By Charlene Geisler
T
here was a little girl who grew up in a Taoist/Buddhist family in Singapore. She was pious and religious and would participate in all the religious rituals. She had never heard of Jesus. She did not know about the unconditional love of her Creator. She only knew about Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy and all the other spirits.
She grew up in fear of the spirits being mad at her and hence would cause trouble for her or her family. Perhaps that was why she always made sure she helped serve the food to the deities at the altar. Maybe she thought that by doing so, they would be happy and would leave them alone.
When she went to her new secondary school at 12, she had a classmate, Sheila, who sat next to her in class. They became great friends. Sheila tried to tell her about Jesus. She was not interested because that was a western religion. Sheila did not give up and invited her to church. She went once but she thought she had made her gods mad by doing so and she never went again.
In 1986, Luis Palau Association was supposed to go to the Philippines for their big evangelistic crusade in Southeast Asia. However, due to logistic and financial reasons, they could not hold it in the Philippines and instead, they came to Singapore.
A year later after the failed church visit, Sheila invited this girl to a Luis Palau Crusade that was to be held in the National Stadium in Singapore. For some reason, this girl said yes. She had never gone anywhere far or at night without her family. However it so happened that her National Cadet Corp (an extra curricular activity in school) was picked to be part of the National Day parade that year and rehearsals would begin the following weekend at the National Stadium. So she lied to her family that she was going to the rehearsal when in fact, she went to the crusade.
So on June 4, 1986, she heard the whole presentation of the gospel for the first time. She heard about the unconditional love of her Heavenly Father and Jesus who came to die for her. When the altar call was made, she left her friends in the seats in the stadium and walked down to the football field as the song ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’ played. This girl gave her life to Jesus.
Her life was changed forever that night.
That little girl was me.
Ten years later, I met my future husband. We got married and now, 34 years since that day at the National Stadium in Singapore, NGIM is exploring ways to partner with the Luis Palau Association to better equip Christians around the globe.
God has a plan for each and everyone of us. I know that but until I learned recently how the plan for Luis Palau Crusade changed from being in the Philippines to being in Singapore, I now had an idea how intricate that plan was for my life! I finally had a glimpse of the way God’s sovereign plan intersected with my life. Because of the switch in locations, I got to hear the gospel. God works intricately in every details of our lives.
My story is not over. But I am so thankful that God allowed me to see how He had intervened so that I could know Him. I am chosen but free.
Charlene Geisler, has been writing Charlene’s Corner for the ministry newsletter since she and her husband David Geisler began ministering as missionaries in Asia.
Learn more about our growing NGIM Women’s Ministry.
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Read the devotional books for women co-authored by Charlene Geisler, T.R.U.S.T. and H.O.P.E.
What a powerful commentary on how God can close a door and open the windows of Heaven! Thanks for sharing!!!!
We rejoice with you, Charlene! What a great reminder of the power of the Body unified and mobilized around the Gospel proclaimed! I also responded to the Good News, invited by faithful praying believers, at a Luis Palau mission. For me, 1993 Kingston Jamaica. To God be the glory. Harvest is plentiful!