Rubbed the Right Way

“If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:16-17, NIV.

After the Thai government closed down a Southern Baptist run medical clinic in Chiang Klang, Christian workers decided to change the clinic into a community development ministry. Each of the workers who decided to stay and help launch this new ministry were asked to look around and see what needs there might be in the community. The ultimate goal of each ministry was to develop relationships and share the Gospel.

Pon is a 39 year old Northern Thai woman who, after considering working as a vegetable seller in the market, decided that God wanted her to stay and help launch the new ministry. She walked around the community by the center in Chiang Klang. She met many elderly residents who complained of aches and pains. She went to the local hospital and learned that many people come complaining of aches and pains, especially among the elderly. Pon began to think and pray about how she could minister to the community and help with this need. Then it occurred to her that Thai massage is widely accepted and would help reduce aches and pains.

The next day at staff meeting, Pon shared her idea about starting a massage ministry. “When I shared my idea, no one seemed very interested,” said Pon. Yet she was passionate and persistent in pressing the idea. “Every village has people who need this service,” continued Pon. “And we will have a captive audience to share with! When you have them flat on their stomach, they are not going to run away from you!”

Pon’s ministry idea was approved. She went to the local hospital and received training in basic massage techniques. Over her first four months of ministry, she has found nothing but open doors. She visits two villages every week to administer massage therapy. “Every time I do a massage, I share some more about God,” said Pon. “At first people did not respond much, but that is already changing. Now I have people asking me questions about being a Christian. Sometimes they ask about church and what we do there.” This response is quite remarkable, since these same residents wanted nothing to do with learning about God during the four years that the medial clinic operated.

Pon is still hoping that others will catch her vision for using massage as a doorway to share Christ in every village. “I want to help people relax and to develop a relationship with them as I share Jesus. And I need others to come alongside me and help me accomplish this vision,” said Pon.

Pray that:

God will give Pon the joy of seeing many of her new friends from the neighborhood come to know Christ.

Others will catch Pon’s vision of ministering to villages with massage while they share the message of God.

Pon will have great perseverance and love in her ministry that will draw her closer to God.

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