News at ABWE
Tsunami Relief Project Update
It is now one year since the 2004 tsunami changed lives dramatically in Southeast Asia. During this time, ABWE has been privileged to partner with PABWE (Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) Filipino missionaries and Thai Christian workers in providing relief and spreading the gospel in the devastated area of south Thailand.
Many of you gave generously to ABWE’s relief effort, and there is good news to report.
PABWE ROMPHRAKHUN BAPTIST CENTER
The PABWE Romphrakhun (Grace) Baptist Center in Baan Bangniang, in the vicinity of Khao Lak and Phang Nga province of southern Thailand, was started immediately after the tsunami to provide relief supplies and counseling. The Center now has fifteen regular attendees, half of whom have made professions of faith in Christ. Reuel Lumilang, the PABWE church-planter and missionary who is now on site leading the ministry at the Center, is amazed at the response to the gospel in such a short time. Historically, it has required patient effort to sow the gospel in the hard Buddhist soil of Thailand and trust the Lord for a harvest. While comparatively small in relationship to responsive fields, the impact of the gospel on this resistant field in the wake of the tsunami tragedy is cause for rejoicing!
The Romphrakhun Baptist Center also conducts other ministries: on the Thai naval base; in a small rural elementary school in the nearby village of Tung Maprow, where most families lost their livelihoods when the hotels and resorts were destroyed; through ESL classes; and occasionally with the Moken people--sea gypsies featured in the April edition of National Geographic Magazine. For more information on the Moken people, go to http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0504/feature4/online_extra.html
COUNSELING MINISTRY
Soon after the tsunami, the need for trained counselors became apparent. ABWE Board member, pastor, and NANC (National Association of Nouthetic Counselors) representative Brad Brandt led a team of four counselors/trainers to Bangkok in March to equip fifty Thai-speaking ABWE missionaries, PABWE partners, and Thai Christian workers for Biblical counseling ministries to tsunami survivors. As the counselors have gotten to know these people, many of whom are still unable to come to grips with their losses after a year, the counseling ministry continues to expand.
LIFE CAMP
K. and A. C., ABWE missionaries in Thailand on the front line of the relief efforts, report that “450 Thai children, teens, and adults registered for the LIFE Camp (an ESL camp) in October, 2005. They came from all across the country – from the northern city of Chiang Rai, from the eastern provinces bordering Laos, and from the national capitol region in Bangkok. But the most excited group came from the province of Phang Nga on the southern peninsula of Thailand. At the 2004 LIFE camp, these southerners had never even heard the name of Jesus. Then the December tsunami flooded their lives. Ironically for some, that disaster became their salvation. Sixty Thai, Filipino, and American Christian workers staffed the camp and watered the seed of the gospel that had been sown in the hearts of the campers. One hundred and ten professions of faith were recorded during the week.”
K. and A. C. add, “What a thrill to witness one businessman, Winai, testify of faith in Christ and his firm commitment to the Lord. Winai deals in batik, the colorful, decorative material used for a variety of products in Thailand. Because of his stand for Christ, his seamstresses resigned and his suppliers refused to deliver fabric for his business.” Despite this persecution, Winai is steadfastly walking with Christ in his newfound faith.
A SOLEMN ANNIVERSARY
Many hotels and resorts in the area are working hard to open for the Christmas holiday. They expect over 10,000 foreigners to be on hand for memorial celebrations on December 26th. Many dignitaries from the Scandanavian countries will attend, including some royalty.
Reuel Lumilang, Romphrakhun Baptist Center director, is making big plans for the one-year anniversary of the tsunami on December 26th. A busload of believers from Bangkok will travel overnight by bus to join the new believers (and seekers) to help commemorate the day. PABWE will erect tents in front of the Center for a program, then have food to feed 200. They will also give away t-shirts that say "Always in our hearts!" with a heart logo and the tsunami date. The Romphrakhun (the fellowship of churches in Thailand) logo will be on the sleeve. Over 5,000 English "tsunami" tracts will be passed out to the foreign visitors, and workers also hope to place them in each resort and hotel that has been reopened. Please pray for that outreach (to be held on what will be Christmas Day in North America).
CONTINUING MINISTRY
K. and A. C. write, “All of us here stand in amazement at what God is doing. It’s not easy and there are problems, but to think that there is a nucleus for a church in Buddhist Thailand after only nine months is beyond comprehension!”
As a church-planting mission, ABWE’s goal is to conserve the spiritual fruit from the 2005 tsunami relief ministry and continue the work in southern Thailand by establishing a permanent presence and ongoing church-based ministry there. To this end, we will seek funding to purchase property and erect a permanent building for the Romphrakhun Baptist Center and its various ministries. The projected need is $250,000; this estimate will be verified early in 2006 through planning in cooperation with the ABWE Projects Office.
Tsunami relief funds have helped to resource the Romphrakhun Baptist Center ministries to tsunami survivors throughout 2005, and to reap the results reported above. ABWE will continue to assist, while working toward indigenization of the ministry over the next few years.
Will you pray about joining our Thai and Filipino partners in raising funds for the center project? Donations for the Romphrakhun Baptist Center Fund may be sent to ABWE at our Harrisburg, PA (ABWE USA) or London, ON (ABWE Canada) office, or you may give here on our website. Please mention the Romphrakhun Baptist Center Fund above when making a gift.