Alvin Cross Chow
As a child, I never liked staying home. There were always arguments happening and I had difficulties in communicating with my family members.
I started to hang out with bad company and eventually ended up in prison under the Criminal Law Detention at the age of 17. It was during my time in prison that I first heard about Jesus Christ and I accepted Christ into my life, although I do not really understand His way.
When I was released from prison, very quickly I started back with my old ways again and eventually got hooked myself into drugs. Drugs, not only brought harm me, but it brought grief to my family members. It cause them to lose hope in me. We totally lost communication at home. I felt very withdrawn, very lonely, very bitter.
One of the most heartwarming days I remember as an addict was when I hadn’t eaten for a few days. My mother came to me in a soft voice telling me that she cooked porridge for me. I felt so touched, because we seldom talk and I thought she had already given up on me. I felt a sense of guilt within me when I looked at her. I couldn’t believe she had a son like me. At that moment, I made a decision that I have to quit doing drugs.
I tried to quit. I found myself getting even more hooked the more I wanted to quit. I felt helpless at this point, asking myself if I was going to be like that for the rest of my life? What am I going to do? In this time of distress, I cried out to God for help. “O God! please help me, for I am unable to help myself.”
Through God’s Mercy and Grace, He led me to a pastor who know of The Hiding Place and this pastor brought me to enroll in the Hiding Place residential programme. In the programme, I lived a very restricted guided lifestyle. I studied the word of God each day and slowly draw nearer and nearer to Him.
Because of my changed life in the Lord, my relationship with my family has since been restored. I am now able to communicate well with them. Our relationship has in fact, grown much closer than before.
Thank God for the goodness that is upon my life. Through His mercy, I was brought out of a hopeless situation. Please pray for me that I may grow in faith and be God’s instrument as I journey with Him.
Thank you and God bless you.
Alvin Cross Chow