January/February 2011 newsletter

Upon returning to Thailand in January after almost 4 months in the US, Nan and I began re-establishing contact with our network of pastors and leaders and making ministry plans for this new year. Words cannot express how excited we were to hear about all that God is doing among our most recently planted churches! Each of the churches is continuing to grow in faith and in numbers. One church in TaBo district of UdornTani province has grown from a handful of believers to almost 60 members in just 18 months! Just as importantly, the members are becoming strong and active disciples of Christ, assisting in their churches' outreach to their communities. Another of our churches in nearby BaanPhue district of UdornTani province has developed a strong team of leaders. I remember meeting many of them for the first time 3 years ago when they had just recently come to Christ from backgrounds of prostitution, witchcraft, and idolatry. It is such a joy now to see them strong in their faith and serving as examples to the newer believers! The local pastor, Wijitra (pictured above on right), has done an excellent job of mentoring these leaders and several of them are now assisting in the work of teaching new converts and overseeing ministry activities in different areas of the district.



In February, Nan and I visited another of our more recently planted churches BaanMaiNaNiyom (pictured here), a rural area near our town of Korat. We began working with this church in January of last year when we were invited to help establish a new church there. On my first visit, I found a small group of struggling believers meeting in a partially built cinder-block building with no windows, electricity, and an unfinished roof. I am amazed now at the transformation that has taken place in just a year's time. The building has been completely finished and a small pavilion added for the children's Sunday School. More importantly, there is a dramatic difference in the level of faith of the believers. From the feelings of faith and despair that I first sensed among them, they are now joyful in their faith and excited about their progress. The membership has grown to around 30 members and several of them are beginning to take on leadership roles in the church.

Thanks again for your faithful prayer and support that makes our work here possible. God
bless. - Chad, Nan, and Sam