A personal testimony of God’s quiet orchestration, extending a doctor's skills beyond physical healing to writing for the soul.
It all began in 1971. In the quiet, formative days of secondary school, a classmate shared the Gospel with me. In that flash of conviction, I surrendered my life to Christ—a decision that quietly, yet firmly, set the trajectory for everything that followed.
What seemed then like a simple, youthful choice would, in time, reveal itself as the blueprint of a divine calling: to wrestle with Scriptures and translate them into words that nourish the soul.
A Hunger That Formed a Thinker
As a young believer, a mere surface-level faith could not satisfy me. A restless, spiritual hunger drove me to dive deep into the Bible, to grapple with life’s weightiest questions. In an era long before the Internet, I buried myself in books. I found mentors in the pages of A.W. Tozer, Paul Tournier, and Watchman Nee; God was using their voices to sharpen my mind.
Through countless hours of reflection, soul-searching, and meditation, God was chiselling me into a thinker. My theology didn’t emerge from passive acceptance, but from active, gritty engagement—a faith tested, refined, and made deeply personal. Unbeknownst to me, the Creator was preparing me to do more than just believe in the Truth; He was preparing me to articulate it.
A Prophetic Word, A Future Unseen
During a spiritual retreat, Pastor Percy Campbell spoke a prophetic word over me that felt both heavy and hopeful: "You will be like a tree to many birds seeking shelter and sustenance."
As a young man, then, I could hardly grasp its meaning. But as the years unfolded, the vision came into focus. God was calling me to be a source of spiritual nourishment—a writer whose words would provide encouragement and enlightenment to others. The seed of my destiny had been planted long before I could understand the harvest it would produce.
Training Ground: The Writer Emerges
From the hallowed halls of Victoria Institution to the lecture theatres of the University of Malaya (UM), God orchestrated my environment, honing my calling through ordinary, day-to-day opportunities.
I cut my teeth as the editor of The Seladang, my school periodical, and Geiger, the magazine of the Varsity Christian Fellowship, UM. Balancing the relentless rigours of medical training with the deadline-driven world of editorial work was no small feat. But looking back, it was clearly not something that happened by chance; God had planned and directed all of it. While training as a doctor, I was also being trained to write.
Then came a defining, soul-shaking moment. While reading Ezra 7:10, I was suddenly overwhelmed. I collapsed on my desk, sobbing uncontrollably. The verse—a calling to study God's Word, live it out, and teach it—had struck a chord deep within my marrow. It wasn't just inspiration; it was a commissioning. From that moment on, my life was anchored in this divine mandate.
Guided Steps: When God Aligns Circumstances
After qualifying as a doctor, I was posted to Kelantan for compulsory government service. It seemed like a routine assignment—until I recalled a vision I had received three years earlier in a Manchester prayer meeting: a map of Malaya with the north-eastern region, Kelantan, glowing with light. God had gone ahead, illuminating the path my career was destined to take.
The challenges were real—long hours, overwhelming patient load, and the seasonal fury of annual floods. Yet, through the furnace of affliction, God was preparing me for the responsibilities of mature manhood. In those uncomfortable circumstances, I levelled up not just as a physician, but as a husband, a father, and a servant in a local Pentecostal church. If I had remained in my home town, coddled by urban comforts, I would never have experienced such personal growth.
God wasn't just directing my career; He was deepening my character. As Lamentations 3:27 reminds us, "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young."
God’s orchestration even reached into the most personal chapters of my life. For years, a girl would often walk past my home on her way to Jalan Imbi Chapel—unnoticed, a mystery. Our paths never crossed—until the precise, perfect moment.
We eventually met at a Graduates' Christian Fellowship gathering, and the connection was swift and certain. Within six months, we were married—a union that has now spanned over four decades.
More than a life partner, my wife, with her training in Mass Communication, became my "sparring partner" in writing and editing—a true companion in both life and calling. Once again, what seemed like coincidence was actually divine choreography.
Expanding Influence: The Teacher Steps Forward
Years later, while managing a bustling clinic, another verse ignited my spirit: "Enlarge the place of your tent... lengthen the cords... strengthen the stakes" (Isaiah 54:2). This wasn't a call for physical expansion, but for spiritual influence.
I stepped into the high-pressure role of Editor for Asian Beacon, Malaysia’s oldest interdenominational Christian magazine. The role stretched me to my limits, marking a pivotal transition from personal reflection to public ministry through writing. Even when health challenges forced me to step down after three years, the calling didn't vanish—it simply evolved.
From Page to Platform: The Blogger and Beyond
A new vision emerged. I started a blog called Porridge for the Soul. The name reflects my heart—to make deep spiritual truths digestible, nourishing both new believers and seasoned seekers. By leaning into my editorial roots, I hope to bridge the gap between heavy theology and everyday life, offering both simplicity and depth.
God further enlarged my "tent" by opening doors to platforms like ChristianityMalaysia.com. As the world shifted toward digital consumption, I pivoted with it, embracing the brevity of social media to ensure that the message remained relevant. Like the apostle Paul, who became "all things to all people" to reach every heart (1 Corinthians 9:22), I adapted the mode of delivery without compromising the Truth.
Even now, on days when the well of ideas seems dry, I cling onto Christ’s promise: "Whoever believes in Me, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). This remains the secret of my life’s work. It is not about self-generated striving, but a Spirit-led overflow.
Looking back, the pattern is unmistakable:
· A schoolboy hears the Gospel.
· A young believer develops a hunger for truth.
· A student is refined by the discipline of editing.
· A doctor is shaped through serving the masses.
· A husband is gifted a partner in communication.
· A writer is called to nourish the soul.
None of this is random. Every experience, every season, and every verse that has inspired my heart is part of God’s deliberate design, shaping me into a writer, a teacher and a communicator.
Since my student days, when I spent an hour each evening reading the Bible, God has been faithfully directing my steps. It is He who has enabled me to fulfil this calling—to think, to write, and to minister through words.
My prayer is simple:
That every word I write will bring encouragement, clarity, and truth to those who need it (Ezra 7:10).
That every believer seeks God, discovers his or her unique calling, and steps boldly into it (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
To God alone be all the glory.
Postscript:
Recently, someone kindly invited me to share my testimony. The above is the product from that request. Now in my senior years, I rejoice in recounting how God has faithfully led and guided me through life's journey, shaping me into the person I am today. My heartfelt prayer is that young believers will yield to the Holy Spirit and God's Word, stepping boldly into the unique calling He has prepared for each of them.
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