Jam Session

“But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and mayest Thou shelter them, that those who love Thy name may exult in Thee.” Psalms 5:11, NAS.

As Ned and Wanda Stewart, IMB missionaries to Thailand, stepped into the house they realized that the owner had stepped out, but there were four young boys seated around the table. Their heads were bowed as they intently followed the words in the chorus book. The one with the guitar glanced up briefly and nodded. All of them were singing heartily:

One came with overflowing love in his heart
With hope and concern
This one we should love
He is the one—Jesus
Asleep in the hay.

This is the most important news
In the whole world
Because He is the Savior
Come to be with us
To change the sad darkness
With the strength of His light
He is source of love, grace, and mercy (rough translation of a Thai Christmas song).

The Stewarts stood and listened in wonder and awe! Eaf, the 11-year-old guitarist, has been coming to the “adult study time” of their house church for about a month. On this Sunday he brought his 9 year-old brother, Aat, and two other friends—Tem, age 10, and Gue, age 9. Wassana, the Stewart’s local partner, asked the boys to help prepare the songs that would be sung for the morning worship time. She was busy and had to run out to the store leaving the boys for a few minutes. That’s when Ned and Wanda showed up to witness the jam session and heavenly praise! 

As they listened with full hearts and damp eyes, they thanked God for what He was doing in Eaf’s life. Music really speaks to this young man. He has only been taking guitar lessons a few weeks, but God is doing a great work drawing these young boys to Himself. It was easy to stand there and catch a vision of Eaf leading his own house church one day. During the worship time, each boy enthusiastically took part in the study—reading and commenting on scriptures.

Pray that:

Eaf, Aat, Tem and Gue will come to salvation, and join God in spreading His Gospel in Bangkok. Pray that nothing will keep them away from the house church.

Ned and Wanda will have wisdom in helping this small house church to catch a vision for reaching the community through rapid multiplication of other house churches.

All 11 million people in Bangkok will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel at least once before they die.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.