The Grace of Redemption

Twists and Turns, Pt. 2

The Testimony of Raymond Tan Swee Hoon

Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Grace of Redemption on Global Reachout.  In our most recent episode, we began to listen to the story of Raymond Tan Swee Hoon, who was involved in a life of crime that led to murder.  Through a series of miraculous events, Raymond came to faith in Jesus Christ while he was in prison.  Today, we will continue Raymond’s story as we listen to how God worked in his life after he believed in Jesus.

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One morning, the police officer handling Raymond’s case brought him the most exciting news.  “The deputy prosecutor decided to reduce the criminal charge from murder to manslaughter.  This is not a capital crime, and you would not get the death penalty, but you might need to be prepared for life imprisonment.”

“I considered myself very lucky to have escaped the gallows!”  Raymond was ecstatic!  Although he would get life imprisonment, he reckoned he might be given a one-third remission of his sentence and parole for good behavior.  This meant that he could be released when he was 70.  He was very excited, and informed his Nigerian brothers as soon as he could, and together they thanked and praised the Lord!

However, that joy was short-lived.  The very next morning, the police officer returned, looking nervous and anxious.  The police officer told Raymond, “The chief prosecutor did not approve the deputy prosecutor’s reduction of the charge.  The reason was that your accomplice was sentenced to death, so you should also be given the mandatory death penalty.”

The news shattered Raymond, and he felt as if he had been thrown from the heavens down to the pit.  He howled in fury, “Why did you give me the wrong information, and now my hopes are dashed.  It’s like taking the noose off my neck, only to put it on again!”  The officer didn’t know how to react to the torrent of enraged accusations, and kept apologizing, “I am very sorry.  The outcome is beyond what I can do.  Perhaps you might want to try praying to the God you believe in.”  

Raymond dragged himself back to his cell, and immediately started yelling at God, “Why didn’t you help me?  Why?”  In his rage, he hurled his Bible against the back of his cell, and could not calm down for a long time.

That night, something strange happened.

He dreamed that the Bible he had thrown in anger was floating in the air, with some pages torn off, and these were slowly gliding to the ground.  Then a voice said:  “Catch it!  Catch it!  Catch the page that’s coming down.”  He hesitated a moment before stretching out his hand to grab the sheet.  On it was printed Psalm 33.  Then he woke up with a shock.  

He could not wait to open the Bible to see what God had to say to him.  The first twelve verses of Psalm 33 are in praise of the Lord, and Raymond couldn’t quite see their relevance, but he gasped when he read verse 13, which says, “The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man.”  That was when he realized God had been looking down and saw him all along.

Verse 19 showed Raymond that God would “deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”  At that instant, it suddenly dawned on him that he would not die.  God was in control!  Raymond was willing to accept the price he had to pay for his crimes.  As he yielded to the Lord in complete obedience, tears of joy and gratitude gushed forth, and he sank to his knees to give thanks to God, and ask for forgiveness.  He promised to lead a Christian life that would please God.

Raymond’s case was submitted to the High Court in due course.  Since he was unable to afford a lawyer, he was assigned one by the Legal Aid Bureau.  The lawyer successfully defended him, and Raymond’s sentence was reduced to 23 years and 24 strokes.  Upon hearing the verdict, Raymond fell to his knees in the cell where he was kept in the High Court and thanked God for saving him from death.  From that day on he would only live for the Lord, in the Lord, and with the Lord in him.

The 23-year sentence was further reduced to 15 years and six months by discounting the time he had already spent in jail prior to his sentencing.  He spent most of his waking hours during the remaining 15 years drawing close to God, studying the Bible, and taking correspondence theological courses.

The years went by slowly.  As soon as Raymond was granted his six-month parole, he chose to go to Breakthrough, even though he was not “qualified,” since it was a center meant for recovering drug addicts.  God opened the way, and he was admitted after successfully going through all the interviews and tests, including medical, psychological, and social service tests.  This was the place where he began to live out his strong and renewed spiritual life.

At Breakthrough, he learned how to pray, lead praise and worship, lead cell groups, share his testimony with others, and to share God’s Word in public gatherings.  After completing his three-year spiritual discipline course, Raymond became a staff member with Breakthrough, where he still serves today.  God has been with him, guiding and protecting him throughout his Christian journey.

Something else happened during this season of life which he never thought possible even in his wildest dreams:  he married a sister, Xu Lixin, from China.  Having tasted the goodness of the Lord, Raymond was eager to share the Gospel with her when they were dating, and to lead her to Jesus.

When they were planning to get married, God blessed Lixin with a two-year work permit applied through Breakthrough, and the couple were able to serve together at the center.  This saved her much time and money traveling back and forth between China and Singapore.  Later, they even succeeded in applying for an HDB apartment.  They were very thankful to God for all the blessings he bestowed upon them.  

When they got married in 2011, Raymond was 60 years old.  He had been through a torturous and winding path in life, while Lixin, who was from Liaoning in China, never dreamed that she would one day get married and settle in Singapore.  

As they looked back on their past, they realized life’s most important lesson:  the Lord’s grace and blessing is beyond measure and is never ending.  The Bible verse that guides them each day is Matthew 6:33:  “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Thank you for joining us for today’s program.  We invite you to join us again next time on the Grace of Redemption as we continue to see how God works out his purposes in the lives of ordinary people.  Until then, God bless!