Dear Family and Friends,

The term is over and everybody passed!! Pat had two students who were really struggling in English, but they pulled through. I had two or three students near the fail line going into the Church History final, but they also passed.

Two events stick out in my mind this term. The first relates to a third year student named Wirayut. He came to visit me for the second time to talk about his future ministry. He is trying to understand whether he should go into pastoral ministry or evangelism-missions. He wanted to know how I made my choices. We talked for a long time and then prayed together. Academically he is near the top of his class. He has another year and a half to go before graduating in the four year B.A. program. I hope that as you read this you will pause and pray for Wirayut that he will remain firm in his determination to serve God and that the Spirit will lead him into the area of ministry that best suits his gifts and training.

The other event occurred a little over a month ago. Pat and I went to visit a Lahu Baptist Hostel for a Sunday service. Lahu language children and young people come out of the mountains to live in this hostel in order to attend Thai language grammar and high schools in the city of Prao. Two of our B.A. students (also Lahu) are assigned to work there on the weekends.

The head of the school asked me if I could do Communion. I said that I would be glad to. It seems it had been two or three years since they had had an ordained person there to lead Communion. (In the context of the Church of Christ in Thailand only ordained persons give Communion.)

The service started about 45 minutes late. Why? It was raining and they had invited another group to join us. The other group only had one or two pickup trucks to bring in young people and adults from a neighboring village, so it simply took a long time to get everyone there. But in spite of the nasty weather, the place was literally full.

After a while of singing which included some special music from first the hostel children and then the hostel young people, I preached a simple message on what friendship with Jesus means. Then we had Communion together. It was a wonderful day for me and I trust for those who attended as well.

Pat and I would like to remind you that September and October are the months in which our sending agency, American Baptist International Ministries, conducts its annual World Mission Offering in order to finance its overseas ministries. Typically, remissions from the World Mission Offering account for approximately 25% of IM's operation budget. Hence, we are highly dependent on the financial support provided by faithful American Baptist supporters and friends in order to finance the ministries that we and our colleagues have been commissioned to carry out.

You may give to the 2003 World Mission Offering in one of the following ways:

1. If you attend an American Baptist Church, the best way that you can support us is by giving to your church's collection of the annual World Mission Offering. Most American Baptist Churches take this offering in September or October. If your church does not normally promote this offering, we would encourage you to talk with your pastor about the possibility of adding the World Mission Offering to your church's schedule.

2. If you are not a member of an American Baptist Church, or you prefer to make a direct contribution to our ministry, then send your gift to the following address.

2003 World Mission Offering
American Baptist International Ministries
PO Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-9896

Enclose a note that indicates your contribution is "For the support of LaMon and Pat Brown in Thailand." Once your gift is processed, you will receive a receipt in the mail for income tax purposes.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Yours in Christ,

LaMon Brown