My Hope, Thailand. Rerk's Hope, too.

This is my amazing life...

So I show up at church Wednesday night, and Boyd is talking to a young man about his age I have never seen before. His name is Rerk. A college senior and education major, he has been facing some struggles in life and not knowing where to turn next, he dialed the number for 'Baht' a telephone information service here. He told the operator he needed to find a Christian Church and talk to someone. The operator directed him to Immanuel.

We visited for a bit, and when he found out I had been a teacher for many years, he latched right on to me. He was back for Friday night services and he spoke very openly with me about some of the issues he is facing. You know how God is... it just so happens that Saturday (today) was the big day for My Hope Thailand, a year long, nation-wide evangelistic push led by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Today, a half hour television program was aired nation-wide, clearly presenting the gospel. Churches across Thailand were urging their members to host small watch parties in their homes, inviting unchurched folks. So... I invited Rerk to join Son, Ting, and me for dinner and to watch the program. He was happy to accept.

Rerk talks about life.

Rerk and I spoke for quite a while about the issues he has been facing and about all kinds of things... how school is going, his future plans, and what it was that made him pick up the phone and call that information line. Make no mistake, this is one very cool young man.

Rerk and I talk about... stuff.

Soon, we sat back and watched the My Hope, Thailand program, and its clear presentation of the gospel. Afterward, I gave Rerk a three minute version of my own story. He listened very intently. Then, Son sat down and shared his story of how he came to put his faith in Jesus. Again, Rerk was listening very closely.

Me, Ting, Rerk, Sontaya

Ting had to work, so he joined us late, but we all went to dinner at a nearby restaurant and there Ting was able to share his own story of how the grace of God delivered him from a life of drug abuse and violence. It is hard to listen to Ting share his story without being just swept up in it, and Rerk was no exception. I told him afterward that, after listening to these two young men, he had to realize there is hope for him, too.

At one point, Rerk told me that he has seen things in the people he has met from Immanuel this week that he has never seen or felt before. He asked me to be sure to invite him to any activity at the church that he can participate in. At OUR church, he may want to re-think that request!)

Of course, the first thought in my mind is that this young man needs to plug into the Young Leaders Group, and he will. Sadly, we don't meet again until the first week of January, but Rerk will be at church tomorrow. He is eager to attend his first "real" church service, and there he will meet all of the guys and sit with them for worship.

To my knowledge, Rerk has not yet stepped across that line of faith, but there is NO doubt he is standing at the point of making that life-changing, forever-changing decision. Please, please pray for this special young man.

Is it any wonder that this was the view from my balcony this evening?

Go God!