Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Provides!
Every year, around the first week of December, a very generous businessman donates thousands of blankets to Pastor Somsri and other Thai Christian leaders, and then these blankets are distributed by them to churches all across Thailand to be used in Christmas evangelism events.
In Thailand, Christmas is not as much a family celebration as it is a time when the churches reach out to their community with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thai Christians save up their money during the year, so they can generously provide gifts for their neighbors who do not yet know Christ. So, the generous donation of blankets helps new churches (that could usually not afford to buy gifts) to be able to show the love of Jesus at Christmastime.
But this year was different. The first week of December came and there were no blankets. The factory in China that makes the blankets had been closed because of Zero Covid restrictions. Pastor Somsri and the members of Fire of Glory Church began to pray for God to provide.
Last week, Pastor Somsri traveled to the office of the generous businessman who donates the blankets each year hoping to hear good news. The very minute that Pastor Somsri arrived at the office, the office manager received a call from the Port of Bangkok, the container of blankets had just arrived and would be ready to pick up the following day. When God's people pray, mountains move!
As soon as Pastor Somsri received the blankets, her team started to pack them into boxes and ship them to churches in every region of Thailand (see the picture above). Jehovah Jireh - God Provides!
The Christian Movement in Thailand is Accelerating
Here is a graphic of how churches are being planted throughout history in Thailand. As you can see, the Christian movement is accelerating!
It is the vision of the Pioneer Pastor movement that every county have at least one thriving Thai church. With your prayers and support, you have helped us to work with Thai pastors and leaders to plant 47 new churches in previously unreached counties in Thailand (plus many more in counties that already had one church). The need is still great because 75% of counties (sub-districts) in Thailand are still unreached, having no Christian churches.
I wish we had an up-to-date version of the above graphic. The graphic ends in 2016 with 5,097 churches. Since then, another 3,220 churches have been planted in the past 6 years. And the churches that do exist are larger and stronger.
Every month, new Thai Christian believers are being baptized. It is a great joy and privilege to be able to work in the fields of harvest with Thai pastors and Christian leaders. Sherri and I are grateful for your faithful prayers and support which make this mission possible.
Carol and Vicki are retiring
Carol Fare and Vicki Brown have served faithfully with Thailand NOW (formerly Thailand Methodist Mission) for many years. They began serving at Blessing Home Pattaya in 2013, and then were the first Directors at the Blessing Home Isan Center. A few years later, they initiated a new ministry for special needs children called Special Blessings Korat. We are grateful for their service and wish them happiness and good health as they remain in Thailand after their retirement on December 31.
Merry Christmas!
We and all of the Thailand NOW Team wish you and your family and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. May the Lord bless you as you have been a great blessing to us and the Thai people.
