“I want you to take a personality test,” I recently told John. I don’t know anyone else who is like him. He really is a peculiar character. He did the test, and the results said that his personality type is found in only about 1 percent of the population! So there you have it—he really is a rare treasure! But not just because a personality test said so.

When I arrived at the Tai-Kadai project at the beginning of this year, John was one of the first Tai-Kadai people I met. He was a new Christian, and his English was good enough that he could share his story with me. He was so excited when he first learned about God’s love for him. Discontent with what Buddhism had to offer, he had finally found the Person his soul was longing for. I wish you could hear him tell his story in person, or share anything about Jesus for that matter. He shares from the center of his being. He has such contagious zeal for Jesus!

In the months since then, John has become a good friend. We share a love for talking nonsense, making good food and eating peanut butter and bread (with the emphasis on the peanut butter), but even more than that, we love talking about God. John loves learning about Jesus. He has done many Bible studies with missionaries, friends and pastors and attends many of our worships (and invites his friends as well). All this studying, sharing, and growing love for Jesus culminated in his decision to get baptized about a month ago. What a memorable day! He took such a bold stand for Jesus in this country where it is considered strange and even evil to be a Christian. But though John stands the risk of losing many relationships, Jesus promised that he would gain a hundred fold for choosing Him.

Jesus is using John in awesome ways. One of the most amazing ways I have seen my brother grow is in the area of leadership. He is a 19-year-old introvert dreamer accustomed to being in the background. But Jesus is bringing out strong leadership qualities in him. John is now the leader of Lighthouse, a Bible-study group that meets on Friday nights. I am a co-leader with him in this ministry. My role is to help facilitate and mentor him. At the beginning, I had to give him a lot of guidance and encouragement to lead, but now he is starting to lead and taking initiative before I even think of things. He is dedicated and diligent with a heart full of love for Jesus.

John is a treasure Jesus found in the field of the world, and He gave his life to make the treasure his own. Like John, we are all valuable because of the price Jesus paid for us, and we become even more valuable as He changes us to be more like Himself.

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matt. 13:44).

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