Faith Story by Tan Sing Cheong
I was previously working a 9-6 job. But towards the end of 2022, a few things happened, and I sensed that this season was ending. A little unsure, I was prayed for what would be next in my career. At the same time the director of Rhema BTC Malaysia, Rev Genevieve, approached me and asked me to start teaching bible classes in Sarawak. I told the Lord that if You call me to teach, I will be spending a lot of time preparing myself and the materials. I would also need to travel frequently; one module is at least 3-4 days. I would need to be away from home and take leave from my work – I needed the job because I needed the money. And it’s crazy to change to a totally new career and start from zero at my age, and with the whole family to support. I prayed for 3 things; #1 – flexibility in my work so I can plan my time, #2 – bring in enough money to support my family, #3 – to do what I am passionate about. I did not share this with anyone except my wife Natalie.
In November 2022, during one of the usual Connect Group meetings at my house, one of our members, Gwen Vu, prophesied to me during the ministering time. She said “the Lord will open door for a new career that you are passionate about. God make everything beautiful in His timing.” This was exactly what I have been praying for. I kept this in my heart and wrote it down, while continuing to pray.
Two months later, I made the decision to become a Real Estate Negotiator. I resigned from my job and joined a Real Estate Agency. My fixed income became zero and I became dependent fully on commission-based income; I can only trust the Lord. I was told that in this industry, out of 10 Real Estate Negotiators, 7 will not made it to 1 year. Another 2 will be “ok-ok”, earning like what normal 8-5 jobs offered, and only 1 or less may thrive.
While I was serving my 3 months’ notice, I started bringing people for house-viewing during the weekends. During those 3 months I only managed to close a RM1000 rental case. After deductions, my net income from all the hard work was only RM700. I wondered what I had got myself into… Natalie however, is a woman of great faith – she was never worried. I however was very worried.
At about the same time, Ps Philip asked me to preach in Skyline Mandarin (SM). I told Ps Philip about my concerns – I had just started a new career and the learning curve was super steep. On top of that, I had said yes to teaching Rhema. Ps Philip prayed for me, and eventually I said yes to the Lord for Skyline Mandarin also.
By April 2023, I had finished serving my 3 months’ notice and started as a full-time negotiator. Praise be to God; I closed my first 7-figure deal during my first week of working full time. During the Revive Rally in May, Rev Ong Sek Leang prophesied saying that this is my season of fruitfulness, and that the Lord was going to bless me abundantly. I kept it in my heart and wrote that down too. This strengthens my faith.
I preached my first sermon in SM in July last year, and for the first time co-taught Rhema in Sarikei in August. The Lord continued to bring the right property listings, right vendors, right buyers, right landlords, right tenants, and I continued to close deal after deal. After I preached my second sermon in September, we flew to KL to see my mother. During the trip, my colleague called and told me that the revenue I brought in for August listed me in the top 25 nationwide that month. Since there are more than 10,000 negotiators in the agency, that make it top 0.25%! What’s more, during the second half of last year, I was constantly listed in the Sabah top performers list. I ended 2023 as the Top 6th annual performer for our Sabah Agency. Bear in mind that the first 5 were veterans in the industry… then here comes number 6 – an industry newbie, a nobody, a late comer with zero experience, a new negotiator earning merely RM700 in the 1st deal… but one who trusts in a big and faithful God! With the revenue I brought into the agency last year, I have qualified for a fully paid incentive trip to Croatia and Slovenia this year. Indeed, God is good!
I am here to testify that when the Lord calls, He will provide, He will equip, and He will qualify. I think the Lord seldom calls the qualified, but He always qualifies the called.
While reflecting on 2023, about a week before the dialogue with Datuk Edward Ong, the Lord impressed upon my heart to memorize 100 Bible verses this year. I started that very day itself. The first verse that I penned down was Matthew 6:33, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Later, when I read Datuk Edward’s book, I found that he has done the same thing of memorizing Bible verses as well, and the verse he quoted the most is this very same verse Matthew 6:33.
God is calling many of us to serve Him in various ways. I encourage all my brothers and sisters, to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, to respond and say YES to God’s calling, for He will surely provide all your needs (and mine), according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To Him be all the glory, amen.
Tan Sing Cheong