If someone asks me how I find my imprisonment, I will say “good”. Strange, isn't it? Especially when I was not only in jail for 4 years, I also went broke and lost my qualification as a lawyer. In the worldly eyes, I was a complete failure with nothing at all. Why do I say “good”? The answer lies with the Lord Jesus whom I got to know while I was in jail - something better than anything else in the world.

I was born in an ordinary family. My parents came to Hong Kong from Mainland China when they were young. Though they did not receive much education, they worked hard and lived frugally. Finally, they set up a small factory of their own. They attached great importance to their children's education and led a frugal life so that I and my younger sister could complete university education. Since I was a small kid, I aimed at material goals. As I was not good at mathematics and science, I elected arts subjects. For university education, I chose the law faculty which was the only faculty leading to a profession which was open to arts students, not because I had a mission in law or justice, but because I thought a career in the legal profession would enable me to make a fortune enough for my life.

After graduation, I became very ambitious. After working for 2 odd years, I started my own firm though I had no experience in running a business. At the end of 1989, I started a sole proprietorship and launched a big expansion within a short period. In two years' time, my firm grew to become a medium sized legal firm with 160 employees and 10 solicitors. My firm specialized in conveyancing when there was a boom in the property market. I became complacent over the high profit costs, believing that I had earned a lot. I soon discovered that the firm in fact suffered a huge loss because of the huge expenses. Clouded by the yearning for fame and wealth, I was so naive to believe that the adversity would be short-lived and that I could soon make a fortune to make things changed. Instead of seizing the opportunity to cut loss, I looked for additional capital by various means to keep the firm running with the result that debts accumulated. Not knowing Jesus at that time, I resorted to various traditional superstitious means, such as fung shui, fortune-telling, worshipping deities and consulting oracle in order to ease my mind. I threw away good money after bad.

By the end of 1996, a huge debt was due. To repay the debt, I obtained a big loan using forged documents in breach of the trust and confidence which a finance company reposed in me. Finally, this came to light in late 1998 and I was arrested by the police and prosecuted. My law firm was closed. I applied for bankruptcy. On 15 May 2000 , I was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment. In reality, I was behind bars for 4 years only. This criminal case was not the main reason why I looked for Jesus. It only made me understand that superstition did not work. To me, the imprisonment was a relief and a chance to start afresh.

However, the criminal case caused damage to my family- my wife was involved in the case initially. Fortunately, the prosecution dropped the case against her eventually. All the marital problems which we did not resolve properly in the past erupted at the same time. My wife could not cope with the sudden changes and the stress caused by the trial. She was worried about the future. We quarreled every day. I loved my wife very much and tried to pacify her but in vain. I was more upset by this than by the thought of having to face an imminent imprisonment. Thanks to the Lord for His mercy in sending a brother-in-the-Lord to invite me to attend a Christian gathering. Though I did not accept God right away, I got to know Him gradually. In the midst of a quarrel with my wife at the end of February 2000, I realized that men had limitations – I could not change the views of the one I loved most. For the first time, I realized that humility was important and that I needed God. I immediately prayed to God, confessed my sins and sought His help. Thereafter, I read the Bible and prayed every day. God entered my life and started renewing my spirit. Every day He showed me my past wrongdoings. Gradually, I was certain that God was the true and Almighty God.

On 14 May 2000 , the Lord prompted a pastor to baptize me. One day before I went to jail, I carried the cross of Jesus and let the Lord rule over my new life. Though I was about to go to jail, I was full of joy. On the following day, everyone (including my lawyer) expected a term of not more than 4 years. But the judge imposed a sentence of 6 years. Though I was taken aback, I knew it was the will of God. When I went to jail, I knew that the Lord was with me and so I was not afraid, despite not knowing what lied ahead.

With the Lord's mercy since my conversion, I had new insights into many things, especially the values of life. I no longer valued material life because compared with eternity all the ups and downs of life which would pass away in decades were nothing. The Lord, who is the only, faithful God, is the source of all virtues and beauties and yet He loves us deeply. His love and care is always more than what we ask or imagine. Why pursue material goals? Most important of all, I have learnt to put myself in the right position – to lie under the feet of God, pray for His blessings and mercy and rely on His grace.