It has been some time since my last post. It is not that I have been disinterested it is just that I have been much too busy which is a good thing. Why am I writing now? Because people are asking when I will write more, so here I am. Let me update you a little on what is happening.
Did you know that it is again the law to evangelize in Thailand? It is a law that is not enforced per se’ unless the Government decided on any day to do so. A proposal has been made to add a penalty to the law of one year imprisonment for preaching the Gospel unless the church is affiliated with the five recognized by the Thai Government. There is an exception there are a few denominations the Government has recognized a group of 5 and they are not hindered by the law because they have legal status. The Church has been in Thailand for some 60+ years and has about 100 congregations in an unknown amount of the 77 provinces (best guess is 50 or so) here in Thailand. These Congregations have an estimated 3,500 to 3,800 members.
What shall we do then? Here are the harsh facts, The church is in survival mode but we are seeking to change that even as I write this post today. Preachers are leaving the ministry in Thailand because they cannot support their families. Most of the missionaries have left, though some are still very much engaged and still have some money they raise and send to help support the preachers. The Kingdom of Thailand has a population of 67,000,000 and the Churches of Christ as stated are 3500-3800.
We have begun a new project this month. A map of the 77 provinces will be on the wall here in Phuket and we are contacting the preachers and missionaries to get a better idea of how we stand in Thailand. Once we know where all of our churches are we will compile a directory by Province where each Congregation is, how many members to determines where we need to plant churches.
Meanwhile as we are doing this I will travel to Congregations in Southern Thailand as I receive an invitation to speak. The hearts of the Thai people must be stirred up. A revival is needed and I am asking for your help. First we need Prayer, lots of prayer for the King, and his magistrates that they will not enforce the law against sharing the Good News of Jesus. However if they do indeed decide to enforce this law that all of us in Thailand will not just be strong but that we will rejoice if we are persecuted for the Lord’s sake. Perhaps this is what Thailand needs to wake up, to have our members realize that following Jesus is not a Sunday thing but a lifetime event. God is in control, so pray God provided the Workers for the harvest. The time is now, for we “must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day for the night comes when no man can work”.
So Prayer is needed for me and my Thai Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Once we know where all of our congregations are and our real numbers I will post again. As I go among the churches and visit with the preachers I am seeking to stir them up in the most Holy Faith. We are getting ready for a revival. Good things will be happening in Thailand because God is Good. What is the plan?
- Much Prayer
- Compile a Directory and a map of where our churches are located and how many members.
- Find out how the churches stand support wise
- Teach the churches better about giving of their means
- Do assessments on their talents and gifts
- Obtain short-term income if needed for those congregations
- Obtain funds to plant churches if needed
- February 2018 I will teach 100 hours at Kon Kaen Institute for Biblical Studies training preachers in English on the Pentateuch.
- May 2018 I will teach preacher students 100 hours in Kon Kaen on the Book of Acts
- Emphasis in Southern Thailand will be on evangelism and meeting with Preachers in different Provinces of Thailand to plan church plantings.
- Prayer
My hope and prayer is that you will pray with me and for the work here in Thailand. May God bless each of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. You may write me for a more detailed Strategy if you like. Or if you want to help with the work. For my Preacher friends if you would like to teach a course for a month in Kon Kaen let me know and I will put you in touch with the Director of the School.
Steve Webb, evangelist
(c)2017
Unity of the Faith 