Church of God
Asia & the Pacific News
Thailand

THAILAND

Newsletter
October 1996
The Church of God in Thailand

For Thailand, praise the Lord by grace. The door is wider opened for evangelism. Two years ago a government television channel offered 30 minutes for Christian broadcasting. And it has been going on well since. Recently, another cable television that belongs to a private television network company offered one channel for Christian program, the whole use of 24 hours a day for free. This cable TV. company broadcast through satellite C-ban and KU ban technology for both in Thai and / or other languages. The only problem arises now is how we can produce qualified program adequately each day for years. (The first term is 3 year and after evaluation then, it will continue another 17 years on the second term). The immediate inadequate and shortage for us, Protestant churches, is both qualified personnel to manage or produce the program and financial support. The great opportunity for Christian television broadcasting has come. How we can take and do it for the most and the best out of it, is another question.

Asian Mission Congress II (AMC II)

United Missions Farm (UMF)

• Training Center is now being developed to be more useful as a retreat center, also where the individual, family, and groups meeting are able to use the facilities.

• Social welfare is well recognized by our neighbors people in the villages nearby familiar with our Young Friend Project. ( The project for children in cooperation with "Child of Promise", The Church of God U.S.A.) . The evangelistic outreach programs are going on peacefully through these children of the project.

• Agriculture is one of our self - support projects.
  There are now three families work very hard in the farming section to produce crops and local fruits. Even though the farming equipment is rather old type and more primitive, we hope that in the near future they will be getting better and improved.

THAILAND

The Church of God in Thailand has been very busy with activities during the past six months. Among these, two youth camps were conducted during the summer. The first one emphasized spiritual enrichment and stewardship and was conducted at the Lumplaimart Church of God.

At this eight-day camp, the young people who came from several different parts of the country spent time together in Bible study, leadership training, and fellowship.

The second camp, called the First English Youth Camp, was held at UMF Christian Center, Hanka. This ten-day camp emphasized the total growth of body, mind, and spirit. It was also designed to help the youth prepare for a future international youth camp.

Our annual retreat for pastors and their families was conducted at Sukhothai Church of God, April 22-26. Even though the church there has only a small facility, the members of the congregation were very generous hosts. We were all very pleased and blessed by this special time of retreat together. Sukhothai Church is now planning to build a full sanctuary. Please pray for this effort.

Praise the Lord that the Church of God in Hanka town has a new pastor, Pleon Chareonsri. He and his family have moved from the north with a vital vision to do pastoral work and to pursue further education in order to upgrade his ability to serve the Lord.

The Church of God in Bangkok have a goal to reach 150 new converts by the year 2000. They are also cooperating with the total target of 300,000 new believers set by the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand in its national vision for the year 2000. The church in Bangkok also plans to build a new facility when the target of 150 new converts is reached. We plan to have 600 new believers in the new building by 2006.

The Evangelical Fellowship of Asia (EFA) will conduct its Second Asian Mission Conference in Thailand, September 22-26, 1997. The Church of God will cooperate in this significant meeting. Please pray for us.