From Aiyaya to Alleluia

By Jeh Sie Tan

From Aiyaya to Alleluia brings us on Tek Seng and Tinkie's life journey as they find faith after a family crisis, negotiate through several economic downturns while managing a business, maintain harmony in their marriage while working together, and discover the joy of ministering together as a couple. From despair and discouragement ("Aiyaya") to faith and praise in God ("Alleluia"). This book ends with a 30-day devotional by Tek Seng, which had helped him through one of the most difficult seasons in his and Tinkie's life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeh Sie Tan
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201207076

Jeh Sie Tan

Jeh Sie (pronounced "Jessie") is the middle child of Tek Seng and Tinkie. She is blessed with a loving husband and two beautiful girls. Jeh Sie juggles her full-time role as 'ministry of home affairs' to her family with her job as administrator for World Outreach International, a Christian mission organisation that serves in 70 countries. 

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From Aiyaya to Alleluia

Copyright© 2020 by Tan Jeh Sie

Cover Design© 2020 by Firstfruits Sdn Bhd

All rights reserved

Copyright© 2020 by Tan Jeh Sie. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author and publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures references are taken from THE WHOLE BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Firstfruits Sdn. Bhd.

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Endorsement

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1: Kampong Boy Meets City Girl

Chapter 2: Self-Made Man

Chapter 3: Turning Point

Chapter 4: The Journey of Transformation

Chapter 5: The Path of Humility

Chapter 6: Impacting the Marketplace

Chapter 7: A New Mandate

Salvation Prayer

30-Day Devotional by Tek Seng Tan

Credit Roll

Endorsement

This book tells of how God can take a simple young man and woman, groom them and prepare them in their early years to be a channel of blessing to the nations today.

— Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee (Senior Pastor, SIBKL)

FGBMFI Malaysia and I have been blessed by Brother Tek Seng in his tenure as National President from 2009 to 2012. He has been a great blessing to many other ministries.

— Dr Wong Hong Meng (Member of the Governing Council, FGBMFI Malaysia)

I cannot even begin to count the ways that Tinkie and Tek Seng have blessed the Family First ministry, both in Malaysia and all over East Asia. The tremendous growth of Family First Asia is due in no small part to Tek Seng and Tinkie’s leadership, partnership and friendship.

— The Honorable Professor Gregory W. Slayton (Founder/ Chairman, Family First Global and Author of #1 National Best Seller Be a Better Dad Today)

Tek Seng is a DIN (Do It Now) man and Mr Networker. His heart for the gospel and evangelism has taken him to many ministry situations around the world. Tinkie, with her loving character and powerful prayer ministry, has been the ‘propellant’ in their marriage and ministry. I have been incredibly blessed, enriched and inspired by this TT power duo whom I have known for 21 years.

— Gerald H. Bradley (Director of Life Style Change Enterprises and International Motivational Speaker)

Dedication

For our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — because only in You is there purpose, meaning and hope for life.

We also dedicate this book to Joel, Kaitlyn, Emilyn, Elizabeth and Asher — that you will come to love and serve Jesus as your grandparents have done.

Foreword

I have known Tek Seng and his dear wife, Tinkie, for a good 15 years now. It has been my privilege and joy to have known a wonderful couple who truly love each other and passionately love God.

Both Tek Seng and Tinkie are practically inseparable. Whatever Tek Seng does, he can be sure that his wife is always by his side, encouraging him, supporting him and, if need be, even correcting him. I have personally witnessed Tinkie restraining and gently rebuking her husband for good and for God. They are totally complementary to each other, designed in heaven and recreated on earth — a role model of what a godly Christian couple should be.

In the process, God has blessed Tek Seng and Tinkie with wonderful children who follow after their parents’ footsteps in loving Jesus above all else. I have met and interacted with their children from young, and it has been my joy to see them grow up and marry well. Today, Tek Seng and Tinkie are proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

I have always believed in this principle: When you take care of God’s House, God will take care of your house. This simple yet profound truth is exemplified in Tek Seng and Tinkie’s life.

It is therefore of no surprise to me that, in accordance with God’s divine design, Tek Seng and Tinkie now head Family First Malaysia. Building a strong family has always been their forte.

Tek Seng’s stint as the national president of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Malaysia has truly prepared both him and his wife for this present role, giving the couple the connections and influence to inspire the people in Malaysia and across the nations to build strong godly families.

This book records the journey of this God-loving couple. It tells of how God can take a simple young man and woman, groom them and prepare them in their early years to be a channel of blessing to the nations today. This is the life story of what God can do through those who are determined to honour God and put Jesus first in their lives.

Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee

Senior Pastor

Sidang Injil Borneo Kuala Lumpur (SIBKL), Malaysia

Introduction

I was on my university term break. My father (Papa Tek Seng) and I were in the car on the way home from the city. We were coming up to a pao stall by the side of the road. He turned to me and asked, "Would you like some pao? Sure!" I said, salivating at the thought of my favourite char siew pao, which I had missed while studying in New Zealand.

As Papa wound down the window, he shouted out to the pao seller, Alleluia!

I cringed inwardly, with thoughts of Papa’s ‘happy men’ ministry flashing through my mind. Oh no! Here we go again! I thought to myself. Papa and his over-enthusiasm in sharing the good news again! Doesn’t he know that this is going to turn this man away from knowing Jesus?!

Papa and his ‘happy men’ from the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) would unashamedly go on stage at evangelistic dinners and dance to their I am a happy man song. These were accomplished business owners and leaders in their 50s and 60s, dancing and singing at the top of their voices in praise to God.

In fact, it did not have to be a church-organised event. Papa and his ‘happy men’ had gone up on stage unannounced (and totally out of the programme) at my sister’s wedding to dance and sing to their I am a happy man song — in front of a thousand guests! Those who did not know better would have thought they were drunk on wine. In fact, these men were ‘drunk’ in the Spirit, like King David of old, who did not care what other people thought and danced with all his might before the Ark of God (2 Kings 6).

Back at the pao stall …

To my astonishment, the pao man grinned and shouted back, Alleluia! Papa exchanged pleasantries with him and made his order. As we drove off, I asked Papa whether the man understood what he was saying. Papa replied, Of course! I led him to Christ several months back!

This is my Papa — a man who does not differentiate a person’s worth by their role in society. He would just