The Grace of Redemption

From Despair to Hope, Pt. 2

The Testimony of Lazarus Lim Sing Sing

Hello everyone! Welcome again to Global Reachout’s “Grace of Redemption” series.  In this series, we have the opportunity to listen to the life stories of different people, and how their lives were changed in amazing ways by their personal encounters with Jesus Christ.

In our last episode, we began listening to the testimony of Lazarus Lim Sing Sing.  At the end of our last episode, Sing Sing was in the hospital, recovering from the injuries he sustained after jumping from the window of his 15^th floor apartment while under the influence of a potent cocktail of drugs.  Sing Sing miraculously survived his fall, but was now paralyzed from the waist down, and was sunk in deep despair.

It was while he was in this deep valley, in extreme agony and feeling profoundly remorseful, when a Christian doctor began visiting him daily to care for him.  This doctor brought him food and books, and earnestly shared the Gospel with Sing Sing, telling him that Jesus loved him, and would help him.  He also taught Sing Sing how to read the Bible and pray.  

But Sing Sing was very doubtful.  “Would Jesus really love and help a useless and paralyzed person like me?  Why should the doctor care for me when we hardly know each other, and he has nothing to gain from this?”  However, the helpless Sing Sing began to feel the power of love, care, and concern.  He gradually realized it was by God’s grace that he miraculously survived his 15-story plunge.  Without further hesitation, he confessed his sins, repented, and received Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord.  His heart began to feel a peace and joy he had never experienced before, and he was full of new hope for life.

Sing Sing was due to be discharged from the hospital after 10 months and numerous surgeries.  But he was wheelchair-bound, without relatives, and homeless.  Where could he go?  Once again, he sank into deep despair and despondency, but he soon received good news.  There was another Christian doctor who had been working very hard to help arrange accommodation for Sing Sing.  He made numerous calls and contacted many places, but failed repeatedly.  Undaunted, he persevered, and finally, he found one halfway house that was willing to accept Sing Sing – Breakthrough Missions, the Gospel-based drug rehabilitation center.  This proved to be the turning point in Sing Sing’s life.

Although he had to make many adjustments to adapt to his new life at Breakthrough, Sing Sing’s heart was joyful.  Not only did he receive free board and lodging, but his spiritual and social needs were also met.  All the leaders and co-workers were ex-drug addicts, and they understood his struggles and provided constant support and comfort.  He prayed and read the Bible daily, and was built up by the Word of God.  He became more positive and optimistic as the days went by.

To strengthen his arms, Sing Sing learned and mastered the skills of copper tooling.  Later, he was able to share with much excitement, “Can you imagine?  I learned to drive a customized motorcycle.  So, even though I could not walk, I was able to transport the brothers on visitations, to church, and even on fishing trips by the sea!”  Words could not express the joy he felt.  With the newfound positive energy, he no longer felt discouraged by staircases, nor did he feel upset when taxi drivers refused to take him.  It was quite unlike the time after he was first discharged from the hospital.  At that time, he constantly blamed himself for his past mistakes when he saw others being mobile and free, because he knew he could have been free like them and not wheelchair-bound if only he hadn’t strayed into drug abuse while he was young.

After much hard work and conscientious learning over a period of time, Sing Sing acquired computer skills, learned to play the guitar, and gained the ability to drive.  Most importantly, he learned how to depend on the Lord to face every difficulty with optimism.  His life began to have a new glow, and his loneliness melted away in the love of Jesus that he experienced through his loving family at Breakthrough.  He had been concerned earlier that he would be a liability to his brothers because of his handicap, but they willingly supported him, and gave him much loving encouragement.  There was still warmth in this world, and he was able to experience it.

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God works in amazing ways!  Sing Sing was resigned to a wheelchair-bound life and to growing old without a family of his own.  Even though he dared not hope for a life partner, God had other plans for him.

Sing Sing’s life story was broadcast on television.  He hoped to use his personal experience as a warning to drug addicts that they could end up like him if they did not turn back.  Little did he expect his message to actually save a life – that of his future wife, Lee Sah.

Lee Sah’s marriage had failed, and she was distraught; in an attempt to end her life, she swallowed a large number of sleeping pills.  But then she chanced upon Sing Sing’s story on television, and it re-kindled the spark of life within her.  She felt that her personal pain was nothing to what Sing Sing had suffered, and yet he had such courage to face life.  At that thought, she dashed to the toilet, and vomited the pills she’d swallowed.  Some time later, she began to search for the person who had given her the courage and strength to go on living.

After much searching, Lee Sah found Sing Sing at Breakthrough.  She also received help from Breakthrough to emerge from the shadow of her failed marriage.  Sing Sing and Lee Sah began to serve together, and grew to understand and support each other.  Ultimately, they soon fell in love with each other.  But Lee Sah’s family objected strongly when the two began planning for their marriage.  “You just got out of a failed marriage.  Even if you decide to remarry, at least find someone healthy, normal, and dependable – not a paralyzed, ex-drug addict!  How can your life be happy?”

Undaunted by her family’s objections, Sing Sing and Lee Sah worked even harder in serving and in their visitations.  Their patience and perseverance paid off, and their sincere and positive attitudes finally won Lee Sah’s family over.  They gave their blessing to the marriage, one that was hard to come by.

The Lord not only blessed Sing Sing and Lee Sah with new life, he also gave them a lovely son, Yong En (“Forever Grace”).  The name signifies that they will remember God’s grace forever.  This happy and healthy child is now in primary school.  All of these are God’s miracles in their lives.

It has been 27 years since Sing Sing joined Breakthrough in 1992, and throughout this time, he has constantly sought spiritual growth.

He took a 3-year certificate course in Basic Evangelism at Singapore Bible College, and became a pastor on graduation.  He continued his administrative work at Breakthrough managing the finances.  He has a busy work schedule that includes counseling cases, visiting rehabilitation centers and prisons to counsel drug addicts, and traveling to different parts of the world to share his life story to inspire others.  “My greatest joy is witnessing the transformation of innumerable lives.  They are able to set up their own families, have a stable means of livelihood, and share the joy of salvation with their loved ones.”

Sing Sing himself is an example of this change.  His two sisters did not reject him for his past drug addiction, but embraced and received him fully because Jesus had transformed his life.

In Sing Sing’s words, “Falling 15 floors to the ground would have meant certain death or a vegetative state of existence for the survivor.  Praise the Lord!  I am still alive today, and although I am not able to walk, I can work with my hands, and testify with my mouth the mercy, love, and grace of God as long as I shall live.”

Sing Sing was a cripple even when his legs were normal and strong, but after he became paralyzed, he was able to walk much further.  Now he lives each day full of thanksgiving in his heart, because with Jesus in his life, all his past nightmares have turned into sweet dreams.

If you enjoyed listening to Sing Sing’s wonderful testimony, please share his story with your friends and family.  You can also listen to more amazing stories about how God has changed the lives of others through is grace and mercy on other episodes of Grace of Redemption here on Global Reachout.