God came through "BIG TIME" and some serious prayer requests

Sherri and I are back in the States for itineration through the beginning of April and it is wonderful to be home in Kentucky.

1.  You all have been praying for TMM Missionaries Carol Fare and Vicki Brown who are Directors of Special Blessings Korat, a ministry for special needs children (check out their website at http://www.specialblessingskorat.org/).  The Special Blessings Korat building was up on the auction block after the owner of the building defaulted on the mortgage.  It is a fantastic building that God provided to Carol and Vicki for this ministry, and they have sunk a lot of time and money into this place.  So they put their names in to be bidders in the auction.  God answered your prayers "BIG TIME"!  There were no competitors for the auction (other than the bank being its own bidder), and they purchased the building for a fraction of its true value.  This is HUGE because it makes their ministry to be secure and permanent at this location.  Now please pray as they seek to buy the empty plots of land on each side of this building for parking.

2.  Construction on the new church building for Fire of Glory Church is going very well.  We expect construction to be complete by April, Lord willing.  Pastors Somsri and Warin send their thanks and love to all of you who made this possible through your prayers and generosity.

3.  Prayers are needed for 2 Thai pastors.

Please pray for Elder Rang of House of Immanuel Church in Buriram.  When we saw him last month at Christmas, he did not look his usual vibrant self, but never complained of being sick.  Then this past week, they asked for prayers as he entered the hospital for tests.  We just received the diagnosis that he has cancer in his abdomen (we don't know much more than that).  TMM is helping with some emergency funds for his medical bills at this time.  

Elder Rang of House of Immanuel Church in Buriram Province

Also pray for Pastor Somchai of Promise Church in Phanat Nakhom.  Somchai was doing some heavy lifting during a construction project at the Garden of Eden Retreat Center when he hurt his back (herniated disk).  He has a difficult time moving and is in a lot of pain.  Prayers are needed.

Pastor Somchai of Promise Church

4.  Finally, many of you have expressed interest in participating in the KY VIM Team to Thailand in October.  Here is the link to the webpage: https://www.kyumc.org/eventdetail/2019-thailand-mission-trip-12083151

We wish you a Blessed New Year!

Sherri and I wish you a Blessed New Year.  May the Lord fill you with the joy of His salvation! 

We are blessed to have prayer warriors like you who lift up all of us serving in Thailand to the throne of God.  And when you pray, great things happen in Thailand.  You are the power plant of this mission!

We want to take time to celebrate with you all that the Lord did through your prayers in 2018:

• ·         Over 250 new Thai believers were baptized this year into a new life in Jesus Christ.  The vast majority are first generation Christians, coming out of Buddhism and Islam to receive eternal and abundant life that the Lord graciously gives to all who receive His son Jesus;

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•       3 new Pioneer Pastor churches were planted in unreached counties in Thailand.  One church is in Eastern Thailand at Nong Prue county.  This church plant has been a very long time in the making, and it was on God’s timing.  The other 2 church plants are in Southern Thailand in Sawi and Phato counties, where  a high percentage of the population are Muslim.  All of the church plants are thriving, praise the Lord;
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• ·         Over 190 children were served at the three Blessing Home Centers.  These children are thriving in school rather than being enslaved in the brothels and opium dens of Pattaya;  3 of the Blessing Home college students have graduated this year and now have great jobs and bright futures in Jesus Christ.  Their lives and the lives of their entire family clan have taken a new upwards direction.

• ·         Special needs children are receiving needed services, and teachers and university students are being trained through the ministry of Special Blessings Korat;

• ·         The Abundant Life Savings Group program continues to expand into more churches.  Members of the groups are learning family budgeting and business skills;  These families are experiencing victory over debt and are better able to control their finances;  We have seen many families move out of deep poverty, being able to save money into an emergency fund for the first time.

• ·         Land was purchased and construction of the new church building for Fire of Glory Church in Nonthaburi province is well under way.  Construction is set to be complete by April 2019, Lord willing;  This will be a great victory because they are overcrowded at this time and need room to continue to grow;

• ·         Another Pioneer Pastor Church, Pradumri Nakhon Pathom Church, purchased land and is also constructing a new church building.  This church is terribly overcrowded.  Over half of the congregation sits outside during the worship service.  They really need the new building.
• ·         Another Pioneer Pastor Church, God is Good Church, is expanding to build a Sunday School building to relieve overcrowding;
• ·         TMM welcomed 2 new missionaries serving long-term in Pattaya.  David and Allie Houle arrived in August and are now in immersion Thai language study for their first year.  What a great blessing they are to the ministry here!

God has blessed us and the people of Thailand!  To God be the glory for He is worthy!