Church Weekly for 30 March 2008
My dear readers,
This second instalment concludes my article on Kluang.
CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH
One early morning, the sun barely up, I heard a woman's mournful wail coming from the back of the house. There was a drizzle in the air but my curiosity gave me no rest until I found out the cause of the sorrow. Venturing into the open, I made straight for the back door.
On opening the door I came face to face with death. It was a chilling sight, the chill running down my spine, as I surveyed the man lying motionless on his back, obviously dead. Crouching over him was his wife, tenderly stroking his face with both hands, and calling his name between sobs: "Ah Ko, answer me! Why don't you speak to me!" These words were repeated over and over again. Poor woman.
I watched the falling raindrops mingling with the woman's tears falling on the dead man's unfeeling face. Suddenly I found myself crying, grieved that death had claimed another victim. Quickly I shut the door and beat a hasty retreat from the falling rain and the heart-rending scene.
Mother saw me as I made my way upstairs, "Siang Hwa, why are you wet?" I told Mother all that happened and questions which kept bothering me. "Where is the man's soul gone to? Why must man die? Do I have to die? Where will I go?"
These questions remained unanswered until Dr John Sung came two years later.
FATHER'S "JOSEPH ACT"
Most of us are familiar with Jacob's favouritism towards his son Joseph, making him a coat of many colours which aroused the brothers' envy and murderous hatred against their younger brother.
When I was eight, Father did a "Joseph act" on me. He took me to the best tailor in town and made me a beautiful suit, to my great embarrassment and reluctance. The only slight comfort was the suit was only one colour and none of my brothers raised a protest. At Chinese New Year and festive occasions, Father would take me with him, dressed up in that "Joseph suit." On important social outings Father would make me his companion and "showpiece," boasting with unconcealed pride, "This is my third son, the smartest of my eight children."
Imagine my extreme discomfort and embarrassment. No amount of protest could change Father: nothing moved him, so one just lived with it. After all, he was Father extraordinary!
MY FIRST "HOUSE CALL"
It happened in 1934 when I was nine. Miss Quek was the daughter of Father's very good friend, Pastor Quek from the same village in China. She was a teacher of English in the local Chinese school in Kluang. She had recently come from China.
One day Miss Quek fell ill with sore throat and high fever. Father had seen her earlier. He said to me, "Siang Hwa, I saw Miss Quek yesterday in her apartment up the road. You know the place - you were with me. I want you to visit her in her apartment, take her temperature, ask if she is better. Before coming home, pray with her."
Father's instructions were straightforward and explicit. I took a mercury thermometer in its case, walked the ten minute stretch of Jalan Station, found Miss Quek's apartment without difficulty.
"Good morning, Sister Sok Chang. How are you today?"
Miss Quek was better. I took her temperature, returned the instrument to its case, then I prayed for the Lord to heal her quickly. I took my leave.
"Good-bye!"
Mission accomplished I ran home and rendered my report to Father. I had successfully carried out my first home visit.
MISS WU COMES TO KLUANG
In the year 1935 there came from the city of Amoy, China, a godly lady called Miss Leona Wu to be the Principal of the Presbyterian Church Kindergarten. Mother and Miss Wu soon struck up a strong bond of Christian kinship and became fast friends.
The Hokkien-speaking Prebyterian Church had no Pastor, so Miss Wu stood in as Preacher, and did an excellent job. She taught the Bible with power and clarity. She played the organ expertly and had a beautiful singing voice. She became our spiritual counsellor.
Soon after she arrived Miss Wu told us about a wonderful preacher called John Sung, "Flame of God in the Far East." She testified, from personal knowledge, how God had raised up John Sung to revive the churches throughout China in the early 1930s. Now he was focussing on the Chinese churches in Nanyang. Wherever Dr Sung preached, Christians were revived and thousands were saved. Miss Wu's earnestness and urgency stirred our souls.
"Dr Sung is coming to Singapore in August 1935. Let the churches pray for God's blessing to be downpoured. Every family that wants to be blessed - pray and attend the meetings in Singapore."
In August our whole family attended the Dr Sung's revival meetings at Teluk Ayer Methodist Church in the last two weeks of August. There were three sessions, each lasting about two hours.
At every session the church was filled to capacity and overflowing. Hundreds of souls were saved, our family included. I attended forty meetings during the two weeks. The Gospel of salvation in all its fulness was expounded and explained by Dr John Sung.
My questions and fears concerning death and the soul, man's destiny, salvation and the eternal state, heaven and hell, were fully answered. I had my eternal salvation assured. My knowledge of fundamental Christian truths learnt from Mother and Father were reinforced by Dr Sung.
The two weeks' spiritual feeding remains in me, the bedrock foundation of my entire life ever after.
FROM KLUANG TO BATU PAHAT
One day, a group of four sporty looking men with their hunting gear walked into Father's Clinic, speaking Teochew. Father quickly struck up a spirited conversation with the leader, a Mr Frank Tan. He spoke fluent English and Malay.
Father was quickly impressed by his warm and open friendliness. "Dr Tow, you are wasting your time here. Kluang is too small for you. Batu Pahat is three times as big. There is a large Teochew community, and many rich families. Come, pay us a visit and you will agree with what I am telling you. I will introduce you to the big Teochew `towkays.' Come soon!"
Frank Tan and his group then left for a fishing and hunting trip in Mersing, two hours' drive toward the east. He promised to call again on the return trip, which he did, three days later.
Father followed him to Batu Pahat, thirty-four miles to the west. There Frank Tan gathered the Chinese Community leaders to meet Father. One visit convinced.
Next year our family pulled out of Kluang and re-located in Batu Pahat which became our home for the next two decades. As the saying goes: Man proposes, God disposes. Father's Licence to Practise was valid for Johor State. Batu Pahat was in Johor. (End of Article)
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor