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Click here to read, in Vanarith's own words, how the Holy Spirit brought him to faith.
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“There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-10
The Magi were very unlikely followers of Christ. They weren’t Jews who had grown up reading the Prophets and awaiting the Savior. Yet in their far-away studies, the Holy Spirit reached them and drew them to Jesus.
As a 16-year-old Buddhist Cambodian boy pedalled his bike down the dusty road toward home, his attention was caught by a movie playing at the side of the road. For the first time, he heard the teachings of Jesus Christ. He watched the movie screen intently as this great teacher was nailed to a cross to die.
“At that moment, my heart was convicted to believe that this man was truly the Son of God,” said Vanarith Chhim. As the Holy Spirit enabled him, “I started to confess my sins to Him. Since then, I felt that my sins were forgiven.”
Vanarith was now a believer, a Christian. But like the Magi, he still wanted to see this Jesus. Where could He be found?
His deep and growing devotion to Christ led Vanarith to study at a Bible college in Singapore, and later he began teaching at a Bible school in southern Cambodia. There he found fellow Christians who were deeply involved in the Charismatic movement, including speaking in tongues. They believed Jesus was found in their emotions.
But Vanarith knew enough Scripture to see that these people were mistaken. He had to resign his position. Like the Magi when they arrived in Jerusalem, Vanarith’s search for the true Savior continued.
“Then, by the grace and calling of God, I met an LHF worker in Cambodia. He shared with me the translation of Luther’s Small Catechism,” Vanarith remembered. “Having read that book, I was convinced of the solid and sound teachings of Lutheran doctrine. At that moment, I was asked to join the translation work of LHF in Cambodia.”
Since that time, Vanarith has helped to translate several books for his fellow Cambodians, including A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories and the Augsburg Confession. Under his leadership, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia was established this year – the first Lutheran church body in a country of 14 million Buddhists.
God led Vanarith to the place He promises to be found: in His Word – the Word translated, published and distributed by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.
You can help bring the Light of the World to all the nations. With your mission offerings, LHF can continue its work of translating books like Luther’s Small Catechism for people like Vanarith Chhim.
Just as the star led the Magi to the baby Jesus, you can help provide the books that lead people to the one true Christ. Click here to make an online gift today, or mail your donation to the LHF World Mission Center, 51474 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, MI 48042.
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