Final Phase of Construction of the Abundant Life Training Center

 Sherri and I are grateful for the generosity that is making this training center possible. This training center is an absolute necessity for our mission to keep up with the rapid growth and multiplication of the churches. The Abundant Life Training Center will greatly increase the numbers of clergy and laity we can train in the Abundant Life Financial Training Program and the Pioneer Pastor Program. Through your generosity, Phases 1 through 3 have been completed without incurring any debt:

• Land was purchased and was filled up with seven feet of landfill;
• A strong retainer wall was built;
• A house was built for the Director of the Abundant Life Training Center;
• A large meeting room that can seat over 200 people was contructed;
• A kitchen / restroom building was constructed;
• 220v - 3 phase electricity was brought in and a large transformer was installed;
• City water was brought in and a special filtration system with water storage tanks was built.

Now we are in the process of building a security wall and two large front gates and signage.  The funds have already been received for this.  Now we will begin fundraising for the Final Phase of construction, which are 2 large dormitory buildings that can accommodate 36 people in each building. 

Above is the blueprint (I know it is difficult to view).  Each building is made to have women on one side and men on the other with separate restrooms that include showers.  We are using the best of insulation materials so that utility costs will be as low as possible.

The cost to construct each building will be $121,000 each for a total of $242,000.

As funds come in, we will first build the foundation for both buildings.  We must do both foundations at the same time because the foundations must rest upon very long reinforced concrete columns that are hammered into the ground to reach bedrock.  This hammering process shakes the ground, and would risk damaging any nearby building.  So that is why we have the foundation of the buildings in orange above.  

Then we will construct one building and then the next as funds come in.

Sherri and I are asking all supporting churches to take a special Christmas offering for this project.  Please be sure to designate your offering for the BUILDING FUND.

Checks can be mailed to: Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758

OR give online at https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/

Our 106th New Church Plant (It is the 50th Pioneer Pastor Church, being the first church in an unreached county)

Eighteen years ago, when Sherri and I came to Thailand to serve as missionaries, our mission was to plant churches in unreached parts of Thailand, specifically in counties (sub-districts) that have no Christian churches at all.  Our first church was planted in 2007 in Bowin, a county of 150,000 in population that had no church.  Most of the time, when we plant a church, that church will go on to plant another church (or more) within the first year or two.  Bowin church was no exception, and they went on to plant three more Pioneer Pastor Churches. Grace Church in Nonsomboon (where the Blessing Home Isan Center is located) was one of those three  Now Grace Church has now planted 2 other churches.

Run Now Mission Church is the second Pioneer Pastor church planted by Grace Church and will be led by Pastor Korawit (see his picture below).  Pastor Korawit has moved from the Korat region (where Grace Church is located) to Nakhon Si Thammarat province, far away in Southern Thailand.  Run Now Mission Church is being planted in Tha Ngio.  Tha Ngio is a county of 14,000 people with no Christian church in the county.  

The new church will be named Run Now Mission Church, and we are working in partnership with Think Small organization to start children and youth ministries there.  Pastor Korawit has rented a building that is a quarter mile away from the university.  The left side will be the church building and the right side will be for two businesses so that Pastor Korawit’s family and the church can be self-supporting. 

Pastor Korawit’s business is installing CCTV security systems, remote control gates and doors,  and fiber optic networks.  His wife Pla will operate a food kiosk in front of Pastor Korawit’s business.  Funds from Thailand NOW are being used to rent the building for the next 6-months (to give time for their businesses to set up and become profitable) as well as equipment needed for the church and businesses. 

This church is the 106^th church planted through Thailand NOW and the 50^th Pioneer Pastor Church.

Please pray for Pastor Korawit and Pla that hearts will be open to Jesus as they share the Gospel with people, the vast majority of whom will hear the Good News of Jesus for the first time.  Please pray that their new businesses will thrive so that they can support themselves in ministry. 

Sherri and I thank you for your prayers and generosity which make all of the ministries of Thailand NOW possible.  You are a vital link in this chain of blessing.

If the Lord leads you to donate...

Checks for Thailand NOW can be mailed to:

Thailand NOW

P.O. Box 56

Mannsville, KY 42758

OR Donate Online at our website >> https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/

Uniforms for the Blessing Home kids

March is always a great blessing for us, because it is the month the Blessing Home kids get measured for their new school uniforms.   Each teen needs 3 sets of uniforms and shoes (younger children only need two sets), an academic uniform, a scouting uniform - yes, every Thai student is a scout, and a physical education uniform.  These uniforms are required for every student to attend school.

For Sherri and I, seeing our Blessing Home kids in their school uniforms.  These uniforms are a manifestation of how wonderful the trajectory their lives are on because of your generosity that makes this ministry possible.  These children and teens are in school and are not being trafficked!  God is great!  God is good!

(Below is a picture of some of our teens at Blessing Home Isan being fitted for their new uniforms.)

English Camps

For Thai kids, summer break is from the middle of March through the first week of May.  This is the time that many of our churches do English Camps.  You would call it Vacation Bible School, but we call it English Camp because every parent wants their children to learn English because it is the language of international commerce, and being fluent in English opens many doors of opportunity.  At English Camp, they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and worship the Lord, they learn English with fun games and songs, and eat good food and snacks.  

Below is a picture of children at the Chaiyaphum outreach (which is a location where we are planting a new Pioneer Pastor Church and a new Blessing Home Center) enjoying a game together.  

Our pastors are very busy during this time, because they will usually do at least two of these camps, one at their own church and another at a location (like Chaiyaphum) where there is no church.  Most Thai churches connected with Thailand NOW go on to plant at least one or two other churches, and these English Camps are one way that they use to evangelize and make disciples of Jesus Christ.  

Songkran

Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration and it was celebrated on the weekend of April 13-14.  During Songkran, most shops and businesses are closed so that everyone can travel to be home with extended family.   Usually when tourists think of Songkran, they think of children and adults wearing vibrant colored flowery shirts having fun out on the streets tossing water on each other.  But Songkran was not always celebrated in this raucous manner.   Songkran was originally a time for young people to bless their elders.  

In the Thai churches, we celebrate Songkran in a beautiful way from their tradition.  The elders will sit while the young come and kneel and pour flower scented water on the hands of the elders, as a sign of gratitude (many times this evokes tears of joy which are contagious).  Then the elder will lay their hands on the younger person and give a word of blessing.  This is truly a magnificent custom.

If the Lord leads you to donate...

Checks for Thailand NOW can be mailed to:

Thailand NOW

P.O. Box 56

Mannsville, KY 42758

OR Donate Online at our website >> https://thailandnow.org/donate-2/