BEING SAVED
FROM
DRUG ADDICTION
FROM
DRUG ADDICTION
My name is Nam Quoc Trung. I was born into a wealthy family in Vietnam. From a young age, I was spoiled, and got whatever I wanted, but never felt satisfied. At 11-12 years old, I started to leave home wandering with bad friends, seeking and finding pleasure in one way after another. At the age of 14, I started using opium. In 1994, when I was 18 years old, heroin was pouring into Vietnam, and I became totally immersed in drugs. I sold my family's property, went down the road to steal, rob, or do anything, to satisfy my addiction to drugs, and all my other desires. Every time I went home, I would become violent, screaming, smashing, and turning my family into hell. My parents and my wife found all kinds of ways to help me get rid of drugs, but power and money could not solve the problems. The love and devoted care of the family did not help me get out of drugs.
I struggled with such sins for 16 years (1990-2006). The 14th time I got out of prison and was drug-free for 20 months, I was horribly disoriented. So, I plunged into games and other stimulants like alcohol, prostitutes, fighting ..., just to make sure I don't use drugs anymore. One day I drank up to three liters of alcohol. My nerves were going crazy, and I no longer behaved like a normal person. My heart always had screams and moans because I felt the misery deep in my soul.
One day, when I was wandering on the street, I met a friend who used to use drugs with me often. His eyes had a light that I have never seen before. He told me about Jesus' love, a love that saved him from drugs, and transformed his life. I did not understand what happened, but I felt a great difference in him, and I was really interested in what he had shared with me. It was then that I opened my heart and put my trust in Jesus. That day was November 25, 2006.
After believing in the Lord, I was given a Bible, and told that this is the Word of God, the Word that has the power to transform lives. Actually, I did not believe it that day, but I still read. I did not know about and had not experienced the power of God. I just began to wonder and think about my current state: a man nearly 20 years out of society, 16 years of addiction, 14 times out of rehab and one out of every two words deemed naughty and offensive. Amazingly, after only fourteen days of reading the Bible, my lips were choked, and I could not say any of those same offensive words. Although I still did not believe in the power of God, I continued to read the Bible. After a while, I found myself unable to lie anymore. Sometime later, I found myself unable to smoke and drink alcohol. Gradually, even bad thoughts in my mind were controlled ... Truly, God loved me too much, and He rescued me by miraculous power through His Word.
But His salvation did not stop there. The Grace of God also poured into my family. My parents and my wife and my children also accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. My family is extremely grateful to God for His wonderful love and His salvation. Because God saved my life, I have devoted my whole life to God, serving Him in the work of helping those suffering from social evils, drug addicts, vagrants, ... people who are still wrecked and miserable in sin. Once in the same situation, I know for sure that deep down in their souls, they are hungry for love, and a transformation in their lives. Because of my experience, I know for sure that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ can transform their lives.
Pastor Nam Quoc Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam