Exactly 25 years ago this month, our family first arrived as missionaries in Thailand! I was 28 years old with two young sons. Now with 5 kids and 2 grandkids (and another soon to arrive), Joy and I have seen a LOT of changes during the past years.
God has allowed us to minister to so many Thai people in many different settings. All the way from the far north along the Mekong river down to the rubber tree groves of the deep south, we have seen many people come to Christ and churches planted. We have been privileged to serve among rural people living in tribal villages and urban Bangkok city folks.
Thailand still has the smallest percentage of Christians in S.E. Asia with only 0.7% of the population claiming to be Christian. Statistically, it appears that Thai Christianity may be growing at a slower rate than population growth. There is still much to be done and many who have never yet heard the gospel.
Just the other day after giving a gospel tract to a man in our neighborhood, he later told me that he would like to “sign up to be a member”. He had read the gospel tract and appeared to be interested in learning more. I ask him if he had ever heard or read anything about the gospel before receiving these tracts and he said, “Never. This is the first time.”
Even after all these years we continue to meet people who still need to hear the gospel for the first time. We thank the Lord for his faithfulness to us during this past quarter century. Lord willing we can continue to serve together with you for many more years to come.
Yours for Thailand
David M. Speights