A Newsletter from Good News for the Shan Ministry in Northern Thailand.

We are in the middle of the rainy season here in Northern Thailand. Some days are both wet and gray, but the rain also brings something good – the temperature drops a little, and nature becomes greener and fresher. This is also how we experience our ministry: even though we face challenges, we also see how God allows new life to spring forth.

In this newsletter, we want to share some powerful testimonies, baptisms of both young and old, and how discipleship training creates ripple effects far beyond what we ourselves teach. We will also give you a little glimpse into some of the practical challenges we are facing, and ask for your continued prayer support.
 

We hope you will take the time to read – and be inspired by what God is doing here in Northern Thailand.

Watch a presentation video from the ministry

A Life Transformed by God’s Grace – The Story of Sei

(the picture above, on the way up to Sei’s house)

I would like to begin this newsletter with the story of one of our believers.

Sei and his wife received Jesus in November 2021. He experienced a radical conversion – as he had been deeply addicted to both alcohol and drugs. Yet within just two weeks, he was free from withdrawal symptoms and completely changed. He eagerly joined our meetings and even led several of his friends to Jesus.

During the first year, everything went very well, and he was full of zeal. But he also had bad friends, and drugs are easily available. He slipped a little but managed to get back up again. About a year and a half ago, however, he fell once more – this time harder – and his life started to spiral downward. He not only began using again, but also selling. His wife and their two daughters, aged six and seven, went through a very difficult time. The girls attend our Saturday school, and we could see in their faces that things at home were not easy.

This summer, we visited the family

We had tried to visit them several times before, but often Sei would run away. This time, however, we met him. He looked worn out, hadn’t cut his hair in a long time, and showed signs of having been in a fight.

I sat down and spoke with him. I strongly felt that God gave me these words:

“Many times you think that you will change tomorrow. But stop thinking that way. You must make a decision now – don’t postpone it any longer. Think about your family, especially your daughters and their future.”

I also said to him: “If you don’t make a decision today, something worse might happen – like being arrested by the police and ending up in prison.”

Two days later, he had gone out to buy pills. On his way back, he was stopped by the police with many pills in his possession. Normally, this would have meant prison, but since it was his first time, they let him go – although they did take his motorcycle. We see this as a small miracle. This incident sobered him up and became a turning point.

This happened in June. Since then, he has faithfully attended every Sunday service and Wednesday discipleship training. He has left drugs behind, and life is much better for him and his family. We can see a new joy in his children and his wife. He has even shared his testimony in the church and is eager to share Bible verses. Please pray for him – that this change will last and that he will not fall back again.

Five People Baptized This Summer

The picture above is from a baptism day in our church,
when an elderly woman was baptized.
More than 40 people, both young and old, were gathered on this day.

In addition to the baptism we wrote about in June, four more people were baptized in July and August.

Almost two weeks ago, two teenage girls were baptized. They wanted to receive Jesus and follow Him. Mawkkham carefully taught them about salvation and the meaning of baptism. They stayed overnight at our home from Saturday to Sunday so she could spend time with them. The two girls are a sister and a daughter of members of our church. It is wonderful to see people of all ages receiving Jesus and being baptized – from a grandmother over 80, to a man in his 30s, to teenage girls who desire to follow Him.

In July, a grandmother of about 80 years old was baptized. She had received Jesus well over a year ago, but due to frail health she had not had the opportunity earlier. We baptized her outside her home by pouring water over her. She was very happy to finally be able to do this.

In August, a woman in her late 60s was baptized. She has been a Christian for over a year but lives almost an hour away, which has made it difficult for her to come. After several attempts, we were finally able to make it happen almost three weeks ago. She had long desired this and was overjoyed when she could finally be baptized.

DTS-team Visiting

In July, we had a visit from a small DTS team of four people from Canada, which was a great blessing.
They helped both with the Saturday school and in teaching new believers.
Their ministry especially strengthened our local discipleship training on Wednesdays.

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Discipleship Passed On

One of the most important areas we focus on now – as we have also mentioned in earlier newsletters – is discipleship training for the believers. Many of those who came to faith started with almost no knowledge of the Bible. After a little over two years as Christians, they have a foundation, but their knowledge is still limited.

Over the past six months, we have therefore put more emphasis on teaching through stories from the ministry of Jesus and challenging them to retell these stories. This has inspired them and helped them to remember and share more than before. When a couple from Switzerland visited us in June, they helped us get started with this way of teaching, and it has been a great blessing.

We are especially thankful to see that two couples have become eager to pass on what they are learning and we have two more couples that join us in the training. Every Wednesday we have our regular discipleship training evening. What they receive there, they now share further in house groups and other gatherings throughout the week.

This is exactly what we long to see: that God’s Word and sound biblical principles are not only learned, but also lived out and passed on to new places. Discipleship in practice – and we are seeing the fruit!

Join Us and Stand With Us

We are grateful for everyone who stands with us in prayer and support. Our ministry spans a wide range – from Saturday school for children, to humanitarian aid for the poor and for refugees from a war-torn Myanmar, to support for migrant workers and the sharing of the Good News of Jesus.

All of this comes at a cost, and we depend on having others join us in standing together. If you would like to contribute, you can give a one-time gift or become a regular monthly supporter. Both make a big difference and help us reach even more people.

Thank you for considering standing with us – together we can bring hope, help, and the gospel to people who truly need it.

You Can Support/Donate in This Way 

By PayPal (use this link).  
Read more about how you can support here

🕊️ Prayer Subjects

  • Thank God for Sei’s transformation – pray that he will have the strength to remain firm in his freedom and that his family will be kept in joy and peace.
  • Pray for the new believers in the church – that they will grow in their faith and gain the strength to pass on what they are learning.
  • Thank God for all those who have recently received Jesus – both young and old – pray that they will gain a strong foundation in the faith.
  • Pray for the house groups and the discipleship training – that God’s Word will not only be received, but also lived out and spread further.
  • Pray for strength, wisdom, and perseverance for us as a family in both ministry and practical life here.

Blessings!
Good News for the Shan team


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