The Christmas Program

Everything was going well until he attended the Christmas program.

Benjamin was raised in a strict Buddhist family. When he was 25 years old, he decided to start the process of becoming a Buddhist monk. Doing so would earn a great deal of merit, guaranteeing him success in his next lifetime. It would also please his mother, earning her merit as well. She was excited to hear the news. They began to plan the induction ceremony, send invitations, and order a huge banquet.

Everything was going well until Benjamin’s neighbor Nini invited him to the Saturday Christmas program at a local church. He decided to go with her. It was the first time he had ever been to a church and the first time he ever heard the Christmas story. In fact, it was the first he had ever heard of Jesus. Benjamin was especially struck by the story of a virgin giving birth.

On the way home from church Nini told Benjamin that if he had a problem of any kind he could pray in Jesus’ name and God would answer him. At his office the following week, those words echoed in his head. There was a nagging work problem he couldn’t shake and wondered if prayer would help. Without thinking Benjamin heard himself pray that if Jesus removed the problem, he would serve Jesus the rest of his life. Immediately a powerful wave of God’s presence flooded his body. He knew without doubt that his prayer was answered and that Jesus was real. He also knew he couldn’t go through with the monk ceremony.

Benjamin’s decision caused pain and embarrassment to the family, but it also demonstrated his commitment to Jesus. Today Benjamin and Nini are married and serve as full-time pastors, and his mom and younger sister have become believers.