For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
God had placed Esther in a special position to be able to help her people during a crisis that she probably never could have predicted would happen. When Esther was chosen to be the queen, she had no idea that she would be in a unique position to help her people when they needed her. Looking back, we see God's hand at work. Our Almighty God who knows the future had a plan for Esther. It was our Lord who chose Esther to be the queen, for such a time as this.
We believe that the Thai Pastors and Christians, and the missionaries of Thailand NOW have been put into our positions of ministry during this COVID-19 crisis for such a time as this. The urban churches have been hit with a sledge hammer of poverty. Almost everyone is out of work and many have been out of work for 2 months now. These are families that live on less than $250 per month. They have no food and no way of earning money. The pastors and church leaders have had so many people come to them for help that they have used up all of their savings buying food for hungry parishioners and family.
Pastor Somsri of Fire of Glory Church already had a food relief program that gave milk and eggs to children who were terribly undernourished. The children not only were too thin, they had suffered for many years and had not grown like they should. There was one child that I thought was either 7 or 8 years old, but she was 14 years old! And there were many others like her. Pastor Somsri continued to help them and now cannot feed her own family. So we are giving extra help to make sure that Pastor Somsri's family and her parishioners have food to eat during the next several months, until the crisis resolves. In Thailand, all of the churches are closed, like they are in the States. So the urban pastors have no means of income. We praise the Lord that He has placed us in the position to help. God appointed us as missionaries for such a time as this.
Pastors Sila and Wassana of Prasiri UMC in Bangkok, have been shopping for food and bringing relief packages to their neighbors and parishioners who had no food in their homes. The members of Prasiri UMC also made face masks to give to their neighbors in their time of need. They are the hands and feet of God for such a time as this.
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| Pastor Sila wearing his face mask. |
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| Shopping for groceries to give to those in need |
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| Bags of groceries ready to deliver |
Pastors Det and Dao who serve at Blessing Home TaPhraya have been delivering food to the homes of the Blessing Home kids and seniors who have no food. There are no many more people needing assistance than ever before, and they are giving all that they have to help.
At Blessing Home Pattaya, Thailand NOW missionaries David and Allie Houle have been making sure every child and their families receive food. Allie and David have not been able to isolate themselves at home, because they need to make sure these children are cared for. Allie and David have also been helping the members of Life Center UMC who are out of work and have no food. The need is huge and they know they have been called by God to serve at Blessing Home Pattaya for such a time as this. Please pray for them as they serve the Lord faithfully, that they will be safe from the coronavirus as they do their ministry as the compassionate hands and feet of God.
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| Allie gives an activity book to a Blessing Home kid so she can learn while staying safe at home. |
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| David delivers food to one of the Blessing Home kids and his father. |
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| Ploy packs emergency bags of food. |
