Thailand is a wonderful country.  Many people who go to Thailand are soon captivated by the countries warm people and fascinating sights.  The population of Thailand is about 64 million people.  Thailand is made up of a series of provinces and regions.  The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok.  Nobody knows for sure the true population of Bangkok.  Like many cities in the world, Bangkok is facing a huge influx of people coming in from country areas.  It is estimated that there are between 6 and 9 million people living in Bangkok.  

Thailand is unique among Asian countries in that it has never been colonised.  The Thai people are very proud of this fact.  Thailand’s government is a combination of a democratically elected government, and a constitutional monarchy.  Thailand is known for changing governments in sometimes less than democratic ways.  It has had several military coups – the most recent being in September of 2006.  The Thai people love their king very much.  On Mondays they wear yellow-coloured clothing to symbolise their devotion to their king.  The king of Thailand is the longest serving monarch alive in the world today.  He is a good man who has ruled the Thai people with righteousness and kindness, and has personally sacrificed his life for the advancement of the Thai people.

Thailand has a number of Independent Baptist Churches throughout the country.  There are 2 in Bangkok, and a handful of others scattered in regional areas.  The Thai IB churches are not large – the largest one is located in Bangkok and has a membership of about 150.  Most Thai people are Buddhist, and Buddhism is woven into their lives from a very young age.  In the minds of many, to be Thai is synonymous with being Buddhist.  

This is obviously a difficulty that is encountered when evangelising the Thai people.  Of those that do accept Christ, many face a measure of persecution and rejection from their families.  Their decision to become a Christian is sometimes viewed as a betrayal of the family, and of Thai culture.
This fact, compounded with the nature of Thai people, which is to be non-confrontational and avoid conflict if you possibly can, means that many simply prefer to not come to Christ rather than have to deal with the troubles it can bring from their families. Then there are many Thai people who simply have never heard about Christ and have never had the opportunity to respond any way to the Gospel.  

There is a great need in Thailand to have more churches so that the Thai people can be evangelised by their fellow Thais.  Obviously Thais understand each other better than any foreigner can.  They are the ones who are best equipped to reach their own people with the Gospel.  Thailand needs more churches, and Thailand needs strong churches.  

Many of the Thai believers have only a limited knowledge of the Bible.  There is hardly any materials available in the Thai language. Pastors are mostly dedicated but limited in their own understanding. They need more teaching and materials to study in their own language. They are doing their best with what they have but they need our help and our prayers.  

Pray for us as we seek to be a blessing to the people of Thailand.  Our goal is to assist the existing churches to become stronger, and to equip and strengthen their members to be effective soul-winners in Thailand.

We want to have a sensitivity to the Thai culture, and obviously to do this, we need to be able to speak and read Thai.  Presently we are working with the good people of the Lad Prao Baptist Church in Bangkok.  We are also enrolled in language school and studying Thai language and writing.  
The longing of our hearts is to be able to help the wonderful people of the “Land of Smiles” find Christ and receive all the blessings of God in this life, and in the one to come.

 Please pray for us, that we would be able to gain some mastery of the language, and that God would open the doors before us that He would have us go through.  Please pray for the missionaries and Pastors of Thailand, that they also would be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  

May God bless the people of Thailand by revealing Himself to them through His Word and through His workers ...