As we approach Easter Sunday, we read scripture and remember Jesus’s life, the cross, His burial, three days in the tomb, and then His triumphant resurrection. This is a time when Christians around the world join together to worship a risen Savior.
My son-in-law and daughter planted a church in Thailand three years ago. Today, I have asked my daughter, Jennifer, to share a story, a resurrection story. It has reminded me again that the core of all leadership is Jesus.
Pada, an elderly woman in our Thai community, came to church every time the doors were opened. She attended every English class, retreat, outreach event, and birthday party. Virtually every person in our congregation received some kind of gift from Pada — especially the children who adored her as the woman with an endless supply of chocolate. She’d walk to church every day to eat her lunch and chat with whoever was there trying to work. The church was her family. But behind this sweet old woman’s smiling face and giving nature lurked a dark reality.
Like most Thais, Pada was Buddhist to the bone. She loved the community aspect of church, but she squirmed every single time the gospel was presented. As soon as my husband stood to preach, Pada would jam headphones in her ears and crank up the volume. She’d stand up and take pictures (yes, in the middle of the sermon). She’d pace in and out of the building, or go in the back to play with the babies. Anything to escape hearing about Jesus. Pada would leave church after lunch, and head over to the Buddhist temple to make merit to the monks. She’d bow to Buddhist spirit houses and statues. Despite hearing the gospel dozens of times from dozens of Christians over three years, despite being drawn to the warm community and family of the church, Pada was not interested in Jesus.
Then God opened her eyes.
After missing a few Sundays due to an illness, Pada showed up at our church on a Saturday morning. She walked into the church cafe and simply said, “I want to know God.” Our fellow team members, both fluent in Thai, asked her what she meant. She asked them if Christianity could be for her too — if she could know Jesus. My friends prayed with Pada to follow Christ. Then honestly, we all kind of stepped back and waited — like did this thing we’ve all been praying for really just happen? Is this for real?
It was for real.
The next day, Sunday, Pada came to church and for the first time in three years, I saw her worship Jesus. I then saw her sit and listen to the message, eagerly focused. That week she contacted her friend to tear down all the idols in her home (many Thais have statues and spirit houses in their homes). At 65 years old, Pada was a new creation. The woman who spent 99% of her life as an enemy of God was suddenly changed. That’s the pure, unmerited grace of God.
Then tragically, sixteen days after her salvation, Pada died in an accident. The news of her death rippled through our church, and we were all heartbroken. I confess we were also confused about God’s timing. Why would God take the life of a Christian Thai so soon after her salvation, when she might have influenced many with her changed life?
Again we watched the power of God’s timing.
Because Pada became a Christian so close to death, her family insisted on having the full Buddhist funeral. They were fully aware of Pada’s decision to follow Christ and they expressed wonder at the change in her life, yet still wished to proceed with the Buddhist funeral. As a nod to her new “religion” they agreed to allow David to preach about Jesus for fifteen minutes in the Buddhist temple. They also scheduled it for nine in the morning; probably hoping no one would come. David preached the gospel, and only three of the family came and heard. But they agreed to allow David to preach the gospel again in the afternoon, after the monks finished their funeral chants. This time many more family and friends heard about Jesus.
So through this elderly Thai woman’s death, the Lord opened the door for us to not only share the gospel with her family, but also stand inside the Buddhist temple, surrounded by idols and incense to false gods, and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to a room of non-believing Thais. That’s the power and timing of God.
I believe we have hardly scratched the surface of how God will use this unlikely, quirky lady to glorify himself in Thailand. I praise God for Pada’s life. I praise God for the church that became her family, and then led her straight into the very arms of Jesus.
This week we celebrate Easter Sunday, the resurrection of our Savior. Undoubtedly Jesus will be the focus of our celebration, but I can’t help smile thinking of Pada worshipping Jesus — not in her broken English, but in pure, beautiful Thai! And I praise God for the future Thais he may call to salvation through this woman’s testimony.