This testimony was penned by Ps. Pang Ek Kwan. It was published in his memorial service bulletin. We thank his daughter, Sister Pang E-Chin for giving permission to share his story.
Ps Pang was born in 1933 in a small village Padang, Indonesia where he lived with his parents, elder brother, younger sister and grandparents. At age seven, his family left Indonesia for Singapore where they settled down in a small rented attap house at the old Tampines Road. Before World War II, his father left the family to make a living in Shanghai, China. His family was very poor. His grandfather was able to earn some money by writing letters in Chinese on behalf of elderly illiterate ladies to their children living overseas. His mother made carrot cake and yam cake – placed in a small basket for him to go sell in the village.
The Japanese invasion and occupation of Singapore (and other South-East Asian countries) was a very painful, sorrowful, and difficult time for many families. However, his family managed to survive the ordeal.
After World War II, Ps Pang studied at Kong Yong Chinese Primary School, and then completed his secondary education at Serangoon English School (SES). His final year in SES – Secondary 4 – was very trying and difficult as he had contracted nephritis (kidney disease) and had to be warded at Singapore General Hospital several times for treatment, but was not cured. Despite the illness, he managed to pass the “O-levels” with a Grade 2 Certificate – it enabled him to be accepted at the Singapore Teachers’ Training College (TTC) to train to become a teacher. At TTC, a number of Christian classmates shared their faith with Ps Pang. One particular Christian classmate James Fu was very kind, compassionate and patient – he invited him on several occasions to join his Church camp in June 1953.
But he rejected. Finally, because of James Fu’s persistence and persuasion, Ps Pang agreed to join him at his Church Bethesda Gospel Hall camp. During the 5-day camp at 5.30 pm, the speaker would share a Gospel message with the 100+ campers. Being brought up in a traditional Taoist family, Ps Pang was told never to have anything to do with “ang mo nang” (Western i.e. American or European) speakers who try to introduce Christianity. However, the camp speaker was notAmerican or European but an Indian evangelist named Dr G D James! He was so anointed by the Holy Spirit – his message so clear and powerful that at the end of his sermon on the 4th evening, Ps Pang stood up together with about 20 others, and went forward to repent, and accept Jesus as his personal Saviour and Lord. He received the forgiveness of sins as he prayed the sinner’s prayer. Not only was there such joy in his heart, he also received physical healing for his kidneys! A few days after that Church camp, Ps Pang discovered, much to his surprise and great joy that he was healed totally from nephritis – no more pain or trouble to this day! “….I am the LORD who healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:26)
Although Ps Pang received severe persecution from his family after his conversion to Christ, he was able to make it for Sunday Church services at Bethesda Gospel Hall. However, for a couple of years, he did not have the passion nor courage to share the Gospel until his (late) brother-in-law and niece introduced him to attend a church pastored by American missionaries, (the late) Rev Fred & Mrs Margaret Seaward. Ps Pang was so grateful to the Lord for the Seawards who rented a house at 4 Palm Grove Avenue, and used the hall that could seat 30 persons for Sunday evening services. While attending one of those services, the Holy Spirit convicted Ps Pang of his backslidden condition, as Ps Seaward invited those present to seek the Lord in the prayer room. While praying there, the Lord filled Ps Pang with the Holy Spirit and in the prayer room. While praying there, the Lord filled Ps Pang with the Holy Spirit and he began speaking in tongues – for close to 2 hours! It was so wonderful and joyful an experience as he emerged from the prayer room at about 9.30 pm. Ps Seaward hugged Ps Pang and said to him: “Brother Pang, this is only the beginning of many spiritual adventures that the Lord will lead you to!”
After that Sunday evening service in April 1964, the Lord gave Ps Pang such a burden to witness for Jesus in the school where he taught Mathematics and English. Thus, when many more students who heard the Gospel were converted, a Friday afternoon service at 1.30 pm (held at Bethel Assembly of God Church) was started – Truth for Youth Christian Movement(TYCM) was born! Every Friday after school, Ps Pang would be driving the Bethel Church van to a few near-by schools to fetch the students to attend TYCM. The number of converted students grew to more than 200 within a short time.
One impossible thing the Lord did for Ps Pang was to enable him to apply for a week of “no-pay leave” to attend ‘Impetus 80’, a Christian conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. There he heard the Word of the Lord from His servant Rev Murray McLees, pastor of a church in Eugene Oregon USA: “If you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will do the impossible!” He knew God was speaking – wanting him to obey Him TO DO THE RIDICULOUS i.e. to serve Him as a full-time minister! It was really “impossible” for him to convince his wife Sis Pang to agree to his resigning from the Ministry of Education in 1981- seven years before his retirement when he would have been entitled to collect his gratuity and pension for life! But the Lord did convince her!
[Ps Pang would like to give special thanks to the Lord for blessing him with a loving and beautiful lady to be his wife.]
Other impossible things the Lord did for Ps Pang, and Bethel Assembly of God Church Singapore (Bethel):
▪ A two-month trip to visit 7 large churches in 7 states in USA to study their church growth principles. The Lord marvellously supplied all the needs of Pastor and Sister Pang.
▪ The Lord wonderfully and miraculously enabled him to complete his theological education in FEAST Philippines (1986), and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield Missouri USA (1987 – 1988).
▪ He served as Senior Pastor of Bethel from August 1981 to April 2001.
▪ Preached at church camps and churches in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, India and the Philippines.
▪ Served as Committee member of the Love Singapore Movement from 1995 to 2001.
▪ The Lord enabled Bethel to obtain a bank loan to purchase a cinema hall – converted to a place of worship! And the loan was paid up by the Church within 2 years.
Last, but not least, Ps Pang gives thanks to our Lord Jesus for His love and care for him and his family, their always supportive of his service to the Lord.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE ALL PRAISE AND GLORY ! AMEN AND AMEN !
