By Kirk, CBF field personnel
Under a stilt house bordered by rice fields and rubber trees, a handful of farmers gathered. The shared a meal of sticky rice and chili peppers, talked about the rainy weather and opened their Bibles.
It had taken nearly 20 years for a team of CBF field personnel and young people from their village to translate the New Testament into the B language. The nearest church worshiped exclusively in the national language—until a few months ago when the pastor resigned and the church dissolved. So these believers decided to meet at home—and read the Word in their heart language.
The other villagers knew about this group of Christians. Many passed the house, sometimes offering a greeting or watching the proceedings for a few minutes before walking on.
One who lingered was a man in his 30s named Nat. Nat was from a relatively well-off family. His father ran the local rice mill and had served as the village headman some years ago. Like many of his contemporaries, Nat became addicted to the local homebrew. Alcohol destroyed his marriage and his health. He often talked and laughed to himself. Villagers said his brain was broken.
But the Christians were different. They welcomed Nat into their fellowship. He enjoyed listening as they read the Bible—and tried to sound out words himself. But he worried about his parents—how would they react if they saw him going into church to pray?
Just about then, Nat’s father walked by the gathering. “Dad, I want to believe in God,” Nat announced.
His father was furious. “If you believe, I’ll cut off your inheritance. I’ll sell the rice fields so there’s nothing left for you. No one will bury you, and no one will pour out sacred water for you after you’re gone. You’ll be thirsty forever.” With that, Nat’s father stormed out.
The believers responded with compassion, assuring Nat that he could pray anywhere—in the rice fields, among the rubber trees, in the privacy of his room. They prayed that God would heal Nat’s mind, as a testimony to his parents and others. And they made it clear that he was always welcome in their midst.
Please pray for Nat—that the seeds of faith that God has planted in his heart would grow. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring healing to his mind and his relationships—with his ex-wife, his teenage daughter and his parents. And pray that the power and love of Jesus would be displayed.