We know that there are hundreds of believers praying for this mission faithfully every day, because the Lord has been opening doors for three new churches to be planted in Thailand. Two have opened already and one is in process and will open in a few weeks. Our strategy involves making churches that are self-sufficient from day one by resourcing, training, and coaching Thai pastors to start businesses that can support themselves and their families.
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| The first church being planted is at Ban Klang in Lamphun province. Ban Klang is a county (sub-district) that has no Christian church of any type, so we are excited to bring the gospel to this place so that lives can be changed through Jesus Christ. This church plant is being led by a team of two couples that work well together. Pastors Rattana and Ann haved moved to Ban Klang and we have helped them to set up a clothes store as well as a portable clothing shop for the outdoor markets. (We will have pictures of the store soon.) They will be joined by a music and youth minister, Pastor Geng and his wife Noy, who we have trained and assisted in starting a restaurant specializing in roasted pork leg with rice. Together they are bringing the gospel into places that have never been reached with the good news of Jesus Christ. They will be starting cell groups, evangelizing, and supporting themselves with their businesses. Please pray for both their cell groups and their businesses to thrive. |
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| Pastor Geng, Sherri, Pastor Ann, Pastor Rattana at Ban Klang in Lamphun province |
A second church is being planted in Ban Bueng in our home province of Chonburi. Pastors Kaek (Peter) and Nuc have planted this church. They are successful business people who did not need our help with support, so we assisted with some startup funds and coaching. Kaek and Nuc are very close friends of ours. During our first two years in Thailand, we spent countless hours at their home learning Thai language with them. We had the privilege of sending Kaek to Phayao Bible College and now are honored to help them fulfill their calling as Pioneer Pastors. Last week, we attended the first service of this new church, which is called God Cares Church (Yes, they are using the English words in the name, simple words that would be understood by many Thais. A more accurate name for the church would be Providence Church, but no one here would know the meaning of providence.) Evangelist Boonchiow, a missionary of the Singapore Methodist Church, preached the sermon. I (Mike) will be preaching this Sunday. We know the Lord will bless this church because there is a very gifted team that is working together with Kaek and Nuc.
The God Cares Church is meeting in a place that used to be an outdoor restaurant. Construction is taking place at this time to enclose the restaurant to make a church building. Last Sunday, it was very noisy because it was open to the outside and the traffic from the busy road was noisy. But that is a good problem. High traffic means high population and a great location on the main road. Once the building is enclosed with walls and air conditioning (we love air in the hot tropical climate), it will cut down the noise. They are putting some type of sound insulation on the walls to help as well.
Our prayers surround these Pioneer Pastors and the teams that work with them. They face much spiritual battle and challenges. Your prayers will make all of the difference as they work on the front lines of the gospel.
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| Cinder Blocks for building the walls of the church building. |
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| This is the open air restaurant that is being converted into a church building for God Cares Church. |
