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Lost and Found At Sea
His day began like any other. Shing Chiu (name has been changed) and his crew of 15 Chinese fishermen gathered their nets and set sail from the Coastal Province of Hainan, China.
But their fishing expedition came to an abrupt end when they accidentally entered Malaysian waters and were stopped by the marine police. Since they did not have a permit for fishing in Malaysian waters they were charged with a violation of the Fisheries Act and sentenced to 11 months imprisonment in Kepayan Prison in Malaysia.
It was in prison that their expedition into the Christian faith began. They attended PF Malaysia’s weekly in-prison ministry service. Some began participating in PF’s disciple class. By the time of their release, all professed belief in Jesus and were baptized. “If not for being in prison, we would never have known God,” said Shing Chiu.
When the fishermen returned to China, they told their families of their newfound faith. At the men’s request, PF Malaysia staff will travel to China to share the word of God in the fishermen’s village. PF has also put the men in touch with a local group of Christians. “Before I knew the truth, I lived in darkness,” Shing Chiu told PF workers. “Now I feel the fullness in my life.”
The ‘wrong turn’ these men made on the South China Sea that day led them to much more than a day’s catch of fish. “How great is the salvation of Jesus Christ,” remarked one of the crew members. “He searched for me, the last lost sheep. Although I walk slowly, I shall never turn back.”
