When Peter and John addressed the Sanhedrin after Jesus’ resurrection, the assembly marveled at their boldness, noting that they were “unschooled, ordinary men.” In a world that often associates spiritual authority with advanced education, Jesus bestowed spiritual authority on ordinary people who had been with him.
Consider the incredible story of *Achara, an ordinary Isaan (Thai) villager who, with boldness and courage, shared her faith.
Achara, a shy woman with a fourth-grade education, embraced Christianity two decades ago. Despite faithfully attending every Christian gathering in her area, she had hesitated to take her faith beyond the confines of these meetings. However, last April, everything changed.
During a village outreach, Achara partnered with some bold Lao women who fearlessly explained the message of Jesus as they visited households. Inspired by their courage and testimonies, Achara, realizing their ordinary backgrounds, decided to continue sharing about Jesus upon returning home. She soon connected with *Jhi, who was grappling with severe health issues and spiritual challenges. Plagued by demonic harassment at night, she suffered from insomnia, leading to mental instability. Additionally, she had diabetes, advanced kidney failure, and swollen aneurysms in her brain.
Four years prior, Jhi’s in-laws had advised her husband, “You need to make serious merit if you expect your wife to live.” Making merit means giving food, money, cloth for robes, etc to monks and temples. Accordingly, Jhi’s husband sought to gain merit by donating six acres of rice paddy land. He raised money to build a Buddhist temple. He organized and led the temple committee and recruited monks to live in the temple. After that, he sold 20 more acres of land to raise money for doctors. Despite these efforts, Jhi’s condition worsened and she grew progressively weaker.
Praise God, Achara felt empowered to share the gospel with Jhi. Daily, Jhi would listen to Achara read the Bible aloud in an outdoor hut, finding peace in the words. With the help of Achara’s husband, they built a shelter by a nearby pond for Jhi, providing a cooler and quieter space for her to rest. Achara continued sharing about Jesus and praying for Jhi’s healing.
After a month, Jhi had gained enough strength to function normally. At this point, she prayed to receive Jesus. The transformation astounded her husband, leading him and their three adult daughters to also become Jesus’s disciples. Jhi’s husband walked away from the temple he had funded and helped build.
A few weeks later, Jhi visited her friend *Peng, who had been in a coma after a severe beating. Just as Jhi had been prayed for, she prayed for Peng’s healing, asking God to stop the trembling hand that had emerged post-coma. God answered the prayer, and Peng’s hand stopped trembling. In response, Peng and her husband decided to follow Jesus.
*Dai, a ministry partner, has trained and actively mentors leaders in the village house church which meets in the home of Achara and her husband. Jhi and Peng’s families and 30 other people regularly attend this house church, started by one ordinary woman who boldly shared her faith in Jesus.
- Pray God continues to bless Anchara and Jhi as they share Jesus with other women in their village. Pray that many other women are touched by their testimonies and that God continues to answer their prayers for others.
- Ask that the husbands of these women will boldly share their faith as well. Pray for Jhi’s husband in particular to be a bold witness for Jesus. Pray that his parents will become followers of Jesus.
- Pray for people who supported the temple. Ask for a change of heart across the whole subdistrict, as there may be unhappy feelings since Jhi’s husband has walked away.
- Ask for great joy and love to grow among members of this house church.
*pseudonyms
