Boondeekhun's Bulletin

The Ban Dara church held a Christmas event on the 22nd December with almost 70 people attending. There were songs, games, gifts and a gospel message, followed by food and ice-cream. Everyone had a wonderful time and it was such a good way to build relationships with people in the local community.

Up in Maesan, Pastor Newton has been volunteering at the local primary school and he invited all the children and teachers to the church one day to have a look around, find out about what goes on and the history of the Church. Also in January he ran special events for Children's Day and Chinese New Year.

In Wang Daeng they held a football tournament for Children's Day with many local teams competing. During the lunch break there was a Christian cartoon movie showing as well as games and a short talk. Then on the 26th January they had a wedding - the second in the brief history of the church and the first in the new building.

On 8th January we took some of our members to an event at the annual city fair. The provincial council had offered the main stage to the Christians of Uttaradit for 3 hours! We took the theme of Faith, Hope and Love and there were worship bands, dance groups, ten-minute talks and even a short drama. At one point the Provincial governor even joined the audience and posed for photos with the Uttaradit pastors. Apparently, he really enjoyed it and we have been invited back next year!

Apart from a brief few days in Chiang Mai over the New Year break, we have been super busy of late. We have even been on a trip to our former church in Nakhon Srithammarat, South Thailand to bring encouragement and help them set up plans for the future.

Over the past couple of months we have also had several visitors from the UK: from Oban in Scotland; to Lower Earley in Reading; to Teddington in London. These visits are always such a blessing as we take people to visit and pray for the folks they have been praying for over the years. The Lower Earley Team also helped us to put on an evangelistic Valentine's Day service at the Wang Daeng Church on the16th of February. The church was packed with the Wang Daeng and Ban Dara congregations combining, as well as quite a number of visitors.

One major event not mentioned yet, was the 'Bless Uttaradit' crusade, which took place on the 23rd and 24th January. On both evenings well over a thousand people gathered to worship and to hear Rev Ryan Aitken bring God's word. Many people came forward to accept Jesus and many others were healed. On the second evening the Wang Daeng youth gathered at the front for prayer, rededicating their lives to Jesus and to each other - it was such a precious moment. The Ban Dara church took along ten neighbours, all of whom were touched by the love they encountered and several have been along to the church since.

Some sad news we have to tell is that, for personal reasons, Moses and Mary will be leaving us at the end of March. We want to express our heartfelt thanks for all their hard work and dedication in pastoring the church in Wang Daeng over the past three years. They will be returning to Chiang Mai Province for a sabbatical year in their home village. We wish them God's richest blessings and pray that God will continue to guide and use them for the furtherance of His kingdom. We will be holding a special farewell and thanksgiving service for them on the 6th of April.

Please pray for the follow up of people who came to the Christmas events, the Bless Uttaradit Crusade and the Valentine's outreach.

Pray for Pastor Newton in Maesan as he encourages the members to study God's word and be involved in ministry.

Pray for Areerat in Ban Dara - for wisdom and strength as she disciples the many new believers there.

Pray for a new location for the growing Ban Dara congregation as current building is no longer fit for purpose.

Pray for Moses and Mary, that they would finish well and that God would bless and guide them in their future.

Pray that we can find the right person to take over the pastoral role, and also for a youth worker in Wang Daeng.

Blessings in Christ

Wit & Helen