A Broken Beginning
Before Pr Ben Yeap became a preacher, his past was a shocking and broken period drenched in darkness. He was once a drug addict, a criminal, and a gang member. Drugs and crime almost destroyed his whole life. He deceived others’ trust, stole others’ possessions, and rose to become a feared figure in gangs. But his life became hopeless and completely bound by darkness. His days were full of violence, chaos, and degradation – without any light in sight.
Pr Ben’s parents once sent him to Taiwan for drug rehabilitation. Though he briefly stayed clean for two years, upon returning home he quickly relapsed, deeply disappointing his parents. After they exhausted their emotional and financial support, he chose to leave home, not wanting to trouble them anymore. With no useful skills, the only “talent” he had was robbing others. In Penang, he survived by robbing people and descended deeper into a criminal life.
In the depths of drug addiction, Pr Ben felt despair more than once. He used drugs to numb his pain and deceived himself into thinking he could control his life. But that so-called “control” was a total lie. He became someone unable to escape the bondage of drugs, a broken soul with no strength to save himself. Having committed twenty to thirty robberies in Penang, he could no longer stay there and was forced to flee to Singapore. But the new environment did not change him. It only led him further into crime.
Because he committed around twenty to thirty robberies in Penang, Pr Ben could no longer live there and was forced to flee to Singapore. But the new environment did not change him; instead, he fell further into crime. In 1980 he arrived in Singapore. Though he initially received support from a few friends, the help was short-lived and he soon reverted to what he did “best”; robbery.
Pr Ben even became the first Malaysian to rob a KFC in Singapore. He often joked about this odd piece of his testimony, yet the absurdity of it reveals the desperation and loss of control in his past life. On one occasion, a little girl of a brother in his church innocently asked, “Why did Pastor Ben rob KFC? Didn’t he have money? He could’ve just bought it!”. It was a simple question that strikingly exposed what his life was like.
Eventually he was arrested by the Singapore police and sentenced to three years in prison. Near the end of his sentence, the Malaysian government brought forward all his crime records from Penang. When he finished his term and was released from the Singapore prison, he was immediately extradited back to Malaysia and sent to jail again.
When he was locked up, it seemed his life had reached its end. The once fearsome gang figure was now a man who lost his freedom, dignity, and direction.
Turning Point: How God Transformed Pr Ben’s Life
But in the darkest moment Pr Ben encountered Jesus. On July 14, 1985, the love of Jesus touched his heart. From that moment, his life began an incredible transformation. He described it as being “held by God,” and from that day on, he never looked back.
After his release from prison, Pr Ben entered a Christian drug rehabilitation center. There he not only overcame his addiction but also began to truly know the truths in the Bible. In the first two months in the center, he felt great discomfort and resistance. The brothers there often hugged, sang, and even cried together – things he, as a “big man” used to gang life, could not understand and felt awkward about.
At night the centre held teachings and testimony sharing. Pr Ben heard others confessing their own “shameful deeds,” such as how they fell and committed terrible acts and just like the stories he now shares. To him, it was unimaginable to openly tell others his worst experiences: “Who would tell other people those shameful things? You’d need a thick face!”
Through nearly daily internal struggle, Pr Ben felt he couldn’t endure life there, yet in that environment his life slowly began to change.
A Life Redeemed and Called
Pr Ben served at the rehab centre for five years, helping others who were once bound by drugs. Then he felt called to study at a seminary and receive theological training. After completing his studies, he got married and started a family. He served as a pastor in a Penang church for two years. After two years, he sensed God’s call again and started a new church. This church has now existed for 23 years and become a spiritual home to many.
When people ask about Pr Ben’s past, he always marvels at his unworthiness: “Who am I? I was just a drug addict, a gang member who went to jail. But God saved me from the darkness and placed me in every place in Southeast Asia, even brought me to Europe to proclaim His gospel.”
God not only changed Pr Ben’s life but expanded his influence. He has been to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and Germany, sharing his life story and how Jesus transformed him. He knew this was no coincidence: once lost in sin without escape, God pulled him from the abyss and gave him a new life. As Pr Ben said, “God not only opened a way for me — He opened a way I never even imagined.”
A Broken Life Trained by God
During his rehabilitation, Pr Ben realized that quitting drugs was only the beginning. His problems went far beyond addiction. His life had been damaged by lies, deception, violence, and crime so stopping drugs didn’t mean his life was fully restored.
Pr Ben often said, “Does a gunman (meaning a gambler or cheat) know how to manage money? Does someone from the gang world know how to build a family or take care of children?” Of course not. So God began to patiently train his life with love.
Once, while working at the rehab centre, Pr Ben earned only RM120 per month. He expected confirmation and a raise after six months, but six, seven, and then eight months passed with no increase. He felt confused and began to wonder if he was being overlooked or unappreciated. But during that year he learned money management and grateful living. He eventually realized that God used this time to train him how to cherish money and manage his life.
“I had no concept of the value of money before. God used RM120 to train me for a whole year. To this day, I have learned how to use every dollar well.” Pr Ben said this experience was part of how God turned his life around.
A Grateful Preacher
Thirty-four years later, Pr Ben is now a pastor who travels throughout Southeast Asia and Europe sharing God’s grace. “Without Jesus, my life would have been destroyed long ago. Jesus gave me a completely new path — one I never dared to imagine. He showed me what truth is, what life is, and what grace is.”
He never forces anyone to believe in Jesus but shares his life story to show the reality and reliability of the “Jesus product.” He says: “Believing in Jesus is a free choice. Just like 34 years ago, I simply tried it with a simple prayer — and that decision changed my whole life.”
An Invitation to You
If you’re willing to try, close your eyes and say a simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I open my heart and accept You as my Savior. Please forgive my sins, cleanse my heart, and give me new life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
This article was first published in Christianity Malaysia Chinese.
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