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“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him. I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

If you had met Tom, there’s a lot you would have quickly learned about him. You’d see how he made everybody laugh and how he had a unexplainable gift with young children. If you got to know him a little more, you’d learn more of his story – how he grew up as a ‘bad kid,’ a teenager who had been involved in drinking and gangs in his past; how he had first come to faith in Christ when studying at the Bible Institute in Chiang Mai several years ago; how his non-Christian parents were so excited when he came home after one term of studying the Bible and saw a change in his life.

But while God had given Tom a visibly changed, repentant new life in Christ, his old friends and old life still pulled at him. He had to drop out of studies at the Bible Institute for several terms because of getting back into trouble. However, the Holy Spirit never let Tom go. After over two years of being back at home and struggling to fight the temptations around him, Tom had another chance to return to Chiang Mai and live in an encouraging Christian environment once more. He spent the past six months growing in his understanding and faith in the love and grace of God. Learning to walk in obedience and to say no to former ways and friends was still a struggle for him like any other Christian; even so, Tom was excited about sharing his faith with his family and old friends. He requested prayer for them each time requests were shared among student groups. Tom wouldn’t deny or hide the serious topics in his life, but he would always try to find a way to make you laugh. He was a joy-giver.

Three weeks ago Tom left to go home for a short weekend visit; instead of coming back to his home in Chiang Mai, the Lord took him to his eternal home in heaven after a motorcycle accident. As we ponder the prayers we prayed for his safety for his time at home, we realize the Lord answered in a mighty way – bringing Tom safely home to Him forever, never to be tempted or troubled by the world again. His life and death are a testimony of God’s power, grace, and mercy. Although we deeply grieve our loss of a friend, our hope is strong: Not only that Tom is worshiping at the foot of the throne of Christ, but that one day we will join him. We also believe in God’s power to bring his currently unbelieving Buddhist family members to faith just as He brought Tom. Pray with us that the Lord would continue to use Tom’s life as a powerful witness to his family and friends even after his death.