We would like to introduce you to a Pioneer Pastor couple,
Rungroj and Somchit, who planted a new church in an unreached sub-district in
Tak Fa, in the central region of Thailand.
They are a courageous, persevering, and hard-working couple who gave up
comfort in order to reach the lost for Christ in this region that has four
unreached sub-districts… meaning that there are no Christian churches
there. They are pioneering new territory
for Jesus Christ, and it is difficult work.
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| Pioneer Pastors are modern day circuit riders. They ride scooters and mini-motorcycles, rather than horses. |
TMM helped provide funding and coaching for an agricultural
project. They hand dug a well (back-breaking
work in the tropical heat)and installed an irrigation system. They grow and sell Jerusalem artichokes (a
new product for Thailand… meaning they can create a new market and not compete
with others), as well as raise chickens.
In the future, they will build a fish farm. They run the farm and go to the markets three
nights per week in different places to sell their produce. While they work full-time, they are also
serving at their church as well as planting new cell groups in neighboring
sub-districts. Now there are three
sub-districts that were unreached before that now have a church and three cell
groups. Two of those groups are growing
well, and we expect their ministry to be a two-church circuit soon.
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| Pastors Rungroj and Somchit grow Jerusalem artichokes and other produce to sell at the fresh markets. |
Because they serve in a region with many unreached
sub-districts (counties), they must travel far.
They go to the cell groups on this mini-motorcycle (they call it a “motorcy”). In past times, circuit riders would go from
place to place riding their horse to start cell groups. Here in Thailand, the pastors go around on
scooters and mini-motorcycles.
Please pray for Rungroj and Somchit, that their farm will be
productive and that they will be successful in selling their produce, so their
family can do the ministry.
Also pray that the Lord will give them strength to persevere
and that they will have good health.
Both Pastors Rungroj and Somchit are seminary
graduates. One thing we found very
encouraging was that two lay leaders from churches in an adjacent region attend
one of their cell groups. These lay leaders
have never had the opportunity to study at a Bible college or seminary. Rungroj and Somchit are providing training
for them to help them be lay pastors at their churches.
It is a great honor to work together with Pastors Rungroj
and Somchit. They are “salt and light”.
