In our last  email we asked you to pray for the Free in Jesus Christ Church Association's (FJCCA) leadership training  held on March 23-25. Thank you for praying. Most of the 600 adults attending have been believers in Jesus for less than a year.  

The reason for the meeting was to train house church leaders. The FJCCA has started over 200 house churches in the past 15 months -- 79 this year alone. There is a great need for more leaders.At this meeting 200 committed to being house church leaders. Praise the Lord! 

This is the story of one of the new leaders, “Somchit”. I noticed Somchit when Pastor Somsak was explaining the purpose of baptism to those wanting to be baptized. She stood out because of the joy and excitement on her face. Since 70 people were to be baptized five of us entered the water to help baptize everyone. Somchit was the first person in my line. She was so excited to be baptized she was shaking. After the baptism service I asked Pastor Somsak's wife what Somchit's story was, why was she so excited. This is what she told me.

Somchit is from Wang Takoo village in Phichit province. The gospel first entered this village on December 2, 2017. (I know this because Wang Takoo was one of the villages I had the privilege of sharing the gospel together with Pastor Somsak.) On that day 81 people made a commitment to Christ and a house church formed. (I have returned to this village twice since then to encourage these new believers.)

A characteristic of FJCCA house churches is that members are encouraged to share their testimony with their friends and invite them to the house church. This is where Somchit heard about Jesus. When she came she was depressed and felt ashamed because her husband had abandoned her for another woman. She was so depressed she tried to kill herself by having someone crash into her motorcycle, but it didn’t work.

At the house church she heard the gospel message and learned that Jesus loves her. She made a commitment to Jesus that day and her life hasn’t been the same. Rather than shame and embarrassment she now has peace and joy.

That is why she was excited to be baptized. Since the house church training I heard she hasn’t stopped telling others about Jesus.