Country to Country

By Don Craft

Just over forty years ago, in 1964, the Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (PABWE) launched its first effort in global missions, sending Roberto and Barbara Gequillana as its first missionary family to Bangkok, Thailand. The Gequillanas planted Grace Baptist Church and discipled many believers who continue to serve the Lord today. Many of these first Thai church leaders began studies toward a Bible college degree in Thailand, then traveled to the Doane Baptist Seminary in Iloilo, Phillipines, to complete their studies.

In a few years, the Gequillana family was joined by Miss Lordes Jardinco (now Lordes Holmes), Delfin and Nila Ecate, Arturo and Phoebe Inion, Miss Marina Cagas, and others from the Philippines, each with a passion to begin a work in Thailand. New churches were planted in Sakon Nakhon, Bangkhen, Bangmot, and Nontaburi, and PABWE missionaries have continued founding sound, fundamental Baptist churches in Thailand.

My family had its first contact with PABWE while we were still in Thai language study. We attended Grace Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Kiatisak Sirapanadorn, and we made lifelong friends there. I had often thought to myself that I wished I had been born a Filipino so I could join PABWE and work with them.

I observed that one of the key things that helped PABWE's church plants was that the mission had very few financial resources to help buy properties and vehicles, or to provide building funds. Because there was little financial help from the Philippines, the Thai churches learned to give sacrificially from the early days, giving these churches a unique character which still exists today–they take responsibility for the ministry here, and give generously to the Lord's work.

But one resource that was an integral part of the PABWE church-planting work was the use of evangelistic English classes. Through these classes, PABWE missionaries, by default, reached the “educated” sector of Thai society–those who needed to excel in English in order to get a college degree. So by special design and blessing of the Lord, PABWE's churches were filled with born-again professionals in every field including doctors, nurses, government workers, scientists, businessmen, engineers, and college professors. And from this “educated” believer base they have trained able pastors and church workers. At the same time, they also reach the peasant farmers and tribal peoples. It is an amazing mix not found in other Thai churches.

Romprakhun Baptist Bible College and Institute

To meet the need for training in Thailand, PABWE founded a Bible school in the early 1980s, and as churches were planted, a fellowship of churches was formed. Both the school and the fellowship are named after Romans 5:2 in the Thai Bible, which speaks of the “access to royal grace” that we have in our King and Lord Jesus Christ. The fuller meaning of this phrase, “romprakhun,” implies the Lord's “royal care and love” for his subjects. They are known as the Romprakhun Baptist Church Fellowship and the Romprakhun Baptist Bible College and Institute (RBBI).

About twelve years ago, a new wave of missionaries came to Thailand from the Philippines. After language study, each has begun new churches, mostly in the suburbs of Bangkok. At the same time, a new effort was started in the northern mountain tribal areas of the Akha and Lahu tribal areas as an outreach of Grace Baptist Church. Each year, it is a delight to hear of a new church planted somewhere in Thailand. This year, Thai-trained RBBI graduates are reaching out, starting three new churches in other provinces.

Joining PABWE

During our first years in Thailand, we worked with another mission. In 1996, Gail and I sought counsel from the PABWE and Thai church leadership for direction as to how we could return and work with them here. On their recommendation, we joined ABWE, then returned to Thailand, and since then have worked in many areas of ministry together. During our first two years, we helped teach in the Romprakhun Baptist Bible College.

We also partnered with the Filipino family, Arturo and Phoebe Inion, in a brand new church-planting work in Sawang Dandin. Presently, RBBI is planning to purchase their own college campus, to be located in the Bangkok suburbs as the Lord provides funds.

We continue the Sawang Dandin Baptist church-planting effort today. In early 2004, a RBBI graduate, Miss Kaew Petchompoo, joined this ministry as a fellow worker, teaching children and ladies. We have three buildings, including an auditorium that seats about 80 or so when packed, and two houses that are used for Sunday school classes and housing.

TABWE Is Born

During the annual family camp in May, after the morning message by retired missionary Dr. Roberto Gequillana, who had returned for special celebration of 40 years ministry of PABWE, two graduates of the RBBI challenged the pastors of the churches that they are now ready to go as missionaries. It was truly a blessed time to see the Thai leaders of the churches stand and show commitment of their resources to these two missionary candidates, who had offered themselves as the first missionaries. The meeting closed as twelve Thai pastors stood together in the front of the congregation committing themselves to bringing TABWE into existence. In honor of their parent mission, PABWE, they chose the name, Thailand Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (TABWE), which also implies partnership with the PABWE and ABWE missions.

At the October workers conference, the Romprakhun Baptist Fellowship leadership presented and formally approved their plans to establish TABWE. TABWE's first missionaries to foreign countries should be commissioned and sent in early 2005, and there are plans to provide leadership for home missions in Thailand as well.

There are still many needs here in Thailand, and the work seems slow at times. Yet it is encouraging to know that the Lord is blessing and building a solid and growing fundamental Baptist Church movement here in Thailand. And it is our privilege to have a part in it.

For more information on Thailand, visit ABWE's Thailand page.

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