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History in the Making

By Annie Langston

July 2006, Thailand

It began with a simple “Good morning.” But the resulting responses were an indication that an unusual meeting had just begun.

“Jo Sun!”

“Magandang Umaga!”

“Sawasdee Krap!”

These were the greetings ABWE missionary James Langston received as he welcomed members, which included Chinese, Thais, and Filipinos, to this strategic meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, the last week of July.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring together pastors and missionaries from China, Thailand, and the Philippines who are vitally interested in ministry in Thailand. Grace Kwok, a woman from one of our ABWE-planted churches in Hong Kong, has felt God calling her to be a full-time missionary to northern Thailand. She, along with four members of the Hong Kong/ABWE Missions Center (sending agency), traveled to Thailand specifically to check out the area in which she wants to minister, and to learn more about the “how-to’s” of sending cross-cultural missionaries. For this information, they looked to Filipino missionaries who have successfully crossed cultures and established churches here in Thailand. Last week’s meeting was arranged to facilitate discussion of their concerns and answers to their questions. It brought together Thai pastors, Filipino missionaries (PABWE) and Chinese leaders, with ABWE representatives to facilitate the interaction.

It was thrilling to hear the questions, watch the interaction, and help them grasp the meaning of partnership in the ministry of mission movements. PABWE missionaries have worked successfully in Thailand for over 40 years and are a valuable resource for knowledge about church planting in this country. The Thai leaders, of course, can give cultural guidance about the needs of the people here and how best to reach them. The Chinese, many of whom have been saved out of Buddhist backgrounds, bring with them enthusiasm and fresh ideas for sharing Christ in this needy and predominately Buddhist country. Perhaps the most exciting statement made in the meeting was one stated emphatically by Pastor Kwan from Hong Kong. “We are all part of the world-wide ABWE family—let’s partner together in sharing Christ with needy people here in Thailand.”

Pray for these three different groups: the Thai pastors, the Filipino missionaries, and the Hong Kong church leaders. Pray for God to grant them wisdom as they navigate new waters that can sometimes be a bit stormy with cultural and linguistic challenges.

Pray that Hong Kong believers will catch the vision and share in the passion, causing the missions movement from Hong Kong to continue to expand.