Stories from the Field

August 2003

New Believer Born in Bangkok

Nancy* went forward to declare her decision to accept Jesus only a few months ago. Through tears she told me, "I'm newborn today!" The next Sunday in our church service, Nancy gave a short testimony and said, "I had my family and friends and job, but the thing mission was God. He's always there."

During the months prior to her decision to follow Christ, Nancy was pretty confused and had a lot of doubts, but now she has such peace. She was baptized a month later.
Nancy still faces questions from her whole family about why she would believe something different from all of her family and her ancestors. In Thailand, parents are everything, more important than anything else. To do something different from one's parents seems absolutely crazy to the Thais.

When I told Nancy that I was extending my stay in Bangkok, she exclaimed, "You'll get to see me grow up [in Christ]!" Seeing new believers like Nancy and Manee, another church member, grow into a relationship with God makes being here as a short-term missionary worth it. Paul wrote, "I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they, too, may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory" (2 Tim. 2:10).

* Name changed to protect privacy.

Story adapted from Bangkok Beckonings, a newsletter of IMB personnel in Bangkok. For more stories from the Bangkok Metro Team, go to http://www.bangkokteam.com/bmt/newsletter/.