up, I glanced at the clock. 3:57 AM.
For some reason, I felt the urge to Google:
“Christian prayers 3:57.”
And guess what popped up?
Lamentations 3:57 – “You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear.’”
I stared at the screen, utterly shocked.These were the words I needed to hear!
I prayed again, “God, are You really there? Are You speaking to me?”
At that instant, I felt chills – not the eerie kind, but the warm, reassuring kind. A deep peace engulfed me, something I had never experienced before. Something so surreal. Something so real.
At that moment, all my doubts vanished. God wasn’t just real – He was speaking to me. He had been with me all along!
No Turning Back
This past year has been the most transformative of my life.
I was once a nobody. But now, I am somebody. I am God’s son. And I will always be.
My parents were Buddhists for 65 years. Now, they are joyful believers in Christ.
My brother-in-law? He wasn’t just a non-believer – he used to hate Christianity. He had wanted nothing to do with it.
But today? He follows God closely and obediently.
Slowly but surely, I know that God plans to bring my entire family into His love.
And this? This is only the beginning.
Because the same God who has transformed my parents, is now transforming me.
In my fear, He spoke peace. In my search, He led the way. In my doubts, He proved Himself real.
There is no one too far that He cannot reach. No heart is too hardened that He cannot soften. No life is too lost that He cannot save.
If He could reach me, He can reach anyone.
Even you.
Raymond’s story is a powerful reminder that God is not distant or silent – He is real, personal and actively pursuing us. Sometimes, He speaks in a whisper; other times, He moves through circumstances we cannot ignore. His love reaches beyond our doubts, fears, and even long-held beliefs.
If God could call Raymond, He can call anyone. The question is – when He speaks, will we listen?
