As City Harvest Church enters into a season of remembering its mission, City News explores the impact of living out the call to “love others fervently.”
Albert and his wife, Agnes.
It used to be that Albert Lim would struggle to clear his debts, leaning on his own strength and hard work, while resenting his Christian wife Agnes for spending so much time in church. But when times got tough for Lim, the unconditional love shown to him by Agnes’ church friends changed his mind about Christianity. Here is his story.
ALBERT LIM: “LIFE CHANGES IN GOD”
I received my salvation in the year 2005. Before that I was strongly against Christianity. At that time, my wife Agnes was attending City Harvest Church faithfully. She would attend cell group meetings and church services without fail. I even chided her for her enthusiasm.
I was heavily in debt. The amount I owed exceeded S$200,000 and so I had to work very hard, and work around the clock without rest. My greatest fear was that I would fall sick, because if I was sick I couldn’t work, and no work meant no income.
I worked very hard, but I was not rewarded accordingly. My hard work continually went down the drain—my clients always found excuses not to pay me on time or they would only make partial payment. As such, my household fulfillment was affected.
A finance company towed away my car. The household water and electrical supply was cut off. I was faced with a legal suit for all the payments I could not fulfill. Life was hell; my family members lived in stress.
(L-R) Albert with his wife, Agnes, during an overseas trip.
When I was deep in financial troubles, a member of my wife’s cell group extended a helping hand to us. When she found out that our water and electricity had been cut off, without a second thought, she footed the bill on our behalf and got the supply reinstated right away. Other members of the cell group helped us to draft a reply to the legal suit. At this point, I began to change my mindset about Christianity.
I could not afford to pay these cell group members for all the services they had rendered to us, yet they were willing to help and assist me without asking for anything in return. They also blessed me with God’s Word and encouraged me to attend church. They told me that only God could turn my life around.
For a start, I only attended big events at church, such as Easter and Christmas. The teaching of God’s Word touched my heart; I felt the love of God minister deep to my soul and my heart, and I decided to give my life to God. I made a decision to attend cell group meetings and Sunday Services regularly.
Once, at service, Pastor Tan Ye Peng spoke on the laws of the harvest and suddenly I was awake! The rule of the harvest is: “We must work hard, sow the seeds in good ground, observe the Sabbath and then God will make us flourish and bring forth the harvest to us.”
Albert with the cell group he now attends regularly with his wife. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALBERT LIM.
Therefore I decided to observe the Sabbath by serving the Lord instead of working for the world. Even though I was still in debt, I decided to sow my seed in good ground. I was fearful about my unsettled debts, but still I made a commitment to set aside 10 percent of my income as my tithe to God. I also participated in CHC’s Arise and Build campaign.
My situation started to change. Doors began to open. I received orders directly from trading and shipping companies instead of doing business with sub-contractors. This meant that payment would be received directly and promptly—no more delay in payments and excuses for holding back payment.
As a result, I cleared my debts within two years of joining CHC. And till today, God’s blessings have been exceedingly abundantly above what I could ask for or imagine.
From nothing, I now own seven trailers in my logistics company. In the past, I would never have thought of taking holidays aboard, but now I have traveled to Korea, China, and Vietnam. I believe the best is yet to come as my wife and I continue to give toward the house of God.
Albert Lim
