If there’s anything I’ve learned on this journey, it’s how free I am and how blessed I am to come from the country I do where worshiping isn’t a problem. Where I am able to worship my God when I want, I can speak his name wherever I am, and I am free to do that in my own country, in my own backyard-anywhere I desire.
Imagine not being able to worship wherever you want. Imagine having to go underground or to a secret spot just to fellowship with other believers. Imagine being persecuted emotionally and physically for practicing your faith. Imagine having to flee your own land because the government doesn’t allow to to freely speak your Gods name.
Unfortunately that is what is happening all around the world, and I’m going to take you through something I’m currently living through in Thailand right now. Our first day of ministry this month involved us delivering fish to refugee families in Bangkok who have fled from their country due to persecution over their families for being Christian. Now, this being my first encounter with refugees I had no idea what to expect. We went to secret underground locations and one bedroom apartments to pass out fish and worship God. We had to go to a SECRET place to say the name of Jesus. Woah. Just, woah. Let that sink in a bit. I too, had to process that big time.. I had never experienced anything like this.
As the day went on my heart broke. It broke for Gods people as I saw them worshipping on their faces. It broke as The Lord gave me compassion for them. It broke knowing they were persecuted in their own country for their faith and had to flee their land for ‘safety’ in this country. It broke knowing that none of them had visas because they couldn’t afford it after fleeing their country and leaving everything behind. It broke knowing that any day they could be taken to prison, separated from their families and possibly sold into slavery.
Today my heart is broken because 400 out of those 600 families were arrested and thrown into confinement centers where the men and women were separated from their children just two days ago. Sitting here, writing this, I just can’t believe it’s real. People we met just two weeks ago are separated from their families and suffering in these places. They are suffering for Jesus. They need prayer. They need The Lord now more than ever. They also need you.
I’m asking for your prayers. I’m asking for prayer warriors to come together to pray about this horrible situation and to ask The Lord to make a way for His people. To free His people. To comfort his children through this devastating time. Please also pray for the Thai people- that their hearts would be softened right now and that the Gospel would be shared and people would be saved.
I thank you all for reading this because it’s super, super dear to my heart right now.
Much love and so many thanks,
Katie
