We are please to bring you an update from Thailand this week, where we broadcast daily on four radio stations and also share 7-10 minute daily devotionals on Line (Thailand’s most popular social messaging app).
Our staff and partners report that there are currently around 50 individuals who meet weekly in nine house church groups in Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen province. These house churches also gather monthly in larger meetings for fellowship, with locations alternating so that different groups can host. We praise God that we are seeing fruit from ministry efforts and pray that it will continue to grow and multiply.
As fellowships of followers of Christ are formed, it is important that they transition to indigenous leadership. Local leaders know the local ministry context much better than the foreign missionary could ever hope, and it is important that local fellowships are not always dependent on foreign support and leadership.
In Thailand, indigenous leaders are being developed from amongst house church networks. One exciting development is that several members of these house churches have been identified as potential leaders and are considered local representatives. These local representatives are brought together several times a year for leadership training; once they are able to lead a house church without support from our church planting team, they are called local leaders.
Praise God that a local leader began leading on their own earlier this year! We hope that this is the first of many. Our ministry partner also recently brought on a youth for an internship, who has a vision to plant a house church someday.
There is much more work to be done. We are currently recording new programs to add to our program rotation and are expanding social media outreach. Join us in lifting up our work in Thailand. May even more brothers and sisters join in on the great harvest that is taking place today.