Yep had tried everything to quit drinking, but nothing had ever worked. He lived on the outskirts of his small Thai town with his niece.

During the pandemic, believers from a local church visited his home to check on his niece, who suffered from a skin condition. They kept coming when she wanted to learn more about the gospel they shared with her.

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Every week, the believers came and had Bible study in front of his house with his niece. At first, he wasn’t interested. But over time, the Lord opened his heart. He and his niece both put their faith in Christ, and Yep was baptized.

The change in Yep’s life was clear to his whole community. He finally stopped drinking and was happier and more at peace with himself.

“His whole countenance changed,” said Shirley Mackin, an IMB missionary who helped lead the Bible studies at Yep’s house.

Yep’s neighbor, Sam, noticed the transformation in his friend’s life and wanted to understand what had caused it. Every week when the believers would set up chairs in the dirt road and sit together singing praises and reading Scripture, Sam would secretly listen from inside his house.

He never came out to talk with the group, but as he listened, God began to open his heart.

Eventually, Yep moved to a different neighborhood. He took his calendar with a picture of Jesus on it that had hung outside his house since he first believed.

“God has left the neighborhood!” Sam thought at first. “Where can I find him again?”

Finally, he went to Yep’s church one week and told the group he wanted to find God again.

The believers explained God had never left him and told Sam how he could put his faith in Christ.

He was baptized in March of this year. Now, even though they are no longer neighbors, Sam and Yep are closer than ever before. They study the Bible together almost every night.

Though Sam is still a new believer, he has already become a faithful church member, and he is eager to share the gospel with those around him.

Each week, the church goes out after worship services to share the gospel in the community, and Sam always leads the way.

“It’s really been exciting and encouraging to see God at work in Sam’s life,” Mackin said. “He’s such a positive example because he’s not ashamed of the gospel. He’s really made a big difference in the church.”

Ways to pray

Pray for Yep, Sam and their church body to continue to grow into a strong, healthy church.

Pray their lives will continue to be a witness to their community of God’s transforming power.

Names have been changed for security.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Stella McMillan and originally published by the International Mission Board.