The Road of Grace: A Journey from Addiction to Rebirth
By Joseph Lee, July 15, 2025
Operation Dawn is a partner of CBM, and has been engaged in gospel-based drug rehabilitation in Thailand for 41 years. Pastor Hu serves as the administrative leader and a staff member of the Mentorship Department. He himself was once deeply entangled in drug addiction.
Orphaned at a young age, he had turned to drugs to cope after his parents passed away. This led to years of relentless struggle and pain — until even his closest sister was unable to continue supporting and enabling him, and asked him to leave their home.
In 1998, he left Myanmar and moved to Thailand, hoping to overcome his addiction, earn a living, and broaden his horizons. He believed that leaving his familiar surroundings would help him make a fresh start. But even in a new country, he was faced with a situation of an easily accessible opioid supply. He relapsed, and was in an even more broken situation than before.
On March 6, 2001, in Therd Thai village, Northern Thailand, he met Pastor Li Guang Rong. The pastor simply asked him, “Do you want to quit drugs?” Without hesitation, he answered, “Yes, I do.” From that moment on, he began his journey of rehabilitation.
At the Operation Dawn Rehabilitation Center, he heard the gospel for the first time. Moved by the heartfelt songs of praise sung by those at the center, he began to pray — pouring out his deepest desires before the Lord Jesus:
“Lord, if you are the true God, please help me never use drugs again in my life, and I will follow You for the rest of my days.”
God heard his prayer. Not only did he successfully overcome his addiction, but the next year, he entered the Operation Dawn Discipleship Training Center to equip himself. Although he lacked formal education, he had a heart that longed for God. With the help of pastors and teachers, he completed four years of discipleship training.
After completing his training, Pastor Hu returned to the rehabilitation center to serve those who, like him, longed to overcome addiction. His desire was to strengthen others — just as the Scripture says, “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Since then, he has served in the gospel-based drug rehabilitation ministry for 19 years. Now he is the administrative leader and a staff member of the Mentorship Department at Operation Dawn in Northern Thailand. With gratitude and conviction, he says, “All of this is by God’s grace.”
Pastor Hu also serves as a dedicated coordinator for the project in partnership with CBM. Reflecting on this journey, he shared, “I feel blessed by the opportunity to work with CBM. Even though I know very little, I am willing to learn. I’m thankful that CBM walks alongside us as we serve those recovering from addiction and share the gospel with those living in darkness and searching for the light.”
