Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

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No other gods

by Grace Foster*

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

We zigzagged our way through several small dark alleys to reach the home of Mr. Thomas and his wife Faye. The only illumination along the way came from the windows of neighboring alleyway homes and the headlights of motor scooters we jumped out of the way to avoid. A metal, ladder-like staircase was the last step before reaching the second-floor room that is their home.
The walls of their tiny room were lined with all their belongings. During the day the room is the center of the family’s activities. At night it becomes a bedroom when they roll out the simple mats they and their two young children sleep on. Ever present in the room is a red wooden altar with incense and little chubby god figures.

Mr. Thomas asked us to come on this Sunday night because he and his wife wanted to get rid of the altar in their home and were afraid to do it alone.

Although he had been “seeking understanding” about God and his son Jesus for several months, he had just decided to believe. Deciding to follow the Most High God left him no room for any other gods. What a precious thing to hear them both pray and affirm their decision to follow Christ. What a powerful testimony to see their altar to a false god removed from their home and lives!

Mr. Thomas and Faye are wonderful examples of how God loves us first, even before we believe. They are a testament to how God is working among this people group here in the country where I work. Their changed lives are the result of God using local believers, our medical program, our teammates and visiting volunteers to pour out God’s love and make Him known.

The rest of the story:

Back in January a medical volunteer team from South Carolina came to work with us. Ms. T., a local believer, asked if her neighbor, Mr. Thomas, could come see us while the team was visiting.

Mr. H., the leader of Ms. T’s church and a member of our medical outreach team, went to visit Mr. Thomas. Although only 46, Mr. Thomas was unable to work, chronically fatigued and had to sleep sitting up and leaning forward. Life was miserable and hopeless. The numerous local doctors he had seen said that there was nothing that could be done.

When he came in to see us, we found that he was suffering from heart failure. A young local Christian doctor working with another organization specializing in cardiac care agreed to see him and put him on the right medications. He improved immediately and began to acknowledge that the Most High God had saved his life.

Although Mr. Thomas was resistant initially, his wife, Faye, began to attend church with Ms. T. My teammate, Hallie, began teaching a Bible study in their neighborhood in the home of Mr. H. and they began to attend.

At Faye’s invitation, Mr. H’s wife began to teach a ladies’ Bible study in their home. Faye came to us for medical care and heard more about God. Mr. Thomas went from being on death’s door to being able to work again. Things had changed so dramatically for him in six months that this past Friday he was able to buy a taxi to support his family.

It was at this point that he came to his crossroad of faith. He was preparing to celebrate and make traditional spirit offerings to ask for protection and blessings for the taxi when Ms. T. gently asked him why he didn’t ask the God above all gods who had saved his life to protect and bless him. By Saturday night he had made his decision to follow God and God alone.

Ms. T., Mr. H. and others joyfully gathered round the taxi and dedicated it to God. Sunday he asked us to come help remove the altar. God used volunteers again in the lives of Thomas and Faye as some were with us Sunday, praying and helping with the removal of the altar.

Thank you for the part you have played in the lives of Thomas, Faye and countless other here in this country. Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for your generous gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.

Prayer requests:

1. Pray for the Bible study at Mr. H.’s house.

2. Pray for the brand new youth Bible study that Ms. T started in another neighborhood.

3. Pray that Thomas and Faye will continue growing and sharing their newfound faith with others. Pray that God will continue to grant him the health to support his family. Pray that he will have lots of taxi customers.

(*Grace Foster is a worker in Southeast Asia. Gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering help support her ministry. All names in this article were changed for security reasons.)