Pastor Who Dedicated Life To Halfway House For Drug Addicts Passes Away From Cancer At 69
For those who’ve taken drugs before, the temptation to go back to their old ways can be too much to resist alone.
That’s where halfway houses come in — to straighten out those who have gone astray, and offer them assistance so they can kick the habit.
Once a drug addict himself, Pastor Philip Chan turned his life around and co-founded a halfway house named The Hiding Place to help other drug addicts rehabilitate.
Unfortunately, Pastor Chan passed away on Monday (3 Feb), after a battle with liver cancer. His daughter shared with The Straits Times (ST) that he died peacefully in his sleep.
Pastor turned life around and co-founded halfway house
Often, the best types of people who can help others have arguably ‘been there, done that’.
So it was with Pastor Chan, who led a “havoc” life of drinking and consuming drugs until his early-20s, reported The Straits Times.
Pastor Chan subsequently stayed at House of Grace, a halfway house his eventual wife had founded, and turned his life around.
He later married his wife, Mdm Gwee, and renamed the halfway house The Hiding Place.
The house serves an important role in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, and helps them to overcome their addictions in a safe haven.
Gamblers and alcoholics also turn to The Hiding Place to kick their destructive habits.
Dedicated and compassionate father figure
In moving tributes to the man, many shared their personal stories about how Pastor Chan touched their lives.
One of them, who described himself as “super immature and… stuck up back then,” credits Pastor Chan for his guidance and attention in getting him back on track in life.
Pastor Tan Hock Seng, who knew Pastor Chan for 39 years and worked with him at The Hiding Place, is no exception. He was also a drug addict and claimed to not be easy to deal with:
I couldn’t understand why they were helping us, as we are not the obedient kind… And they did not gain financially from it.
Mr Caleb Tan, 46, said Pastor Chan was the “father he never had”. Homeless after he was released from prison, he stayed at The Hiding Place.
Mr Tan with Pastor Chan and Madam Gwee
Source
Even when Mr Tan suffered serious injuries in a kitchen accident, Pastor Chan assured him that he would take care of him – even if The Hiding Place didn’t.
These testimonies are a testament to the work he did and the time he sacrificed for these people.
Rest in peace, Pastor Chan
Over the past 35 years, Pastor Chan and his wife have helped over 1,000 people.
He gave up all of his time for his “sons”, promising that he’d be there for them when everyone else had forsaken them.
It’s amazing to see that Pastor Chan and his wife have changed so many lives with their compassion and love. We hope their legacy will continue for many years to come.
MS News offers our deepest condolences to Pastor Chan’s family and loved ones.
Those who would like to attend Pastor Chan’s wake can do so at The Hiding Place till Thursday (6 Feb).
Featured image adapted from Facebook.
