A couple of weeks ago, Pat and I went to a retreat for our international students. As most of you know, in addition to our Thai language academic programs, we also have an English language M.Div. program. It attracts students from Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, as well as Thailand. We have 28 students presently enrolled.
At the retreat the students were asked to give a bit of background on themselves and tell why they had come to study in the M.Div. program. Most of them talked about wanting to return to their countries where they would work in established churches and Christian schools or be involved in evangelism and church planting. All of them touched me, but I want to briefly mention some of what three of them said.
One of the students expressed a great desire to see her country become Christian. To that end, she and some other Christians there had covenanted to pray for the next five years for God's Spirit to bring revival and salvation to that land.
Another student who is from Thailand expressed a desire to become a missionary to Cambodia. She is burdened for those people – who even more than Thailand – have little opportunity to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The third student is a minority ethnic group in Myanmar (Burma). Some in this people group have been fighting for their independence from the central government for many years. They believe that they have been systematically abused by the central government. The young man told us that when he graduated from high school, what he wanted to do was to become a revolutionary and join his people in the fight. However, God led him to become a different kind of revolutionary – one who proclaims the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ. He still has a great burden for the political struggles of his people and he wants to help them, but he will complete his studies with us and return to them as a minister of the Gospel.
It is because of your support through International Ministries of our work in Thailand that we are here helping to prepare these young people and over 100 others (in all of our programs) for future ministry in Southeast Asia and beyond.This is the time of the year that American Baptist Churches receive the World Mission Offering which provides a significant amount of support for IM's missionary work in Thailand and around the world.
If you have not already done so, we encourage you to consider giving generously to the 2006 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.
2006 World Mission Offering
International Ministries, ABC
PO Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-9896
Enclose a note that indicates your contribution is "WMO - For the support of LaMon and Pat Brown in Thailand."Once your tax-deductible gift has been processed, you will receive a receipt in the mail.
It is also possible to give electronically by going to: http://www.internationalministries.org
Thank you for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and your financial support.
Yours for Christ in Thailand (and Southeast Asia),
LaMon and Pat Brown
P.S. Please remember that if you want to contact us you should email us at lamonandpatb@yahoo.com