Story of Preecha Kongkitimanon’s conversion into Christianity
Compiled by Vachiravan Vanlaeiad
I had grown up and lived in the Chinese Sukhawadee Cemetery which is located in Nong Khae District, Saraburi Province, for 40 years. This cemetery is under the supervision of Thailand’s Poleng Chinese Association. My ancestors were Chinese emigrated from Mainland China (with the last name Lim) and settled down in Chonburi Province. At 7 years of age, I had since learned Feng Chui science and astrology from various teachers who had performed spiritual ceremonies in the cemetery.
I had started my work life concerning Feng Shui since I was 10 years old. I liked watching several Feng Shui ritual performances, for ex: communicating with spirits, suppressing evil spirits, performing rituals related to the dead, etc. Even at that tender age, I was extremely interested in these things, being able to memorize correctly and accurately methods of divination as well as various procedures of ritual performances regarding cemetery Feng Shui. I had thus started to study the science of Feng Shui and realized that not only the knowledge was applied to the dead, but to the living also.
After having studied and practiced this science for not so long, I had commenced my career as Feng Shui consultant and leader at 20 years of age. I had been a renowned Feng Shui teacher and astrologer, having various outstanding customers: politicians, civil servants, business persons. Even other cemetery Feng Shui consultants in Thailand had come to consult me. The consulting fees were ranged from four thousand to more than hundred thousand Baht, depending on the level of difficulty.
Most customers came on holidays and Sundays, my business was thus good and my income quite handsome and considerable. I had been acknowledged as a Feng Shui master. This had rendered me with the opportunity to work with a most excellent and famous Feng Shui consultant and master in Thailand in constructing various cemeteries.
In 1996, I had been hired by Sapan Luang Church to build and keep its new cemetery. While working for the church as head of cemetery technicians, I was also devoted my life to Feng Shui consulting business. However, every time I worked for the church’s cemetery, I could not help myself wondering why, despite these Christians having never used Feng Shui in burying their dead, it seemed they were living happy lives. On the contrary, the cemeteries which had been built using Feng Shui, could not render happiness to the descendents of the dead, resulting in the dead being unearthed and buried again. The reason behind that was the descendants were not prosperous in both their personal lives and business.
This had rendered a series of questions: Why the descendants of the dead Christians buried in the non-Feng Shui cemetery, were so prosperous and happy despite their loss of loved ones, etc. Also, their burial rituals of the dead were interesting: singing songs and preaching, not being so serious and formal like those of the non-Christians.
At that time, I had been pondering these questions until one day I started to survey Sapan Luang Church’s cemetery and noticed that most of the epitaphs said, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” And “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.” Upon reading these I couldn’t understand the meaning of the words and I did not know, at that time, these were Bible verses.
I had kept all these queries of mine in mind. Soon after that I received all the answers and explanations about these verses from Rev. Wiwat Wongsantichon of Saphan Luang Church. Then I had tried to find the truth whether Feng Shui science could really make people rich. I started by noticing that the ones who came to ask for Feng Shui consultations or services were mostly wealthy because the service charges were very high (if the teachers were famous). I had therefore no doubt that there’s no teacher or master being able to make anyone rich (since the service seekers were already rich).
The reasons these wealthy people came to consult the teachers because they were afraid of being poor or wanted to be richer. And if the teachers could make anyone richer, why couldn’t they make the descendants of the dead rich and prosperous. Which resulted in that the descendants had to come back for us Feng Shui consultants to help them unearth and move the dead bodies to other burial sites, etc.
From then on, my thought had so changed that I did not want to give Feng Shui services to anyone anymore. But many people had still come to me for help, and I had only helped them to feel happy. Not long after that I had been ordered to repair the cemetery building works at Saphan Luang Church (Nakhon Pathom Province), I was at first shocked seeing that the place was located between the railway (at the back) and T-junction (at the front) which is deemed bad or inapplicable. According to Feng Shui principle, this location would render bad luck and poverty to the offspring of the dead.
However, after working there for about one week, I had noticed that there were many dead bodies of which their descendants were at that time famous and rich in Thai society. I then asked many teachers/masters why Feng Shui science had no influence over Christians. Most of the answers from these famous teachers were, “They have their God!” And when I had the chance to ask one of the most renowned teachers in Thailand why Christians were not subject to direction setting; picking an auspicious day and time; having their date, month and year of birth foretold; or using Feng Shui, but they were still well-off and prosperous; he reluctantly told me that, “Having God is enough for them (Christians)!”
His answer had made me very confused, and I thought, “Whoa! What about us? What about all these things we have studied, learned, and practiced. And what about an enormous amount of time we have spent on our knowledge? What is true and genuine – Feng Shui or Christianity?” The more I thought about this the more I wanted to know the God of Christians; however, I still had no chance to know Him since I did not know where to start! I did not know how to know Him!
I was astonished that even though I had worked at Saphan Luang Church’s cemetery for 8 years, why I still had not known God. During the time, around in the middle of 2005, I had confronted with many challenges, especially in my works, which were so serious that I was shot by a mark man but I could survive the shooting. Although I had known my own fate in advance that I would have misfortune on a specific date, I could not alleviate the seriousness of my bad luck or fix my fate.
When I was very distressed, being unable to solve my problems, I would make meditation to find peace in order to seek some solutions, but without success. Then I had the chance to read the book titled “The Power of Life” which was full of testimonies of the famous Thai Christians from all walks of life. At first, I did not believe anything written in it. Anyway, I was like the one who was going to drown, having no way out and no answers.
I had no choice but picked the book up and read until I found the sentence stating if we don’t confess our sins to God, what would our lives be? Suddenly I realized that I was a very sinful man since the life I had lived rendered me with the possibility of doing great and disgusting sins. Then and there I thus confessed the sins I had committed for all of my life and prayed to God; I am a sinner. I want to ask for the chance from You to be a good man and to receive a new life. After the prayers, I felt spiritually and mentally encouraged.
Then in July 2005, the cemetery’s committee members of the church had made a regular visit to the cemetery on the last Saturday of the month. This time I had so eagerly looked forward to their visit. On that day I had received a copy of Bible as a gift on which I immediately made the record, “Received from Rev. Wirat Wongsantichon on 30 July 2005.” I asked the giver about the occasion of the gift and the answer was, “I don’t know!” While having lunch with the committee members I had thought, “Why there’s nobody inviting me to church?” No sooner than I finished asking that question in my mind, Elder Tawee Suwatpanit had spoken to me, “Preecha, you should go to church once.” I immediately made the answer that I would go to church tomorrow (Sunday).
On the morning of 31 July, I, accompanied with my son, had driven for long distance (nearly 250 kilos to and fro) to the church which is located on Rama IV Road in Bangkok. That day I had experienced and seen Christians worshipping their God for the first time in my life. I had told my son that from now on we would hold tightly to the Christian principles and be devoted and dedicated to this Christian God. And we must be brave to tell others that we were Christians and must read the Bible regularly.
After I had opened my heart and soul believing in, and submitting my whole life to, God, and received water baptism in 2006 (followed by my wife and daughter), a miracle happened. That is, my father who had not been living with us for more than 20 years, had come back to stay with us, making us a complete family. And after I had signed up for the class Following Christ, I started to understand Christianity more.
Not long after this I had been contacted by my previous benefactors to help them with Feng Shui science. After consulting with Elder Suwat, I felt relieved and eager to meet with them in order to tell them about God. However, one day I was so worried that if I quit being Feng Shui consultant, what I would do to support myself and my family. That night, I had flipped the Bible to the page on which a verse was shown, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” (Psalm 23:1). When I had finished reflecting on this verse, my heart began to strengthen and then not long after that I was awarded with the building works of Maitreechit Church’s cemetery and Piamrak cemetery.
Since then, my life had been changed. I had the chance not only to proclaim God’s Words to non-believers (Feng Shui consult seekers), I also encouraged some weak Christians (who had sought my services as Feng Shui consultant!) by convincing them that our God was great because even though I, myself a Feng Shui master, had already made a 180-degree turn to worship Him. And I always told them, “Don’t give up your faith in God.”
If you are God’s children, don’t worry about your lives or your future. Neither Feng Shui nor the stars in the sky have influence over you because the Almighty God has guided and lead you and is the Lord of your lives. For “I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods” (Psalm 135:5).
Awesome testimony! Thank you for sharing it!
God is the author of our life and salvation, many times we find ourselves looking at the small picture when God has already worked out the details in the big picture. He has used you to reach out to others, may God continue to bless you and your family. This was a very fulfiling testimony!
I am so blessed by your testimony,as what the Bible says in 2Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.Be of good courage God Bless you!
God is good!! I’m so blessed by your testimony and I pray God continues to use you to spread your testimony!
What a testimony!! May God bless you in a mighty way all your life and even your family.I am trully touched!
I wanted to renovate my kitchen and after searching for a while in the internet, I realized that my kitchen was not at a very auspicious location. However, my husband had been doing well, and so was I. I am a Christian, but he is not. After deciding to extend the kitchen and reshuffle the arrangements, I realized that I was getting weaker and worried that the placement was also against Feng Shui principles. And, I began to search deeper for more clues to what placement of items will do well.
After a while, I realized that I am not getting stronger but weaker, more fearful, no guarantee that my family will be more prosperous. I had told myself that God will be my Guide and I should not worry, but I still worried. Tonight, I came across your testimony and realized the foolishness I subjected myself into. Thank you for being an instrument of God to open my eyes.
Is it ok for Christians to find out about feng shui? I just find that being too extreme is not good.
what a great testimony!!! thank you for enlightening me…I almost got into feng shui TODAY, I already talked with a feng shui consultant but after reading your testimonial, I backed-out. 🙂 GOD BLESS ALL!
I feel so encouraged and lifted by his testimony. I have been struggling all my life with a bad career and lack of financial stability. Recently I felt I’d turned the corner, having secured a job I felt is very promising and would be able to support me and my wife as we are in serious debt.
But lately I began to feel discouraged when I see my colleagues who are non believers getting very “lucky” in getting big sales tickets while I struggle. I keep asking myself why God doesn’t seem to bless me that way even though I try my best my whole life to not even consider luck, fend shui, mysticism, numerology etc. I simply chose to trust God for His providence. It has been quite discouraging to see others “prosper” when me and my wife struggle so hard.
I know I’ve not always made the best financial decisions and have had to depend on the grace offerd by good friends to bail us out, but even when I work hard and honestly I feel God’s providence insufficient. I keep telling myself not to seek riches, and I really don’t, I just want to have enough and not struggle.
Yet I soldier on, especially after reading this great testimony. I will continue to place my trust in my Lord and Saviour, and my Provider. It’s the right, and only thing to do. It’s in His hands.
I am a teacher in Sisaket but my biggest problem ( believe it or not) isn’t my students or my teaching but how to speak to them about God. Its so difficult to me like trying to tell a native from Australia what snow is. I have lived in Thailand for 3 years and I don’t even know where to begin. Sometimes I ask god to speak for me but all I get is nothing. I guess he wants me to speak but I am either too afraid or find myself too unworthy to speak. I don’t know but pray for me none the less.
I am a Filipino,a full time missionary. Today, I was about to go back to one of my Bible study contact, a Filipino-Chinese who believes in Feng Shui and have statue of their gods in their office. It was almost 3 weeks now since the last time I challenged them to give up their idols, but they were justifying their beliefs. The Bible Study we had that time were left hanging, since customers had come that time. I told them ,I will come back the next week. But as soon as I want, I do not know what will I tell them. My dad told me, why not look at the internet.Praise GOD! THE LORD ANSWERED MY PRAYER! I have found a testimony here! GOD bless you all the more brethren! keep telling people about JESUS CHRIST!
Hi Preecha,
Thank God for saving you and your family. God is awesome and His love is perfect.
I have been a christian since 1995. In 1996 I was enjoying my hobby of decorating my house. I noticed that all the decorating magazines were talking about Feng Shui. They mentioned many famous wealthy people who use Feng Shui. So I started reading about it and considered incorporating it into my decorating plans. That plan was stopped when the Holy Spirit told me that Feng Shui is witchcraft. I bought a book about it read the book and the book confirmed what the Holy Spirit told me because it talked about the fact that Feng Shui is based on astrology. I put the book out in the garbage after reading it. Even as I wrote this comment the Holy Spirit gave me the scripture in Deuteronomy that relates to this subject.
Deuteronomy 18:10-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
Leviticus 20:6
American Standard Version (ASV)
May God bless everyone who reads this testimony.
In Christ, our soon coming King.
Nora
This is a very inspiring testimony. I find feng shui the hardest to let go. But after reading your testimony, I felt encouraged to ‘not give up on giving up (feng shui)’. Just what I needed. Chicken soup for all Christian souls 😀
Dear Lynn,
I like reading the series “Chicken Soup for the Souls” and I think I’ve already read all of them. However, thank you very much for your compliment: Chicken soup for all Christian souls! This greatly MAKES my day! Forgive me for responding to you soooooooooooo late.
In Christ,
Vachiravan Vanlaeiad
What a fascinating testimony. The scripture that keeps coming to mind upon reading this to me is:
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
This man was brought to the Lord by reading scriptures on tombstones! God’s word did not return to Him void but brought this lovely soul back with it to the Father! Wonderful! I love God’s amazing ways and His precious promises, His wonders to perform and His powerful, faithful Word! Hallelujah!
This is very good. I have been using feng shui for years. I cannot say for sure if it has worked or not. I had avoided religion in the past because it seemed limited and narrow minded. I felt that many Christians were pious, narrow-minded, goody two shoes. Plus, I didn’t like the feeling that I had to always think I was a sinner in order to be accepted by God.
I found a book at a thrift store called “The Power of Positive Thinking”, by a Pastor named Norman Vincent Peale. He told Presidents and business executives and millions of other people that a proper state of mind, induced by simple prayer, could produce spiritual and material success on earth, which he demonstrated by becoming a wealthy man. I needed a reason to come back to God while finding a way to improve my financial situation so I read that book and several others by him. I also went back to church.
Pastor Peale critics had accused him of simplifying Christianity by avoiding deeper confrontations with sin and guilt. “Lives are being destroyed by sin,” he said in 1978. “The need is to get sin out and bring the person to the point where he can know something better. In 1952 sin was generally recognized, and I didn’t have to accentuate it. But I’m basically a very traditional Christian, and a sense of guilt is important. Too much guilt is unhealthy, though.”
It was this comment that got me back to the church. I could feel good about loving God and Jesus without feeling like I had to hang my head all the time to do it.
I am now reading the bible, other books on God, as well as listening to Moody radio. As my faith is being renewed, it seems as if lot of things are slipping back into place or being resolved favorably. I think God is letting me know I am going in the right direction. I am enjoying the feeling of getting closer to Him and am reprogramming my mind to look to Him instead of other, lesser sources for spiritual inspiration.
Each morning I start my day with the verse “I can do all things with Christ who strengthens me”. Same at night before I go to sleep. I am studying with members of the church I have been attending. It is nice to be with kind, like minded people. Much different than my experiences in the past. I wish Pastor Peale were still alive. He lived to the ripe old age of 95. God used him in marvelous ways! I am so grateful that God led me to his book(s). They are helping me understand and enjoy the bible more. I am sharing my newfound comfort with others who need encouragement in the right direction.
If you want to read Pastor Peales story, please google the following title:
Norman Vincent Peale, Preacher of Gospel Optimism, Dies at 95
By GEORGE VECSEY-The New York Times
December 26, 1993-Correction Appended
I hope this helped! God bless you all in your quest to keep God and Jesus in first place in your life.