Editor's note: Xu Dawei, who went astray in his youth, found himself in the abyss of gambling for its temporary wealth and success, ending up penniless and deceiving family and friends. At the bottom of his despair, the door of a church opened to him, guiding this prodigal son to turn his life around.
Born into a poor family in a small town in Anhui Province, Xu Dawei left home for work when he was under 18. As the family’s youngest son but without a father since he was little, Xu had adopted bad habits after leaving home.
As soon as he arrived in W City in Zhejiang Province, Dawei got a job but also developed a gambling habit, falling deep into an abyss of evil.
He said, "I often asked for leave or just absence from work and finally got fired. I had become a professional gambler since then, and even staff in the casino for a salary of 1,000 yuan a day as I made an acquaintance with a gangster.”
His wife and child were out of Xu’s mind in the first year he worked in the casino, which led to a total breakdown of the couple after a five-year separation. Later, Xu opened a gambling house with a booming start but lost all the luck the more he gambled. He recalled, “Back then, I was just eager to win all my money back while ending up with a loss of 2 million yuan within a month. I started to lie to my family for money and, first, to my considerably rich older sister. I turned to everyone I could borrow money from, even the loan shark. Finally, I chose to run away.”
He once considered suicide or just hiding in a strange city. On the second day, as several churches passed by, he couldn’t help but think, “There will be hope for tomorrow if Jesus is real, or at least my way of escape was ready if not.”
“A great peace fell on me upon my first step in the church, for which I chose to stay there for three years of pursuing faith.”
There were moments of uncertainty and skepticism during these three years. One day, he drove a car to the church but found out it couldn’t restart as he was about to leave. He then prayed, “Jesus, I will not only follow you for my whole life but also testify for you as Paul and Peter, if you can perform a sign to let my car start.” Then he inserted the key, which started not only his car but also his complete faith in Jesus.
The next day, driving his blessed car, Dawei fled to another city. Later, facing a call for debt collection from the bank, he turned to the Lord once again for help. In his prayers, a businessman came to mind, and surprisingly, this man agreed to lend Xu money, despite having only met once and sharing just one contact.
Experiencing the Lord is with him, Dawei regained confidence to find a job. His first job was in a decoration company, where he could only earn a salary by completing orders and receiving commissions.
"I began my job with a prayer as soon as I arrived at the company, receiving my first client. The good news about the deal signing came during Sunday service. I received a commission of over 2000 yuan and immediately dedicated half of it to the church," Dawei said in excitement.
He recalled. “Later, God told me, ‘Son, you should start a business. I am with you.’ I did as told, with only 1,000 yuan. There have been challenges in running a company. Before believing in Jesus, I would first consider which acquaintances could help. But now, I've learned to trust God instead. I prayed with doors closed when confronted with troubles. The turning point then showed up.”
"Over time, in 2017, I was able to repay not only all of the money I cheated from my family but also the $1 million usury loan. These are God's protection."
In 2022, Xu was suddenly diagnosed with a lung abscess and severe diabetes. The hospital was at its wits end at that time. Lying on the bed, Dawei called out, “My Lord, please heal me and raise me to serve you.” Surprisingly, as the doctor did the test again the next day, his blood test result returned to normal.
When Dawei was completely healed in 2012, Jesus began calling out, "My son, give up everything you have and follow me." In March 2022, Jesus called once more. Xu devoted himself to serving the Lord with the firm belief that Jesus would sustain him, letting go of his previous worries about family and business.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
编者按：徐大卫年少误入歧途，虽敛得金银一时得志，却陷入赌博深渊，落得身无分文、欺骗亲友的境遇。在他绝望的尽头，教会的门向他敞开，使得这位浪子回头。
徐大卫来自安徽一小城，家里非常贫穷。在未满18岁的时候，到了浙江一个城市去打工。因为家里排名最小，年幼时父亲就去世了，等他离家打工后，便学坏了。但是神的恩手没有离开。
来到浙江的W市之后，他很快就找到一份工作，但也沾染了赌博，深深陷入赌博的泥沼。
大卫说：“我当时经常请假，甚至旷工，最后被开除了。之后我就成了一个职业赌徒。后来我认识了一个黑社会的人，因着1000块一天的工资，就答应跟他在赌场工作。”
开始在赌场里工作的那年，他眼中没了家中妻子与宝宝，在分居五年的时间后，夫妻感情也彻底破裂。随后，自己开赌场。刚开始生意很好，但后来，就越赌越输。大卫弟兄回忆到：“那时，我就想把这个钱赢回来，最后一个月内就输掉了 200 万。我开始骗自己家里的钱，先是相对有钱的大姐……该借的全都借了，还借了很多的高利贷，最后，我就选择了逃难跑路。”
他有过自杀的想法，也想过去一个陌生的城市隐居起来。第二天，他经过几家教堂想到：“如果这位耶稣是真的，我的明天就有希望；如果耶稣是假的，那我已经把后路安排好了。”
“当我走进那间教会的时候，我突然感受到有极大的平安。因此我留在这个教会里面持续了三年的信仰生活。”
在这三年里，大卫弟兄的心里也常有怀疑和不信的声音 。直到有一天他开着车到教会，离开时发现车无法启动。他开始祷告说：“耶稣，如果在这个时候你能够行神迹，让它打着火，我不但一生一世跟随你，我还要学习保罗和彼得，在各地为你做见证。”然后他把钥匙插进去，不仅启动了车子，也开启了他全心全意相信耶稣。
第二天，大卫弟兄开着那部车子逃到了另外一个城市。一天银行打电话来催债，他再一次祷告求主帮助。在祷告中，忽然间，想起只见过一面，只有一个联系方式的商人，后来他主动打钱帮助
大卫开始重拾信心去找一份工作。他找的第一份工作是装潢公司，只有找到一个订单才会有相应的提成作为工资。
大卫弟兄激动地说到：“刚入职，我祷告了之后，开始接待我的第一个客人。然后到了主日聚会的时候，得到好消息，业务的合同签下来了。我拿到 2000 多块钱的提成，我也第一时间奉献到教会1000 块。”
大卫回忆说：“后来，上帝告诉我：‘孩子，你去开公司，我与你同在。’ 我就带着1000元去注册了一家公司。在经营公司的过程中，有很多的不容易。在信仰前遇到困难，我首先会想哪一个熟人能够帮助我。但如今，我学会了依靠上帝。遭遇了难处，我关起门来祷告，但是转机随后出现了。”
“渐渐，在 2017年的时候，把我从家族里面骗的钱全部都还上了，也把欠的100 万的高利贷全部还上了，这都是上帝的保守。”
然而到了2020 年的时候，他突然就患了肺脓肿，并且患有严重的糖尿病。当时的医院已经无能为力了。大卫在病床上，呼求说：“主啊，医治我，让我起来服事你。” 到了第二天医生再次给大卫弟兄抽血，结果他的血液是正常的。
2021年，在大卫弟兄疾病被医治好的时候，耶稣就开始呼喊 ：“我的孩子，放下一切来跟随我。”在2022年的 3 月份，耶稣再一次呼召他。大卫弟兄带着相信耶稣会供应他的心，放下了以往的对家庭和公司的顾虑，走全职事奉的道路了。
故事|华东一弟兄见证：曾是被追债的赌徒 曾因三大重症住院 如今成为全职传道人的人生
Editor's note: Xu Dawei, who went astray in his youth, found himself in the abyss of gambling for its temporary wealth and success, ending up penniless and deceiving family and friends. At the bottom of his despair, the door of a church opened to him, guiding this prodigal son to turn his life around.
Born into a poor family in a small town in Anhui Province, Xu Dawei left home for work when he was under 18. As the family’s youngest son but without a father since he was little, Xu had adopted bad habits after leaving home.
As soon as he arrived in W City in Zhejiang Province, Dawei got a job but also developed a gambling habit, falling deep into an abyss of evil.
He said, "I often asked for leave or just absence from work and finally got fired. I had become a professional gambler since then, and even staff in the casino for a salary of 1,000 yuan a day as I made an acquaintance with a gangster.”
His wife and child were out of Xu’s mind in the first year he worked in the casino, which led to a total breakdown of the couple after a five-year separation. Later, Xu opened a gambling house with a booming start but lost all the luck the more he gambled. He recalled, “Back then, I was just eager to win all my money back while ending up with a loss of 2 million yuan within a month. I started to lie to my family for money and, first, to my considerably rich older sister. I turned to everyone I could borrow money from, even the loan shark. Finally, I chose to run away.”
He once considered suicide or just hiding in a strange city. On the second day, as several churches passed by, he couldn’t help but think, “There will be hope for tomorrow if Jesus is real, or at least my way of escape was ready if not.”
“A great peace fell on me upon my first step in the church, for which I chose to stay there for three years of pursuing faith.”
There were moments of uncertainty and skepticism during these three years. One day, he drove a car to the church but found out it couldn’t restart as he was about to leave. He then prayed, “Jesus, I will not only follow you for my whole life but also testify for you as Paul and Peter, if you can perform a sign to let my car start.” Then he inserted the key, which started not only his car but also his complete faith in Jesus.
The next day, driving his blessed car, Dawei fled to another city. Later, facing a call for debt collection from the bank, he turned to the Lord once again for help. In his prayers, a businessman came to mind, and surprisingly, this man agreed to lend Xu money, despite having only met once and sharing just one contact.
Experiencing the Lord is with him, Dawei regained confidence to find a job. His first job was in a decoration company, where he could only earn a salary by completing orders and receiving commissions.
"I began my job with a prayer as soon as I arrived at the company, receiving my first client. The good news about the deal signing came during Sunday service. I received a commission of over 2000 yuan and immediately dedicated half of it to the church," Dawei said in excitement.
He recalled. “Later, God told me, ‘Son, you should start a business. I am with you.’ I did as told, with only 1,000 yuan. There have been challenges in running a company. Before believing in Jesus, I would first consider which acquaintances could help. But now, I've learned to trust God instead. I prayed with doors closed when confronted with troubles. The turning point then showed up.”
"Over time, in 2017, I was able to repay not only all of the money I cheated from my family but also the $1 million usury loan. These are God's protection."
In 2022, Xu was suddenly diagnosed with a lung abscess and severe diabetes. The hospital was at its wits end at that time. Lying on the bed, Dawei called out, “My Lord, please heal me and raise me to serve you.” Surprisingly, as the doctor did the test again the next day, his blood test result returned to normal.
When Dawei was completely healed in 2012, Jesus began calling out, "My son, give up everything you have and follow me." In March 2022, Jesus called once more. Xu devoted himself to serving the Lord with the firm belief that Jesus would sustain him, letting go of his previous worries about family and business.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
From Former Penniless Gambler to Full-time Preacher: Embracing Life's Challenges With God's Guidance
