Ex Medium Discovers Power of Truth in the Bible
By Jenise Lee
LAOS PARTNERSHIP
A ministry of the United Bible Societies
Bounthai was a Buddhist medium. His father was also a professional medium and Bounthai was the favoured and chosen son, elected to inherit the power from a generational spirit. When asked what he got out of being a medium, Bounthai answered, “The spirit showed me the power”. But he also knew this power to be controlling and destructive. When Bounthai did not appease the spirit and abide by the strict rules and rituals, he would fall mysteriously ill. Even the doctors were baffled. There was not much he could do, except to continue to be enslaved by this spirit. As powerful a medium as others knew him to be, he knew where the strength came from – a controlling spirit.
However God had a different destiny for Bounthai and his family. One day, his two-year old son who had been attending church came home saying “Amen, amen”. Bounthai recalls being puzzled, “What kind of God is this?” Even when his wife received Christ, Bounthai did not see the need to believe and remained sceptical and distant. Bounthai was convinced that Christianity was weird when he was invited to a ‘Christian party’ by a relative who was a believer. “How could a party have no cigarettes or alcohol?” he asked himself.
But when his wife borrowed a Bible from the church and brought it home, Bounthai found himself mysteriously drawn to the Bible and started reading it. Though what he read seemed strange to him, he immediately understood that Buddha could not help him. Soon after his first encounter with the Bible, he met his boss’ wife who was an ex-medium. From Bounthai’s behaviour, she recognised that he was a practising medium. She said little to him but left him pondering over these words, “If you know yourself, you will know the truth”.
And so God continued to work in Bounthai’s life but he was not going to give in to God without resistance. Once he ran to hide in the toilet when a local pastor asked if there was anyone who wanted to be a Christian. He knew God was calling but he was just not ready to make a response.
During one sleepless night after attending another Christian party, Bounthai started to read the Bible for the second time. After reading, he announced to his wife that they were going to church. Straight after the service, Bounthai came home and knew what he had to do next – he discarded all the idols in his home. The Bible had showed him a greater power – the power of God!
After forty years of idol worship and many years as a powerful medium, Bounthai has found freedom in Christ. He is no longer enslaved. He knows that the Bible speaks to him and is the Truth that can set him free.
Bounthai has been a Christian for seven years and an elder in his church for two years. His joy is infectious as he animatedly shares about his life as a Christian. These days, he can be found leading Bible study and sharing the good news to those around him (read Khammarn’s Story).
His favourite verse is Luke 6:47 ‘I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me, hears my words and acts on them.’
Now, Bounthai understands what his boss’ wife meant when she said to him, “If you know yourself, you will know the truth”.
© United Bible Societies 2010
