As I watched Pastor Naat vibrantly teaching a group of Thai disciples from three new churches in Nong Khai province, her passion for the Lord radiated like sunlight. With every testimony she shared, she modeled to the new believers how to lead a simple discovery Bible study so that they could be disciples who make disciples. As I listened to her my thoughts drifted back 23 years, to when our paths first crossed.
2002 was a different time. Naat was a young mother recently abandoned by her husband, struggling to feed her two young children. Our missionary team, Team 2000, was new to Thailand and needed to learn Thai, but we felt burdened to help this desperate young mother. So, we hired her as a Thai language tutor. Despite being a busy young mom and a new believer in Jesus, she came to teach us every day. When tutoring didn’t provide enough income, we invited her to be our housekeeper. But it soon became clear that cleaning was not her calling.
Every evening, Naat would leave our home to share the gospel with her neighbors. Her heart burned not for housework but for souls. Though untrained, she became our Thai cultural guide, teaching us speak Thai, how to navigate Thai customs, understand Buddhism, and pray in a language with difficult tonal nuances.
In 2009, despite her protests, God called Naat to Chachoengsao Province to disciple a large group of Buddhists in an unreached village that she had led to Christ. She resisted, citing her gender, lack of education and status as a divorced woman. But the hours she spent immersed in Scripture, prayer and fasting shaped her into a bold evangelist. Yielding to God’s will, Naat courageously moved her family and planted her first church. Then she planted another in the city. And another.
Though fruitful in ministry in Chachoerngsao, Naat’s heart never stopped longing for her Buddhist family in Kalasin to know Jesus. “One day I will return,” she said, “and by God’s grace, start a church there.”
In 2022, God answered her prayer. Naat was able to use her savings to build a small house in her village. She handed over leadership to her disciples in the Chachoerngsao churches and moved to Kalasin. She began sharing Christ with her family and neighbors. In just two years, 15 relatives, including her sister, embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and were baptized. Hallelujah!
Now Pastor Naat is a disciple maker, teacher, church planting coach and board member of the Thailand Mennonite Brethren Church. But no matter how much “status” she gains in the church, Naat never forgets to “stop for the one” and share her testimony about the power of the grace of God to save her from her sins and help her forgive those who have betrayed her. Through her humility and courage, many Buddhist men and women are experiencing the joy of having their sins forgiven by Jesus Christ.
Her journey echoes the truth of 1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Naat’s life stands as a testament to the transformative power of Christ’s love. A love that brings salvation to the least-likely people in the least-reached places in Thailand.
Prayer requests:
Pray for divine wisdom as Pastor Naat serves the church and makes many important decisions on the board of the Thailand MB Church.
Pray for many workers to the unreached villages in Kalasin so that Buddhist people will hear the good news of Jesus Christ and believe.
Did you know?
In Thailand, smiles are a subtle form of communication.
The capital of Bangkok was the most visited city in the world in 2021.
About 93 percent of Thailand’s population is Buddhist.
This article has been posted by Christian Leader staff. The Christian Leader is the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
