HOPE SINGAPORE: EX-CONVICT IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY
Jabez is a member of Hope Singapore who is an ex-convict. He spent 13 years in prison for drug-related offences before giving his life to Jesus. He is currently leading a transformed life and started a restaurant business that seeks to impact and transform the lives of other ex-convicts by providing them jobs as well as an opportunity to hear the gospel. God has blessed him in the business and has opened the door for him to expand his business into Indonesia.
1. LIFE IN THE DARK
Before knowing Jesus, I was living in hurt, violence, addiction and hopelessness.
A CHILDHOOD OF HURT
I was deeply hurt by the way I was brought up. My grandparents took care of me when I was young as my parents had to work and were too busy to be there for me. My grandfather believed in disciplining the child and in doing so, he would not spare the cane so as not to spoil the child. He would beat me badly whenever I made a mistake. My grandfather owned a provision shop. During the times when he was boiling with anger, he would grab one bunch of canes at the shop and beat me until I saw blood all over my body. I felt ashamed to go to school because of these cane marks on my face and body. Soon, I started playing truant. At the same time, I felt neglected and unaccepted at home. I started hanging out with guys on the street who were older than me. Walking beside those big brothers gave me a sense of acceptance and protection. I dropped out of school at the age of 12. In that year, I was introduced to a secret society. I strongly believed that I could become someone and I could have a bright future with the gang.
ADDICTION & CRIME
In truth, I did feel that I have a place among my peers. I became a doctor selling drugs in Geylang without license. I became a drug addict and a criminal, involved in gang fights, robberies, house breaking etc. Violence and addiction were part of my daily life. Then, I realised I have become a prisoner of my own doing. My life had gone from bad to worse. I was heavily addicted to drugs for almost 20 years. At 13, I was sentenced to a boy’s hostel and eventually, I found my way to Changi Prison. All in all, I spent almost 13 years of my life in prison and got 12 strokes of cane because of drug trafficking.
HOPELESSNESS
Prison and caning could not change me. After all this time, my parents gave up hope on me. I always thought that my life was a mess. I felt useless as I had only finished my Primary 1 education. I was so hooked on drugs that I couldn’t find my way out. It was so utterly HOPELESS that I even thought of ending my life.
2. CONVERSION
At my lowest point of life in my prison, Mr. Jason Wong, the former prison director, came to my cell, humbly sat on the floor with me and shared Christ. I was deeply touched by his humility and what he shared on that day. In the end, I accepted Jesus as My Lord and Savior. I felt remorse by my wrong doings in the past. I had hurt many people, brought shame to my family, and I had lived my life in sinful indulgence. On top of that, I was inspired by many transformed lives of other ex-convicts who had volunteered as prison counselors. I felt determined to break free from my bondage of drugs and my life of vice.
The Bible verse that ministered to my heart the most was in Jer 29:11,
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you. Declares the Lord, plan to prosper you and not harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.
The first thing I did was to renounce my gang in prison. I started reading the Bible and pray. I felt hopeful about my future. Knowing the importance of communication, I decided to learn English in prison. I kept encouraging myself that one day I would be able to read the Bible in English and that day really came! I knew that I also needed a decent job in order to start over, so I requested to learn cooking in prison to equip myself with some skills. Having started from a dish washer in the prison kitchen, I worked my way up to become the main chef. I also cooked for the condemned inmates during their last few meals. While cooking for them, this thought came to my mind, “I could have ended up like them if I didn’t mend my ways.” So right after my release, I submitted myself to a half-way house. After a nine-month program there, I went to Youth With A Mission to upgrade myself. I stayed on in YWAM (Youth With a Mission) for another two years to learn about mission and leadership. I also graduated from the School of Theology in 2010 and attained a diploma in counselling.
3. TRANSFORMED TO IMPACTING OTHER LIVES
I believe God transforms people for a purpose. He transforms our lives so that we can be a life-transformer. Now, I am also a volunteer counselor in prison. I was chosen as an ambassador of Hope by Sana. I also partner with YWAM to do a program for the young prisoner every Tuesday. During these few years, God also brought me to many nations such as Indonesia- where I shared the word of God on a TV Station – live broadcast, then on a radio station as well. Subsequently, I also visited China, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand….
In 2011, God opened the door for me to do business. With the cooking skills I picked up from prison, I came up with a Bak Kut Teh (chinese herbal pork rib soup) recipe from scratch. I co-founded and partnered with others to open two Chinese restaurants selling Bak Kut Teh and other dishes with a mission to provide ex-offenders with a new start in life to have a meaningful career. We were honored to receive the President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Start Up Award in 2012. It was my great honor to represent the company to receive the award and had dinner with the President at the Istana.
In 2013, I started Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh at Simpang Bedok on my own with an extended vision.
Soon Huat is a member of Social Enterprise Association. Besides providing jobs for ex-offenders, we also employ those who are less privileged in our community such as the elderly, homeless people and people with physical disabilities. Right now, almost 80% of our staff strength are ex-offenders and they are holding key positions in the company.
Besides focusing on training up the beneficiaries as effective employees in their various roles, learning skills in culinary and supervisory aspects and running the operations of a restaurant, I also hope to create a supportive environment where love and mutual understanding is evident. The relationship goes beyond being just employer-employees, as we treat each other like a family. I even brought some staff for weekly urine test, bailed them out when they get into trouble or assist them when they have to go to court.
As a converted ex-offender myself, I always acknowledged the importance of knowing God and walk closely with Him to overcome our weaknesses and temptations. I try my best to encourage our staff to go church, counsel them when they face problems, challenge them to shine for Jesus in our work place. I have been praying for their spiritual growth and salvation for those staff who have yet to know God. God hears my prayers and blesses all of us in Soon Huat Simpang Bedok tremendously through Hope Church Singapore and all the pastors and leaders of the church.
In October 2013, Pastor Daniel and Pastor Johanes, armed with love and a strong passion for ex-offenders, started a Life Group in our shop twice a month during off peak hours to help all our Christian staff to grow in Christ and to plant a seed of Gospel in our non-Christian staff. I saw so much change in our staff since then. I am most thankful. God also blessed me with a beautiful family beyond my wildest imagination.
I got married in 2011 and our first son now is 2 years old and my second son was born in May 2014. To the world, people may think that once you are a drug-addict, you will always be a drug addict and it is impossible to change. But today, through my life testimony and through some of the staff in our restaurants, I believe nothing is impossible with God. As I look back on my life so far, I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if Jesus Christ was not introduced to me or I didn’t receive Him as my Lord and Saviour when I was in prison.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
God has replaced my shame with honor, my pain with joy, my disappointment with hope and my bondage with freedom. I can’t rewrite my past, but I can write my future with God. To God be all the glory.
Written by Jabez Tan
Jabez Tan's story was recently featured on Strait Times Newspaper in Singapore
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/social-enterprise-soon-huat-expands-indonesia-20141021?page=17
1. LIFE IN THE DARK
Before knowing Jesus, I was living in hurt, violence, addiction and hopelessness.
A CHILDHOOD OF HURT
I was deeply hurt by the way I was brought up. My grandparents took care of me when I was young as my parents had to work and were too busy to be there for me. My grandfather believed in disciplining the child and in doing so, he would not spare the cane so as not to spoil the child. He would beat me badly whenever I made a mistake. My grandfather owned a provision shop. During the times when he was boiling with anger, he would grab one bunch of canes at the shop and beat me until I saw blood all over my body. I felt ashamed to go to school because of these cane marks on my face and body. Soon, I started playing truant. At the same time, I felt neglected and unaccepted at home. I started hanging out with guys on the street who were older than me. Walking beside those big brothers gave me a sense of acceptance and protection. I dropped out of school at the age of 12. In that year, I was introduced to a secret society. I strongly believed that I could become someone and I could have a bright future with the gang.
ADDICTION & CRIME
In truth, I did feel that I have a place among my peers. I became a doctor selling drugs in Geylang without license. I became a drug addict and a criminal, involved in gang fights, robberies, house breaking etc. Violence and addiction were part of my daily life. Then, I realised I have become a prisoner of my own doing. My life had gone from bad to worse. I was heavily addicted to drugs for almost 20 years. At 13, I was sentenced to a boy’s hostel and eventually, I found my way to Changi Prison. All in all, I spent almost 13 years of my life in prison and got 12 strokes of cane because of drug trafficking.
HOPELESSNESS
Prison and caning could not change me. After all this time, my parents gave up hope on me. I always thought that my life was a mess. I felt useless as I had only finished my Primary 1 education. I was so hooked on drugs that I couldn’t find my way out. It was so utterly HOPELESS that I even thought of ending my life.
2. CONVERSION
At my lowest point of life in my prison, Mr. Jason Wong, the former prison director, came to my cell, humbly sat on the floor with me and shared Christ. I was deeply touched by his humility and what he shared on that day. In the end, I accepted Jesus as My Lord and Savior. I felt remorse by my wrong doings in the past. I had hurt many people, brought shame to my family, and I had lived my life in sinful indulgence. On top of that, I was inspired by many transformed lives of other ex-convicts who had volunteered as prison counselors. I felt determined to break free from my bondage of drugs and my life of vice.
The Bible verse that ministered to my heart the most was in Jer 29:11,
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you. Declares the Lord, plan to prosper you and not harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.
The first thing I did was to renounce my gang in prison. I started reading the Bible and pray. I felt hopeful about my future. Knowing the importance of communication, I decided to learn English in prison. I kept encouraging myself that one day I would be able to read the Bible in English and that day really came! I knew that I also needed a decent job in order to start over, so I requested to learn cooking in prison to equip myself with some skills. Having started from a dish washer in the prison kitchen, I worked my way up to become the main chef. I also cooked for the condemned inmates during their last few meals. While cooking for them, this thought came to my mind, “I could have ended up like them if I didn’t mend my ways.” So right after my release, I submitted myself to a half-way house. After a nine-month program there, I went to Youth With A Mission to upgrade myself. I stayed on in YWAM (Youth With a Mission) for another two years to learn about mission and leadership. I also graduated from the School of Theology in 2010 and attained a diploma in counselling.
3. TRANSFORMED TO IMPACTING OTHER LIVES
I believe God transforms people for a purpose. He transforms our lives so that we can be a life-transformer. Now, I am also a volunteer counselor in prison. I was chosen as an ambassador of Hope by Sana. I also partner with YWAM to do a program for the young prisoner every Tuesday. During these few years, God also brought me to many nations such as Indonesia- where I shared the word of God on a TV Station – live broadcast, then on a radio station as well. Subsequently, I also visited China, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand….
In 2011, God opened the door for me to do business. With the cooking skills I picked up from prison, I came up with a Bak Kut Teh (chinese herbal pork rib soup) recipe from scratch. I co-founded and partnered with others to open two Chinese restaurants selling Bak Kut Teh and other dishes with a mission to provide ex-offenders with a new start in life to have a meaningful career. We were honored to receive the President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Start Up Award in 2012. It was my great honor to represent the company to receive the award and had dinner with the President at the Istana.
In 2013, I started Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh at Simpang Bedok on my own with an extended vision.
Soon Huat is a member of Social Enterprise Association. Besides providing jobs for ex-offenders, we also employ those who are less privileged in our community such as the elderly, homeless people and people with physical disabilities. Right now, almost 80% of our staff strength are ex-offenders and they are holding key positions in the company.
Besides focusing on training up the beneficiaries as effective employees in their various roles, learning skills in culinary and supervisory aspects and running the operations of a restaurant, I also hope to create a supportive environment where love and mutual understanding is evident. The relationship goes beyond being just employer-employees, as we treat each other like a family. I even brought some staff for weekly urine test, bailed them out when they get into trouble or assist them when they have to go to court.
As a converted ex-offender myself, I always acknowledged the importance of knowing God and walk closely with Him to overcome our weaknesses and temptations. I try my best to encourage our staff to go church, counsel them when they face problems, challenge them to shine for Jesus in our work place. I have been praying for their spiritual growth and salvation for those staff who have yet to know God. God hears my prayers and blesses all of us in Soon Huat Simpang Bedok tremendously through Hope Church Singapore and all the pastors and leaders of the church.In October 2013, Pastor Daniel and Pastor Johanes, armed with love and a strong passion for ex-offenders, started a Life Group in our shop twice a month during off peak hours to help all our Christian staff to grow in Christ and to plant a seed of Gospel in our non-Christian staff. I saw so much change in our staff since then. I am most thankful. God also blessed me with a beautiful family beyond my wildest imagination.
I got married in 2011 and our first son now is 2 years old and my second son was born in May 2014. To the world, people may think that once you are a drug-addict, you will always be a drug addict and it is impossible to change. But today, through my life testimony and through some of the staff in our restaurants, I believe nothing is impossible with God. As I look back on my life so far, I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if Jesus Christ was not introduced to me or I didn’t receive Him as my Lord and Saviour when I was in prison.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
God has replaced my shame with honor, my pain with joy, my disappointment with hope and my bondage with freedom. I can’t rewrite my past, but I can write my future with God. To God be all the glory.
Written by Jabez Tan
Jabez Tan's story was recently featured on Strait Times Newspaper in Singapore
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/social-enterprise-soon-huat-expands-indonesia-20141021?page=17
