We met at the ocean a few days back for a prayer walk along
the beach. As we made our way down the sidewalk, a lady who I’d seen around
Pattaya Praise walked up alongside me and started up a conversation. We’ll call
her Sarah…
I introduced myself and she did the same. She asked where I
was from and I began to tell her about the World Race. This led me to ask her
if she was originally from Pattaya, which opened up one of the most amazing
doors I’ve ever experienced in conversation.
With a lot of broken English, Sarah told me that she grew up
in Northeastern Thailand, but found herself in Pattaya to make money, meet a
good husband and be set for life. What she found herself in was 10 years of prostitution
with as many men as possible and bartending in the bars. It was something she
thought she would always be a part of. She didn’t see a way out of it until 3
years ago when she was diagnosed with HIV.
With a positive HIV diagnosis, she was kicked out of the
bars and left to fend for herself. She could no longer sell herself…and because
of that, she could no longer make a living. She hit rock bottom, contemplated
suicide and found herself using more and more drugs and alcohol to numb the
emotional pain. She tried to go back home to Northeastern Thailand and to her
family, but both of her parents refused to take her in…she was too ‘dirty’ and
brought them too much shame.
Around this time, she came across the Tamar Center. Here,
she was accepted in, given a steady paying job, trained in speaking English,
and shown the way to complete restoration, hope, restoration and LIFE…Jesus
Christ. For 2 years, she has helped make greeting cards with the Tamar Center.
Now, Sarah pretty much leads that portion of the ministry. She still has HIV,
but doesn’t live in fear of it because even if it takes her life here on earth,
she knows that she will spend eternity with the Lover of her soul and her
saving Grace.
A few months after accepting Christ, some of the Tamar staff
went with Sarah back to her home in Northeastern Thailand. Within 1 weekend,
her mother accepted Christ, and once again opened up her heart to her once
disowned daughter. Soon after, Sarah’s father realized his need for a Savior
and committed his life as well. Now a family is closer and stronger than ever
because God worked in the life of one prostitute.
Sarah’s family has started a ministry in their home village
and now speaks Christ’s name in an area that has never heard the name before. A
village is open to hear about the one true God because God worked in the family
of one prostitute.
Sarah goes into the bars weekly to talk to more prostitutes.
She shares her story, her struggle, her heartache…and her Savior. She goes out
to shine a light in the darkness. Women in the bars and on the street have
turned to Jesus because God worked all things together for good in the life of
one prostitute.
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the
wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the
lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are
not – to nullify the things that rare, so That no one may boast before him. It
is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom
from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as
it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
Just like Rahab from Joshua 2, God has used what the world
would consider foolish, despised and lowly to bring about change…not only in
one prostitute, but in an amount of people that I’m sure can’t even be tallied
up. And it started because she realized her righteousness, holiness and
redemption was found in none other than Jesus Christ.
One woman with a story can change the world…it started with
God changing hers. As she worked to continue to change the world around her,
God moved in her world even more. As her world changes, the world itself has
changed…for family, neighbors of her family, women in the bars, their families,
their neighbors…and so on and so forth.
So, let this be a challenge to you as you read this. You
have a testimony. You have a story. And not just any…one that God WILL use to
change the world around you. You probably don’t have Sarah’s story…or maybe you
do…but God has written each chapter in your life for a purpose. To change
you…your world…and HIS world.
Tell the world your story…and watch how God will move 🙂
*And never forget who deserves all the boasting for your
story that changes you, the world around you and God’s entire world!*
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ…” Galatians 6:14a 
