Since our last report in June, I have been busy preparing for several seminars on Christian leadership in the church and business that we will host later this year. We expect to have leaders 
from both Thailand and Laos attend the seminars. I have also been visiting several new churches that will be part of our group of church plants this year. Beginning this month, we will begin helping 3 new rural churches get started in virtually unreached areas of the Thai countryside besides the urban church that we are also assisting in our city of Korat. I will share with you in more detail about these 3 new rural churches in a later newsletter.
Speaking of the work in Korat, the church here has been progressing well. The growth that has taken place reminds of the process of a planted seed growing into a mature tree. At first, there is no obvious growth but, under the surface of the soil, life is beginning to come forth. Then green shoots appear, breaking through the soil and reaching for the light and warmth of the sun. As the young tree continues to grow and flourish, fruit and flowers are borne that are a blessing to all. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 teaches us that, as workers in God's harvest field, our job is to plant and 
water but God gives the growth. Last year, our first year of the church in Korat, was a time of planting. Pastor Yod and I spent much time in prayer, building relationships with people in the community, and declaring in faith the vision of what we felt God wanted to accomplish in our city through this new church. During this first year, there were hardly any tangible results from our efforts and we had to fight thoughts of discouragement. But in this second year, the green shoots have begun to appear! Beginning the year with no members, we have seen 3 discipleship groups 
established in the past 7 months and we are meeting regularly with several other families and individuals who are interested in learning more about Christ. One of the new discipleship groups is comprised of students from a local university. Beginning this month, we will begin holding an informal Sunday afternoon worship service on the university campus for the students and some of our other members. Pastor Yod and his wife Mu have done a great job of building a family-like relationship with these new converts and mentoring them in their faith and we recently 
baptized our first member! We are excited to see God beginning to move in answer to our prayers and are expecting to see even more green shoots appear in the second half of this year!
from both Thailand and Laos attend the seminars. I have also been visiting several new churches that will be part of our group of church plants this year. Beginning this month, we will begin helping 3 new rural churches get started in virtually unreached areas of the Thai countryside besides the urban church that we are also assisting in our city of Korat. I will share with you in more detail about these 3 new rural churches in a later newsletter.
Speaking of the work in Korat, the church here has been progressing well. The growth that has taken place reminds of the process of a planted seed growing into a mature tree. At first, there is no obvious growth but, under the surface of the soil, life is beginning to come forth. Then green shoots appear, breaking through the soil and reaching for the light and warmth of the sun. As the young tree continues to grow and flourish, fruit and flowers are borne that are a blessing to all. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 teaches us that, as workers in God's harvest field, our job is to plant and 
water but God gives the growth. Last year, our first year of the church in Korat, was a time of planting. Pastor Yod and I spent much time in prayer, building relationships with people in the community, and declaring in faith the vision of what we felt God wanted to accomplish in our city through this new church. During this first year, there were hardly any tangible results from our efforts and we had to fight thoughts of discouragement. But in this second year, the green shoots have begun to appear! Beginning the year with no members, we have seen 3 discipleship groups 
established in the past 7 months and we are meeting regularly with several other families and individuals who are interested in learning more about Christ. One of the new discipleship groups is comprised of students from a local university. Beginning this month, we will begin holding an informal Sunday afternoon worship service on the university campus for the students and some of our other members. Pastor Yod and his wife Mu have done a great job of building a family-like relationship with these new converts and mentoring them in their faith and we recently 
baptized our first member! We are excited to see God beginning to move in answer to our prayers and are expecting to see even more green shoots appear in the second half of this year!
Our goal for this year is to establish 5 discipleship groups with at least 5 members in each group. Our hope is to reach this goal by the end of the year and begin an "official" Sunday worship service in the early part of next year. Please agree in prayer with us to reach this goal, and particularly for Pastors Yod and Mu, as we work together in obedience to Christ's command to make disciples and see the Kingdom of God established in the city of Korat.
With much love in Christ,
Chad and Nan Cocran
