Short Story: In his mother's footsteps...

"Run."'

That was the last word Wang Wei heard his mother say. Wang Wei never saw his mother again. She was taken away by the Communists. Sometimes. he wondered what life would be like if his mother had never believed in Christ. He would definitely still be with her and they would not be persecuted for her Christian faith. 

 Oh, how he hated her Jesus for what He made them go through!

And now his girlfriend was also beginning to believe in Christ. He had to stop her from believing in Jesus or he would lose her, too!

But Shan Shan refused to stop attending the underground church. She even wanted to bring him along.

"Don't talk to me about Jesus!" Wang Wei would say to her. "Jesus took my mum away from me! Is He going to take you away from me, too?"

"But you got to listen to this preacher! He really knows what He is talking about!" Shan Shan exclaimed.

Shan Shan accepted Christ and was soon baptized. Despite his anger at her being a Christian, Wang Wei noticed a change in her life. She no longer smoked and was more patient than he ever remembered. Whenever they quarrelled now, she was the one to give in and apologized and she no longer raised her voice at him. Why was there such a change in her? What was so special about Jesus? Why did Shan Shan and his mother dedicate their lives to Him?

Curiosity got the better of Wang Wei, and he followed Shan Shan to the underground church one day. During the worship session, Wang Wei broke down into tears for it was there he encountered a love that was deeper than the mother's love he lost. One day, the communists came for his wife and him.

And Wang Wei was proud to follow his mother's footsteps…

Short Story: The Child Soldier

Bullets whizzed past Kwame. Bullets which barely missed him. His friends, Kofi and Juma fell to the ground, blood dripping from their heads. Bodies of other comrades fell beside him, behind him, but Kwame pressed on. 

His fingers arched from firing at his enemies non-stop. But Kwame dared not stop firing. Survival was the issue. It was either him or his enemies. Kwame rather it was his enemies, rather than him. He continued firing at his enemies.

Finally, his enemies retreated. So, Kwame had survived another day.

The boy soldier took out the bible someone had given him before the battle and read. Who is this Jesus whom the bible talked of? He healed the sick, raised the dead, was meek yet unafraid of the soldiers. In fact, at His voice, they fell back.

Yet, this same man did not resist them. He could, but He chose not to. Instead, this Man chose to die that others might live.

Kwame wept.

Jesus, my hands are stained with blood. Will you forgive me, please?

Kwame slept well, gripping his bible more than he gripped his rifle. 

Short Story: The law of Demand and Supply

Tarnia went to heaven and noticed that it was beautiful but empty. Heaven had many mansions, but they had no owners. 

Why? Tarnia wondered. This seriously puzzled Tarnia. Perhaps, she would ask the Lord about it the next time she met with Him. She hoped He would give her a good answer to her question. 

 The angels suddenly sang, and Tarnia could feel the presence of the Lord draw near.

""Lord Jesus," Tarnia whispered as Jesus came towards her.

"Tarnia," the Lord replied, his eyes full of love and affection.

"Why? Why is heaven so empty?" Tarnia asked.

The Lord was silent. Tarnia thought she saw a look of sadness in His beautiful eyes.

"That is because of the law of demand and supply. There are few demands for lost souls. Therefore, heaven cannot supply. Prayers centered on personal needs and wants. People ask me for things, but they only ask me for what they need and want. Therefore, I cannot supply." Jesus replied. Tears rained down His eyes!

"Oh Lord, how we had sinned!" Tarnia cried.

"It is not too late. I am sending you back to tell my people their errors!" The Lord replied.

Tarnia awoke. So, it was a dream! But she could remember what she had seen, the empty heaven, the Lord's sad face.

I will be your spokesman. Tarnia took up her pen.

Short Story: The female vampire

I am a vampire. I loved to watch unsuspecting males come to me. I thought they deserved their deaths as I drained their blood. The looks of fear on their faces thrilled me. Yet, somewhere within me, I felt dirty. Unclean. 

Then, one day, I heard of Him. Jesus Christ. It was said that this man could perform any kind of miracles.

Hope began to reign in me. Perhaps, just perhaps, I could be a human, again. No more curses, no more days of sucking human blood, no more uncleanness. No more impurity. No more evil.

So, I visited Him at night.

"Make me a human, so that I can choose not to sin." I pleaded.

He replied, "It does not matter whether you are a human or a vampire. The choice to sin or not lies not in that."

"If you do not make me a human, I will suck your blood." I threatened.

"My blood will be given at the proper time. Tonight is not the day." He replied, with a firm conviction. I did not know what came over me, but I did not suck His blood that night.

I was very bitter over the fact that He did not respond to my plea. Then, I heard of His death, from a group of Christians I met. How it was voluntary, how He died and shed His blood so that mankind can be reconciled to their maker.

"Dear Jesus, I am a vampire, and not a human. Will you save me too?" I prayed. I had no hope that He would save me, after all, He had rejected my plea before.

Still, a change came over me. I no longer craved human blood. Instead, I fed on animal's blood. He is truly still a man of miracles!

Short Story: The Weakest Saint

Xiao Hui wished that she could die a martyr for God. She wished she was stronger, bolder, a better witness for Jesus than she currently was.

The truth was, Xiao Hui was a coward, living in Singapore. Though she had been a Christian for years, she had not shared the gospel with anyone or did anything good or great for the Lord.

She was, in her own eyes, a weak Christian, a failure, the kind of Christians that would receive the least reward in heaven.

“Jesus, if only… if only I dared suffer more for you…” Xiao Hui sighed.

Xiao Hui’s grandmother fell ill and grew weak in her body. Xiao Hui was earnest in her care towards her grandmother. No one in her family wanted anything to do with the sick and fragile old lady except for Xiao Hui. Xiao Hui made sure that her grandmother had all the care she needed until the day she passed away.

Eventually, Xiao Hui grew old herself and, on the day she was about to pass away, she felt ashamed of herself.

“My Lord, until the end, I still did not dare suffer for you or witnessed for you. I am a failure.” She died, full of regret at her insignificant life.

“Xiao Hui, welcome home. Thy faithful servant!” Jesus beamed with a smile when He met Xiao Hui.

“My Lord, I have not done anything for you.” Xiao Hui replied with shame.

“Far from it. In the little things you did, like caring for your grandmother, and preparing food for your family, you are more than worthy. It is not great work that matters to me, but little things which you do daily. Therefore, welcome home, faithful servant.” Jesus replied.

Xiao Hui smiled. She was not the weakest saint, after-all.

Short Story: The Bread that truly mattered...

Lu Xiao Cui sighed sadly as her stomach rumbled with hunger. Since her parents died and left her an orphan, she was forced to beg for food, and today, and yesterday, and many days ago, there was no one who was willing to give her anything, so she would have to go hungry. No one cared for an orphan, no one wanted to give her any food. Xiao Cui would have to starve again, tonight.

“Jesus, I am so hungry.” Xiao Cui said to her saviour, whom she accepted three years ago into her life after someone shared the gospel with her. That someone was someone who was willing to buy her a load of food after he learnt of her plight. He supplied her with one year of food at his house until he was forced to leave his home because of job requirements. That was the happiest year of Xiao Cui’s life since her parents left her an orphan. That man not only shared food with Xiao Cui, he also shared about the Bread of Life, Jesus, with her. Xiao Cui missed him deeply. She wished he was still around so that she did not have to go hungry.

Xiao Cui slept at the park; her stomach unfulfilled. She never woke from her sleep. She had starved to death because no one, not even the Christians bothered to share their food with her. That night, angels came to surround her and brought her soul to Jesus. Xiao Cui stared in wonder when she met face to face with her saviour.

“Jesus,” Xiao Cui cried as she saw the bread that satisfies all hunger.

“You will never be hungry, again.” Jesus smiled as He embraced the girl. “All because you chose to feed on the best bread in the universe—Me.”

Xiao Cui smiled and silently thanked the man who shared the gospel with her. He had given her true riches beyond all measure. She would never go hungry again, because of her faith in the Bread that truly mattered. 

Short Story: Impoverished!

The rich man feasted sumptuously, eating the feast that was set before him. He was glad that he could find food of all varieties at his feasting table. What a way to live, he was rich, he had all he needed. Yet, he ignored Lazarus, a beggar, who sat outside his house, who had nothing to eat.  Why should he care for someone who was a stranger to him? He had guests who came to his feast who he needed to entertain. There was no food to be spared for the beggar. The rich man gave Lazarus nothing. One day, the rich man died. His soul was taken by the angels to hell, where he was suffering and had nothing. He longed for a drop of water, just a drop. Yet, he could not have that. He was impoverished.

Lazarus’ stomach groaned again in hunger. It had been days since he had something to eat. He was starving, he was hungry, he desired nothing but to feed on the leftovers of the rich man’s food. Yet, even that was deprived from him. Lazarus was a beggar, and when he knocked on the rich man’s door, there was no food to be spared for him. Lazarus died of starvation one night. He was impoverished.

His soul was taken by the angels to heaven, where food was plenty and he was provided with abundant provisions. The Lord deemed him faithful in his walk with the Lord and rewarded him. Lazarus was one happy soul! He was not so impoverished, after-all.

Short Story: Glad to be persecuted for His sake

Alice sighed as she stared at the note, slipped into her locker in her dormitory. Jesus Freak. It was the same note, everyday, and she even knew who had slipped it into her locker. Alex and his gang of atheists, who mocked everyone who believed in Jesus.

At the history lesson in class, professor Tom declared that Christianity was soon to become an outdated religion as there was no historical proof of the existence of Jesus Christ.

“Anyone dared to disagree that Jesus was but a myth?” Professor Tom said, smugly.

Alice raised up her hand.

“Jesus is not a myth. He exists, His disciples are willing to die for their beliefs in Him. If He is not who He claimed to be, why will the disciples of Jesus die for their beliefs in Jesus?” Alice said.

“You are just one blinded fool, following the religion of your parents.” the professor exclaimed. “Sit down and stop arguing with me.”

“Jesus Freak!” Alex laughed out loud.

Alice left the class, feeling a bit discouraged that no one shared her belief in Jesus. Was she the only Christian in class? Should she even speak up for the Lord anymore?

Lord. Why should I be persecuted for my faith in you? Is there even a purpose in it? Alice whispered in prayer to Jesus.

At lunchtime, Sarah walked up to her.

“You are very brave,” Sarah replied. “There are many of us, Christians, in this class. But none of us dare to stand up for Jesus like the way you did. I felt very encouraged by your faith.”

Alice smiled. The Lord had answered her prayer. If she managed to encourage even one Christian brother or sister, her persecution was worth the price. Alice was glad to be persecuted for Jesus!

Short Story: The Only Wealth he needed

Alex Huang was one poor man. When he died, there was not a single dollar to his account. He left behind no house, no stocks, no money. In the eyes of the world, he was not worth envying. No one mourned his death.

While he was alive, he often went without food for many, many days!

“Pastor Alex, why did you give your food to me? You need it more than me!” One of his parishioners cried in gratitude as Alex gave this impoverished parishioner food which he bought out of the meager tithes which his poor parishioners in the village of China had brought to him. Alex served a community of poor villagers, who had nothing monetary to give to the Lord, yet Alex never complained.

“You need it more than me! I have food from my Father in heaven which you knew nothing of!” Alex replied. His food was to do the will of the Father in heaven.

While he was alive, he often went to prison for the Lord.

“Why do you keep being arrested for illegal activities?” The chief police asked, a perplexed look in his face.

“Preaching may be illegal in your and our country’s eyes, but I will gladly preach and go to jail for the Lord rather than betray His trust in me!” Alex replied.

Alex Huang was one poor man. When he died, there was not a single dollar to his account. He left behind no house, no stocks, no money. In the eyes of the world, he was not worth envying. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ mourned his death.

I had lost one good servant. The Lord cried. That, to Alex, was the only wealth he needed.

Short Story: In the Eyes of the Judge

Julie Wang was one hopeless case, in the eyes of the judge. At the age of 13 years old, she aborted twelve babies after having sex with more than 20 sexual partners. At the age of 15 years old, she was convicted of thefts numerous times, so many times that she was sent to the home for girls. When she was released from the home, she participated heavily in the drug trade, buying and selling drugs, and using drugs as well. She was a junkie, a hopeless junkie, who was a leech to society. Now, at the age of 21, she was convicted of murder, not just of one child but of several children. She was a serial killer for children. There was no hope for Julie, so the judge did what he thought was the right thing, he sentenced her to death. He would rid the society of this useless trash, hopeless menace.

Julie sat in her cell in prison and remembered a song she was taught when she went to Sunday School. Bored at having nothing to do, she began to hum to herself the lyrics of the song.

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, I am weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, for the bible tells me so.”

Tears began to stroll down her eyes as she realized how God still loves her regardless of what she had done. She accepted Christ at that moment.

Julie Wang was one worthy child, in the eyes of The Judge. At the age of 21, she received into her life the Saviour of mankind. Her past sins were forgotten and she was a brand new being in her maker’s eyes. The Judge knew he did the right thing when He chose to die on the cross for Julie. He would now be able to enjoy the presence of this useful, wonderful daughter for eternity.

Short Story: The Neglected Jesus Christ

Wylan Chan was glad he was not like other people out there in the world. He gave most of his money to charity, he was kind to strangers, he seldom told lies and he definitely never murder or stole.

He was really one of the kinder, more righteous people out there in the world.

~~

I am thirsty. Will you give me a drink?

He thirsted after the water Wylan Chan would offer him. But Wylan Chan gave himself in charity to everyone but Him.

I love you, Wylan. Will you love me back?

Wylan was kind to every stranger but Him. He doesn't need Wylan, no, he doesn't. He was Jesus, God's son, after-all, so mighty, so powerful, so great. The King of all kings.

Wylan never thought that the Son of God would thirst after the water Wylan gave freely to everyone but Him.

He was the one who the world sought to serve. He was God, and everyone chased after Him. Everyone but Wylan Chan. Wylan Chan only helped the poor and the needy. How could God ever be needy? Wylan loved everyone but Wylan never thought that Jesus, the son of God, needed his love as well.

Therefore, Wylan, the kind and merciful buddhist gave his time, gave his energies, gave his money, gave his help and gave his love to everyone but on Jesus, the one who loved him, hungered after his love more than anybody, was needy on the cross because he wanted Wylan to look at him, Wylan never gave one glance.

Jesus wept, because Wylan was kind and gave everyone a chance, but Him.

Short Story: One Lost Sheep

Evan Lee grinned. He loved God. He truly did.

He always tithed, he never failed to read the bible, he went overseas to do missionary works and gave himself fully to church ministry.

He even preached against abortions and homosexuality. Surely, no one loved the Lord as much as he did.

~~

Shu Mei wept. She hated God, although she used to be His sheep. She prayed and prayed for God to save her non-Christian father but God did not answer her prayers. She prayed for a job but God did not even give that to her.

When she came to Evan Lee and asked him why God failed her in every way, he told her God did not fail her, her sins were what separated her from Him.

She hated God. God may love other Christians, God may even love Evan Lee, but God definitely did not love her.

Shu Mei turned away from God and no longer went to church.

~~

Jesus was in pain. He wanted to tell Shu Mei that He loves her. He wanted to tell her He never forgets her. He wanted to tell her it was not her lack of faith or sins that stopped Him from answering her prayers but rather that He tried knocking hard at other Christians whom He had blessed to reach out to her but... oh... their hearts were so hard.

He tried getting someone to preach to her father, no one answered His call. When she could not get a job, he knocked at Evan Lee's heart to give her his money but Evan Lee was too busy tithing, too busy reading the bible, too busy reaching souls for Him on overseas missionary works and doing church ministry to open the door to let Jesus used him to give money to Shu Mei.

As a result, Jesus wept that Shu Mei no longer believed in Him. Oh... why didn't his ever safe 99 sheep care for this one lost sheep like Jesus did? Jesus was helpless so He wept.

Short Story: From the Tarot to the Bible

Xiao Feng is a Christian, but she loved the tarot cards like crazy. Every day, she would read books about the various meanings of the cards and she would try to offer tarot consultations to others based on the card meanings she glimpse from the books she read. She was pleased with the feedback she received from the tarot consultations she offered to others for free. The people said that her tarot consultations were very accurate and actually helped them with their lives.

Xiao Feng rarely read the bible. She spent so much time on her tarot and reading tarot for others that she just did not have the time to read the bible. As such, Xiao Feng did not know much about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit beyond the fact that Jesus died on the cross for her and had become her saviour. 

One day, while Xiao Feng was about to read the tarot card, she had a vision. In her vision, she saw Jesus and tears were streaming down His face.

"Why are you crying, my Lord?" Xiao Feng asked.

"If only you spent as much time reading the bible as you read the tarot, would I be in tears?" The Lord Jesus replied in sadness. Xiao Feng was ashamed of herself. She repented of her sins before Jesus and vowed to read the bible like she once did with reading tarot cards.

Xiao Feng is a Christian, and she loved the bible  like crazy. Every day, she would read books of the bible about various topics and she would share what she learnt based on the bible study she had. Although there were not as many people appreciating her for what she did, compared to when she read the tarot cards for them, Xiao Feng did not mind one bit.

That was the cross... she was willing to pay... for the Lord Jesus, who had given up everything to die on the cross for her. 

Short Story: Faithful in the Small things in Life

Xiao Hong wanted to serve the Lord with a passion. She was involved in all kinds of Christian activities. She served in the Worship team and taught the children in Sunday School. She tithed more than 20% of all incomes to God. She really loved the Lord.

Xiao Hong's mother Mrs. Foo was a Buddhist. She could not understand her daughter's obsession with the Lord Jesus. She just wanted a filial daughter who would help her with her household chores but Xiao Hong was never around for her.

Mrs. Foo became a bitter woman, angry that Jesus had stolen her daughter from her. She refused to believe in Christ despite Xiao Hong's desperate pleas with her to accept Jesus before she passed away. As Mrs Foo grew sicker and sicker each day in weakness, Xiao Hong began to cry desperate prayers for her mother's soul.

One day, she had a dream. In this dream, she was in heaven and Jesus was an old woman, in the form of her mother. He was poor, naked, in rags and was far from the King Xiao Hong imagined her savior to be.

"My Lord, why are you in such need?" Xiao Hong cried, unable because of her love for the Lord to see her savior in desperate needs.

"Because you neglected... me." Jesus replied.

"I had always been serving you actively. Why do you say I neglect you?" Xiao Hong cried.

"Honor your father and mother. But you never honored your mother. You are so busy serving me that you neglected the needs of your mother. Did you... ever once do household chores for her? Did you give some portions of the money you tithed to me to take care of your mother financially?" The Lord challenged Xiao Hong. "If you didn't, how would you expect me to save your mother when she thought that I had stolen you from her?"

Xiao Hong broke down and repented for her sins. 

Xiao Hong served her mother with a passion. She took her for walks at the park in the evening each day and gave some of her incomes to help her mother financially while not neglecting to tithe to her God. She let go of some of her church responsibilities to look into taking care of the needs of her mother... including helping her with household chores.

Mrs. Foo began to turn in her attitudes towards Jesus. While Mrs. Foo was still going weaker and weaker because of her sickness each day, she was willing to let Christians from Xiao Hong's church pray for her healing.

Before she passed away, Mrs. Foo became a believer in Christ. Xiao Hong was glad that by being faithful in the small things such as doing household chores, her mother's soul was saved. 

"Thank you, Jesus, for saving my mother." Xiao Hong prayed during her mother's funeral. 

Short Story: The Evil Man

Alexander Green was an evil man. At the age of 3, he stole his father’s money. At age 7, he killed a cat and its baby for the sake of fun. When he reached age 13, he dedicated himself to Satan and took drugs, and shouted vulgarities at his parents. At age 17, he sacrificed a baby to Satan and took joy at that. 

Since age 20, he had murdered countless people in the name of Satanism, did black magic and abused women for fun. He was hopeless and evil and hated Christianity above all else.

No one thought Alexander Green deserved a chance when he was convicted for serial killings at age 40. Everyone thought that the electric chair was too good for him. Alexander Green was not a man who deserved any mercy.

One man, or one God thought differently. The day before Alexander Green was to be executed for his countless evil, this man, this God visited Alexander Green in a dream.

“I can forgive all your sins… just believe in Me.” This man, this God Jesus spoke.

Alexander Green, the evil man, broke down and wept. In spite of his hopeless evil, one man, one God loves and forgives him.

The evil man repented of his wickedness. He found peace with His God and for the remaining day before he was executed, he was no more the evil man.

Short Story: The Coward Jesus died for

Zhu Hong was a hopeless coward. She had never dared to stand up for anything in her entire life. And when the Japanese invaded Singapore and captured her, she was frightened for her life. Terrified of torture, she betrayed every one of her comrades.

In the eyes of the people, she was a traitor. A disgrace. A failure.

And Zhu Hong knew it. She secretly hated herself — hated her fear, hated her weakness, hated the memory of the moment she gave in under pressure. She wished she could have been like the heroes in the stories she loved — men and women who stood firm for what was right, no matter the cost.

But she wasn’t like them. She was afraid. So terribly afraid of pain.

“No one would ever love a coward like me,” she often told herself.

Despair was all over her. She wanted to end her life… but she feared hell. As a Taoist, she believed in the torments of the Chinese underworld, and the thought of eternal suffering terrified her more than living.

Then everything changed.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…”

The hymn was at the funeral of a Christian relative. The words pierced her heart. Something in the song stirred deep within her — hope, beauty, forgiveness — things Zhu Hong never believed she could possess. 

Tears filled her eyes. Who was this Savior they sang about? Who would love someone like her?

Zhu Hong began searching — reading, listening, asking, learning. And one day, she understood.

Jesus died for her. Even her. A coward. A wretch. A woman drowning in shame.

Zhu Hong smiled for the first time in a long while. She accepted Jesus into her life.

She was still a coward — but now she was a coward loved by Jesus. A coward Jesus died for. A coward who believed.

And for Zhu Hong… that was enough.