Partner with Merge....in Roi Et, Thailand!

 

MERGE, a Covenant ministry which trains and sends teams from US churches, has long desired to connect with the work of the Covenant in Thailand. This has become a reality with our first team in June 2024—a team Ruthie facilitated, along with church leadership in Roi Et. Bill Johnson and his son, Lucas Johnson, were our first Merge team, coming from Salem Covenant Church in MN!

They worked hard—visiting 3 different schools, with a programs we helped them design, teaching English and sports! These schools, many poorly-resourced, welcome input and provide opportunities to share our faith in this Buddhist context. They have also opened opportunities for Thai church members to develop relationships with teachers. On this trip our Thai friends were able to answer questions for some teachers who were genuinely interested in their faith. 

Prayer Requests

We're thankful for the chance to serve--and we are so grateful for the team of church leaders we have here.  If you'd like to hear more about any of these stories, please feel free to write. As always,  Peter & Ruthie Dutton

As you pray...   Praise We're still so thankful for God's grace in our Thailand Covenant Church.   We're grateful times of ministry both Ruthie and I have experienced in the last days--in India and Laos and Taiwan!  Thank you Lord! Pray Pray for planned outreach and ministries in the upcoming December/Christmas season.  Pray that our people would reach out effectively during this season. Pray for Pastor Siem and our other Thailand Covenant Church leaders...that they would have the courage, vision, and humility to lead our church in the directions God has for us... Recap We're still raising funds for some significant building projects here! Family Size Cabins -- $8,000 each Grace Center Worship Hall -- $45,000 Total Walls $15,000 Tile Floor $5,000 Windows & Doors $15,000 Lighting $10,000 Grace Center Dormitory -- $99,000 If you'd like more regular updates, please visit our Facebook pages or our blog..... Or if you can help bring some of the above projects into reality through a small gift.... Click here  to give online and put a note on your gift of “Thailand Camps”.     Ruthie's Facebook Peter's Facebook Peter & Ruthie's Blog

Vision: A Flagship Church

Vision:  A Flagship Church  So...how do you feel about church buildings?  Necessary?  Or a distraction from the real work of building the church? If you see them as distraction...you are in line with the ministry philosophy that I, and most of our Covenant missionaries, have had for the last 48+ years!  House churches--the core of the body of Christ--aren't they the key component in rapid church growth all over the world?

Something like this?  One idea from Siem, our denominational chair....

At one point, our Covenant denomination in Thailand counted more than 200 house churches throughout the Isaan region of Thailand.  Today?  We're down to less than 10!  What happened?  Attrition, disappearance, splits...and consumption by other church groups.  These are some of the downsides of house churches. On the other hand, Ruthie and I have witnessed, first-hand, some of the corrosive effects that often accompany building the church by building church-buildings.  Especially if the churches are... Built too soon!...Before there's a strong group of believers. Before the believers themselves see the need, gather funds, and initiate a building program. Have conflicted ownership!... Before there's a sense of shared mission, shared ownership--not where the church land is owned by any one person or family.  Without a clear mission consensus! ... That is, before a consensus and identity develops in a group...and a sense of God's will and blessing rests on the group.

Or like this?--Another vision our Thai team has for the church--able to seat about 100 people, with a good connection to our country surroundings outside the city of Roi Et.

So...why now do we want to build a church building?  In most cases house churches were a good start..and played a critical role.  But, in rural Thailand, homes are small and limit growth.  In this case, we believe the time is right: Of the estimated 1.5 million baht ($30,000) needed, we already have raised about half of that--from our people here in Isaan...and one gift from a church in the U.S.  We have a small chapel deep inside our camp ground; but what we need is a church building which faces out to our Buddhist neighbors--located at the entrance to this facility.   Will you to pray?  Pray that plans and dreams for outreach in this community will be enhanced, at that this new facility will play an important role in seeing them come to reality!

Taiwan--Thailand Cooperation

Taiwan-Thailand Cooperation We've been blessed, these past couple years, by our Taiwanese Covenant  brothers and sisters--especially Vernon Wu, Edward, and Simon!  Pastor Vernon and ministry teams have come twice now for special meetings here in Roi Et. And now we are beginning further cooperation--in both spiritual and monetary terms.  Starting next month is a 16-week training program--"The Life of a Disciple"--used extensively by churches in Korea and Taiwan.  This will be taught and facilitated by a Thai-Chinese pastor/friend currently being trained by closed circuit from Taiwan.

Further, Pastor Vernon has introduced us to several members of his church with expertise in agriculture and marketing.  Together, we are beginning a project we hope will grow into a large vegetable-planting and outreach effort to supply markets in Bangkok--and reach many in our Isaan area with the good news of the gospel.    4 of us took a trip to see vegetable planting, greenhouses, and ministry around Taipei.  We came back...fired up and jazzed about these new ministry possibilities.  Please pray for Siang and me (in Roi Et), Edward and Simon (in Taiwan) who will be spear-heading this effort for our people here!

Flood Relief...in Thailand's Dry Northeast

Flood Relief...in Thailand's Dry Northeast  If you have given to Covenant World Relief...we want to thank you!  So many times, these past years, CWR has stood with us mitigating disasters and bringing a better life to friends in Laos and Thailand. This past September Isaan experienced its worst flood in 30 years.  Fortunately, there was little loss of life!  But, large areas in Roi Et and surrounding provinces are just now getting out from under flood waters--months after the deluge.   We worked with several other churches in Isaan to bring relief and distributing rice to affected areas.  On behalf of our Thai brothers and sisters... thank you!

In the Heart of Isaan No. 89 Oct. 15, 2019 News from Peter & Ruthie Dutton

Thailand-Taiwan Co-operation!  We'reworking with our Taiwan Covenant Church to....hopefully....see gardens and veg like this marketed in Isaan and Bangkok!