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Stanley: I would like to ask if any of you have worked in other cities or countries after you graduated from school? I am sure some of us have the experiences of working overseas. Indeed, due to rapid globalization, we cannot avoid having to travel overseas for work purposes.

People often say you should travel and see the world as much as possible. The older generations might say that what does the scenery at the other end of the world got to do with you? While the young will often dream, and look forward to seeing other parts of the world as much as possible. What about you? What’s your view?

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In our recent programs, we have been sharing with you a series of testimonies from Stanley’s book Divine Encounters at Marketplace. Being in sales and marketing, Stanley had to travel to many countries for work. He is enriched by his trips to these different places. In today’s programme, we will share with you Stanley’s ten-year stay in Thailand.

In 2002, Stanley’s daughter, Melody began her university studies in London. His son, Newman, settled in secondary school in Singapore. Stanley’s wife, Linda also held a stable job in Singapore. But it was under these circumstances that God led Stanley to Thailand, to work for an European Commission - ASEAN COGEN Programme. The scope of the project was to facilitate the technology transfer and the implementation of specific proven European co-generation technology and equipment in the ASEAN Industrial Sector. Stanley had never expected or planned to go to Thailand, and certainly not for 10 years!

Stanley arrived in Thailand for 3 months and praying for God to open doors for Linda. God did and Linda was able to work for a German company not far from Stanley’s office at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Campus. Thus they began their new challenging journey!

Although Stanley had strong marketing expertise, he was by no means a specialist in the co-generation field. This area was in fact new to him. Stanley was required to produce flyers, brochures and other publications under tight schedules for which he felt quite out of his depth. During these moments, Stanley would take a prayer-walk outside the office located in the University campus and ask God for guidance and direction. God always answered and constantly reminded Stanley that with Him, “there is nothing that God and him cannot solve together each day.” Stanley’s boss Dr Ludo from Belgium was always amazed at these God-given ideas and the timeliness of these inspirations, which enabled them to meet their deadlines and push forward their marketing strategies. During 2002 to 2004, Stanley provided coordination and marketing support for eight highly successful mega-cogeneration projects in the ASEAN region.

Despite the hectic work schedules, Stanley never neglected to spread the gospel to people around him. His office was located inside the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Campus. Stanley and Linda stayed in a rented apartment inside the AIT campus, which was minutes away from Stanley’s office. AIT proved to be a mission field for them. They quickly discovered that there were mature students pursuing their Masters and PhDs. Some had brought their families with them. They were from over 50 different countries and all were living within the AIT campus.

In 2003, Stanley had the joy of leading his first China contact to Christ. Soon, others also accepted Christ and Stanley conducted Bible study with them on a weekly basis. At their requests, Stanley also had the joy of baptizing them before they returned to China. Today, these disciples are all over China.

In early 2004, Stanley and his team went to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam for a COGEN seminar. After the seminar ended, Stanley took official leave from work and stayed another two days for some sightseeing. On his hotel door was the day’s newspapers, The Saigon Times. He looked at the newspapers and was attracted to an advertisement about an industrial park. Stanley called up his Vietnamese disciple, Binh, and asked him about it. Binh did not know about its location but was willing to accompany Stanley there. Both hopped into a taxi to look for the industrial park. After two hours, they finally found the place. They met an officer called Tinh. Tinh gave them some information regarding the park and they started chatting. During the conversation, Stanley told Tinh that he was a Christian. Suddenly, Tinh said, “You know, it is not easy to be a Christian in Vietnam, and I am feeling very discouraged, but thank God for sending you here to encourage me.” Stanley marveled at the way God used him to encourage a new Christian who was desperate for fellowship in Vietnam. Stanley put Tinh in touch with Binh to follow up with Bible study and fellowship.

In late 2004, Stanley and his team participated in an energy exhibition at the Bangkok International Exhibition Center. Alan, a colleague, introduced Stanley to a Thai business woman at the exhibition. Her name is Da and she is also a Christian. Da invited Stanley to her house for dinner and Bible study that evening. After Bible study, Da asked Stanley to share. Although tired from the day’s work, Stanley reluctantly agreed. After about 20 minutes of sharing, a businessman from Laos suddenly stood up and said, “I was a Buddhist, but now I want to become a Christian after listening to Stanley’s sharing.” The man came and sat next to Stanley. They all laid hands on him and Stanley led him through a simple prayer to accept Christ. Then another businessman from Vietnam stood up and asked to sit next to Stanley. This man said, “I was a Roman Catholic, but after listening to you, I would like to become a Christian too.” Stanley immediately prayed for him. Everyone in the room was jubilant! At the end of the evening, Da asked Stanley if he would be willing to go and preach at her church. Stanley told Da that he would think and pray about it and they left it at that.

Da kept checking back with Stanley on Friday and Saturday but over the course of the following 2 weeks, Stanley told her that he did not feel the call to preach on those 2 Sundays at her church. The week passed and Da asked Stanley again. The answer was still a “no”. The third week, Da did not call Stanley. But during his devotion, God told Stanley that He wanted him to preach at Hope Church that week. Stanley called Da and told her that he would preach the coming Sunday. Da was excited. When the third Sunday came, Da was able to arrange for a man from the congregation to be the impromptu English-Thai interpreter. That Sunday, Stanley gave a 20-minute sharing of his life and his two experiences of death. After Stanley’s sharing, the Thai pastor asked if the audience had understood Stanley’s sharing and if anybody wanted to receive Christ, to please stand up. Nearly 150 people out of the 500 from the audience stood up and lined up to be prayed for with the Thai pastor.

In subsequent months, Da invited Stanley to share a few more times at the Bible study held at her home and Stanley met a few VIPs and retired Generals and one Admiral. One of them was the Thai Senator, Paiboon, who later become the Governor of Phuket in Thailand with much prayers. Although a man of high status, Paiboon was very humble after he became a born again Christian. He said that the Bible is a precious book as God talked to him through it. In 2012, Paiboon was diagnosed with cancer. He invited Stanley to visit him at his home in Bangkok where he was receiving treatment. Although under intensive chemotherapy, Paiboon’s face was full of joy of the Lord. Paiboon told Stanley, “Now, I have more time to do in-depth Bible study, comparing different versions of the Bible since I have more time to rest due to chemotherapy.” He also said, “I am now more forthright to tell others that I am a practicing Christian, and am not attending and doing those rituals in events that are against my Christian faith. I am no more a secret believer.” Stanley gives praise to God for this man who stood firm in his Christian principles till he passed on to be with Jesus.