Call Unto Me, And I Will Answer Thee ...
by Dn Lee Hock Chin

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 

Indeed the Lord is merciful, gracious, and full of compassion. On behalf of my family, I would like to thank and praise God for His wonderful and marvellous hand in protecting my father from danger and harm last night.

Yesterday - Tuesday afternoon- was supposed to be a routine follow-up medical appointment at the Changi General Hospital for my father's heart condition after his successful angioplasty operation last year.  I thank God for keeping him in good health all this while after the operation.

However, being 84 years old, he has been increasingly forgetful and had problems identifying roads and places especially at night.  As I was away on a business trip to Hong Kong and unsure of my return date, I've asked my third sister to accompany him for the appointment.  Being fiercely independent, he insisted on going alone and earlier than the scheduled time.  On his own, he took the taxi to the hospital and back.  However, after alighting from the taxi, he lost his way and could not find his way home.

When my youngest sister returned home from work at 7pm, he still has not returned home.  That set alarm bells ringing.  According to the hospital, he probably left around 4.00pm.  At 8.30pm, my eldest sister was anxious for my father's safety and called me shortly after I walked into the FEBC Hall for the Tuesday night prayer meeting.  I confess I was really worried because it has been more than 4 hours after his

appointment, and if he was really lost, which is a very likely possibility given his poor night vision, he would have been really tired and weak.  My sister made a police report. 

Meanwhile, various fearful thoughts raced through my mind.  Given his medical ailments, it would be extremely dangerous for him to be walking the streets, crossing busy roads at evening peak hours, etc.  He could have fainted while walking.  It was also getting late and increasingly difficult for us to locate a missing elderly person.

But as I was already in Church for the Tuesday night prayer hour, I shared this urgent prayer request with all our prayer warriors, including pastors & elders, pleading for my father's safety, and praying earnestly that the Lord may help us find him soon.  I dare not think of the possibility of him wandering outside or sleeping in some strange place through the night, or worse,....... 

I thank God for Pastor Seet and Elder Lim who prayed for me and him, which comforted my heart somewhat, giving me the peace and assurance that God had allowed this for a purpose, that His name may be glorified.   “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 

Immediately after the prayer meeting, I met with my third sister, and together we rushed to search the grounds in the vicinity of Changi General Hospital.  No sight of him.  Meanwhile, my eldest sister and brother in law drove to Chinatown and Rochor area (former home) to look for him.  My 5th sister & brother-in-law went around his home (Tampines) to search.  

At 11.00pm, I received a phone call from my 5th sister that she had found father wandering aimlessly just a couple of blocks away from home.  What a great relief!  "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Psalm 34:6.  And I immediately praised God for that wonderful speedy answer to prayer- just one and a half hours after our brethren’s prayers.  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" - thank God for all brethren present at the prayer meeting who prayed for us.  Every one of your prayer support was precious and meant so much to us.  Especially your brotherly love shown through your prayers towards me and my father.  It was so simple- a prayer - yet it’s so hard to do, and so few could keep up the discipline week after week. 

I believe it is the Lord's timing.  Because of your prayers, I could testify to my family members that God answers prayer; you were there praying for me and my father in Church.  This incident happened for the glory of God.   

Lastly, I do request your prayers for my father's salvation.  I have invited him to Church many times. Elder Khoo, Rev Wong & Sister Shirley Chew have also shared the gospel with him.  Yet his heart is hardened, and gave many excuses refusing my invitations to bring him to Church.  May the Lord have mercy on him to save Him by the blood of Jesus, to grant him repentance, that we may truly rejoice.   

with thanksgiving & gratitude,
hock chin, 29 Sep 2004