First Rejection
James Loo was given away as a baby because his unwed mother was too poor to support him. Raised by an elderly couple, he grew up not knowing his background. Though
the elderly couple was not well-off, they took good care of James and his other adoptive sister. When he was in his early teens, his adoptive parents decided to let James meet his biological mother.
Second Rejection
James was not prepared to see the poor living condition of his biological mother. But what hurt the teenager most was his biological mother’s decision not to have anything to do with him as she already had her own family. Bearing these hurts and rejections, James soon indulged in bad habits and was in a vicious cycle of going in and out of prison.
Start of Rehabilitation Journey
James started his Halfway House Scheme Model (HSM) program at Teen Challenge in September 2019. He kept to himself most of the time during his rehabilitation journey. Not many people around him knew of his struggles and the deep hurt he was harboring in his heart.
When a fellow resident offered to teach James to play the bass guitar, he took up the challenge despite his zero knowledge of music. This was one way James found solace and acceptance through the strumming of the bass instrument. He learned well and later was able to be part of the band during regular chapel services on Tuesday nights.
James continued to stay at Teen Challenge even after completing his HSM program. James worked full-time in a food delivery company but continued to have many inner struggles. He knew he needed help and started to associate himself with a local church. He attended church and Bible study regularly, but up to that point in his life, there was no breakthrough.
Adjusting to Independent Life
After staying for more than a year at Teen Challenge, he returned home to take care of his elderly father. His mother had passed on a few years before. James and his father loathed to stay at home as the flat was dirty and cluttered with many of his late mother’s items.
Support of the Brethren
James’ cell group members knew of his living condition and took on the mission to furnish the house. They cleared all the unwanted clutter, cleaned and painted the house, and even bought new furniture.
James’ adoptive father was an unbeliever who witnessed these acts of love. Like James, he is a quiet man who does not express his feelings outwardly.
On one visit, a group member shared with the father a simple gospel message in the elderly man’s dialect, and he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior! This group member took on the mandate and mission to evangelize
James’ father, which led to his salvation. James later testified that he was surprised that his father said the Sinner’s Prayer willingly as he knew his father had a bad experience with Christians before, and for many years had refused to join any Christian activities.
A Surrendered Life
Touched by his father’s conversion, James resolved in his heart to totally surrender his life to God. He attended counseling sessions, church services and cell group meetings. His dad still refuses to go to church with him, but he has not given up hope.
James also shared how God spoke to him to have a positive attitude towards his work as a carpenter apprentice. He had worked under a demanding supervisor and used to hate going to work. But now he has learned to enjoy his work even when he has to toil under the hot sun.
James quoted Romans 12:1-2 as his life aspiration, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”