God Opens Impossible Doors

"See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." -Revelation 3:8

The prison guards looked at us and said we could not enter.

We had arrived at the largest prison in Guinea, but we had accidentally left our passports and official documents behind. Without them, the door seemed closed.

But what looked impossible to us was already prepared by God.

Over the last three months, I have watched the Lord open doors that no person could open. From prisons in West Africa to detention centers and universities in Thailand, we have witnessed God make a way where there seemed to be no way.

The Prison We Thought We Would Never Enter

Our journey began in Conakry, Guinea.

Earlier that day, we had the opportunity to share the Gospel in an educational setting with many young people. At first, it seemed like the opportunity would not happen.

For a moment, the door appeared to be closed.

But after continuing to ask, we were given the opportunity to speak.

We shared the Gospel, and many listened with curiosity and openness. Some responded to the message of Jesus, while others stayed afterward with questions about faith and the Bible.

Together with Benny and Sasson, we opened the Scriptures and had meaningful conversations about who Jesus is and why He came.

The seed of the Gospel had been planted.

But God was not finished.

The Gospel seed had been planted.

But God was not finished.

That afternoon, we arrived at the largest prison in Guinea, home to nearly 2,000 inmates.

Immediately, we faced a problem.

We had accidentally left our passports and official documents at our accommodation. Armed guards stopped us at the entrance and refused to let us enter.

After explaining our situation, they allowed us to meet the prison chaplain.

To our surprise, the chaplain told us he had attended one of Reinhard Bonnke’s crusades in Conakry in 1992. Even though he respected what we wanted to do, he believed it would be very difficult for us to enter.

He introduced us to the prison director, who explained that we needed authorization from his superior across the city.

So we drove there by faith, unsure what would happen next.

Within minutes, permission was granted.

We hurried back before the prison closed.

Standing outside that prison earlier that day, I honestly did not know if we would enter. When the guards stopped us, I felt like the opportunity was gone.

But I have learned something over the years: I cannot control the outcome.

My responsibility is simply to keep showing up, keep asking, and keep taking the next step of obedience.

God is the One who opens the doors.

Many times, I come with little expectation, and He surprises me by doing far more than I imagined.

Instead of speaking to a small gathering, we walked from cell block to cell block with portable speakers, preaching Christ to prisoners listening through the bars of their cells.

Everywhere we stopped, hands were raised as men responded to receive Jesus.

Before leaving, we distributed 2,000 pieces of Christian literature throughout the prison.

Then something unexpected happened.

A woman asked us to visit the women’s section before we left. We agreed to stay only a few minutes, but we remained nearly half an hour.

Several women responded to the Gospel. As we prayed, several experienced freedom and healing. Our teammate Sasson ministered to them while local believers continued praying after we departed.

By the time we left, peace had filled the room.

What seemed like a closed door became an opportunity to share the hope of Christ with hundreds of people.

When God Opened More Doors in Thailand

Only a few weeks later, we saw God continue opening doors in Thailand.

Several local pastors had tried to obtain permission for us to minister inside prisons but were unable to secure access.

Rather than giving up, one of our Thai colleagues, our interpreter, and I decided to simply visit the prisons ourselves and ask.

Jesus said, “Knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

That is exactly what happened.

By God’s grace, three prisons welcomed us.

One afternoon, we preached to approximately sixty men in a rehabilitation section of a prison. Many had never personally placed their faith in Christ.

As we shared the Gospel, many responded and prayed to receive Jesus.

Afterward, we prayed for healing.

An older gentleman who had been suffering from severe tooth pain testified that the pain completely disappeared. He was so overwhelmed that tears filled his eyes.

Our interpreter, Ms. Pat, was deeply moved as she witnessed this reminder that Jesus is still working today.

The Gospel is not only a message to hear. It is the power of God to transform lives.

Hope Inside a Juvenile Center

One of the most encouraging moments in Thailand came inside a juvenile detention center.

We shared the Gospel with several groups of young people and invited anyone who wanted to follow Christ to respond.

Many raised their hands.

As we prayed over them, several were deeply touched by God's presence.

One young man stood before everyone and shared what God had already been doing in his life.

While inside the detention center, he discovered online sermons from Pastor Champ in Bangkok. Through those messages, he began reading the Bible and surrendered his life to Christ.

Now he wants to encourage other young people and start Bible studies inside the facility.

His testimony reminded me that God’s Word is never limited by circumstances.

Even behind prison walls, Jesus is building His Church.

Planting Seeds Among Future Teachers

God also opened another unexpected door among university students in Thailand.

Our team traveled to the Faculty of Education at Rajabhat University near Chiang Mai because we believe future teachers have the opportunity to influence thousands of students throughout their careers.

If these future educators become followers of Jesus, their impact can continue for generations.

The vice dean welcomed us to speak with 51 students.

As I shared my testimony, many listened with genuine curiosity. When we invited those who wanted to respond to Christ, many raised their hands in prayer.

Afterward, we invited the students to lunch.

Fifteen stayed.

What began as a classroom presentation became nearly two hours of meaningful conversations about faith, life, and following Jesus.

Some students already knew Christ, while others were hearing about Christianity for the first time and asked thoughtful questions.

Before leaving, fourteen students exchanged contact information with local believers so they could continue meeting for Bible studies and discipleship.

Please pray for these students.

Many of them will one day become teachers throughout Thailand. We believe God can use them to influence the next generation.

Continuing to Pray and Go

The doors God opened in Guinea and Thailand remind us that the Gospel must continue going to places where people need hope.

We do not know every door God will open in the future, but we know He is faithful. Our responsibility is to remain obedient, continue sharing Christ, and trust Him with the results.

Please continue praying for the people who heard the Gospel, that they would grow in their relationship with Jesus and become faithful followers of Him.