Anita Cheng

I grew up in a semi-Christian family. After the near-death incident my family had with me when I was small, my mom started to be more serious about Christianity. She renewed her promise with God to raise me up in a more Christian environment. To me back then, Sunday school was just a place where story telling and song singing took place, along with collecting memory verse cards, prizes and snacks which they rewarded us with. Stories in the bible always sounded like less romantic fairy tales which had odd morals for us to learn in the end. I felt the teachings never quite clicked nor had much connections to my life. I knew a church was supposed to be a place where everyone feels accepted and included, but I was lonely and didn’t have any real friends. We knew the verses and messages in our minds, but they never reached our hearts or applied to our actions. It got to a point in my life where my mom no longer forced me to attend on Sundays, so I would sit in the back and bring a book to read during the sermons.

I started going in YL in grade 8. I was allured by my brother spending each of his Fridays there and always coming back full of spirit. I would go once in awhile, depending on my mood. It was the youth camp 2004 that hit me with something I’ve never felt before. Those 3 days, I’ve experienced such peace and gladness in my heart that I wished we stayed there forever. The spiritual ‘high’ didn’t feel like it was from this world, but unfortunately, it died down after a couple of months. I remember a pastor’s wife coming up to me and asking why I wasn’t baptized yet even though I gave her the answer “I will always be a Christian.” I told her that I was waiting for something big to happen but she said “do not delay, because you’re missing out being part of the family.” That comment made me ponder for quite awhile. Last summer camp, when Pastor Sharon Koh asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus Christ for the first time or those who wanted to rededicate their lives to Him to come to the front, I knew He was calling and I went to the front. For the rest of the summer, a chain of reality hits struck my family pretty hard. We experienced vulnerabilities that we’d never thought would happen to our family. I knew it was God comforting me those nights when I cried myself to sleep and those were the times He felt so real to me.

Ever since I officially opened my doors to God, He’s only been making things for the better in my life. I became more sensitive in my actions and to people around me. It became easier to stay optimistic during bad times, and I’ve learned to be not as judgmental. I know the Lord will never desert me or lead me astray, because He is my friend that will be here with me till the very end. He was with me all along, being patient, watching over me, and nudging me back to Him. He saved my life from an unknown sickness with a miracle and I have my whole life to repay His unconditional love. I want to continue my spiritual walk with God, because I feel that my life has gained more meaning and purpose, and ultimately, eternal life.

Back to 2006 Christmas Baptismal.