“I was born into a Christian family in Thailand where my dad is a pastor. Many people would say I am a Christian because I grew up in a Christian family. I really did not accept Christ until I decided, for myself, to get baptized when I was 15 years old. God really worked in me through my parents. I felt brokenness with family issues that I was having right after I got married. I had a hard time choosing my parents decision or other people’s desires in my life. I felt pulled in two different directions. During this difficult time, I kind of felt like giving up my faith in Christ, but I did not.
My relationship with my Dad had tension in it. He is wise and mature from working in the mission field many hours a week; I did not get to hang out with him, as I wanted when I was younger. This built up over the years. I held that in my heart. My relationship with my Dad now is healthy and much better because of Jesus Christ. I get to serve my wife in tough times even when we might not get along. God is working in my family. People need to know there is an actual God that created the world. Buddhists believe there is no God and we are judged based on our actions, Karma. Because Jesus died for our sins, we are forgiven for what we do when we surrender our lives to Jesus. I have to change my life so that they can see Christ in me. I want to be a good example to Buddhists in Thailand. Thai people want to see action, because anyone can say words. I want that to be a light to people through the way I serve and obey Jesus. My name is Ronakorn and I surrender.”
(Ronakorn Paparpattananon, Chiang Mai, Thailand)