“Rise like Incense”
Piak’s friends looked forward to school holidays filled with football, but Piak chose a different path: three weeks as a novice Buddhist monk. Instead of boots, he wore ochre robes. In a quiet monastery orchard, Bangkok’s noise faded into birdsong, incense and chanting.
In Thai culture, ordination as a monk, even for a brief period, is a time-tested way to honour your parents. As the firstborn son, Piak chose to follow the culturally expected path of Theravada Buddhism and spirit worship. Beneath Piak’s devotion pain lingered. His parents separated when he was five, and when his mother remarried and moved the family to England, Piak struggled with the unfamiliar culture.
Through a Thai friend, his mother heard about Jesus and found peace, but Piak was not convinced. In his twenties he travelled, returned to Thailand, and was ordained again for a short time. Back in England, he married a Christian woman and attended church, but his heart remained closed to Christ.
Then God showed his grace to Piak personally. As he trusted his life to Jesus, his restless search gave way to deep peace. Today, with his wife Nam, Piak shares the good news with Thai people around the world. He longs for his life to rise like incense, not to many deities, but as a sweet offering to the one true God.
Pray that Piak and Nam will be able to connect with many Thai people and teach them about Jesus.
Pray that, by God’s grace, many Thai people will return home as ambassadors of Christ.
Returnee Focus shares the good news of Jesus with East Asians who migrate to different countries.
Please join us in praying for this ministry. Our Prayer Campaign runs each September, with daily stories and prayer points.
You can sign up here: omf.org/returnees
