An account of Faith Testimony of late Mdm Tan
by Shirley Yeo ( BCCM Core Team Member)
Mdm Tan has four sons. Her eldest son with special need and her youngest son, together with his wife are Christians. Mdm Tan with her second and third sons are Taoists.
Mdm Tan was first diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2018. Her condition was under control with medication then. A pastor from her eldest son's church visited her regularly and shared the gospel with her. But she told the pastor not to visit her after her eldest son was admitted to an adult Home. At the meantime, both her youngest son and his wife have been praying for her and showing love and care to her. However, they did not share their faith openly.
December 2021: Mdm Tan's condition worsened. Doctor said the cancer has “metastasized. She knew about her condition and asked her daughter in-law about her faith in Christ as she did not have the contact of the pastor who visited her often in October 2018. Her daughter -in-law cried out to God for help.
3 Feb 2022: Tan contacted my mum to borrow a walking frame. I passed my contact to her to arrange for her son to get in touch with me to collect the walking frame. I felt a sense of heavy burden for her since then .
P/S: Mdm Tan and my mum have been friends since they were in their late- teens. Presently, they are in their late eighties.
4 Feb 2022: Mdm Tan was admitted to SGH. Due to Covid 19 safe management, I was unable to get in touch with her. I shared her condition with my prayer partners and the team from Bethesda Cancer Care Ministry (BCCM) to uphold her in prayer.
23 Feb 2022: I received an update from Mdm Tan's third son that Mdm Tan would be transferring to Dover Park Hospice in 2-3 weeks. As Mdm Tan had not seen the family members since her admission due to Covid safe management policy. Brenda from the BCCM Core Team is a nurse by profession, visited Mdm Tan at SGH. She helped to setup a whatsapp video call with Mdm Tan's second son using her phone. She bought food for Mdm Tan and prayed over her also. Brenda advised Mdm Tan's son to get a phone for her and requested the ward nurses to assist her with the whatsapp video call set up so she could communicate with her family, friends and I. Mdm Tan was grateful for the love and care Brenda showered upon her. Brenda’s kind gesture demonstrated God's love and paved the way for Mdm Tan’s salvation.
28th Feb 2022: During my phone conversation with Mdm Tan, she shared that she decided to follow Jesus. I pray with her the sinner's prayer ( to repent of her sin, ask God for forgiveness and faith/belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ). All glory goes to God! Mdm Tan’s daughter-in-law shared she could tell Mdm Tan was happier than before and at peace during her chat with her. Mdm Tan shared her new found faith with my mum and her friend too!
9 March 2020: Mdm Tan’s condition deteriorated. SGH allowed five family members to visit her on-site. Jennifer Wong from BCCM Core Team led us in prayer (via text) for God to give strength to Mdm Tan. and to envelope her with His peace, love and comfort. Mdm Tan was alert and she shared with her youngest daughter- in-law that it was her own choice to follow Jesus. This is the power of prayer!
10 March 2022: Mdm Tan called me to say she would inform her 2nd & 3rd sons that she is a Christian. Mdm Tan took a stand for her faith in God. However, her sons could not accept it and would arrange a Taoist ritual. We continued to pray that she would be alert and given strength to live on for a while to experience God’s grace and to be a living testimony.
Till 13th March 2022, she was alert and able to eat the food bought by the family members though in small amounts. She actively engaged her sons to relate her final wishes.
14 March 2022: Mdm Tan was transferred to Dover Park Hospice. Her daughter-in-law told me that Mdm Tan was unable to recognize her and she was sleeping throughput the day.
P/S: The Hospice visitation policy allow four visitors per day with one visitor per hour time slot.
15 March 2022: I decided to pay Mdm Tan a visit. The time slot given to me was 2.30pm. I received a text message from Jeanette ( BCCM Core Team Member) to enquire about Mdm Tan's condition and supported me in prayer. It is the divine work of God as I did not tell anyone about my intended visitation. Upon arrival, her grandson told me he was there for more than an hour and she was still sleeping. I prayed and the Holy Spirit prompted me to stay till the visiting hour is over.
I played worship songs for Mdm Tan. Amazingly, after one song, Mdm Tan started to respond by nodding her head. After a few songs, she woke up and was able to carry out simple conversation with me. She also ate the sesame paste and spoke briefly to her 3rd son about what she wanted to eat on the phone. I did not have such an awesome encounter during worship before!
The subsequent days, Mdm Tan was able to converse with her children and grandchildren during their visits. Her 3rd son would send photos of what Mdm Tan was eating and video calls with me.
17 March 2022: Mdm Tan's 2nd son put a Taoist chanting prayer at her bedside for her to listen. When Mdm Tan was alert, she told me she was already a Christian and did not need to follow Taoist practices.
22 March 2022: Mdm Tan's daughter -in-law updated me about Mdm Tan's condition. That is, she has started to refuse food and was angry and frustrated. Her mood changed drastically.
28 March 2022: I went to visit Mdm Tan and messaged Jeanette for prayer support. I learnt that the battle belongs to the Lord and I should not just act alone.
During the visit, Mdm Tan was able to respond to me. She was ministered by the song entitled "Savior Leads Me" sung in Cantonese. I told her not to worry about what is going to happen, she nodded her head. She was calm after the prayer and worship. I shared the conversation I had with Mdm Tan with her 3rd son.
Mdm Tan went home to be with the Lord at 3.00am on Tuesday, 29th March 2022.
Mdm Tan proclaimed Christ
Mdm Loh who is 90 years old, a phone buddy of Mdm Tan, had a long conversation with Mdm Tan on one of the evenings. Mdm Tan explained her decision to follow Christ to her. Upon hearing Mdm Tan has gone home to be with the Lord, she decided to get baptized in May. She was indecisive in accepting Jesus previously because she had bought a niche in the temple.
Glory to God!
I am very encouraged and felt uplifted by our indescribable God. The last two months were indeed my amazing experiences with God. The works of our awesome and almighty God in Mdm Tan’s life after prayer and worship.
- Last December 2021, I was convicted to serve God in BCCM. The team is very supportive in prayers and deeds in reaching out to Mdm Tan.
- Her youngest son and his wife sow love, care and prayer tirelessly. The Holy Spirit convicts His people to journey with them. First, He sent a pastor to share the gospel and then BCCM to reap the harvest.
- God used a walking frame request from Mdm Tan to link me up with her and Brenda ‘s video call arrangement for her family to open the gateway for her salvation. God works in ways that we least expected.
- God sustained Mdm Tan and kept her alert till she has met all her family members and shared her final wishes with them. Her 3rd son is able to recognize God’s divine works in her life. I am very encouraged and felt uplifted by our indescribable God. The last two months were indeed my amazing experiences with God. The works of our awesome and almighty God in Mdm Tan’s life after prayer and worship. Glory TO GOD
Isaiah 12:2 (ESV )
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”