A Historic First Conference is coming on Feb. 1st

On Feb. 1st, we will have the first Mission Conference (the equivalent of an Annual Conference meeting) in Thailand. The Thailand Mission Conference will meet at Pradumri UMC in Chonburi. This is very appropriate because Pradumri UMC was the first UMC in Thailand. Bishop Larry Goodpaster of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference will preside at this historic occasion.

The Thai United Methodist Pastors will receive official appointments from Bishop Goodpaster, the first official appointments of the UMC in Thailand. Pastor Dr. Wiset and Pastor Sarah of Pradumri Church will have the honor of receiving the first official pastoral appointments in Thailand. As the founding pastors of the first United Methodist congregation in Thailand, they have a special place of honor at this historic first conference.

On the left is a picture of Pastor Sarah of Pradumri Church preaching during Sunday morning worship.

An inspiring service at Prarachagit UMC in Bangkok

Last Sunday, we surprised Pastors Dang and Maow of Prarachagit UMC, the first United Methodist Congregation located in the capital city, Bangkok. We surprised them by showing up unannounced for Sunday morning worship, and it was a blessing.

The congregation is small and spirit-filled. We were especially blessed when 3 women went up front to sing a special new song, teaching the congregation to sing with them. They sang with passion for the Lord and their love for the Lord was contagious! Two of the women demonstrate a real gift for leading worship.

But the highlight of the service was when a young couple gave their lives to Jesus Christ. They came to the front of the church, and Pastor Dang and us laid hands on them in prayer. We pray that they will grow to be strong disciples for Jesus Christ.

Prarachagit church joined the UMC last month. Pastors Dang and Maow now receive support that allows them to be full-time, and this frees up their time to work for the Lord more so there will be more fruit to their ministry. This young couple who came to Jesus Christ last Sunday was evidence of how their ministry in Bangkok is effective at making disciples.

Pray for the Lord to raise up more Christian leaders, both lay and clergy, all across Thailand.

Meet our new grandson

My name is MICHAEL ISAIAH.
I was born on JANUARY 1, 2008 at 1652 PM.
I am 20.5" long and weigh 9 lbs 0 ozs.

A New Addition to the Morrissey Clan on New Year's Day

It has been a wonderful New Year's Eve. We had the American missionaries at Sammuk Christian Academy over for supper, some videos, and playing games. While this social was going on, we were hoping for a call from our son Michael, whose wonderful wife Jude is pregnant and ready to go into labor at any moment. We were hoping that the baby would be born on New Year's Eve, which is their daugther Madeline's birthday. Well. no call came that day.

But we did receive a call a day later and our new grandson, Michael Isaiah Morrissey, arrived into this world. Michael Isaiah is not Michael the Fourth because both by grandson and my son have different middle names from each other and from me and my father (I am a junior). I won't get to see him for a few months until we come home to get our house ready for sale.

Michael Isaiah is a whopping 9 pounds! He must be like a bowling ball in shape. Our prayers are for a swift recovery for Jude as this has been a very difficult pregnancy and labor.

We praise God for the blessings of technology. Here we are across the world from Kentucky, and we receive a call from our son Michael saying the baby just came into the world 15 minutes ago. In the background, we could hear baby Michael Isaiah loudly wailing (nothing wrong with his lungs!) Michael Patrick (our son) then asked if we wanted to hear the baby, and then our whole room was filled with his newborn voice. Because of cell phones and internet phones, we could connect across the world and hear our grandson and share the joy of his birth with his parents.

In a few days, I should be able to post a picture or two of baby Michael Isaiah. Please bear with the proud grandparents. We can't help it. We are very much in love with this little guy we haven't even met yet.