Monday. It’s our first day of ministry. Five students between the ages of 11 and 14 file into the classroom. For the next hour and a half my teammate, Kelsay, and I teach them an English lesson. It’s a lesson all about jobs and careers. The students practice their English while they tell Kelsay and I what they want to be when they grow up. Then we tell them about the job we have this year – sharing the love of Jesus all over the world.
Our very first class at A-Mane
99% of the population here in Thailand is Buddhist. Most Thais know nothing about Jesus, and A-Mane English center is working to change that. The owners, Benz and Golf, grew up Buddhist, then came to know Jesus as young adults. Once they became Christian they knew they had to share Jesus with others. So God gave them a dream; a school where they could teach English and tell others about Jesus.
Why an English school? Why did God give them this dream? Well, it’s simple really. With an English school Benz and Golf can serve others both physically and spiritually. Learning English opens up countless doors to Thai people – the best jobs here go to people who can speak English. Kids come to class at A-Mane because learning English expands their future. And while they’re learning English they get to learn something else too.
Another class at A-Mane, learning English vocab and memorizing Bible verses
Teaching English gives Benz and Golf the chance to share a second, even more valuable, thing with these kids. They get to share Jesus. While the kids learn English they also learn that Jesus loves them. They learn that He loves them so much that He came to Earth, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, then rose from the dead three days later, making it possible for us to have a relationship with Him. A relationship with Jesus brings hope, and freedom from fear and superstition. You don’t have to follow a bunch of rituals and leave food offerings to please Jesus. No, you just have to believe in Him! What better news could there be?
Nothing, nothing, really can be better than knowing Jesus, but last week God gave me another bit of “good news.” He showed me that what we teach these kids today sticks with them the rest of their life. We are not wasting our time teaching kids about Him.
Last week I met a young man who’s been following Jesus since he was 13. His entire family is Buddhist, but this man is a Christian. Why? Because a missionary came and told him about Jesus over 10 years ago. I praise God for how He used that missionary to tell this young man about His love. And I praise God that He is using Benz, Golf, my squad, and others to do the same thing for other 13 year olds all across Thailand. Jesus is Awesome!
