Greater is the One.

We sat and watched the sun set over Bangkok, straining to catch a glimpse of Bang Na or Old Bangkok in the distance. For what seemed like miles, towering apartment and business buildings stretched into the haze of the horizon.

            Coming here Bangkok, with its shopping malls and smiling faces, seemed grand and picture perfect. Then I began to notice the spirit houses and idols everywhere. And I realized that the smiles were just hiding what was really going on. The vast land of Bangkok, our mission field, soon became a giant with grander proportions than Goliath after we walked in the Red Light District.

            Yet, as we sat at the table with the ministry leader preparing for outreach in the bars I began to realize what I, myself, had tried to explain to a volunteer earlier that day: in these dark areas we have to hold on to hope for those caught in the darkness. Our God is hurting and fighting for them and He chose us to be His very examples of love. The leader prayed that I would, in my discernment and growing spiritual awareness, not forget God’s greatness and the victory He has.

            After we prayed and she blessed us, we were off. We were on a mission to reach out to an individual who had relapsed and gone back into the bars. I was overjoyed to be able to show one person just how much he meant to God and that he was not forgotten, but what happened next was unexpected. We ended up getting the wrong person. He did not speak much English. Though communication was strained, I know one thing: we showed one person just how much he meant to God and that he was not forgotten.

            When we left the bar, we began to pray for the people entering the bars and watched God’s hand sweep down and win battles in front of our eyes. It was the war of temptation over man’s heart. Men began to peek in bars then walk away, out of the plaza. Some didn’t even get as far as the bar door. I smiled and jumped for joy as I saw victories in the battle over lives. Though there were many people there that night, the ones who did leave and the potential people who could’ve been affected by the men who left, I began to see a ray of hope peek through the clouds over Bangkok.