God used The Greatest Journey discipleship program to change a thief and bully into an evangelist.
Living in a country steeped in false religions, Phirun’s* faith in Jesus Christ is tested. But the teenager does not let that stop her joy from being complete. Not that long ago—without God in her life—she lied, stole, and persistently bullied others. The change in her life began when she attended the lessons of La Gran Aventura—the Samaritan’s Purse follow-up discipleship program for shoebox recipients.
Phirun heard about the 12-lesson discipleship course from her aunt, who attends the church where the classes meet. Wanting to know more about Jesus, Phirun started coming to classes out of curiosity.
“It’s been a joy to be able to learn about the Lord and, in my daily life be able to praise Him,” Phirun said. “I find myself singing worship songs, and when I have trouble sleeping, I feel more at peace now than I did before. Especially when I look into the sky, I feel as though I’m able to really see God and His beauty.”
This past year has been one of great transformation. The girl who walked into the classroom is not the same one joyfully worshipping Jesus today. The more she gets to know the Lord, the less she wants to hear of earthly things, saying she no longer finds joy in things that aren’t based in truth.
Phirun (in red) praises God during one of the classes for saving her from a life of thievery and bullying to walking with Him faithfully.
“Before The Greatest Journey, I was a bad person. I would steal, I would lie, I would actually go around and bully people and hurt people very badly,” Phirun said. “And since coming here and learning about God, it’s changed my heart and the way that I treat people and the way that I respond to people. I’ve seen my life changed for the better, and I want to be a better person, and I want to follow God.”
Telling Others the Good News
One of the key components of La Gran Aventura is learning how to share the Gospel, and the lessons inspired and motivated Phirun to boldly proclaim Jesus to her family and friends.
“Especially with all the altars that we have, I know there is a demonic presence in them, and I know that it has a bad effect. And so, my prayer is that my community and my family will be able to believe in Jesus as soon as possible and be able to know the true God here in this country,” Phirun said.
Phirun prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior during La Gran Aventura.
She now celebrates gathering with believers for church services each week.
“I really enjoy Sundays because it’s a day that I feel like God has given us to be able to come worship Him, honor Him, and be in His presence,” Phirun said. “And I’m just very grateful because there have been some seasons where I wasn’t allowed to come. And so, I’m very thankful now that I get to be here.”
Phirun’s favorite Bible story is the feeding of the 5,000 because it shows the way that the Lord has compassion on people.
“When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ … When [Jesus] had taken the five loaves and the two fish … He divided among them all … they all ate and were filled.” (Mark 6).
In the remote villages of Cambodia, where money, food, resources, and infrastructure are scarce, Phirun comes to the feet of Jesus, where she won’t be turned away, but instead fed and left with an abundance, like the crowd with 12 baskets of leftovers.
Tens of millions of children worldwide have participated in this 12-lesson discipleship program for Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipients.
“Jesus is my Lord and Savior who is always with me,” Phirun said. “Let me bring the Bible to you and help share it with you so that you can experience it for yourself.”
Please pray for millions of participants in La Gran Aventura around the world to come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and boldly share their faith with their friends, family, and community.
You can disciple a child like Phirun through La Gran Aventura! Just $6 provides a colorful student workbook, graduation certificate, and a Bible in the child’s own language.
Pray that the millions of graduates of La Gran Aventura around the world would follow hard after Christ all their days.
*Nombre cambiado por seguridad
