Another tough nut to crack -Thailand

One can argue that Thailand is a harder nut to crack than Japan when it comes to kingdom growth. Operation World reports the percentage of Christians in Thailand is 1.1% compared to Japan’s 1.54% and also notes:

Church growth has been less than spectacular. After four centuries of Catholic work and nearly 200 years of Protestant work, Thai Christians hover around 1% of the population. Catholicism’s percentage has increased little in 50 years. Protestant growth has been very modest despite many missionaries and programmes. -Operation World, pg. 814

For all the mission organizations that set up base in Thailand, it’s baffling why the number of Christians is so low. But when one looks at the many spiritual strongholds that dominate the country such as sex trafficking, drugs, idol worship and corruption, it’s clear that Thailand needs a lot of prayer for spiritual breakthrough to occur and God’s Kingdom to spread.

Will you pray for Thailand?

Don’t Call it Reverse Culture Shock

Ever since I returned from my trips to Thailand and E. Asia, I have been feeling out of sync and just plain off. It wasn’t until I took a personal retreat last week that I was finally able to determine what was making me feel disconnected.

It would be easy to point out that I was experiencing “reverse culture shock”, which is commonly used to describe the shock missionaries experience when they reenter their home culture after having been away for so long. Sure enough, I was more sensitive to the materialistic, comfort-seeking and appearance-obsessive tendencies of our culture in Southern California. It didn’t take me long to experience the inflated sense of entitlement Americans champion while driving on the freeway, what with drivers weaving in and out and making sure you know you’re in their way (Does road rage even exist in other countries?).

Soon, I began to realize that although I had prepared myself for the sexual stronghold that holds Thailand captive and the oppressive regime that dominates E. Asia, I was blindsided by these spiritual strongholds that occupy Southern California. But the scary thing for me was feeling like I would eventually settle into this culture and accept materialism, comfort, appearance and entitlement as normal and nothing wrong (I can feel my impatience rise each time I drive here).

So what I finally realized was that this tension I was experiencing was not a result of readjusting to life back home, it was a result of not being satisfied that this was my home at all. Maybe I got a taste of what the pilgrims of old experienced when they longed for Home.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
-Hebrews 11:13-16

It’s no coincidence that on this personal retreat I feel in love with John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress. My soul resonated with each word as I inserted myself in the story as a pilgrim on a journey to the Celestial City.

So don’t call it reverse culture shock.

Call it a bad case of being Homesick.

Reflections on Thailand

Though it’s been several weeks since our trip to Thailand, it’s taken some time for me to process all that happened there for me personally. Here are some thoughts with possibly more to come:

• When I was told that I was supposed to preach in the village church two days out, it became clear I could not rely on my preparation. It was a wake-up call of how much I depend on my preparation more than the Holy Spirit whenever I preach. (In talking to some missionaries, I realize that two days notice is more than what most missionaries get when asked to preach)

• It was foolish of me to think we can go undercover, bust down doors and rescue children firsthand. We can’t and shouldn’t attempt to do anything firsthand because we could totally jeopardize the whole child rescue operation. What we can do however, is support those who are going out, investigating, and risking their lives to rescue these children.

• It was also naive of us to think we could drop in and adopt of village when it literally took an army of ministry school students to trek up the mountain to conduct a two day outreach with us. Natives are best equipped to reach their people but we can definitely equip, encourage and spur them on.

• The reality remains that the gospel alone can save souls. Even if we were to rescue children from trafficking, what good is that if they are still in bondage to sin? (This is why I appreciate ZOE’s commitment to the gospel first and foremost)

• The sense I got this year and last year with ZOE in Thailand was not looking at the missionaries and thinking, “Wow, that can never be me”, but rather, “Why not me?” And that doesn’t mean that the missionaries there are not remarkable people, because they are. What it means is that they are so personal and relatable, they really make you consider whether you could see yourself there serving alongside them.

• Finally, it became clear early on that my role was not to run ahead of the team and wait for them to catch up. It was to come behind them and help each of them catch what God was doing and realize why God had them on this team. To see God move in each of their hearts and witness His work continue to unfold back home is an unspeakable blessing and privilege. (Listen to the Kawashima’s share in “This is going to be an action-packed message!!!” to see what I mean)

This is going to be an Action-Packed Message!!!

Here is the message I shared this past Sunday from James 1:19-25, which includes illustrations from our Thailand Exploration Team with ZOE International and powerful testimonies by Fred and Irene Kawashima.

The song referred to in the message is “Just Another Man” by Timbetold.

Thailand Exploration Team Underway

Our Thailand Exploration Team will be leaving tonight. Check my twitter and our Thailand Team Blog for updates. Thank you to all who have come alongside us in prayer and support. Continue to pray for:

• Travel Mercies to and throughout Thailand
• Good health for all team members
• Connection with ZOE family and villagers
• Team bonding
• Effective witness for Christ
• Discerning God’s plan for Evergreen SGV in Thailand

“And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” -Acts 16:10 (NASB)

Soul Surfer and Thailand

I would highly encourage everybody to watch ‘Soul Surfer‘. It’s one of the few movies where you don’t have to cringe for any inappropriate content and although the shark attack scene was a little intense, it just reveals how traumatic the attack was and how amazing Bethany Hamilton’s recovery was.

One of the neat aspects of Bethany’s story was how a short-term missions trip to Phuket, Thailand through World Vision changed her perspective on her life and injury. It’s clear that God impacted her greatly through her experience in the Tsunami-devasted area of Thailand and that is something she carries with her to this day.

And if people want to question the long-term impact of that short-term missions trip, one need only look at Bethany Hamilton’s life and the worldwide influence and audience she has.

Better yet, watch the movie ;)

For more information on Bethany’s faith and story, visit www.soulsurfer.com

“Whose life is it anyways?” -Sermon on Human Trafficking in Thailand

On September 26, I was able to address our church family on what I sense should be our perspective on the human trafficking situation in Thailand based on our vision trip there. I thank Pastor Cory for the opportunity to share what the Lord has been putting on my heart for the past year. You can download the message here or listen below.

Here is the video I linked to at the end of the message:

*Be sure to hear Pastor Kenny Wada share on his impressions of Thailand on October 17.

Reflections on Thailand -”God moments”

A week has gone by since we were in Thailand and the times I wasn’t fighting jet lag, I’ve been able to reflect on what God showed us in Thailand. I found myself reading through my blog posts and recalling specific situations in which God revealed Himself to us, what I call “God moments”. This is important because it’s the reason why the four of us went to Thailand as opposed to just finding out what’s happening there through websites, videos or pictures. We wanted God to pave the way for our future ministry in Thailand.

Rare "God Moment" -Head of village is the man in yellow

Thailand Vision Trip Day 8

Day 8 meant bye bye to Chiang Mai. But we spent our last day relaxing at the Horizon Resort, biking through the botanical gardens and swimming in the pool. It was much needed R&R and we appreciate ZOE for getting us the local rate.

Next it was off with the Tang Gang to ZOE where we had lunch with the families. I ate with the worship leader and Bible school staff member who leads outreaches to the hill tribes. He is a soft-spoken man but a powerful leader with a wife and two children with one on the way. It was neat talking story with him and discovering his gift as a worship leader and talking shop about song choice and writing songs.

After we had a ping pong tournament with the kids. I met one boy who had the biggest smile. He literally smiled with his entire face, it was so precious. Seeing him laugh and smile made my day. Playing with all the children and seeing the joy and the love between the children was again very touching. And to think these children were rescued from difficult situations to have this new life in Christ. Amazing.

Missionaries vs. children :)

Thailand Vision Trip Day 7

Sawadeekap! Our prayer has been that we would recognize “God moments”, moments in which God reveals Himself either through a divine orchestration of events or a divine appointment of some sort.

We made our way down the mountain and made a timely break at a gas station, where we chatted with Seurang and Jack about what we have learned thus far from Thailand and the possibilities available. We were recommended to partner with an organization and to not simply dole out money, as is the fault of some churches. We were encouraged to take action in faith and not be afraid about making mistakes. We are blessed to have had Seurang and Jack escort us throughout N. Thailand and share about their experience in ministry!

We finally made our way to ZOE, where we reconvened with Rob and Denise and saw the new building where the ZOE family just moved in a few months ago that Rob helped design. At lunch with the other missionaries, it was neat to see so many people from different backgrounds come together to serve at ZOE. Each of their stories about how they came to ZOE was inspiring, whether it was selling one’s business to heed God’s call to ZOE or finding oneself at ZOE from the recommendation of former missionaries there.