https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuCN9XZkWCU
Please see this brief video update at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuCN9XZkWCU
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Greetings from THAILAND!! We have safely arrived back in Thailand and glad to be starting a new chapter of service to the Thai people.
Through the years I have often tried to help my N.American friends understand what it is like to share the gospel here in Thailand. Thailand has a mostly Buddhist population with less than 1% identifying as Christian. So when explaining the gospel, even the simplest thing that a Christian might say to a Thai Buddhist can easily be misunderstood. Even something as simple as “God loves you”, has little meaning for Buddhist. There are many gods, so who are we talking about? And in Buddhism, love is an attachment to be avoided. Again we see, folks can only see the truth of the gospel through the work of the Holy Spirit. But after spending some time back in N.America, I wonder if even Christians actually understand the meaning of “God loves you”. Do I even understand what God's love really means? The apostle Paul said that his motivation was the love of Christ. For the love of Christ constraineth us; 2 Cor. 5:14 Even before any of us knew anything about God, before we heard the gospel, while we were still sinners, God already loved us. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. If you feel it now or not, if you have experienced it or not, God loves You! And God demonstrated that love to all of us through Jesus. And that is the love we ALL need to know about. That is what the people of Thailand need to hear. God loves you! God is love. 1 John 4:8 Thank you for making it possible for us to continue proclaiming the good news of the gospel here in Thailand. And that good news of the gospel has always been and continues to be, God Loves You! “For God so loved the WORLD, …” How many of us would agree that 2023 went NOTHING like we thought it would? But once again, the Lord has been faithful all the way!
Spending this past year in the USA, we have seen God do many amazing things. We've accomplished much and been used by the Lord to serve others. But, we are more than ready to get back to Thailand. Lord willing, the next newsletter you receive from us, we will be back home in Thailand! Please be praying that God will give us wisdom, patience and endurance as once again we navigate the transition from one country to another. Packing, plane tickets, renewed passports, visas, transportation, finding housing, unpacking, setup, negotiating government red-tape, … and the list goes on and on. Though we have been through this process dozens of times, that doesn't make it any less daunting than before. And again, I am reminded of how important it is to keep our true priorities in focus. More than 38 years ago we first arrived as full-time missionaries in Thailand. Our driving motivation was a desire to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the Thai people. Now, decades later as we return again to Thailand, that is still our goal. Since so few folks in Thailand claim to follow Jesus, we pray for them to see and experience the love of Christ. 2 Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;... Thank you for years of standing together with us and the Thai people. Our health is still very good and our resolve is stronger than ever. We look forward to continuing to follow the Lord as we serve the people of Thailand. “Love is the root of missions.” ~ Roderick Davis Dear Praying Friends,
As we approach the holiday season, I remember that many Thai people have never heard the good news of Jesus. As a predominantly Buddhist nation, most people in Thailand do not know that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us! It's been a productive time during our temporary stay in the USA, and we have achieved a lot. Joy and I ministered at a mission church in Alaska and took advantage of opportunities to continue learning and growing. We were also able to serve family and supporters during our stay. However, we are looking forward to the opportunity to continue sharing the gospel in Thailand. Our health is good, and we are determined to continue serving. Jesus is still Lord, and many Thai people still need to hear the good news. Joy and I have spent most of our lives in Thailand. We are well-versed in the culture and fluent in the language. In many ways, Thailand is our home. Even though we are preparing to leave North America, we are taking you with us in our hearts. We are honored to represent Jesus in Thailand, and as Paul said, "the love of Christ constraineth us." We appreciate your continued prayers as we work together to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ in Thailand. “If God’s love is for anybody anywhere, it’s for everybody everywhere.” ~ Edward Lawlor During the “covid-era” in Thailand, our public outreach and church meetings were temporarily canceled. But we learned how to continue ministering to the Thai people using many different “on-line” platforms. That gave us the ability to interact with and minister to our Thai friends no matter where we were located. This has been a great help during our temporary time in the USA. We continue to meet together with Thai Christians each week. Of course, we prefer to meet in person. But these internet connections make it possible for us to evangelize and make disciples in Thailand from anywhere. Recently one of our Thai churches held a baptismal service at the ocean. Eighteen new believers boldly expressed their commitment to follow Jesus. Thai Christians often experience persecution from their families. Please pray as these believers are encouraged and discipled to continue in their walk with the Lord. In person or on-line, there are no restrictions on our ability to share the good news of Jesus. In the USA or Thailand, using English or Thai, the gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. Thank you for continuing to partner together with us for Thailand. More than 20 years ago we helped plant the Streams of Blessings Baptist Church in the Bangkok area. Since that time they have continued to grow and thrive. Under Thai leadership they have actively been involved in evangelistic outreach and planting new churches.
This is just one example of how God has used our partnership together with you for church planting in Thailand. The apostle John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” What an encouragement it is to know that the gospel continues to go forward in Thailand. But even after all of these years, the majority of folks in Thailand still have never heard the good news of Jesus. There are still towns all over Thailand that have no Christian churches. Though we praise the Lord for all that has been accomplished, there is still much to be done. Please continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into His harvest. We thank the Lord for allowing us to spend our lives serving the people of Thailand. Thank you for continuing to labor together with us in the Thailand harvest. Joy's parents, Worth & Hazel Worley, faithfully served the Lord as missionaries in Korea, Singapore and Russia for more than 50 years. They have greatly encouraged us during our many years of service in Thailand. In December 2017, Worth Worley went to be with the Lord.
Since that time, Joy's younger sister has been caring for their elderly mother. But the situation has changed and Mrs. Worley now needs 24/7 care. So, we have become her caregivers at this time. We have told the family we are committed to caring for Mrs. Worley through August. But, of course, the situation may change between now and then. Our tentative plans are to return to Thailand sometime this Fall. Please pray that we will have the wisdom to love and care for our mother in the best way possible. After all these years, we think of Thailand as our home. But we are continuing to learn that our actual home is anywhere that God leads us to serve others. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family and the people of Thailand. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. ~ Gal. 6:10 Joy & her mother, Hazel Worley O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good:
for his mercy endureth for ever. Through all these years, in easy times and hard times, when the work is moving forward or when things seemed stalled, at various locations in Thailand and during our furlough times back in the USA, our faithful supporters have stood with us and continue to stand with us as we serve the people of Thailand. Thank you. The phrase “one another” is used 100 times in the New Testament! While we are aware of our complete dependence on Christ, we also know that Jesus supplies our needs through you. We are extremely grateful for your continuing to “one another” with us. Many of our supporters have partnered together with us for more than 30 years! Others have joined hands with us at different times along this journey. But each and every one of you has been a vital link in expanding God's kingdom in Thailand. We are humbled and grateful to know that many of our supporters have sacrificially given out of a love for God and a desire that others will know Jesus. As Paul said, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” Thank you for your evident love for others. At this time we are still ministering temporarily in rural Alaska. We are overseeing a mission church here from mid-January till mid-March. Asia or Alaska, folks still need Jesus! In the past, we have often thanked those who partner together with us. But it is my hope that the Holy Spirit will give you a special, deep awareness of how grateful we are for your continued commitment to Thailand and Jesus's kingdom. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” Philippians 1:3 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
During this holiday time of year I am reminded again that there are still many who have never heard the gospel. In Thailand the department stores will make much of Christmas in order to promote sales. But Thai people do not celebrate Christmas and most of them have no idea what is being celebrated. The people of Thailand with their many idols are happy to worship kings, monks, spirits and multiple deities. But they know almost nothing about the one, true, mighty God! For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. This past year has been a fantastic time of spiritual growth and learning. And there is every indication that 2023 will offer even more exciting opportunities for serving our Lord. Please be praying for us as we have been invited to minister to a small community in S.E.Alaska. We will be over-seeing a mission church there from mid-January till mid-March. Temporarily ministering in S.E.Alaska will be an extremely different experience from all our years in S.E.Asia! No matter if we are in Thailand or N. America, we are constantly interacting with people who need to hear the good news about The Prince of Peace. Thank you for continuing to partner together with us promoting the Kingdom of Jesus! Yours for Thailand David & Joy Speights “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.” ~ Oswald J. Smith In Thailand, we experience only 3 seasons each year. The HOT season is from mid-Feb. to May. Monsoon season is between June to Oct. and then we have a “cool” season from Nov. to Feb. “Cool” is a relative term. Actually I believe Thailand's three seasons should be referred to as “Hot, Hotter & Hottest!”
But here in N.America we are now entering into the autumn time of year. I am reminded again of how important it is to closely follow Jesus as we adjust to different “seasons of life”. Since returning the the states, the Lord has reminded us of how important it is to hone our skills and focus as we continued in service to Him. It is our desire to be meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. There may be some at our age who would consider slowing down. But we want to continue reaching forth unto those things which are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The work in Thailand continues on during our temporary furlough time. Please continue to pray for the faithful Thai followers of Jesus. Pray for the new churches being planted by the Streams of Blessings Baptist Church. Pray for physical and spiritual health for the SongSiri family in Nonthaburi. Pray that Tong and Goy will come to Christ. Pray for our friends Dr. Bhirom and his wife Su to soon become followers of Jesus. There is no “furlough” when it comes to following and serving Jesus. His kingdom continues on and the fields are white already to harvest. Pray that Jesus will send forth laborers into His harvest. “God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.” ~ Hudson Taylor |
AuthorDavid Speights Archives
September 2023
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