Thailand (“land of the free”) with its 70 million people is a holiday paradise for many. The chief religion is Theravada Buddhism (94%). Muslims, mainly in the South, make up 4%. Buddhism is mixed with animism and Chinese religions. 95% of the people are ethic Thais whereas the others are of Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian origin. The provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have many tribal people either born in Thailand or neighbouring countries. Thailand is a colourful and fascinating country with a huge social divide of great poverty and riches side by side.
Christianity is very weak; only 0.8% are Christians because to be Thai is seen to be Buddhist and it’s in their DNA. However the church is growing and there are many first generation Christians. However, the church’s influence has been much greater than numbers indicate. The lower class, the suffering, the poor, the hurt make up the bulk of Thai Christianity – like in the early church.
Rebecca Anderson, Gold Coast, with three beautiful ECH kids. She served there for three months.
AFA Action: In 2010 we visited Chiang Rai, as a group, with empty hands. We saw, we marvelled, we acted. For God filled our empty hands with love, power and money through the sacrifices of our supporters. We settled groups of refugees and migrant workers to give them a home, a future.
Three large acreages in different areas were purchased and villages have come into being: Tahaw and Santisuk. The most valuable land is near the Chiang Rai Airport for Burmese workers but is also to become a Gospel Training and Outreach Centre of the ELCT (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Thailand) we partner with.
We maintain ministries through evangelists and the Ethnic Children’s Home (ECH). Our main focus: the Lahu and Akha tribes. Please pray about present challenges to the work in this area.
In Bangkok we award scholarships to four theological students at Luther Seminary Thailand.
If Pastor August had not become involved in helping the decimated populations in East Timor and Banda Aceh in 2003-2004, the Asia Focus that we know today would not have had its inception. Pastor August did this with faith, and a conviction for social justice, that has led to incredible growth and impact today. God has multiplied the AFA outreach in amazing ways that I’m sure Pastor August would have never dreamt of. Small (and large!) acts of generosity, done with a sincere heart, can set change in motion and over time, move the proverbial ‘mountains’.
In this issue, we look at some of the small beginnings which have created big changes currently in the lives of hundreds of people in South East Asia and Africa. These articles are only a sample of what God has multiplied out from the faithfulness of the supporters of Asia Focus. We may feel insignificant or doubt our ability to actually make a difference for God’s Kingdom when the needs are so enormous. As I so often remind myself: “God’s got it. He’s the Master Gardener and our little seeds of faith contain the potential for towering trees.”