Years ago Ahmat invited a young man named Golf to come to church. Golf showed interest in the Gospel and Ahmat began to disciple him. Sometime later, Golf received Christ as his Savior and was baptized. Using his talents, he began playing guitar in the church’s worship band. His love for Jesus grew as he became a devoted follower of Christ.
Blindness is not a hindrance
Tragically, about three years ago, Golf contracted a virus that affected his eyesight and left him legally blind. Despite this, Golf never blamed God. Instead, he kept praising God!
For a while, during his illness, he continued to lead worship and play guitar. When he was no longer able to drive himself, a church member regularly brought him to church. This was a long drive as Golf lived in the Chachoengsao Province, about an hour outside of Bangkok. Then that church member passed away in the spring of 2020 and Golf was no longer able to attend church in Bangkok.
A Change of Faith
I have eyesight, but I don’t have peace. Golf is blind, but he has peace!
Khun Ouay
Early 2020 Pastor Lamp visited Golf. While there, he shared the gospel with Golf’s mother, Khun Oauy and she decided to become a follower of Jesus. She said, “I was just beginning to learn about God and I didn’t understand much.” Khun Ouay had been a devout Buddhist. Various church members continued to visit and always prayed for Golf’s family, his mom Khun Ouay, his wife Naam, little Eden, and little Otter.
Khun Ouay tells her story, “I watched with amazement as my son calmly accepted his blindness without a single word of blaming God. He just kept worshipping Jesus, playing his guitar at home!”
She adds about her own religious practice, “I usually revered the sacred relics of many kinds, statues, and images of gods that filled a large room, a shrine at my home. These gods have a worldly reputation. I also would go to worship at Buddhist temples that had renown and much influence. Then every morning and evening I chanted about three times daily. Each day I would chant before needing to hurry out to open my shop. It was all such a heavy burden for me!”
Her business was stressful. She lacked peace. She also struggled to have peace with her son. But she noticed her son had peace. She thought, “I have eyesight, but I don’t have peace. Golf is blind, but he has peace.”
She continues, “Then one day my son asked me a question. He asked, ‘Mom, when you are chanting do you understand the words you are saying? Do you understand what those words even mean?’ I could not answer my son.” That question never left her mind.
Then, “One night I dreamed that I saw someone wearing a white robe open the door of my bedroom looking for me. But I awoke suddenly, and He was gone. I didn’t tell anyone about that dream.”
Now i believe I only need Jesus!
Khun Ouay
“It was two or three days later I dreamed that my son Golf was carrying a cross as he came into my room. In my dream, I asked my son Golf, ‘Why are you carrying that cross in here?’ He replied, ‘You need to carry this cross.’ That morning after I woke up, I talked to my son about both of these dreams. We realized these were visions with good meaning. They were miracles of God wanting me to change the direction of my life and walk with God! God wanted me to offer my life to Him only! So I decided to get rid of all the idols and sacred relics, regardless of their meaning or value. I got rid of all of them from my home. Some of them I threw away. Some of them I gave away. But none were left in my home anymore.”
“Now I believe I only need Jesus!” she said with conviction.
Church of the 100
On April 4, 2021, a team from Bangkok First Church of the Nazarene opened a new church in Khun Ouay’s home, calling it the “Church of the 100, Church of the Nazarene.” There are no more idols in the home. The family has committed to God with all their heart and soul. Hallelujah! Thanks to God!
Please pray for Golf’s friends and neighbors who will soon become the next disciples of Christ.
Contributed by: Lisa Lehman, Asia-Pacific Region Literature Coordinator
