I have been living in Chiangrai, North Thailand, since August this year and learning about ministry with the Mien people, a people group that is new to me. My husband, Shingo and I, have been visiting Mien churches in Thailand and getting to know the local leaders and the situations in the different villages. We have also been participating in a weekly Sunday afternoon Bible training for believers that gather to study theology in a more accessible way.
I have been impressed by the commitment of the local believers who come for three hours every Sunday afternoon. Some of the participants do not have much experience in studying as they grew up helping the family with rice fields and other agricultural work. However, they really wanted to learn more about God’s Word and committed to come no matter the difficulty.
Through the study of God’s Word in a class setting, there have also been opportunity to talk about basic foundations of the faith, such as understanding that our salvation comes through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, only by God’s grace and mercy, and that it is not by our own works. Through these conversations, we realized that some participants have not yet understood the gospel even though they have been going to church for years.
It reminded me that as believers, we need to keep sharing the gospel, not only outside the church but inside the church as well. Sometimes the people close to us in the church who come regularly and serve in various ways, may not know what it means to receive God’s grace and live in the joy and peace of the Lord.
Please pray together that more people can hear God’s Word and truly believe in Him, through relationships built in all kinds of settings.
Cherlyn Oh
