I Can Walk!

“‘But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .’ Then he said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’ And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:6-8, NIV.

Arthritis had practically crippled a 70-year-old Lua farmer named Lumlie. When he heard about the free Baptist medical clinic in Chiang Klang, he literally hobbled down the mountain to see if he could get any relief from the pain. The doctor at the clinic prescribed pain medication and prayed over Lumlie in the powerful name of Jesus.

Later that week, workers from the clinic went to visit Lumlie in the village of Nong Plaa. When asked how he was doing, Lumlie was all smiles. He said, “I can walk normally for the first time in years. I want to know about this God who is so powerful that He can make me able to walk again.”

Lumlie heard the Gospel that day, and he gave his heart to follow the Savior. The next week, so did his wife. Several years later, Lumlie lay in his hut dying of stomach cancer. Just before he died, Brooks Harrell, an IMB missionary to the Lua, came to visit him. Brooks asked, “How are you with God, Lumlie?”

Lumlie looked up at his friend and smiled. He said, “I am fine with God. I am fine.” Then he died trusting in the God who made him able to walk again.

Pray that:

God will send dreams and do miracles to confirm the truth of His Gospel among the Lua.

The story of Lumlie’s faith will continue to encourage other Lua to follow Jesus.

A church will be established in Nong Plaa before the end of 2008.

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