One day in 2023, I went to a rehabilitation center for autistic children founded by a Christian man, Brother L. During the three-hour drive, Brother L shared his faith journey of becoming God's servant as a gangster who engaged in everything bad, including extortion and blackmail.
Brother L's hometown is a small village in Y City, Jilin Province. When he was 17, something extraordinary happened. "Two of my uncles played mahjong with their neighbors after drinking, but ended up being killed." Brother L was shocked. "I never thought that people would die one day, so what's the point of life?" The next day, he went to a church near his home and got a Bible, becoming a believer. During the period, the church prioritized signs and wonders over truth, which was preached vaguely. For a while, the newly converted L attended church, sang praises, and then went on to play Mahjong.
Three years later, L got married. The couple made a fortune in City C and then returned to their hometown to start a business. L spent his spare time gambling online. Later, he even gambled with all the purchasing funds when the business went down. The couple quarreled and separated, as his wife found out.
He just wanted to commit suicide after losing his wife and money due to gambling. However, a man approached and insisted on taking pictures of him as he was ready to jump into the river, diverting his focus and driving the idea of suicide away.
After his suicide attempt failed with no hope for survival, he returned to City C, working as a security guard. "At that time, those who were gangsters and fought in the street worked as security guards or waiters."
L was engaged in opening a gambling house, drug trade, drug dealing, and other illicit activities for the next three years. Later, he was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion and blackmail. The prison sentence was meant to be mitigated but hindered due to some reasons, inciting his anger. During one labor outing, gospel flyers distributed by a church near the prison reminded him of his faith. He repented that night. Later, he was granted his previously hindered commute and released.
When getting back home, he noticed that a church had been built next to his home, with his whole family believing in the Lord. His mother fasted and prayed for him every Wednesday and Friday morning.
When he intended to leave home again, his father exhorted, "You can't let the whole family suffer because of you." On second thought about his aging parents, he decided to stay for several days. Coincidentally, a praise meeting took place at the church, and his family brought him over.
After the meeting, the pastor told him, "God loves you, even if the world doesn't," striking the heart of Brother L. He said that since he became a bad person, all his relatives turned back on him. However, upon hearing that Jesus loved him so unconditionally, "I knew that from that moment on I was reborn, and I would not live for myself but for the Lord."
Now L is serving almost all year round, taking only two days off for the Spring Festival out of 365 days. In bad health conditions, he usually serves for a while, then stays in the ospital for a few days before returning to ministry. Despite being hospitalized, he continues to serve the Lord. A few days ago, while in the hospital, he was still talking about his intention to spread the gospel to the patient next to him.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
2023年的一天，我去参观L弟兄创办的自闭症儿童康复中心。在约三个多小时的车程，L弟兄讲述了他从敲诈勒索什么都干的混混，到蒙恩悔改、服侍主的经历。
L弟兄老家在吉林省Y市的一个小村庄里。17岁时，发生了一件不平常的事。“自家两个叔叔和邻居酒后玩麻将，赢了却被对方杀了。”L弟兄被此事惊到了，“之前没想过人有一天会死，那活着还有啥意思？”第二天他就去了家附近的教会，要了一本圣经信主了。当时教会对真理讲解得比较模糊，注重神迹奇事。很长一段时间，L进教会唱完赞美就去打麻将。
三年后， L已经成家，和妻子去到C市做生意挣了钱，回到老家做生意。在空闲时间L便通过网络赌博。后来生意不好，甚至还用进货的钱全部拿去赌博，被妻子发现后，两人吵架分开。
因为赌博失去妻子和财富的他，只想自杀。他准备跳江自杀时，一个人坚持给他拍照，转移了L的注意，自杀的念头也消失了。
自杀不成，他对生活也没有希望，于是他再次来到C市，应聘了一份保安的工作。“那个时候打仗的、混子，基本上都是做保安和服务员。”
又三年，L当时设赌、贩毒，什么都干，后来因为敲诈勒索被判了三年。后因减刑被搁置了，激发了他的仇恨。一次监狱安排外出干活，遇到旁边的教堂发福音单张，他想起了信仰，晚上在监狱里就悔改了。后面减刑释放了。
回家后发现，教堂在家旁边盖起来了，他全家都信主了。且母亲每周三周五上午为他禁食祷告。
当他再次决定离家时，父亲说，“你不能因为你一个人让全家跟你受痛苦。”他想到父母年纪大了，就想着在家待几天吧。刚好教会举办了赞美会，家人就把他拉过去。
聚会后，“即便这个世界都不爱你，但神爱你，”牧师和他说的这句话一下子进入到弟兄的心中。他说，自从学坏后，所有亲人都不理他了，但听到了耶稣是这样无条件的爱自己。“我知道从那一刻起我重生了，从今以后不为自己活，要为主活。”
而今L全年365天除了春节两天时间几乎所有时间都在服侍。他的身体状况不是很好，基本上服侍一段时间，住几天院，接着服侍。但即便住院也不耽误他为主做工。昨天住院还发信息说要给临床传福音。
蒙恩见证：三年牢狱灾 走上服侍路
One day in 2023, I went to a rehabilitation center for autistic children founded by a Christian man, Brother L. During the three-hour drive, Brother L shared his faith journey of becoming God's servant as a gangster who engaged in everything bad, including extortion and blackmail.
Brother L's hometown is a small village in Y City, Jilin Province. When he was 17, something extraordinary happened. "Two of my uncles played mahjong with their neighbors after drinking, but ended up being killed." Brother L was shocked. "I never thought that people would die one day, so what's the point of life?" The next day, he went to a church near his home and got a Bible, becoming a believer. During the period, the church prioritized signs and wonders over truth, which was preached vaguely. For a while, the newly converted L attended church, sang praises, and then went on to play Mahjong.
Three years later, L got married. The couple made a fortune in City C and then returned to their hometown to start a business. L spent his spare time gambling online. Later, he even gambled with all the purchasing funds when the business went down. The couple quarreled and separated, as his wife found out.
He just wanted to commit suicide after losing his wife and money due to gambling. However, a man approached and insisted on taking pictures of him as he was ready to jump into the river, diverting his focus and driving the idea of suicide away.
After his suicide attempt failed with no hope for survival, he returned to City C, working as a security guard. "At that time, those who were gangsters and fought in the street worked as security guards or waiters."
L was engaged in opening a gambling house, drug trade, drug dealing, and other illicit activities for the next three years. Later, he was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion and blackmail. The prison sentence was meant to be mitigated but hindered due to some reasons, inciting his anger. During one labor outing, gospel flyers distributed by a church near the prison reminded him of his faith. He repented that night. Later, he was granted his previously hindered commute and released.
When getting back home, he noticed that a church had been built next to his home, with his whole family believing in the Lord. His mother fasted and prayed for him every Wednesday and Friday morning.
When he intended to leave home again, his father exhorted, "You can't let the whole family suffer because of you." On second thought about his aging parents, he decided to stay for several days. Coincidentally, a praise meeting took place at the church, and his family brought him over.
After the meeting, the pastor told him, "God loves you, even if the world doesn't," striking the heart of Brother L. He said that since he became a bad person, all his relatives turned back on him. However, upon hearing that Jesus loved him so unconditionally, "I knew that from that moment on I was reborn, and I would not live for myself but for the Lord."
Now L is serving almost all year round, taking only two days off for the Spring Festival out of 365 days. In bad health conditions, he usually serves for a while, then stays in the ospital for a few days before returning to ministry. Despite being hospitalized, he continues to serve the Lord. A few days ago, while in the hospital, he was still talking about his intention to spread the gospel to the patient next to him.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
From Prison Bars to Ministry: A Testimony of Redemption
