Ajarn is a well-known Christian pastor in Thailand. Like many Thais, he views life through the lens of a large, interconnected family rather than as an isolated individual. When asked about his journey to becoming a disciple of Jesus, Ajarn shares the remarkable story of how his entire family came to faith.
Ajarn’s grandparents lived in a northern Thai village, struggling to provide for their family of nine, which included seven children. Despite their hard work, they never seemed to have enough. Like others in their village, they identified as Buddhists but turned to the local shaman for help with their real-life issues.
One day, their eldest child fell gravely ill. The shaman demanded a water buffalo as a sacrifice to save the child. The family reluctantly parted with one of their precious working animals, only to watch in despair as their beloved child died.
Not long after, their second child also became dangerously ill. This time, the shaman required a large pig. The family scraped together the money to buy the animal, made the sacrifice, but tragically lost their second child as well. This heartbreaking pattern continued with their third and fourth children. Each time, despite the immense cost, they provided the sacrificial animal, valuing nothing more than their children’s lives.
When their fifth child fell ill, the family was desperate and nearly hopeless. At this critical moment, a disciple of Jesus with the intention of making more disciples arrived in their village. He asked if anyone needed prayer, and the villagers directed him to Ajarn’s grandparents. Hearing their tragic story and seeing their dire situation, he offered to pray for their sick child without requiring any sacrifice.
The disciple-maker explained that the disciples of Jesus received freely and were sent out to give freely. Skeptical but desperate, the family allowed him to pray over their child in the name of Jesus. Miraculously, they witnessed their child’s recovery right before their eyes! Moved by this experience, the entire family – father, mother, and remaining children – embraced Christ as their savior, experiencing salvation from both physical and spiritual death.
Now, in the grandchildren’s generation, many, including Ajarn, serve as full-time pastors or missionaries. Those who do not serve full-time remain steadfast in their faith, grateful that Jesus saved their whole family without cost and empowered them to go out among the lost and share this gift freely.
*pseudonym
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