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Individuals detained for illicit drug use in China are required to register with the government and may be subject to mandatory rehabilitation. Ministries such as the one discussed here operate facilities that addicts may voluntarily enter for rehabilitation.

Chun* was an addict. His dependency on alcohol led to an eventual addiction to illegal drugs and, now, his life was nothing more than a cycle of desperation followed by temporary relief. He was a man in despair.

But his path would soon cross that of a ministry leader who understood his misery and the difficulty of overcoming it, a man who once struggled with his own addiction before a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now, this man led a ministry focused on helping other addicts transform their physical dependency on drugs into a spiritual reliance on the Lord.

Through that ministry, Chun would soon begin his own journey toward change.

On the Doorstep of Grace

In the nearly 13 years this ministry has operated, 65 drug addicts have come through the 18-month voluntary program. Though some have relapsed, 27 have not, and seven graduates now work on staff. Currently, the ministry hosts eight recovering addicts who have been enrolled in the program for the past six months.

“Our training in the program focuses on Bible teaching, spiritual disciplines, and laboring work,” the ministry leader said. “We hope a disciplined lifestyle will help our students return to the life that God created for us.”

The ministry’s work has not gone unnoticed by local officials or the community, but they have established a good working relationship with one another. Community leaders installed cameras in the facility for fire safety, and the ministry ensures that program participants undergo regular, government-mandated drug tests. “We have gained a good rapport with them,” the ministry leader said.

Ready to Help

For Chun, the path to recovery won’t be easy. But the ministry workers who greeted him were ready to help him tackle his demons. “Now that he has come to us, his family is very relieved and looks forward to his long-lasting growth,” the ministry leader said. “All we need to do is humbly wait upon the Lord to do great things.”

Pray for men and women like Chun, who muster the courage to break the cycle of addiction. Pray they will put their trust in God and hold tight to His hand. And please consider a donation today to assist local ministries in their work to lift the lost out of darkness and into the saving light of Jesus.

*Name changed for security.