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The words that PK’s mother told her son before he was arrested were the very words that sustained his life: “Whatever you do, don’t forget to pray. God will help you.”
PK grew up in South Asia with no interest in matters of faith. As a Khmu man, he came from a tribe of spiritists, but PK didn’t believe in religion. He believed in man, and he believed in the power of culture.
But PK’s mom was a prayer warrior, and though he told his mother “your God is not my God” she never stopped praying that he would encounter the power of Jesus.
Her prayer was answered a year later when their country faced crisis and a war broke out. After refusing to fight for communism, PK was pulled from his home, his wife, and his children and thrown into a concentration camp where he was forced to live in dire conditions. Hands and legs bound, PK was imprisoned in a cell two meters long by two meters wide for the next 26 months. He was met with relief only once every two weeks, when he was freed from the cell for a short period of time in order to clean himself.
But PK became sick. His body was swollen and he didn’t know what to do. He believed that under these conditions it was impossible for him to survive. Remembering the words that his mom once told him, PK began to pray: “God, if you are real, release me from this prison or let me die. I cannot live this way any longer.” Two hours later he fell into a deep state of unconsciousness. To the other prisoners and the guards, he appeared dead.
In his encounter with death, PK met life. In a vivid dream PK wrestled with darkness but found his way to the light of Jesus. As his dream ended a man dressed in white told PK “I have come to save you, but you must stay on my path.” PK followed His path through the mountain and found himself back at the prison, where the dream began. Then he woke up.
It was 6.30 in the morning – 12 hours passed since he had fallen asleep. PK was wrapped in a blanket and covered with flowers. His companions believed that he had died the night before. They were waiting until morning to take his body to the cemetery.
“From that day I believed and I started to pray.” PK didn’t know much about prayer or God, but just as he encountered Jesus in his dream he began to encounter Him in his life. Since becoming involved in a church, PK’s life has changed dramatically. He has been trained in his faith and is now training and equipping his own people to walk in the way of Jesus. Praise God for a praying mother and a God who pursues!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”
– Isaiah 43:1b-2
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