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(Testimony in Cantonese only)
John is an ordinary farmer’s son from the New Territories of Hong Kong, came to England alone at the age of seventeen to start a new life with great enthusiasm and family expectations. He first worked in the kitchen of a restaurant, and while adapting to the foreign culture, he also worked hard to learn English. However, the pressure and loneliness of being alone made him go to casinos in his spare time. At first, it was just for entertainment, but later he became addicted. Gambling becomes the focus of John’s life, leading to financial difficulties and a rift in his family. He admitted that the happiness brought by gambling was only short-lived, but it dragged down his self-esteem and relationship with his family. Although he made repeated resolutions to quit gambling, he always relapsed and fell into a vicious cycle of disappointment and self-blame. Just when he felt that there was no way out in life, the courses at the Christian Center for Gambling Rehabilitation and the power of faith brought a turning point in his life. Through prayer and Bible study, he gradually overcame the shackles of gambling and regained direction in life. Although John is still on the journey of growth today, he has seen the light of God’s grace and firmly believes that with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, he can live a truly abundant life.

From Darkness to Light – The Testimony of Mrs. Wan This episode tells the story of the salvation testimony of an old Hong Kong emigrant to the UK. Mrs. Wan tells everyone in detail about Mr. Wan’s lifelong experience of quitting gambling. Mrs. Wan moved to the UK with her husband when she was young. She worked hard for her family and led an ordinary but busy life. However, her husband’s gambling addiction put the family finances in trouble and they lived in quarrels and stress for many years. Mrs. Wan had tried to dissuade her husband many times, but no matter how hard she tried, her husband could not break free from the addiction to gambling. Faced with helplessness and disappointment, her heart was filled with anger and resentment, and she even felt despair about the future. Just when she was most confused and helpless, Mrs. Wan happened to attend a church meeting. She was moved by the love and care of the brothers and sisters and began to develop an interest in faith. With the nourishment of prayer and the words of the Bible, she gradually understood that true peace does not come from changing others, but from allowing God to change her first. She learned to let go of her anger and complaints and to entrust everything to God, just as Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; he saves them out of all their troubles.” With the power of faith, Mrs. Wan chose to trust in God’s guidance and no longer be influenced by the environment. She accompanied her husband to quit gambling with love and patience. After quitting gambling, their family relationship was restored, and her heart was filled with peace and hope from God. Mrs. Wan’s testimony reminds us that no matter what difficulties we face, as long as we trust in God, He will open a way out for us and lead us to a new life. (Recording in Cantonese with Chinese subtitle)

James was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, moved to Hong Kong when he was young, and went to the UK to study alone at the age of 19. In 1968, he landed at Heathrow Airport with two suitcases. He was unfamiliar with the place and did not speak English. He found his way to a youth hostel based on the address and began his life studying business administration. After graduation, due to the pressure of reality, he worked as a waiter, a casino manager, and even became addicted to gambling. During his career as a civil servant, he became more and more addicted due to the influence of his colleagues, and gambling became an outlet for him to escape the burden of his family. After his divorce, he still had to take care of his daughter and elderly parents, and he did not take a break for 19 years. In 1983, he faced a triple blow of career setbacks, marriage breakdown, and his parents’ serious illness. The turning point in the darkness began when he caught a glimpse of the church slogan on the bus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” (Matthew 11:28) In desperation, he opened the church door and learned about Jesus’ salvation for the first time. Although he did not quit gambling immediately, the seeds of faith took root quietly. He struggled repeatedly for the next 30 years until he finally woke up in recent years: “There are no winners in gambling, so you can only entrust your life to God.” He admitted in the past: “How can I establish a relationship with God if I know Jesus but don’t know Him or love Him at all?” Now, he is determined to deepen his faith and learn the truth of the Bible. From questioning “Why was Jacob favored” to understanding that “human limitations cannot confine God”, he gradually got rid of his gambling addiction and stayed away from temptation. Although his life is full of regrets, he is grateful that his faith illuminates the way forward and truly knows who Jesus is. This is the way home. James’ story tells of loss and redemption – where man ends, God’s grace just begins. (Recording in Cantonese, with Chinese subtitle)

Brother Hue grew up in Vietnam and his family was well-off. Later, in search of a better life, he and his brother came to the UK first, and then successfully completed immigration procedures for his family. However, in order to make a living, Hue chose to join the catering industry and worked in a restaurant in Chinatown. He initially lived a simple life and saved money diligently, but under the influence of his colleagues, he began to gamble. At first, he just helped his colleagues place bets, but later he became addicted to it. The excitement brought by gambling made him gradually unable to extricate himself. Over the past 20 years, he gambled more and more, accumulating huge debts, which eventually became difficult to conceal and his family broke up. Even when he tried to quit gambling, he still fell back on several occasions, and even after paying off his debts, he started gambling again, falling into a painful cycle. Until he came to the Christian Center for Gambling Rehabilitation, where he accepted faith and decided to follow Jesus. Brother Hue felt an unprecedented sense of relief, and the burden in his heart was lifted. He began to seek God’s guidance through Bible study and prayer, and stayed away from his past gambling life. He deeply understands what Psalm 55:22 says: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Today, Brother Hue has not only given up the bad habit of gambling, but also learned how to find the direction of life in God’s word. His life was changed from darkness to light. He hopes that through his testimony, he can encourage more people to know God, rely on God, break free from the bondage of sin, and live a truly free life. (Recording in Cantonese, with Chinese subtitle)

Hello everyone, today I want to share with you Brother Jong’s life testimony and see how God’s grace can completely change a person’s life. Brother Jong came to the UK from Indonesia in 1994. He originally entered the country as a tourist, but started his new life here. However, the first days in a foreign land were not easy. Alone and helpless, he gradually came into contact with gambling. Initially, he thought gambling was just a form of entertainment, but he eventually became so addicted to it that he lost the direction of his life. Even in the darkest times, God did not give up on Brother Jong. Once, when he was in detention and facing the risk of deportation, a Christian friend helped him write a letter of appeal, which eventually led to his release. This experience became a turning point in Jong’s life, causing him to begin to reflect on the meaning of life. He deeply realized that if he wanted to change the current situation, he could only rely on God’s guidance. He memorized Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” From then on, Jong was determined to put God first in his life. After marriage, in order to be able to attend church meetings, he and his wife would pray every time they looked for a job, asking God to find a job that would give them Sundays off. God’s grace accompanied him all the way, not only allowing him to completely quit gambling, but also helping him to completely break away from his past lifestyle and live a rich and meaningful life. I hope that Brother Jong’s testimony can inspire everyone. No matter what difficulties we encounter in life, as long as we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, God will lead us onto the path of light and hope with His abundant blessings. (Recording in Cantonese, with Chinese subtitle)

Ma Dai moved to the UK with his father in 1966, beginning a new life by working in restaurants. However, his journey has been marked by significant challenges, particularly after his marriage in his 20s. Marital problems gradually led him into the grip of gambling addiction.

During his separation, Ma Dai started visiting London’s underground casinos. What began as casual entertainment soon spiraled out of control. He admitted that gambling offered temporary joy but ultimately left him financially strained, estranged from his family, and burdened with significant debts. Ma Dai described himself as wandering in darkness, trapped in a cycle he could not escape.

Over the years, he attempted to quit gambling but failed repeatedly. Even after joining a church and later seeking help from The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation, the addiction persisted. He felt tormented by an internal “demon,” with the lure of gambling ever-present. Ma Dai admitted his deep desire to shed the “gambler” label, but he realized that his strength alone was insufficient to break free.

Despite these struggles, Ma Dai holds firmly to his faith in the grace of Jesus Christ. He shared that becoming a Christian brought him immense blessings and hope. Yet, he acknowledges the need for a closer walk with Jesus to overcome temptation fully. He believes that only by relying on Jesus’ power can he break free from the chains of gambling and embrace a life of freedom and light.