WITNESSING (6) - CALLING OF DR. H. L. TSENG

Dr. Hsien Li Tseng, a senior citizen was on his way to Germany from Vancouver to have his heart problem treated. He decided to stop on his way to visit his daughter who lived in Toronto. He had his medical degree from Germany and went to serve the government in China under General Chiang Kai Shek before WWII. By the time war started up during the Second World War, he was promoted as overseer of a number of medical departments in the Nanking area. Just before the government fell to the Communist Regime, he and his family were flown in a government plane to Sabah, East Malaysia where they settled down.

In the mid 1920's the True Jesus Church was preached to Sabah.

Dr. Tseng's wife and family became members of the church. The Encyclopedia Britannica (1973) described this church as being the third largest church in China. The church is indigenous and non-denominational. His wife and children were converted but he remained a non-believer. At times when he was perplexed on how to treat his patients, he would tell them to go and seek God. He would tell them, "I cannot do anything more for you. Go and seek God." He had heard of many miracles from his wife and family, but he remained uncommitted to the Lord.

When he retired, he settled down in Vancouver with his second wife. When he was on the way to Germany for his heart problem, he stopped in Toronto to be with his daughter. King Ling, his daughter invited us to meet her father who was now interested in Christianity. My sisters and I went to meet Dr. Tseng and his wife. We prayed and had a discussion about the church. He was not altogether unfamiliar with the doctrines of the church for his first wife was a firm believer and his mother-in-law was one of the first members to be baptized in the church in Sabah. At the end of the discussion, Dr. Tseng said that he would believe if God showed him a sign.

We knelt down to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and during prayer, the floor began to shake and move. "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31) We were speechless and filled with awe that God answered our prayers in this way. Dr. Tseng filled with emotion said, "Thank you God for giving me the Holy Spirit. I want to be baptized as soon as possible." "At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place" (Job 37:1).

We asked each other whether we felt the movement on the floor. We all confirmed it. "The earth shook, ... at the presence

of God." (Psalm 68:8) God called different people in diverse ways. It was as though God was talking to him directly. May be God shook him for being so stubborn before not to heed His call. For many years when he was practising as a doctor in Sabah, he ignored the call. It was not until he retired to Vancouver and suffering from a heart problem and wanting to go to Germany to seek a cure that God stirred his unrepentant heart. When he prayed together with the members of the church that he made up his mind instantly to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for His mercy and love toward Dr. Tseng. All glory to the Lord!

For where two or three are gathered in my name, There am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

On May 22, 1982 Dr. Tseng was baptized together with three others, Chris Yong (a student), William Blair, and Doris Wu (a student from Taiwan) in Lake Ontario. It was an unusually cold morning in May with the waves billowing and the winds howling strongly and loudly. One member was wearing a parka with a zipped hood and shivering on the beach. William Blair, a young man in his late twenties was visibly cold and running fast on the spot to keep warm. However, Dr. Tseng was very calm throughout the baptism. He did not panic, but was calm and collected in spite of the howling wind and the strong high waves churning Lake Ontario. God was with him and though he had a heart problem, he was undeterred to go into Lake Ontario for baptism by full immersion.

Dn. H. K. Ho was a senior citizen and deacon of the church. He went calmly into Lake Ontario to baptize the four new members. Evidently, God was with him. The women members on the shore were shivering from the cold, strong wind. We could barely hear ourselves singing the hymns when we had a short service after the baptism. Bro. Hsien Li Tseng was in his seventies when he decided to be baptized in Toronto and he lived up to the ripe old age of 94 years in Vancouver. Praise and thank God for His mercy and love towards Bro. Hsien Li Tseng. God had not given up on Bro. Tseng. He called him when he was in Sabah, East Malaysia, and again about half way round the world to Toronto, Canada. This time he answered the call. All glory to the Lord God.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and His righteousness unto children's children. Psalm 103:17

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious

longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

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