There’s nothing unique about my story. Succumbing to a life of drug addiction is the way of life for hundreds of my countrymen. It begins slowly, but in the end, addiction overtakes you.

I was born on February 20, 1968, in Tainan County, Taiwan, the youngest in a family of five siblings, with two older brothers and two older sisters. Though my parents were not wealthy, I was spoiled, and no doubt given more than I needed and allowed to get by with more than I should have. By the time I was in high school, I had become a problematic student. After only one semester, I dropped out and started hanging out on the streets, joining gangs, and running illegal gambling operations.

After serving my time in the military, I became a successful car salesman. I had plenty of money to live a lavish lifestyle, and using heroin was part of it. It turned out to be a very expensive habit! Soon my work performance was affected, which led me to return to the criminal underworld I had known as a teenager.

In 1993, at only 25 years of age, my addiction caught up with me. I was arrested by the police for drug use and sentenced to three years and six months in prison. This was my first time in prison, but not my last! I ended up going in and out of prison four times over the next decade. Every time I was released, I would resolve to quit drugs, but I was never able to succeed in doing so. I actually believed that I could not live without drugs. I was in bondage!

By this time, many of my family members had given up on me—but not all! My second sister was a Christian, and she was willing to help me. She helped me get into the Gospel Rehabilitation Center of Dawn Group, where I met Jesus.

This group is a faith-based organization which provides a recovery program for addicts. They rely on the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to achieve their objective. Passing on the love of Jesus, they care for and counsel residents and families to achieve renewal of the whole person. While at the rehab center, I had five hours of Bible reading and prayer every day. Gradually, I realized that I was a sinner, and I could not change my life on my own. So, I called upon the name of Jesus and asked for His help. The new environment, where I was cut off from previous social networks, helped too. Activities such as Bible study, physical exercise, teamwork building, and interpersonal communication training helped to replace old habits with new.

Thank God, during my three years in the rehabilitation center, I grew as a born-again Christian. Feeling God calling me to full-time ministry, I entered the Discipleship Training Center of Dawn Group for three and a half years of training. After graduation, I was moved by God to see that my friends who were addicted to drugs needed the Gospel just as I did, and even more so did their families. God placed in my heart a burden to preach the Gospel to these people and to study in the seminary.

Coming from a traditional lower middle class background in Taiwan, I realized that if it weren’t for my drug addiction that left me with nowhere to turn, I would never have come to believe in Jesus. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face difficulties with entering the church, as they can feel uncomfortable or out of place. Churches need to find a way to make it easier for this group to enter the church.

It was through the ministry to drug addicts that I met my wife. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary not long ago. God touched her heart, and she decided to retire early from her job as a junior high schoolteacher to join me in the ministries of reaching disadvantaged people in Taiwan for Christ. She is very willing to serve, and we share a common vision of bringing lower and middle class people into the church.

The church where I pastored for 10 years (Changchun Presbyterian Church) placed great emphasis on meeting the needs of disadvantaged groups. I was involved in ministry to high-risk students and prison fellowship groups, as well as the education work at the Xindian Rehabilitation Center. Additionally, I participated in service activities at drug rehabilitation organizations such as Morning Light Society and Yeadon. I am truly grateful for God’s grace—for saving me and then equipping me with the ability to minister and help people from disadvantaged backgrounds come to know Jesus and be transformed by Him.

People ask me why I have continued to study hard even though I’m very busy. I actually failed the written exam for entrance to China Evangelical Seminary three times before finally getting a chance to take the oral exam. So, the answer is that God has called me to shepherd the church well, especially to reach the vulnerable groups who face many challenges in entering the church and living out their faith. My prayer is that through the inspiration of God’s Word, more Christian brothers and sisters will invest and be willing to sacrifice to reach this vulnerable group. Therefore, I wanted to equip myself through theological education to establish a foundation for education and training in the church.

Along with my studies, I have accepted an invitation from Chenxi Foundation to serve with their pastoral staff in developing a Gospel-based drug rehabilitation program. This ministry calling is increasingly moving to me, as my burden for sharing the Gospel with drug addicts has not diminished. Whenever I encounter a drug addict or a family member seeking help, I encourage the addict to enter a drug rehabilitation program and for their family to join a church. I firmly believe that only the Gospel can truly change people’s lives. As a pastor, I have seen the relationship between the Gospel and drug rehabilitation.

Chenxi is a private foundation whose main purpose is to assist drug participants in recovery—in all aspects of their physical, psychological, spiritual, and social lives. Through faith and the love of Jesus Christ, they are enabled to completely break free from drug addiction.

The Gospel-based drug rehabilitation work relies on God’s Word to help participants break free from the bondage of sin. It falls within the domain of spiritual and cognitive therapy, emphasizing no reliance on drug substitution (not replacing drugs with other drugs) and not relying on one’s own strength. It relies on God’s love, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the teachings of ministers from the Bible, guidance from those who have successfully overcome drug addiction, and group dynamics to assist drug users in being reborn.

Those who receive counseling are required to reside in the counseling village/house for a year and a half. Accommodation, education, and counseling in all villages/houses are provided free of charge. The final stage in this program is Life Renewal, which assists participants in implementing their faith and formulating plans for life after leaving the village, preparing for reintegration into society. After the completion of the program, there is a maintenance period. Participants are referred to churches to connect with faith communities for further learning, thereby enhancing their chances of successful reintegration into families and society.

Chenxi Foundation has a total of nine drug rehabilitation villages and three training centers in Taiwan, as well as other locations overseas—including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Myanmar, and China.

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be called again, so that I can serve addicts and their families. In serving at Chenxi, I see people’s needs and witness the glory of God! The Lord Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Gospel is the power of God, and by relying on Jesus, addicts can break free from the bondage of addiction and obtain abundant life.

The grace of Jesus Christ can transform people with drug addictions. I know because I was saved in this way. I know of no other education policy or welfare system that can change people’s lives. Many addicts, like me, come to Bible-based rehab programs after all other efforts have failed—and then they give God a chance.

God is able to do things that are impossible for man to do-to transform the life of a hardened heroin addict into someone who can be used by God to bring transformation and wonderful changes in other people’s lives. Glory, praise, and honor belong to God alone!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).

Chen Junru serves as Vice-Executive Director of Chenxi Foundation in one of the training centers in Taiwan. He is responsible for pastoral care within the organization. As a pastor, he advocates for support of the organization within local churches.