Funding Letter for January 2008 Thailand Outreach

To My Friends:

For several years, I have been working with a small mission society involved in outreach in Thailand primarily to the Hmong people. On January 13th, I will travel to Thailand with a couple of men help rebuild a church that was destroyed in a heavy rainstorm.

Just a quick history: Neighboring Laos is a communist country with a very small, isolated Christian population. People from Laos can receive a three-day visa to Thailand twice monthly to trade and do business. The local Hmong Christian congregation built a church building immediately on the border between the two countries and on the trail where Laotians cross into Thailand. The first thing seen is the cross of the church. After trading, the leaders of the community invite people to bible study to learn more about Jesus.

This Hmong congregation is small even by Thai standards and this church was built quickly and with very limited funds. About three years ago, there was a heavy rainfall and because there was no landscaping or terracing, the church washed off of the mountain and was destroyed. The local shaman said, “see, my demons are stronger than your God.” We are going to help the local Hmong congregation rebuild the church.

This will be my nineteenth trip to Thailand, and until now I have not only paid my own expenses, but have also contributed wherever I could to help in the evangelism effort. Since my retirement last year, things have changed. Although I will be able to cover my own travel expenses, I cannot contribute to the construction of the church building and am asking for your help. The local Hmong congregation has managed to raise about $1000, which is a significant amount for them, but it will not go far in the construction. Our contact in Chiang Kham told us that this will get the ground in order and maybe the start of a foundation but not much more. By my calculations, we will need another $4000 to build the church. Not a lot to build here, but in Thailand it is a lot of money.

Our goal is not to build the building but rather to come alongside this small congregation in their outreach effort so that they will know that as Christians, we stand together in helping to advance God’s kingdom

It has also been explained to me that when I have paid for all expenses for a mission trip, I have been denying others who cannot travel the opportunity to be a part of this mission to Thailand.

For these reasons I am asking for help in rebuilding this church. We can use one or two more people to go with us to Thailand for the building. We also need financial help in the purchase of materials to actually do the construction. Please help and send any donations to the Oakbrook church office.

Yours in Christ,

Mike
Isaiah 6:8