TMM pioneers a new United Methodist Church in Sakaeo in cooperative ministry with GBGM

We have great news!

Thailand Methodist Mission has just planted a new United Methodist Church in cooperation with GBGM in Thailand.  This new church is in Wattana Nakhon (which is the name of the city and the district).  The whole district of Wattana Nakhon is unreached, having no church.  Over 80,000 Thai people (not counting the large number of Cambodians) live in Wattana Nakhon district.  This district has 11 Sub-districts and 115 villages, none of which are reached for Jesus Christ.

This new United Methodist congregation will be planted by Pastor Brayoon, who has been working hard developing cell groups and children’s ministries in two sub-districts, the city sub-district (Wattana Nakhon) and a rural sub-district called Phak Kha.   Working together with Pastor Brayoon is her daughter, Donyong and a young woman named Luck, both of whom are very gifted Bible teachers for the children. 

Back Row: GBGM Country Director Rev. Cherlue Vang, GBGM Missionary Mang Vang, Rev. Brayoon (church planting  Rev. Banya of Life Center UMC in Pattaya, Rev. Mike Morrissey of TMM
Front Row: Luck and Donyong

GBGM Country Director, Rev. Cherlue Vang and his wife, GBGM missionary Mang Vang, traveled with Mike to Wattana Nakhon to meet with Pastor Brayoon, Donyong, and Luck.  During the afternoon, we went to Phak Kha for a children’s outreach.  Pastor Brayoon has great relations with all of the village chiefs and the sub-district chief, and she has free use of the sub-district community center, which is where the children gathered for the outreach event.  Children came from many of the surrounding villages, riding their bikes to get there (you would be surprised how many children can fit on one bike…. they never come one child to a bike, but instead 2, 3, or 4 kids to a bike).  Donyong, Luck, Pastor Brayoon, and Pastor Banya (of Life Center UMC in Pattaya) led the children in Christian songs, teaching, games, while Mike and GBGM missionaries Cherlue and Mang Vang connected with the adults who brought some of the younger children to the outreach.   When the activity was over, we enjoyed a meal together, and every child went home with snacks and a gift (and in many cases extra food to take home to their families).

We want to thank Bishop Lindsey Davis and all of the churches of the Kentucky Annual Conference for their generous support that has made it possible to plant this church in Sakaeo.  You have changed the lives of the people of this district.  Because of your Christian love, there is now a Gospel witness in this unreached district.  Thank you for supporting the Pioneering Pastors Project of the Thailand Methodist Mission.  You are making a difference across the globe for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Thai people.

GBGM Country Director Cherlue Vang speaks with the children at the outreach

Yours prayers bring miraculous healing

Pastor Banya just told us some fantastic news concerning Sureepon, who had brain surgery just last week.
Sureepon has not been able to use her left arm for the last 4 years because of the brain damaged caused by a gun shot to her head, when she was pregnant with her son, Best.

You have been praying faithfully for Sureepon, and God has done a miracle in her life.
Sureepon now has use of her left arm!  This is amazing!  Sureepon's life will now be wonderfully different because of your prayers and your generosity which paid for her surgery.

Please be praying that Sureepon and her mother Daeng will receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  We believe they are very close to giving their lives to the Lord.

Sureepon with her son Best, one of the children at Blessing Home

The brain surgery was successful, and Sureepon is recovering well. 

Because of your generosity and prayers, Sureepon's life is changed forever.  She now can use her left arm.  Just two weeks ago, she was unable to lift her arm like this.  Everyday, her arm and her dexterity increases.  

Sureepon's brain surgery went well... and we need prayer for Naet's older sister, Loh

Many of you have been praying for Sureepon Aretit, who is the mother of Best, one of our children at Blessing Home.  When Sureepon, who is now just 19 years old, was pregnant with Best, her boyfriend tried to kill her.  While she was fleeing, he shot her in the back of the head.  Although she and her baby survived, she is now brain damaged and cannot use one of her arms.  She has been in need of surgery for a long time, but could not afford the bills.  Because of your financial support, the Thailand Methodist Mission was able to pay for her surgery so she can begin her process of healing and recovery.

 Sureepon had brain surgery this week to remove part of her brain which is damaged and to get a new plastic skull cap.  The surgery was successful, and Sureepon is now home, after spending most of the week in the hospital.  Sureepon has a long path of recovery and putting life back together, so please continue to pray for her and her son Best.

On another note, Pastor Banya informed us that Naet’s older sister, Loh,  will be getting out of youth prison at the end of August.  Naet’s whole family is in prison for selling drugs, including her 84 year old grandmother, who used to be her guardian.  Two minors in the household were sent to jail as well, her 16 year old sister Loh (who was 14 when she was sent there) and her 10 year old cousin.  Although Loh and her cousin were forced to sell drugs by Naet’s uncle (beatings and deprivation of food were the punishments for not selling the drugs), they were still sent to prison.

We made a promise to Loh that we would help her when she got out of youth prison, because she has no one now.  There is a school nearby that trains young women to be certified beauticians.  We are checking out the price and logistics of sending her here to study (Loh is very interested).  This will give Loh a good trade and there are members of Life Center UMC in Pattaya that own beauty shops that can help her after she graduates.  Again, it is because of your compassionate generosity that we can give this young woman a chance to escape those who had enslaved her in child drug trafficking (many, many times the child traffickers are family and relatives). 

Please visit the Thailand Methodist Mission website at thailandmethodist.org