“Would you let a rapist move in with you and your family?”
This was a question I was confronted with just a few days ago. As strange as it sounds, I feel extremely convicted to say that my answer was “No,” as most of us would say. But why did I feel convicted? Why would I regret answering that question with an obvious no? To answer these questions I want to give you a general understanding to what our ministry is this month.
We are currently living on the outskirts of Chaing Mai, Thailand with a ministry called “Beautiful Feet”, which is run by this incredibly spirit led man named Pat, who I can honestly say inspires me more each day. I could go on for days about what our ministry actually looks like and all the things this ministry does for this community because it seems to be this amazing endless list of things we learn about everyday. But to simplify it, their main mission would be classified as Prision/Juvinele ministry. Pat works close with multiple prision and juvenile detention centers in the local area spending time ministering and mentoring the troubled youth in his community. What separates Pat from most “Prision Ministries” is that he does not just stop there. As he visits and speaks with the people in these Prisions, he also offers a unique opportunity for the young men in these situations. He offers them an opportunity to be something when they get out. At his compound he offers them living arrangements, personal mentoring and discipleship, and career building skills which also leads to job opportunities and chances to create a new life for themselves. He does not care what crime they committed, what their past life looked like, or what current struggles they are still going through. He simply believes God brings lost sheep to him and its job to just simply say yes and figure it out from there. No serious training is under his belt, not much experience is most things he does, he truly just has a consistent yes in his spirit. He uses that and his faith in God to lead and provide him with what he needs. Is it dangerous work? Do people who most would consider “too far gone” or “undesirable” even “unworthy” live with him? Is he putting his wife and daughters at risk opening up his home to these men? Many would say the answer is yes to all three of those. But is that how Pat views it? Absolutely not. He claims it is not our job to judge. It is not our job to deem somebody unworthy of love. It is not our right to say NO to God or the desire of those around us. He just simply does what he can to provide what is needed for those in need.
On our 3rd day staying with Pat and the young men, he calls us over in a group. One young man was leaving that day. It’s his last day at the Farm before he heads into the city to begin his Bible Study School. I had met this man a couple of times and had some really cool conversations with him, knowing little about him other than he was probably here for a similar reason most were. Pat told us where he’s going and asked us if we can pray over him and his new journey. Of course we say yes. He says, “But before you pray over him, I want to tell you his story. Why he’s here, and how far he has come.” He speaks little English, so Pat translates his testimony for us.
“I was born in southern Thailand, near Bangkok. When I was a baby my mother died in a Tsunami, and my father could not take care of me. I was sent to an Orphanage for young men until a rich man took me one day and brought me to a home for a few months. He then brought me to a new boys home when I was about 7. I decided to run away from the home. I found myself living on the streets of Phuket, and I had to start selling my body at the age of 9 to survive. I did this for about 4-5 years. When I was 16, I ended up in another orphanage where I was actually adopted by a loving family. They were so nice to me and treated me like their own. When I was 18, I attempted to rape their 2 year old daughter. At that point, I was brought to the prision where I spent a few years before I met Pat. He told me when I got out I could come and live with him. I knew he could mentor me and disciple me to be a new man. I wanted this to happen more then anything. And here I am.”
Pat turned and looked at us. The first thing he says is, “I have a 2 year old daughter, the same age as the girl he tried to rape. If you were me… If you had a family of your own, would you let this man live with you?” Most of us hesitated, not wanting to say what we all were thinking, paused for a minute, till one squadmate says, “Honestly, no I wouldn’t.” Knowing this was the answer Pat was expecting to hear, he looks up and gives us his simple smile. “I would, and I always will. See, if he never came here when he got out, he would have run directly back to his old life. And now he’s going to be studying at a bible school, he may one day become a teacher for men like him, a pastor, even someone who opens their own ministry. You don’t create change by saying no to those who need it, you create it by saying YES. The two men behind you, one used to sell drugs, the other used to sell children in the sex trade. But because I brought them here and gave them a chance, you would never know that, would you? That’s what discipleship is. That’s what Jesus asks us to do. Find his lost sheep, bring them home and he will change their hearts”
I instantly felt an overwhelming conviction take over my heart. We were here to create change, to show love to those who don’t feel loved. We were here to be an example of someone who doesn’t judge, doesn’t convict others for their mistakes, and doesn’t say no. So that’s what this month has taught me in 4 short days. You don’t need to be “qualified” to achieve amazing things, You don’t need to have the approval of those around you.
You need two things:
1. The faith and belief that God has an amazing path for you to create some sort of impact on this earth.
2. A simple Yes spirit. It truly is that simple.
The next time you feel unqualified, or that the task may be too large for you, I want you to think about the impact on somebody’s life you may be passing up by simply saying no. Make the decision to say YES!! I’m not going to promise you it will be easy, but I will promise you it will be worth it.
