It is always a joyous occasion to visit the UMC churches that we have had the privilege to help plant in Thailand. At each church, we always feel welcomed to the point of wanting to move to live with our fellow brothers and sisters there. Really. Everytime, we go away thinking, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to come here and worship with our brothers and sisters here all of the time?” This Sunday was just the same.
This weekend we went to Nakhon Pithom for a special consecration service for the new United Methodist Youth Center. Because of the generosity of their sister church, St. John’s UMC of Aiken, S.C., the United Methodist Church of Nakhon Pithom was able to open this new Youth Center where the Gospel is taught and lived out, where children can borrow good books to read, and where they can learn to play music for free as well.
At the dedication service, some of the children and youth from the center performed Thai dance for us, so we could all be blessed. They have just started learning music, so it will only be a few months before some are playing worship songs with guitars and drums. We were very impressed by how friendly and polite the children were.
Our prayers are that many children and youth will come to have new lives in Jesus Christ, and that through these youth, all of this region of Thailand will be reached for the Lord. Blessed by the name of the Lord!
