A testimony by Ricky and Stella Yang of God’s saving grace working through their witnessing!
“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”
These words from the hymn echoed in my head as we witnessed, with solemnity and rejoicing, the ordination of one of the preachers at the conclusion of our church’s 7th Missionary Conference on 14 June 2024. The passion for souls and the testimonies from the missionaries to preach Christ even amid oppression and in custody, did not deter or distract them from the call to preach and win some to Christ; they spoke of how these things reminded us of the greater urgency and burden to rescue the perishing and care for the dying, and be truly Proclaimers of Faith “Under Fire” – which was the theme of the Missionary Conference.
On 17 June 2024, shortly after our return from the Missionary Conference, we received a call that one of our relatives, Mr Louis Lee, was taken to hospital and was in critical condition. With the Missionary Conference messages still freshly imprinted and warmly glowing in our hearts, we visited Mr Lee at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Though Mr Lee was intubated and in discomfort, he was lucid and was able to respond in short breaths and nods. We praise and thank God for the timely treatment he received and, more so, for the timely reminder of the urgency to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. We shared the Gospel message with him and pointed him to Jesus, who is mighty to save. By God’s amazing mercy and grace, Mr Lee readily said, “Amen”, and acknowledged his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and expressed his readiness for baptism in the presence of his wife, Ailene. We immediately informed Pastor Koshy and he, together with Sis Carolyn and Eld Mah, visited Mr Lee and reaffirmed his faith that evening. It was such a relief to see Mr Lee’s condition stabilised and such a joy to see how his heart has been prepared by the working of the Holy Spirit, especially through times like this, to turn to Jesus Christ. All praise and thanks to God for saving Mr Lee, and for his confession of his faith in Jesus Christ through his baptism at the hospital.
In our subsequent visits to Mr Lee, initially at the hospital and later at the nursing home, we prayed with him and regularly reminded him of the day he trusted Jesus Christ for salvation. We also learned during these visits of Mr Lee’s deep concern for his daughter, Marilene, who had Stage 4 cancer in her intestines and had been receiving treatments. Mr Lee repeatedly requested that we reach out to Marilene, and we said we would try. We also encouraged him to pray for the salvation of both his wife Ailene and his daughter Marilene.
We attempted to reach Marilene, and the opportunity came when we were informed that she was hospitalised recently in early February 2025. The Lord again reminded us of the call to rescue the perishing. We were so happy to receive a warm and hearty welcome from Marilene when we visited her at the hospital on 22 February. Though in pain and discomfort, Marilene was open to sharing with us the issues and concerns in her heart as she pondered over the uncertainty concerning which treatment option she should take for her cancer. We offered to pray for God’s direction and peace as she considered the options. At the same time, we asked if she would be open to us sharing the Gospel of peace and salvation. Again, through God’s amazing mercy and grace, she readily responded and said she had been considering doing Bible study with her neighbour. Praise the Lord for His perfect working and timing – her heart and soul have been prepared. Clearly and affirmatively, Marilene prayed with us, and confessed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom 10:9). What a joy and assurance it was when she also readily expressed her desire for baptism, and encouraged her mother, Ailene, to come to Christ, too!
Marilene’s condition took a sudden turn on 24 February when there was a rupture in her intestine, causing excruciating pain and intense discomfort. Her condition suddenly became critical, and necessitated an emergency surgery that evening. All praise and thanks to God for seeing her safely through her surgery, which thus resolved the burden of the treatment options that were weighing on her heart.
This also impressed upon us the urgency of arranging for her baptism. We arranged for Pastor Koshy and Elder Mah to visit Marilene at the Intensive Care Unit on 25 February, the day after her surgery. Though drowsy in the morning, she was alert and responsive when Pastor and Eld Mah visited that evening. Though the plan was to affirm Marilene’s faith in Jesus Christ and conduct her baptism, what a happy day and double joy it was when Ailene also opened her heart to the Gospel’s call and expressed her desire for salvation in Jesus Christ and baptism. All glory be to God for His redeeming grace through the precious blood of Jesus Christ! Mother and daughter were baptised in Marilene’s hospital that evening.
“O happy day that fixed my choice, On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice And tell its raptures all abroad.
Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day;
Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!”
Salvation is indeed of the Lord. Through His marvellous and providential working and perfect time, salvation has been brought to Louis, Ailene and Marilene in these trying times and on beds of afflictions. Please continue to pray for the Lee household, that the joy of the Lord and the sufficiency of His grace may be their strength through this trying season and in their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
All glory and praise to God! May the Lord be pleased to use us to “rescue the perishing”, “care for the dying”, and “tell them of Jesus the mighty to save”.