A Life Transformed by the Peace of Christ

Written by: Daniel Liu

This testimony tells the powerful story of a man whose life was completely transformed after encountering the peace and power of God. Once trapped in a destructive lifestyle marked by violence, addictions, and spiritual bondage, he experienced a series of life-changing answers to prayer that led him to faith in Jesus Christ. Today, the man who once lived far from God now serves faithfully in the church, sharing with others the same hope and transforming grace that changed his life.

While Nelson and Bee Bee were serving in Klang, Malaysia, they heard the remarkable testimony of an elder from the local church they partnered with. 

Fellowship with their partner local church. The Elder is on the left, wearing white

Before coming to Christ, this elder lived a very different life. He had once been a violent and notorious gangster, frequently involved in gang fights and often giving trouble to the authorities. Spiritually, he was deeply entrenched in idol worship and served as a temple medium, regularly experiencing spirit possession during temple rituals. 

His lifestyle was also marked by many destructive habits. He was a heavy smoker, an avid gambler who spent much of his money on horse race betting, and a massive alcoholic, consuming bottles after bottles of beer and hard liquor. 

Struggling with Insomnia

Yet what troubled him the most was his constant struggle with insomnia. For much of his life, he found it almost impossible to sleep well at night. This persistent lack of rest greatly affected his mood, health, and overall well-being. 

One day, he heard Pastor Joanne, the pastor whom our missions' personnel serve alongside in ministry, share the testimony of how her own mother, who had also once been a temple medium, came to know Christ and experienced the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Something in that testimony stirred his heart deeply. He longed to experience that same peace and quietly prayed in his heart, asking if this God would grant him that peace as well. 

That very night, for the first time in almost his entire life, he slept peacefully through the night. The insomnia that had plagued him for years simply disappeared. When he woke up, he was shocked and deeply moved. In that moment, he recognized that the God he had just encountered was real and powerful. 

Encouraged by what had happened, he prayed again, asking God if He would also help him overcome his smoking addiction. Soon after, he took out a cigarette to smoke, but the taste was suddenly unbearably bitter. Thinking the pack had gone bad, he opened another new pack. Yet when he tried again, the cigarette tasted just as bitter. From that day on, he never had the desire to smoke again. Overnight, his addiction to cigarettes was gone. He knew this could only be God answering his prayer. 

Then he prayed once more: 

“God, since You have healed my insomnia and removed my addiction to smoking, would You also help me with my gambling addiction?” 

Deep down, he doubted it was possible. Gambling had such a strong hold over his life that almost immediately after praying, he returned to his usual habit, messaging his friends for horse race betting tips. 

But something unusual happened. None of his gambling friends replied. One by one, they all ignored or “ghosted” his repeated messages. The very people he usually depended on for betting advice suddenly became unreachable. 

After some time, he realized that this too was God’s intervention, closing the door to the very habit that had enslaved him. 

He then prayed again, asking God to help him overcome his addiction to alcohol. Just as God had answered his previous prayers, he soon found himself miraculously able to give up alcohol altogether. 

Overwhelmed by these encounters with God’s power and grace, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, accepting Him as his Lord and Saviour. 

Today, the man who once lived as a gangster, temple medium, smoker, gambler, and alcoholic now serve faithfully as an elder in the church led by Pastor Joanne. He actively reaches out to people in his community, many of whom come from similar spiritual backgrounds, sharing the hope and transforming power of the gospel that changed his own life.