The Chinese government recently admitted that drug use has now spread into 90 percent of the country. To battle this epidemic, residents of one Chinese province are relying on prayer to help addicts kick the habit. CBN News travelled to the southwest part of Yunnan Province. Nestled at the foothills of a mountain range lies a unique drug rehabilitation program that is mixing prayer and Bible study to change the destiny of addicts.
“We rely only on God, on His mighty power, to change lives,” Xu Chengyun told CBN News. Xu helped start the Gospel Rehab Center in 2007. Xu said. “We follow a simple routine every day:” A routine of prayer, of worship and of service to one another “Father, we are submitting in front of you to pray for our brother,” Xu said as he placed his hands on a heroin addict lying in bed. “We pray he can see your mighty power here,” he continued. “Make him realize his mistakes and sins and repent to you for the second chance so that he can gain his second life and be made new through Jesus.”
“You are the one I rely on,” the group sings at the start of their day. “My victory is gained by your presence. Jehovah, you are my God. I will never stop praising your name.” Each day involves hours of Bible class. “Let’s all read together this verse,” Xu encouraged the group, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
“Those who come here for help must see the evidence of Christ’s power to heal,” Pai Jianhua, a guidance counselor who helps in ministering to the addicts, said. “We have to be an example so that others can experience God’s love.” The center requires that each addict spend at least a year in the program. Xu said it’s all about creating a safe place for struggling people. The results speak for themselves. Xu says, “So far, 60 percent of our addicts have overcome their drug problems. Those who have relapsed
end up coming back to the center, and God touches them.
Zhao Linbin is proof that prayer works. “In the beginning it was very difficult. I was easily irritated and found myself in continuous conflicts with the staff. I refused to listen to their advice and I would insult them. I didn’t want to pray or read the Bible,” Zhao said. But the staff wouldn’t give up. They kept praying and believing that God would touch him like he touched so many others who had come before
him. Zhao said it took some time, and eventually he had a revelation of the depth of Christ’s love and forgiveness. “Undoubtedly God has done a miraculous work on me,” Zhao said. The folks at the Christian
rehab center are preparing to receive more patients. China National Narcotics Agency estimates there are some 14 million drug addicts in this nation. CBN News was on site when the center opened its doors to a new arrival.
Source: CBN News
Bible Study: Job 26:14
PRAISE God that this centre provides proof to the authorities that the Gospel changes lives.
PRAY That the Gospel may so permeate China as to lead the whole nation to honour Christ.
