Sam Lau

The process of how I became a Christian was no less a miracle than any other Christians have experienced. My grandparents were Catholics. Although my grandfather was less expressive about his faith, my grandmother constantly demonstrated her faith through her actions.

I was naturally put in a Catholic school for my elementary schooling. I was in Hong Kong back then, and the Catholic church has planted a great number of schools there. I learned about God and the things that He did through my elementary school education. I knew that I needed to surrender my life to Him, yet I held myself back and never did. I still remember one day when I was taking the school bus home, I looked out the window and said, “God if you let me see a miracle, then I would believe!” Needless to say, nothing happened. The only miracle that He has shown me was His faithfulness in bringing Christians into my life. God never gave up on me!

Our family moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong on January 28, 1985. Like many Hong Kong citizens, we immigrated to Canada to stay away from the 1997 Hand-Over! But God had other plans. My lifestyle in Hong Kong was becoming too busy for searching for God. I entered the public school system when we came to Canada. The public school system was in the very last step of phasing out Christianity at that time. The last Christian material that we received from out school was a Gideon Bible that my sister received in Grade 5 when she ordered some books through her school (1985/6). Slowly my desire to walk with God disappeared. I involved myself in spiritually dangerous games like Dungeons & Dragons out of my ignorance. Yet all this time, there were Christians beside me who simply loved me, defended for me and freely became my friends. They did not identify themselves as Christians explicitly at that time, but looking back I am certain that they were!

Our family moved out of the suburb (Coquitlam) into the city in 1988. My sister and I entered a new school. The sudden loneliness drove me to search for God again. I found my sister’s Gideon Bible and read, but I did not understand it. I met new friends in the new school. Many of these new friends were Christians. They invited me to their youth camps and other events, but my heart was too hard to go at that time. I kept in touch with these friends even after we graduated. Many of us entered the same university.

During the Christmas of my first year in university, my friends from high school invited me to their church for their Christmas production. The show was entertaining. But the message was more. It struck a chord in my heart, reminding me the stories about Jesus that I learned in my elementary school in Hong Kong. At the end of the night, there was an altar call. I wanted to step forward, but no one else did, so I glued myself to my seat. The following Easter, the same friends invited me again to their Easter show. I went again, same scenario-same reaction. I wanted to know this Jesus, yet I was afraid because I knew that He was beyond what my intellect could comprehend.

God continued to send Christians into my life. In the summer of 1991, I was in the United States with some friends. On the Sunday morning of July 28, 1991, we went to a non-denominational service. The preacher shared the Good News of Jesus Christ again. This time I accepted the invitation. I stepped forward. I thought that it was about time. I have kept myself away from God long enough.

After I accepted Jesus as my personal saviour, I did nothing. The preacher at the service told us to study the Bible and to join a church. But I tried to do it my way. I thought I could survive as a lone Christian. Then I was lured away by Satan. I was interested in spiritual matters at that time, but I was not willing to seek God. I joined one New Age Psychic group in September that year, and a New Age Self-Improvement group shortly after that. Then that Christmas, God took His hand away and let me fall. I was wounded through a broken relationship and even contemplated suicide. The New Age groups did not help. They only provided a momentary high. The New Age techniques were self-centred. “If I was positive enough, I can conquer the world!” But how was I to even pick myself up when I was in the lowest point of my life? I needed something greater than myself. I needed Someone greater than myself. God reminded me of Him. I cried out to Him day after day. Then when the new year rolled around, an old friend invited me back to his church. I joined their fellowship group, studied that Bible and found what I was longing for-God!

As I got involved with this church, my knowledge and relationship with God grew. I began to clean my spiritual life up. I quit Dungeons & Dragons and disposed of a portion of my secular music collection in October 1992. In November 7, I committed my life to full time ministry during our church’s Mission Awareness Weekend. I was introduced to the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” course after the meeting. I took the course in the January of the following year. One of the speakers was Michael Walrod, director of CanIL. His monolingual demonstration caught my interest in languages. I took SIL 1 at TWU in the summer of 1993. I enjoyed SIL 1 thoroughly. I completed my Bachelor degree in Chemistry before returning to finish the second and third course modules.

My growth as a Christian is rather similar to the patterns of the Israelites in the Old Testament. I would be in a slow growing or even maintenance stage for a while. Then a major disobedient event would put me down to the pits. But it is at these times that I seek God the hardest. The final result of my relationship with God would increase to a greater level than it was before.

The greatest change in my life after I became a Christian is my understanding of human relationships and love. Before, my concept of love was only what is dictated on television or movie theatres. “Love equals sex.” Caring, sharing and communicating were only superficial. After I became a Christian and started to study God’s word, I learned about the correct concept of love-God’s concept of love. Love is a deep and real relationship between people that causes people to share with, care for and sacrifice for each other. Sex is only allowed after two people have committed to love each other for the rest of their lives through marriage. Even until now, the major lessons that God teaches me are about interpersonal relationships. God is conforming me to the likeness of His Son.

Assurance of Salvation

I know that I am saved from eternal condemnation (Romans 6:23) because I believe (John 3:16-17) in the reality (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-37) and authority (Matthew 28:18-20) of Jesus Christ in this world and in my life (Romans 3:23-24). I have a personal relationship with God through prayer and devotion, and I know as a fact that I will be with God after my life on this earth has ceased (1 John 4:13).

Tags: experiences, Gen X, Gen Y, GenXperiences, Lau, Sam, testimony