Years ago, the discipleship efforts of a man named Ahmat* had helped lead a man named Golf* to Christ. Through Golf's walk with Christ, his mother saw the peace he experienced despite life’s odds and gave her life to Christ. Now, they have planted a church in their home in Thailand.

Roughly three years ago, Golf contracted a virus that affected his eyesight, leaving him legally blind. For a while, he continued to lead worship and play guitar at Bangkok First Church of the Nazarene. When he was no longer able to drive himself, a church member regularly brought him to church. This was a long drive as Golf lived in the Chachoengsao Province, which is roughly an hour outside of Bangkok. But in the spring of 2020, that church member passed away, and Golf was no longer able to attend church in Bangkok.

In early 2020, Pastor Lampof Bangkok First visited Golf. While there, he shared the gospel with Golf’s mother, Khun Oauy, and she decided to become a follower of Jesus. 

“I was just beginning to learn about God and I didn’t understand much,” Oauy said. “I watched with amazement as my son calmly accepted his blindness without a single word of blaming God. He just kept worshipping Jesus, playing his guitar at home.”

Ouay was previously a devout Buddhist and kept many relics, statues, and shrines of gods in her home.

“Every morning and evening, I chanted about three times daily,” Ouay said. “Each day, I would chant before needing to hurry out to open my shop. It was all such a heavy burden for me.”

Her business was stressful and she lacked peace. Despite her struggle for peace and to understand Golf’s faith, she noticed her son had peace.  

“I have eyesight, but I don’t have peace,” Ouay thought to herself. “Golf is blind, but he has peace.”

“Then one day my son asked me a question,” Ouay said. “He asked, ‘Mom, when you are chanting, do you understand the words you are saying? Do you understand what those words even mean?’ I could not answer my son.” 

That question never left her mind. One night, she dreamed of seeing someone wearing a white robe open her bedroom door, looking for her. She didn’t tell anyone about that dream. Two or three days later, she dreamed again, this time with her son Golf carrying a cross as he came into her room.

“In my dream, I asked my son, ‘Why are you carrying that cross in here?’ He replied, ‘You need to carry this cross.’ That morning after I woke up, I talked to my son about both of these dreams. We realized these were visions with good meaning,” Ouay said. “They were miracles of God wanting me to change the direction of my life and walk with God. God wanted me to offer my life to Him only, so I decided to get rid of all the idols and relics, regardless of their meaning or value.” 

“Now I believe I only need Jesus,” she added.

Bangkok First Church has now planted a church in the home of Golf and Ouay. The Church of the 100, Church of the Nazarene worships regularly in their home, helping spread the gospel to their neighbors.

*Last names excluded for privacy

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific