Breakthrough at our Southern Thailand Peace Music & Art Center
Weeping, questions, and movement of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of teenagers...this is such an answer to so many prayers at our Peace Music & Art Center. Valentine's day, last Sunday, our partner John Arcenas showed Christ's passion at the center for our "cell group" (kind of like a seeker-service.) Southern Thai teenagers watched this excerpt from Gibson's Passion as John explained the cost of reconciliation between a holy God and fallen man. Although the gospel message has been related to them before, this day's response was dramatically different than the usual fidgeting, cell-phone calling, running off to buy snacks Sunday meeting antics.
In a world where one worships the governing spirits of the area, ancestors, the Buddha and some Hindu gods thrown in there as well, the idea of one God is a radical one. That this God is interested in our lives personally and desires not only reconciliation but relationship is also a strange concept for Theravada Buddhists of this region. The gods they know can be appeased and cajoled by small offerings of flowers, incense, food and prayers. The God we are presenting to them is not impressed by any of those small offerings or any big ones, either, much less promises to be a monk or do something good in return for a personal favor. That is the normal kind of relationship between our Southern Thai neighbors and their gods.
We are thrilled that there is indeed a breakthrough and pray earnestly for that moment when they will recognize their amazing Creator and lover of their soul.
In a world where one worships the governing spirits of the area, ancestors, the Buddha and some Hindu gods thrown in there as well, the idea of one God is a radical one. That this God is interested in our lives personally and desires not only reconciliation but relationship is also a strange concept for Theravada Buddhists of this region. The gods they know can be appeased and cajoled by small offerings of flowers, incense, food and prayers. The God we are presenting to them is not impressed by any of those small offerings or any big ones, either, much less promises to be a monk or do something good in return for a personal favor. That is the normal kind of relationship between our Southern Thai neighbors and their gods.
We are thrilled that there is indeed a breakthrough and pray earnestly for that moment when they will recognize their amazing Creator and lover of their soul.
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