Church Multiplication - Train the Trainer Event in Bangkok AND A Mission Team Opportunity This Summer

Church Multiplication - Train the Trainer Event in Bangkok

Usually we post a few pictures when we have a training event, but this time we need to not post any pictures nor give names of those who participated in the Train the Trainer event in Bangkok.

In February, we had 25 veteran church multipliers from all over Asia come to Bangkok to be trained to be trainers of Church Multipliers.  This event was done as a collaboration with The River Network International, and we are grateful that they are giving away their curriculum so that churches may be planted throughout Asia.

We had participants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines come, and many of them serve in places where evangelizing and planting new churches will cause them to be persecuted and imprisoned.   Sherri and I were in the midst of God's royalty, when we were with this group of veteran church multipliers.

One church multiplier from India was a quiet, shy woman who never boasted about how the Lord has used her.  It was others who told us that she has planted over 500 churches, many of them are 6th and 7th generation churches.  And now over 30,000 people worship every Sunday at these churches.

Another Indian church multiplier was recently released from prison for the crime of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

All of the participants will be taking the materials from the Train the Trainer event back home and will translate the materials into their own languages and then use these materials to train others to plant churches in their home countries.  We already have commitments for translation of materials into 14 languages.

On the last day of training, each participant made a church multiplication plan.  We were especially touched by one of the church multipliers from Myanmar.  Myanmar is currently under civil war, and the Myanmar military, which is controlled by the Burmese ethnic majority, is attacking the minority groups in various states in Myanmar.  This church multiplier from Myanmar just two weeks before the training,  lost his son-in-law, a grandson, and three other relatives when the Burmese air force bombed his village.  Instead of hating the Burmese and the military that killed his family, this church multiplier had compassion on the Burmese people, who are majority Buddhist.  When he revealed his church multiplication plan, a large portion of the plan was to make disciples of the Burmese majority and plant Burmese churches!  God's servants like this man truly are God's royalty!

We also invite you to participate in a missions team going to Thailand in July 2026.  Jeremy and Shelby Folkerts, who serve as Mission Mobilizers for Thailand NOW, will be leading this team.

Please visit this website for information on this mission team opportunity > https://thailandnowmission.blogspot.com/

The itinerary is on that website as well as an application form.

Thailand NOW is accepting applications for a team of up to 10 people to join Thailand NOW board members Jeremy and Shelby on a mission trip to Thailand from Jul 22 - Aug 2. The cost is $2,000 per person if sharing a room with another person. $2,500 for individual rooms. This covers all team expenses including in-country lodging, transportation, and food. This does not include flights or insurance. 

Finished applications should be sent to folkerts@thailandnow.org and funds should be sent to Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758.  There is a deadline of April 22, 2026 (coming up soon) for receiving your application with a non-refundable deposit of $500.  The remaining funds can be received by June 1, 2026.

What we will do and what to expect

WHAT YOU WILL DO ON THIS MISSION TEAM

1. We will visit some of the Pioneer Pastor churches to pray with new believers and those in need.
2. We are working with Thai mission teams to do English Bible Camps at the Blessing Home Centers. We will bring crafts for the kids to do and will also lead in games. The Thai mission team will lead in singing Christian songs and will teach the Bible. We will also be engaging in basic English language conversation with the kids, to give them a chance to practice.
3. We will learn how the Thai church is growing rapidly in a multi-religious, multi-cultural context. 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

1. Heart-warming fellowship and worship: You will be working on projects side-by-side with Thai Christian brothers and sisters. As you seek to be a blessing to them, you will soon discover that they will bless you even more.
2. Housing: You will stay at hotels with air conditioning.
3. Food: Be prepared to eat Thai and other Asian foods that will be prepared for you. The foods will be made non-spicy. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary restrictions you have, but you need to list those on your application form so we can prepare. If you are a picky eater, you will want to bring snacks with you.

FLEXIBILITY:

The projects and schedules that we will follow will be flexible due to the context of ministry here.

Please e-mail us with any questions at folkerts@thailandnow.org.

YOUR DONATIONS MAKE THIS MISSION POSSIBLE

If the Lord leads you to support Thailand NOW mission, you can donate by mail, online, or with estate gifts.

Donations by mail:  Checks can be made to Thailand NOW and sent to our treasurer at Thailand NOW, P.O. Box 56, Mannsville, KY 42758

Donations online:  Visit our website at >  https://thailandnow.org/donate...

Gifts of stocks, bonds and other estate gifts: Please contact our treasurer, Terri Gabehart via email at terrigabe@windstream.net