電子版 (加東)  |  電子版 (加西)

Even Now, I’m Still an “Investor”

號角月報加拿大版 二零二五年十月
转换为简体字

From a wealth-driven entrepreneur to a servant of God's kingdom, I’ve come to realize that the most valuable investment isn’t in real estate, stocks, or business ventures—but in the human soul. Today, I’m still an “investor”, but what I pursue is eternal and imperishable. I’ve devoted my life to God’s kingdom, because this is a transaction that will never result in loss.

Grandma Held My Hand and Led Me into Church
I was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan—a port city nestled between mountains and sea. The air always carried the salty tang of the ocean, and the weather was unpredictable, much like our family’s financial situation—sometimes sunny, sometimes stormy. We weren’t wealthy, living in the lower-middle class. My parents ran an egg wholesale business, and from a young age, I woke up at five each morning to help carry boxes of eggs. I would wrap my arms around crates larger than my own body, moving them with extreme care, terrified that a single misstep might shatter the very foundation of our livelihood. My father often reminded me, “Eggs are valuable—this is our living!” From early on, I understood what it meant to bear responsibility and shoulder burdens.

Though our family wasn’t particularly religious, my grandmother was a devoted Christian. She often held my hand and led me into church. I couldn’t understand the sermons, but the melodies of the hymns, the light filtering through stained glass, the warm smiles, and the peace I felt sitting in those pews left a lasting imprint on my heart. It was a kind of indescribable tranquility, as if a small light had been lit within me.

A united couple is blessed

A Failed Investment Wiped Out All Our Savings
When I was eleven, my parents moved our family to South Africa, which at the time offered relative freedom and the hope of better education and opportunity. To my young self, it felt like an adventure—little did I know it would reshape the course of my life. Starting from scratch in a foreign land, we faced language barriers and hardship, but my parents worked tirelessly and gradually found their footing. They lived frugally, often saying, “As long as the kids are full, we can eat whatever.”

But good times didn’t last. A failed investment sent us back to square one. My parents had trusted a so-called “high-return” plan, which turned out to be a well-packaged Ponzi scheme. Overnight, all our savings vanished. That night, I saw my father sitting on the couch, staring blankly into space, while my mother hid in the bedroom, crying her heart out. I stood by the door, listening through the crack, and for the first time, I understood what despair truly meant. A fierce thought took root in my heart: I must become rich. I will become a millionaire so my family will never have to worry about money again.

A family of four, supported quietly
by those behind the scenes.

Pursuing Entrepreneurship While Studying
During university, I was both studying and quietly nurturing a business plan. On the surface, I appeared driven and goal-oriented, yet deep down, I felt an indescribable emptiness. At the time, I wouldn’t have said I was searching for “faith,” but I was certainly seeking security.

One weekend, after a party ended, a mix-up in transportation left me standing alone at the entrance, unsure of what to do. A female classmate I barely knew offered me a ride home. On the way, she suddenly asked, “Would you like to come to church with me tomorrow morning?” The word church struck a chord. Instantly, I recalled childhood memories of my grandmother holding my hand as we walked into a chapel—the familiar hymns and the serenity of stained glass came rushing back. I nodded and said yes.

From that moment on, I began attending church regularly, and faith gradually took root in my heart. I was in my first year of university, juggling studies while running my first business. Orders were steady, and I thought, Maybe this is the path to success that God has prepared for me. Yet quietly, God was planting a very different seed in my heart.

At Thirty Years Old, One Should Serve Full-Time
After a Sunday worship service, I sat alone in the last row, watching the pastor pray on stage. In my heart, I heard a voice say, “If one day, you were the one standing there preaching the gospel, would you be willing?” I was stunned. I had only recently come to faith and hadn’t read much of the Bible—how could I possibly become a preacher? But that voice lingered, like a gentle yet persistent finger tapping on the door of my heart.

I began fasting and praying, asking God for clear guidance. One early morning, I knelt and prayed, “Lord, if this truly is Your calling, please speak to me directly.” As I opened the Bible, my eyes fell upon Luke 3:23: “Jesus began His ministry at about thirty years of age.” In that moment, it felt as if I had been struck by lightning—my heart raced, and tears flowed uncontrollably. I understood: God was asking me to prepare for ten years, and like Jesus, to step into full-time ministry at the age of thirty.

A Decade of Faith and Waiting
I was only twenty years old then, newly come to faith and completely unequipped. But I knew—I no longer belonged to myself. From that moment on, my life’s direction shifted from How can I earn the most money? to How can I lead the most people to know God?

Over the next ten years, I built my career while actively serving in church. I learned to live out my faith in the workplace, supported missions through offerings, helped fund the church building, and poured myself wholeheartedly into every kind of ministry. Every visit, every act of service—I did it as unto the Lord.

Yet as I approached thirty, the struggle grew. My career was reaching its peak—how could I just walk away? I pleaded with God, “Can I wait a little longer?”

At thirty-two, God no longer allowed me to run. A series of disasters struck one after another: I unknowingly bought two stolen cars, my house was hit by lightning twice, the water heater exploded and flooded the home, and my wife suddenly fell seriously ill and needed emergency surgery.

Just when I was overwhelmed, a brother I hadn’t seen in years came to visit. He read Ecclesiastes 5:4 aloud: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it…” Then he looked at me and said, “Didn’t you make that vow twelve years ago?”

I was speechless. All I could do was kneel and pray through tears: “Lord, I’m willing. Please lead me on Your path.”

A Life Devoted Through Theological Training
Later, my wife and I moved to the United States and entered Dallas Theological Seminary for training. Due to visa restrictions, we were unable to work and had to live by faith. Although our scholarship applications were repeatedly unsuccessful, God miraculously provided for every need—through a bag of rice, a donation letter, and the caring words of brothers and sisters in Christ.

One time, we received an anonymous letter containing several hundred-dollar bills and a simple message: “The Lord knows your needs.” In that moment, we deeply understood: Though we had nothing, in Christ we had everything.

In 2017, I graduated from seminary and officially entered full-time pastoral ministry. Today, I serve at North York Chinese Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada. Over the past eight years, I’ve witnessed countless testimonies of God transforming lives, healing wounds, and granting eternal hope. I cannot deny that the God I serve is real and living—and He is worthy of my lifelong devotion.


James So

上題：Lok Ping Ng Brings God’s Love into the Food Bank
下題：Living for the Lord in Life’s Second Chapter