In 2010 the Rawlings family decided to try an extreme experiment of faith.
After reading the quote…
“If families would locate in the dark places of the earth, places where the people are enshrouded in spiritual gloom, and let the light of Christ’s life shine out through them, a great work might be accomplished.” AH 488
Challenged by this quote, they decided to find out what “great work” could be accomplished if their family made the move.
Thinking that $3,000.00(their comfort zone) would be enough to establish a home in Thailand, the Rawlings began sharing their plan with friends and family.
As They stepped forward in faith, God began to work.
Leading to the Light, a U.S. 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization was founded and friends began to respond.
One friend said, “We will pay for your families one year visas.” Another friend said, “We will rent you a car to take you from your home in Idaho to the airport in Seattle, Washington.”
This was a very exciting and amazing time for the family. God seemed to be confirming their conviction.
Then a friend said, “We will pay for one way tickets.”
“One way tickets!” exclaimed Lynette, “Aren’t we only going to be there for a year? How will we get back?”
Believing that God must have it all worked out, the family continued to go forward.
A few weeks before departure Steve was praying one morning. “Lord, you have opened the way for this experiment to happen. I just want to remind you that we are leaving in one month and there is only $400.00 in our bank account. Remember that we were thinking it will take $3,000.00 to establish a home in Thailand?”
As Steve continued to tell God how to fix his financial problem, a strong thought interrupted his instructions, “Read Mathew 10”, still kneeling, Steve opened his Bible to Matthew 10. Verse 9 seemed to glow… “Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes…”
“Lord? Are you telling me to go to Thailand with only $400.00? What will my family think? They are already way out of their comfort zone with the one way ticket! This is too much and way further out of my comfort zone than you have ever asked me to go!”
Steve knelt there for several minutes battling with this new concept. Thinking about all of the times God had led Lynette and him in the past, he realized that he only had two choices.
“O.K. Lord, how can I turn back now? We will go with what ever amount of money you decide to send us with.”
On November 27, 2010, with $900.00 and one way tickets, the Rawlings family left their home in Idaho and moved to Thailand.
At the Chiang Mai International Airport, the hotel shuttle driver was their sole welcoming committee. They were jobless, homeless, and way out of their comfort zone.
God had their full attention.
Little did they know that their one year “faith experiment” in 2010 would still be growing today.
“This experiment taught us that when we follow Biblical principles like seeking ‘first the Kingdom of God’, and ‘considering the poor, the widow and the fatherless’, God is faithful to take care of the details.
Today Leading to the Light partners with local workers in Thailand and Myanmar along with a Thai foundation called Education Opportunity Foundation.
Together they:
• Protect orphans and children at risk from human trafficking
• Give hope to impoverished families though education and community service.
• Provide safe clean dormitories, Christian schools, and student sponsorship programs.
• Supply teachers in remote jungle villages with the tools they need to inspire the next generation.
Neither Leading to the Light nor the Rawlings family are financially compensated by the Education Opportunity Foundation.
Your financial support is invaluable in maintaining these worthwhile projects and truly make an impact.
The radical experiment continues.
The Rawlings are still living by faith and know that God IS faithful and His promises CAN be trusted.
What is a Center of Influence?
It is a place of gospel workers to connect with people where they are in as many ways as possible to do them good. A place where the “Light” of Jesus may shine in His most powerful way.
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Invite the Rawlings to speak to your church or group.
rawlings@leadingtothelight.org
