The Testimony of Đỗ Thái Sơn's Life — From Murderer to Missionary

# From Pastor Mạc Sơn Hải - Book "Glimmers of Light Through Iron Bars" ## Prison Ministry

**Chapter 9**

✰**Testimony of Đỗ Thái Sơn's Life — From a Murderer to a Missionary**✰

A man once burdened by bloodshed, but now overflowing with love and longing to become a missionary. His story is a testament to stepping from darkness into light, proof of God's redemptive power and miraculous transformation.

More than ten years ago, Đỗ Thái Sơn and two Vietnamese immigrant workers came to Taiwan. For various reasons, they chose to become "illegal foreign workers" and lived a precarious life abroad to escape pursuit by law enforcement authorities. They supported each other, doing odd jobs at construction sites and black markets, saving whatever money they could to send home. However, in those difficult circumstances, their friendship shattered over a chess game.

That night, Đỗ Thái Sơn played chess with a friend, with substantial stakes. He had always been confident in his chess skills, but at the crucial moment, he lost everything. He suspected his opponent of cheating, his heart blazing with rage that could not be quelled. His other friend sided with the opponent, making him feel even more betrayed. From that moment, seeds of hatred took root in his heart. He began plotting revenge. A few days later, one night after his two friends had fallen into a deep sleep, he picked up a knife he had hidden earlier and trembled as he approached them. His heart was filled with inner turmoil, but ultimately anger conquered reason. He ruthlessly cut one man's throat, and that person died instantly. The other awoke and tried to resist, but was also stabbed seriously and eventually collapsed. After the killing, his heart raced faster and his hands shook, but he did not feel the satisfaction he had imagined. Instead, he felt an empty, endless terror. He tried to flee but was soon arrested by police. After the trial, the judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison.

After being imprisoned, his heart remained filled with hatred and resentment. He despised everything around him and had no hope for the future. Time passed slowly behind those high walls, each day merely a meaningless repetition. However, a turning point in his life came during a Gospel sermon. That day, a Vietnamese pastor came to the prison and shared the salvation of Jesus Christ with the inmates. Đỗ Thái Sơn was a Buddhist and had no interest in Christianity, even harboring hostility toward it. When the pastor began speaking about how Jesus loved sinners, how He died on the cross for the sins of the world, and how He forgave those who nailed Him there, he immediately felt a strong revulsion in his heart. He felt insulted—what right did this pastor have to speak these words to him? He thought to himself: "Do you know who I am? Do you know what I have done? What right do you have to say that Jesus can save me?" The more he listened, the angrier he became, even wanting to rush forward and strangle the pastor into silence. But he did not move, only gritted his teeth and listened to the entire message.

In the days that followed, those words lingered in his mind. He began to think: "If this Jesus can truly forgive sinners, what about my sins? Is there salvation for someone like me?" Afterward, the pastor continued to care for him, which deeply moved him. Finally, he decided to continue attending group meetings. The words in Scripture touched his heart. Jesus said to a thief who had killed: "Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) This verse pierced his heart and he wept. He began to pray to God, confess his sins, and seek salvation. Later, in a group meeting, he finally decided to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized in prison.

After believing in God, his life began to change. Initially, he sold cigarettes in prison to earn pocket money, but after his baptism, he felt the promptings of the Holy Spirit: "This is something God does not like." Therefore, he resolved to stop selling cigarettes and even began using his meager savings to help other inmates. He became joyful, loved reading Scripture, and eagerly shared the Gospel with his fellow prisoners. He began writing letters to his family back home, telling them that he believed in Jesus Christ and convincing them about a God who had the power to change lives.

This year, he was granted a pardon and finally walked out of prison to welcome a new life. His first thought was not to plan for the future, but rather: "How can I live for God?" He longs to return to Vietnam and become a missionary to preach the love of Jesus Christ to many more people, those who once lived in darkness as he did. He knows that without God, he would have long since perished; but through God's grace, now he has a new life and can live fully in love and hope.

The story of Đỗ Thái Sơn tells us that no sinner is too wicked to be redeemed. God's love is greater than our sins. As Scripture records: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Đỗ Thái Sơn was once a hateful murderer, but now he is a servant of God overflowing with love and hope. His life will become a testimony to many, witnessing to God's grace and miraculous redemptive power.

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## Conclusion: The Power and Capacity for Rebirth

Although life after returning home is not always smooth for many foreign prisoners released from prison, they can still overcome countless difficulties and move toward rebirth through faith. This chapter demonstrates the power of faith, which not only transforms their personal lives but also enables them to become agents of change in society, spreading love and hope to many more.

Through the support of faith, these foreign prisoners can find hope and strength for a new life, wherever they may be. Their stories show us that no matter how difficult life may be, the capacity for rebirth and transformation is always present.

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