*Malai grew up in a small village in Isaan, Eastern Thailand, but later moved to the larger city of Chiang Mai, where she found work with a Christian ministry. During her time there, Malai came to personally understand the gospel and made a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ. Though she shared her new faith privately with her family on visits home, she kept a low profile, and her family members who believed did so in secret. Given the lack of churches and other believers in the area, Malai worried about the social challenges that Christians who openly practice their faith might face in her village.

However, when Malai returned to her village for an extended period after her mother’s passing, she was encouraged to meet a few neighbors who had also become followers of Jesus. These neighbors even hosted worship and Bible study gatherings in their homes. Inspired, Malai decided not to return to Chiang Mai. Instead, she embraced her village community, regularly visiting neighbors, leading others to Christ, and nurturing new believers in their faith. Now, rather than remaining secret believers, Malai and others are learning to live out a simple, authentic faith that invites others to follow Jesus openly.

*Atid also grew up in a small Thai village, a 15 minute bike ride from the village Malai had grown up in. But like many others, he eventually left for Bangkok to build a career. One day Atid found a Christian tract on the ground, at the time his sister lay dying in hospital. Atid decided to pray to the God (Jesus) the tract  spoke of—he prayed that the Lord would heal his sister. He vowed that if God healed his sister, he would visit a church ten times. Miraculously and without medical explanation his prayer was answered! His sister recovered from her illness.

Atid panicked because he could not remember exactly how many times he had promised to attend church. He did, however, want to keep the promise he had made to God. After his second time attending church, he knew the message about Jesus was true and he prayed to receive Jesus as Lord. Atid embraced his new faith, found a church in Bangkok, and even met his wife there. When he and his wife returned to his village years later, he brought his faith in Jesus with him.

Atid’s return aligned perfectly with discipleship training that missionaries were introducing in his area. In a village where most people were Buddhists and churches were nonexistent, Atid’s desire to share his faith inspired him to use his home for simple gatherings. Gradually, other families in the village began praying and reading the Bible in their own homes as well.

When Malai returned to her village, she was encouraged by the gatherings Atid had already started. *Manop, one of the men Atid had discipled to the Lord, had helped Malai while she was grieving for her mom. Malai was so moved by Manop’s kindness and support that she began leading others to faith and opened her home for Bible study and worship. Her involvement brought many women into discipleship, and together, she and Atid are now fostering a growing community of believers in the village, transforming it from the inside out.

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA

A TRIUMPH OVER BLACK MAGIC
*Narong and *Junta were deeply immersed in the occult practices and folk Buddhism of Thailand when they encountered read more