Wesley International School

This past week, we travelled up to Korat, which is the second largest city in Thailand.  Korat is the gateway to Northeast Thailand (also known as Esarn), which is the most unreached region of Thailand.  Very few missionaries work in the Esarn region.  One of the reasons for this neglect is that there are no Christian international schools for the children of missionaries.  If the Esarn region is to be reached for Jesus Christ, a Christian international school is needed.

We are privileged to work cooperatively with Rev. John Kim, a Korean Methodist missionary who, together with his wife Sarah, have served in Thailand over 10 years now.  Several years ago, the Lord bestowed upon John and Sarah Kim a vision for opening a Christian international school in Korat, called Wesley International School (WIS).  John and Sarah believe that WIS will be a beacon of the Gospel Light to the families of the children that will attend the school.  We also know that this school will open the door for many missionary families to serve in the Esarn region, so that this region will no longer be unreached for Jesus.

Rev. John Kim, founder of Wesley International School

We are helping John and Sarah recruit teachers from America, because international schools need teachers who have English as their mother language.  In January, we helped John and Sarah recruit a dynamic young couple to work at Wesley International School starting last April.  Their names are Ken and Denise Case, and they have two adorable young sons, Bryce and Benjamin.  Denise is a certified teacher who will soon complete her Masters in Education degree and Ken is a college student studying Business and Finance.  Denise has served from the very beginning, and is doing a great job creating the educational structures needed at the school.  Denise is one of the most systematic and organized people we know, so her abilities match the challenges she has as an initiator of a new ministry.  Ken is an enthusiastic witness and Christian worker.  Together, they are a great team.

Ken and Denise Case, missionary teachers at Wesley International School in Korat, Thailand

This year, John and Sarah Kim went to the government offices to register their international school, but some of the laws changed since when they first started the process.  The school building they now use is on a small plot of land, and they need a half-acre in order to register.  John and Sarah own 13 acres of land outside the city, but it is not yet ready and there was not enough time to build.  So this year, they had to register as a daycare, so that they can build a new building on their large plot of land outside the city.  Once they have their building, they will be able to register as an international school.  Their plans are to be ready to register next year, and begin by August 2012 with grades K-2.  Then each year they will add a grade or two.

Future site of Wesley International School

John and Sarah Kim have asked us to help recruit Christian teachers.  For information, contact Rev. John Kim at kery89@hotmail.com OR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/wisedu

Pioneering Pastor Program - providing scholarships for Future Pioneers

It always amazes us how our brothers and sisters back in the States keep up with the news here in Thailand and are faithful to pray for us and the people of Thailand.  Many of you have mentioned to us about the new Prime Minister and government that is forming here in Thailand.  It was a landslide win by Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minster deposed in a military coup in 2006.  Although we do not take sides in politics here, we pray that the Supreme Court of Thailand and the Thai military leaders will honor the results of the election.  We are afraid of the horrific backlash that may take place if the new government is not allowed to form.  So far, it looks good.  But please keep this issue in your prayers.

One of the blessings that we have in the Pioneering Pastors Program is providing scholarships for Bible College students that have a shared vision with us, a vision to open a church in an unreached sub-district of Thailand.  The Thailand Methodist Mission (TMM) supports two students at Phayao Bible College.  One student some of you know well.  His name is Peter (his Thai nickname is Kack, which means Asian Indian, since he looks like he is from that nation).  Peter and Nuc have been very close friends of ours since we came to Thailand back in 2006.  They are our Thai language teachers and partners in ministry, and they are both dear to our hearts.  Peter was the first Thai disciple to receive the call to ministry under our service as missionaries.  We are privileged to help him complete his studies at Phayao Bible College so he can begin the next step in his ministry, to pioneer a new church in an unreached sub-district in Thailand.

Peter and Nuc, future church planters in Thailand

TMM is also providing a scholarship to a Phayao Bible College student named Art.
Art has a burden to plant a church in Northeast Thailand, which is the most unreached region of Thailand.  Art is a member of Bowin church, which is the first church that we helped to plant in Thailand.  And Art is the first member of the Bowin church to answer the call to ministry.  So Art is the first disciple to answer the call to ministry from the first church that we helped to plant here.  (My apologies: I have at least 10 pictures of Art, and I have looked all over and cannot find any of his pictures.... we will have to post his picture at a later date.)

We want to thank all who financially support the Pioneering Pastors Program through TMM.  You are making an eternal difference here, because when you help to plant a church in an unreached town, that town is forever changed.  It will never be the same again, because the Light of the Gospel is there.