My name is Tan Liar Tong, and I am 77. In my family—both immediate and extended—everyone is a Christian except me. My heart used to be the hardest among them.
From a young age, I was captivated by the lure of money. I longed to be rich and successful. I was also very self-reliant, trusting only in my own cleverness, hard work and determination. Over the years, through striving and saving, I accumulated wealth and lived the life of a rich man. I stayed in a condominium, owned a car, spent freely with a gold credit card, dined often in restaurants and took my family on yearly overseas holidays during the Chinese New Year.
But when I turned 60, everything changed. My business ran into one crisis after another. I tried desperately to save it by pouring all my savings into the business, even draining my wife’s bank account. In the end, I had to sell my properties, give up my car, and finally close the business. At my lowest point, friends and business partners abandoned me. I felt utterly alone.
During this time, my younger brother kept praying for me and inviting my wife and me to church. There, I heard the gospel and came to know Jesus Christ—who came into this world as a man to teach us the truth and ultimately gave his life on the cross, so that we might have eternal life through him. Listening to testimonies from brothers and sisters in church, I realised Jesus is the friend who would never leave me, even in times of deep trouble. I decided to put my trust in him and surrender my life to him.
Listening to testimonies from brothers and sisters in church, I realised Jesus is the friend who would never leave me, even in times of deep trouble. I decided to put my trust in him and surrender my life to him.
Since becoming a Christian, I have experienced the joy of the Lord. I learnt to communicate better and became more considerate towards others. Despite my poor literacy, I developed a love for the Bible and even completed a course at Trinity Theological College. I also served in the Pastoral Care Ministry. Truly, I thank God for enabling me to live a meaningful and fulfilling life!
Jesus said in John 16:33 (NIV), “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Indeed, my life still has challenges, but the Lord has never failed to be with me and help me.
In 2025, I experienced a miracle.
On 18 May 2025, I had originally planned a trip to Johor with some friends and had already paid for it. Yet somehow, I decided not to go. That very night, after watching the news at home, I went to bed. Around 12:50 a.m., I was jolted awake because of discomfort in my chest and difficulty in breathing. I went to the living room and found my youngest son, Wei Ming. By God’s providence, he had not gone to sleep yet. He quickly checked my blood pressure and discovered it was dangerously high at 207. Without delay, he rushed me to Ng Teng Fong Hospital.
Upon arrival, I was sitting in a wheelchair about to take a sip of water when I suddenly lost consciousness. My son was very alarmed and immediately called my daughter, Wei Ling, who—together with her husband—also happened to still be awake. They quickly rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the medical team wheeled me into the emergency room. They could not find a pulse—my heart had stopped. The doctors began CPR, fighting to revive me. The chances of bringing back a heartbeat in such a case—especially at my age—were very slim. Yet, by the grace of God, my heartbeat returned despite stopping for 11 minutes.
I was then transferred to the National University Hospital for emergency surgery. My children were sent home, distressed and unsure how to break the news to my wife, who depends on me greatly for daily living. My wife, Sian Moey, was deeply troubled, fearing that she would either lose her husband or be left caring for a paralysed spouse in her weak state. But as a believer, she surrendered her fears to God and prayed earnestly for my healing.
Thank God, he heard the prayers of my wife and children. The surgery went well, and I woke up three days later. Within a few days, I was able to stand and walk slowly, and I was discharged just a week later.
To many people, it might seem like I was simply lucky to have collapsed in a hospital. But to the doctors, it was a miracle they had never witnessed before. Normally, when a heart stops beating, a person will certainly die if CPR is not performed within four minutes. Even with CPR, only about 26 out of 100 people survive if the heart has stopped for a few minutes. Yet my heart had stopped for 11 minutes.
When a heart stops, the brain and other organs are deprived of oxygen, which often leads to brain damage, memory loss or paralysis. But when I woke up, my family tested my memory and found me to be just as sharp as before. I had no paralysis and could walk normally. Even my ribs were not broken during CPR—something truly remarkable, considering how brittle my bones must be at the age of 77.
Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand at every step of this journey. He kept me from going to Johor—otherwise I might have collapsed far from my family and a hospital. He kept my children awake that night so they could help and pray for me. He revived my heart after it had stopped beating for 11 minutes. He preserved my brain and body despite the lack of oxygen. Truly, only the God who created us could have done this.
The doctors were amazed and even wanted to study me, wondering if I had some unique genetic makeup. Of course, they found nothing—because it was not science, but God’s miraculous power at work.
Many elderly people often lament that old age makes them useless. But I believe being old does not mean being useless. If that were so, God would not have saved me, a 77-year-old man. As long as we still have breath and can speak, we can share about God and tell others our testimony. That is what gives our lives true meaning and purpose.
So I will continue to praise and thank the Lord! To him be all glory in heaven and on earth! Amen!
