My Journey / Les Tam
From Hong Kong to the UK, my story has been shaped by faith, an unexpected gift of music and a desire to help others grow.
“Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.”
An old friend along the way
This is my Roland Fantom-S88 — an old friend that has been by my side as I have made music for more than twenty years.
I treasure it for the years we have shared. It is part of my musical journey, and a companion I still hold dear.
Different chapters. The same faithful companion.
The story behind the music ↓01 / Where it began
I came to faith in Jesus during my early secondary school years. At a time when life felt short of hope and love, I encountered God, who brought both into my life.
Knowing Jesus changed my direction. I became deeply involved in church and committed my life to God. Faith became the centre of my life, shaping the person I was becoming and the choices I would make.
As I grew, I began to recognise both the gifts God had given me and his call to use them in serving others.
02 / Music & technology
My first instrument was the French horn, which I began learning in my early secondary school years. After becoming a Christian, I wanted to serve God through music. Playing the piano seemed a simple way to do that, so I prayed: “If one day I can play the piano, I will use music to serve you.”
What happened next is something I describe as going “from zero to one hundred”. I went from being unable to play the piano to sitting down and playing — and being able to accompany worship straight away. This was not a skill I had gradually learnt. I believe it was a gift from God, given in response to a prayer to serve.
For me, music began with a prayer and a gift — given for service.
That gift developed beyond playing. Music and technology became closely connected throughout my life: arranging, recording, audiovisual production and live sound. The possibilities grew far beyond anything I had imagined.
I later ran a production company and worked with commercial entertainment companies and singers in Hong Kong. But the work closest to my heart has always been Christian music and supporting music ministry in churches.
Since 2000, I have devoted much of my time and energy to that work. More than twenty years on, that desire remains. I love making music; I can happily spend a whole day at a computer working on it. What matters most to me is using it to help people encounter God.
03 / Answering the call
Alongside music, I sensed a clear calling: to share the gospel, make disciples and build up the church.
In the 2000s, I helped establish a Christian organisation reaching young people in Hong Kong secondary schools. I went on to study theology and became a Baptist minister, serving in church and in schools until I left Hong Kong in 2022.
Developing gospel work in secondary schools became an important part of my life. I wanted young people to know Jesus, grow in faith and discover how they could serve.
I believe a new generation can go further than we have.
By building on what we have learnt, they can move forward with greater strength, explore new possibilities and achieve more than we could. This is why I am passionate about equipping young people and helping them discover their gifts and calling.
04 / A new chapter · 2022
I moved to Derby in 2022. As I settled into life in the UK, I began to reflect on what serving God could look like in this new chapter, and how I could use the experience I had gained.
At this stage, my heart is to support churches across the UK, especially by strengthening their music and worship ministries. I want to help teams grow in confidence, develop their skills and use music and technology well in serving their churches.
I also continue to work with young people. Through the Change & Transform team, I serve alongside other Christians to encourage their faith and development.
My training in social work, theology and music recording brings together different parts of who I am: a concern for people, a foundation of faith and a love of creating.
05 / Continuing the journey
I created LesTam Studio to share music beyond the limits of distance and place. Through reflective music on YouTube, I hope to offer encouragement, help people draw near to God and experience the deep peace he brings.
Listen to the music ↗I bring together music, worship and technical experience to help church teams develop. My heart is to equip others, so they can serve with greater confidence.
Explore training & courses ↗I am part of a team helping young people explore faith, build biblical foundations and put their gifts into practice, alongside their families and churches.
Meet Change & Transform ↗
Still pressing on