The Grace of Redemption

Twists and Turns, Pt. 1

The Testimony of Raymond Tan Swee Hoon

Hello everyone, I’m Angelie and welcome to Global Reachout.  Today, we are continuing our series “Grace of Redemption” with another episode.  This time, we’ll hear the story of Raymond Tan Swee Hoon, whose life is a testimony to how God is able to rescue criminals and change them in dramatic ways.

[Music]

Dusk descended silently, spreading like a shroud over the land.  All was quiet and calm, and most had gone to bed.  In a food center on Waterloo Street in Singapore, two pairs of fierce eyes were fixed on a hotel, observing the happenings inside.  

Raymond’s heart thumped hard as he sat in the food center.  It would have been a normal night, just like any other if he had not heard the story of his two childhood friends from Indonesia.  They seethed with anger as they spoke.  “We have been fishermen our whole lives using the blast fishing method, even though it was illegal.  Two months ago, a competitor appeared.  He was a rich and powerful boss, and threatened to harm us if we did not leave the fishing grounds.”

Ah Xiong, a close friend from Malaysia, was also with them.  He was impetuous and hot-tempered.  He became very agitated on hearing this, and started goading Raymond.  “What kind of man and friend are you if you do nothing when your friends are in trouble?”

Raymond had wanted to stay out of trouble, and did not want to be involved in the matter.  But here he was now, weapon in hand, waiting for his victim.  When the coast was clear, he and Ah Xiong sneaked into the hotel and, based on the information provided by their childhood friends, they soon found the room.  One of them then called out, “Room service.”

The door opened, and the two shoved their way in, and went for the the boss they had come for.  Ah Xiong started slashing the victim with his parang knife, and Raymond joined in when the boss fought back.  The boss soon collapsed in a pool of blood.

The boss’ shocked girlfriend dashed out of the room screaming.  Ah Xiong and Raymond fled when they heard the sound of hotel security approaching.  But in the pandemonium, Ah Xiong dropped his bag, which contained his work permit.  Ah Xiong was arrested the following year, was extradited from Malaysia, and was then hanged in 1990.

During police interrogation, Ah Xiong had revealed the identity of his accomplice, and Raymond became a wanted man in 1989.  He was a fugitive on the run for several years, always fearful and anxious.  

Raymond’s life was in turmoil once again in 1992.  He got to know a gangster, Tiger, who told him, “You have nowhere to run as a fugitive.  The only way out is to join me in committing a robbery.  We can split the loot and go our separate ways after that.”

Raymond, now penniless and desperate, was willing to use any means to cash, and agreed to work with Tiger.  The day came when Raymond, wielding an axe, and Tiger, armed with a gun, robbed three brothers in a narrow and crowded lane, in full view of passers-by.  Tiger brandished his gun to scare off those in pursuit.  Three weeks later, the police had a tipoff, and the two were arrested and jailed.  Raymond was charged with robbery and murder, the crime that he committed a few years earlier.

“My accomplice was sentenced to death, and I was sure I would meet the same fate.”  Locked in his cell, Raymond had much to contemplate.  Now that he was facing death, he reflected on his past life, and recognized how wretched, abject, and sinful he had been.  He knew he needed God’s forgiveness and salvation.

Raymond had heard the Gospel during his muddled and “glorious” phase of juvenile brawls and crime.  He was already an active gang member, having participated in fights, thefts, robberies, and blackmail.  He was soon arrested for robbery and public disturbance, and sent to a reform center for youths.  It was there that he heard of Jesus from Reverend Khoo Siaw Hua, but he did not believe then.  He was arrested again for motorcycle theft just a few days after being released, and was sent back to the center.  When he was released again, he continued his crime spree, and was jailed five times.

“Will God forgive someone like me, who has committed all those sinful deeds and manslaughter?”  Although Raymond was truly remorseful and earnestly seeking the right path, he was hesitant about becoming a Christian because he still had doubts about God.

One day, Raymond met a Nigerian prisoner in the restroom.  It was their first encounter, but the Nigerian looked at Raymond and exclaimed in amazement, “Jesus showed you in my dreams once and told me you will become a Christian one day!”  Raymond retorted, “Who are you to tell me about my future?  You are a drug trafficker, and I have killed somebody; both of us are destined to be hanged, so please stop joking.  Moreover, I don’t even have a Bible!”

The Nigerian replied very firmly, “My countryman and I are in jail, but we are innocent; we were framed, and I believe we will be exonerated in due course and walk out of this prison as free men one day.  You do not need to worry, either.  We have been sent by God to bring the Gospel of His love for the world, His death on the cross for our sins, and His resurrection on the third day.  Jesus told me in the dream that you will soon get a copy of the Bible, and you will find in it the way, the truth, and the life.”  Raymond thought this sounded absurd, and didn’t try to argue with the Nigerian anymore.  Yet four months later, the Nigerians were declared innocent and freed.

One day, a prison guard announced, “Raymond, someone is here to see you.”  To Raymond’s surprise, it wasn’t his girlfriend, but his elder sister, whom he had never gotten along with.  She came visiting with a Bible as a gift!

When he returned to his cell with his Bible, the Nigerian exclaimed, “See!  Jesus told me you would have a Bible!”  It was simply amazing!  From then on, Raymond did not treat lightly matters of the Lord.  He began to have daily fellowship and read the Bible with his Nigerian cellmates during their two-hour free time.  They would begin each session by reading out loud John 1:1-5.  At first, Raymond had difficulty understanding  what God’s Word meant, but he persevered and completed reading the Gospel of John.  In October 1992, Raymond accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

This was just the beginning of Raymond’s new life in Christ.  In the next episode of Grace of Redemption, we will hear how God worked in Raymond’s life once he became a Christian.  Please join us next time as we continue this amazing story of God’s grace in Raymond’s life!