Your prayers made all of the difference for the 2016 VIM Team

Thank you prayer warriors for lifting up intercessory prayers to the Lord each day for the past several weeks for the 2016 VIM Team.  We faced an onslaught of spiritual battle and your prayers made all of the difference.  Sherri and I have both experienced medical issues as the time approached for the mission team to arrive.  We are blessed to have a team of missionaries that are wonderful and highly capable.  Missionary Joshua Johnston served as the guide for the team during our time of need and we are very grateful for his service to the Lord.

VIM team member Kristen with children at
Blessing Home in Pattaya

The 2016 VIM Team was needed to help the Thailand Methodist Mission in two strategic locations to serve Thai people in mission in many vital ways.

First, they helped to paint the outside and inside of the Special Blessings Center, a new ministry initiative of TMM missionaries Carol Fare and Vicki Brown for special needs children.  A fourth Blessing Home center is also opening at the same center.  They worked hard in stifling heat to get this center up and running.  The place looks beautiful now and very welcoming with bright cheerful colors.

Second, the team also led an English Camp there, which helped to introduce Carol and Vicki and this new Christian ministry to neighbors.  This was very successful and networks of relationships have been built.  None more important than the new and very positive relationship with the village chief and his family (this is very important in Thai culture), who attended the English Camp at was happy that Vicki will begin teaching English to needy students in the area free of charge.

English Camp at Special Blessings Korat

Third, the team, led by Pastor John Kalz of Buechel UMC, partipated in the Grand Opening service of the Blessing Home TaPhraya Center.  Our brothers and sisters of Buechel UMC sponsored the cost of construction on this new center, and John was able to represent his church through the ribbon cutting and dedication of this new church.  It was a great time of celebration and the presence of the VIM team gave significance and gravitas to the Blessing Home TaPhraya Center in the eyes of the community leaders.

Grand Opening Service of Blessing Home TaPhraya

Pastor John Kalz of Buechel UMC cuts the ribbon
at Blessing Home TaPhraya

Fourth, the team led an English camp at Blessing Home TaPhraya as well as activities for seniors in the community.  The English camps were led under the experienced leadership of Karen Campbell of Settle Memorial Church in Owensboro, Kentucky.  Karen leads annual English Camps in the Czech Republic, and we were blessed by her service here in Thailand.

Fifth, the team participated in baptisms at Blessing Home Isan in Nonsomboon.  Pastor Doe of Grace Church of Nonsomboon (the church connected with Blessing Home Isan) and Pastor Sherri Morrissey (Co-Director of the Thailand Methodist Mission) baptized 12 people, 10 of whom were the fruit of the ministry of Blessing Home Isan and 2 who were the fruit of the ministry of Special Blessings Korat.  Blessing Home Isan and Special Blessings Korat are under the leadership of TMM missionaries Carol Fare and Vicki Brown.  It was a great pleasure to see the lives that have been eternally transformed through their faithful service together with the Thai Christians who serve the Lord sacrificially and with loving devotion.

Baptisms at Nonsomboon.

There were many pastors on this team, so we and the Thai Christian enjoyed hearing many of them teach and preach God's Word in the churches.

We just want you to know that your prayers move mountains in Thailand.  As prayer warriors, you serve as the powerhouse of the mission.  Praise the Lord!