Rayza and his wife, Laura, couldn’t have imagined how God would use sushi to change their lives — and also the lives of people who live thousands of miles away from them.
Today the couple runs a thriving sushi restaurant on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Beyond serving great food, there’s something unique about their restaurant’s mission: A portion of their profits supports Bible translation in Indonesia so people can have God’s Word in their language!
Rayza and Laura’s journey is a beautiful testament to the truth that God’s hand is at work in every season of our lives — even when we can’t see it.
How a Tornado and a Bible Changed Rayza’s Life
Rayza, who was born in Indonesia but left when he was 19 years old, had a miraculous and complex journey to faith. He not only grew up as a devout follower of a major world religion but came from a prominent family that practiced the religion as well.
One part of that journey happened when a tornado devastated the area of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Rayza was living. He was working at a restaurant the day the tornado hit and had a feeling within him that urged, “Go to the cooler.”
Rayza took seven employees with him to the restaurant’s cooler, which was connected to a walk-in freezer. After the storm passed, the freezer was completely gone and the restaurant was destroyed.
But all of those employees and Rayza survived.
That near-death experience shook Rayza to his core; he began processing his emotions about it, as well as his feelings about losing his livelihood at the restaurant. Later on, Rayza decided to start attending a gym. There, he met Jim, a former pastor. Since Rayza didn’t have any family who lived in the United States, Jim became more than just a gym buddy: He was a mentor and friend, inviting Rayza to family gatherings and holidays.
Jim also began texting Rayza encouraging words. Unbeknownst to Rayza, they were actually verses from Psalms and Proverbs. When Jim explained that these encouraging proverbs were Scripture, Rayza wrestled with the implications of reading the Bible — something that went against his religious upbringing.
But that Christmas, Jim gave Rayza a gift that would change his life: a Bible in his own language of Indonesian! While Rayza was touched by the gift, he was hesitant to open the book and go against his religious upbringing.
Still, God was at work in Rayza’s heart.
Soon after he received the Bible in his language, Rayza began watching a prominent preacher on television during the weekends. Rayza asked a friend at the gym where he attended church and, after being invited, Rayza initially resisted.
Months later, Rayza said “yes” to the invitation and he was completely changed by the experience. He kept attending, eventually giving his life to Christ and getting baptized!
The combination of Jim’s discipleship, a friend’s invitation and God’s Word in Indonesian transformed Rayza from the inside out. Rayza and Jim have remained close over the years: He was even the best man at Rayza’s wedding to Laura! Years after that, he also blessed the couple financially when he invested in their restaurant.
“The influence of Jim on Rayza changed [our lives],” Laura affirmed.
God used ordinary encounters with faithful Christians to completely transform the lives of both Rayza and Laura — not just here on earth but for eternity!
Giving Back to God — Here and Overseas
When Laura first met Rayza, he was working as a sushi chef in Alabama. As he rolled sushi, he would talk to the people sitting at the counter about his Christian faith. Rayza’s skills and personality impressed the customers, so much so that they often commented about how he should open up his own restaurant.
“[These people] saw something in him that he didn’t really think he was capable [of],” Laura noted.
For years, the couple prayed and wondered if God was calling them to full-time missions. Rayza felt God tell him to attend a Bible college to strengthen his Christian faith. But even though the couple was passionate about sharing the gospel with others, God wasn’t opening doors to traditional ministry for them. Instead, He kept bringing them the vision and desire to open a restaurant.
But opening a business felt risky, and Laura admitted, “… I was terrified. I said no all the time, but we kept praying about it.”
When we don’t know what to say, God’s Word can meet our need. Praying Scripture draws our hearts closer to His.
Learn how to pray God’s Word back to Him even when words don’t come easily. →
In 2022, someone from Rayza and Laura’s church offered to show the couple different buildings for their potential restaurant. When they toured the last building, Rayza and Laura both felt like something was different about it than the others. So they prayed about the decision for 21 days. “We both just had a supernatural peace to do it,” Laura said.
From the beginning, Rayza and Laura knew their restaurant needed to be more than a place to eat — it would be their ministry and their mission field.
“We asked ourselves, ‘Can we tithe the restaurant? What can we do that would glorify God?’” Laura explained.
The couple learned about Wycliffe and the need for Bible translation through a pastor at their local church — who was also a former Wycliffe missionary! Rayza and Laura decided to give a percentage of all their restaurant’s sales to support translation work. Today their partnership is helping the Kola people of Indonesia experience God’s Word in their language. Laura noted:
“We really believe that God’s Word can change people’s lives. … There are so many areas in Indonesia that don’t have the Bible. That’s just a really important thing that we can help fund.”
The Kola Bible translation team is working hard translating Scripture into a language and format people can clearly understand. The team has even been uploading completed Bible passages onto a digital app so that more people can easily access them. Younger generations, especially millennials, have enjoyed downloading the app and have started sharing it with others.
As the team shares Scripture drafts with the community, people are touched and inspired by the teachings. One Kola woman shared:
“[Reading] God’s Word in the Kola language, I easily understand the passage. I know better what God wants in my life.”
The translation team is excited to witness how God’s Word will continue to transform lives among their people. And every roll of sushi sold from Rayza and Laura’s restaurant is helping make impactful moments just like these possible among the Kola!
God’s Word Is a Gift
Scripture is powerful; it gives us hope, points us to truth and directs our lives. But especially in the U.S., where we have so many kinds of ways to engage with Scripture, Laura noted that we can “… take [having the Bible in our own language] for granted.”
Rayza and Laura know that God’s Word is a gift: It captures people’s hearts and transforms their lives forever. Laura said:
“The Word of God is encouraging. It lifts you up. It changes things. It changes the atmosphere.”
As Laura also pointed out, when we have the Word of God to hold onto, it helps shift our focus and give us a new perspective — an eternal one. One day, people from every nation and language will worship around God’s throne (Revelation 7:9), and partnering with Bible translation allows us to take part in seeing that promised future become a reality.
Rayza and Laura want other people to encounter God’s Word in their own language and be transformed, just as Rayza was. God has given us each skills, talents and passions to serve Him and bring His Word to those who are still waiting for it in their language. In fact, the verse that guides Rayza and Laura’s business is 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT):
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
Rayza’s life changed because Jim shared Scripture in his language. And now, Laura and Rayza are helping others encounter Scripture in their language too. Today the couple even uses their restaurant to host small groups and disciple others; it has become a safe place for people to grow in their faith or to even experience God for the first time! It’s a beautiful reminder of the ripple effect that happens when we follow God’s call and share His Word with others.
How might He use you to be part of someone else’s faith journey today?
