From Drunkard to Disciple-Maker: How Losten Found His Purpose

The whole village in Malawi knew Losten.

They knew him as the man who reeked of alcohol before noon, who could barely walk straight, who spent his days moving from one drinking spot to another. They knew his wife—the tired woman who held their family together with quiet resilience. They knew his children, who learned early how to fend for themselves because their father was unreliable.

But what they whispered about even more than his drinking was his wandering eye. Losten wasn’t just known for his bottle—he was known for chasing women. Eventually, he married a second wife. Now he had two homes, two families, and twice the burden. The women were older, each with many children, and the weight of it all slowly crushed him.

He had once been full of promise. But life, bad choices, and addiction had taken their toll. His once-strong body was weak, his reputation in shambles, his self-worth long forgotten.

Then, one afternoon, as he slumped under a tree in a half-drunken haze, Gibson, one of our leaders, sat down beside him. He didn’t say much at first, just sat there, silent. After a long pause, he looked over and asked a simple question: “Are you happy?” The man blinked, startled. No one had ever asked him that before. People cursed him, scolded him, and even pitied him—but no one had asked about his heart. He had no answer. The silence stretched between them.

Gibson didn’t press. He just started talking—telling his own story, of how he too had once been lost, directionless, searching for meaning. He shared about Jesus, not in a condemning way, but in a way that made the drunkard listen. He talked about forgiveness, about a second chance, about a life lived with purpose.

Something in the man’s heart cracked open. He had heard of Jesus before, of course. But the way Gibson spoke about Him—it was different. It wasn’t about rules, about guilt, about earning anything. It was about love.

And for the first time in years, he allowed himself to hope. “I want to change,” he whispered, barely believing his own words. They prayed together that day, right there under that tree.

The Hard Road to Redemption

The next few weeks weren’t easy. The cravings didn’t disappear overnight. He stumbled. He fell. He almost gave up. But Gibson didn’t let go. He checked in on Losten. He encouraged him when he felt weak. He prayed for him when temptation struck. At first, the villagers laughed. “He won’t last,” they said. “We’ve seen this before.”

But something was different this time. Losten stopped going to the drinking spots. Instead, he started meeting with Gibson regularly, studying Scripture, listening, learning. He began to understand that Jesus wasn’t just a distant religious figure—He was a Savior, a friend, someone who truly cared about him. And the more he understood that love, the more he wanted to share it.

Then came the reckoning with his past. He realized that having two wives was not only a challenge for his family, but a heavy burden on his spiritual walk. He struggled deeply. Both women were aging. Both had given him children. Abandoning either one felt cruel and unjust. In the end, he didn’t break his families apart—he chose to walk in repentance, share his testimony, and warn others: “Don’t do what I did. Don’t take the path of many wives and strong drink. It leads to heartbreak and ruin.”

Losten’s first wife (on the left) and second wife (on the right).

A New Calling
Months passed, and the transformation was undeniable.

The man who once couldn’t stand up straight was now leading others. The one who had been a burden to his family was now a provider. The villagers no longer whispered about his shame—they spoke of his change.

One day, he came to Gibson with a request: “I want to help others like me.” And so, with Gibson’s guidance, Losten started a small group for men who were struggling—men who had also lost their way, who felt trapped in addiction, who had given up hope.

He didn’t just preach at them; he walked with them. He knew their struggles because they had been his struggles. He knew their shame because it had once been his shame. Slowly, one by one, other men began to change too.

Today, the man who had once been written off as a hopeless drunkard is a leader, a disciple-maker, and a living testimony that no one is too far gone for God to redeem. He stands in front of his small group, speaking to men who are where he once was, and tells them: “I was a slave to my addiction. But Jesus set me free. And He can do the same for you.” And the men listen. Because they know he speaks the truth.

In fact, the village has given him a new nickname: “Jesus.” Not because he’s perfect, but because his life reflects the transformation only Christ can bring. God now gives him dreams, revelations, and words of knowledge. Through him, many are coming to know Christ.

This is the power of the Gospel. It isn’t just about attending church. It isn’t about following a set of rules. It’s about transformation. It’s about the reckless, unrelenting love of Jesus, reaching into the darkest places and pulling people into the light. And the best part? It’s never too late.

If God can take a man who was the shame of his village and turn him into a leader, then He can redeem anyone. No one is too lost. No one is beyond hope.

All it takes is one moment of surrender. One prayer. One step forward—And everything can change.

About the author: Jonathan Nolan is the International Business Director for All Nations International. In this role, he helps church planters in Asia and Africa become self-sustainable and help use business to make disciples. He has been part of All Nations since 2008 and has been doing church planting and business planting in Cambodia, Spain and The Netherlands.

https://allnations.international/b4m 

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