Answers to Prayer

1 Rising interest and more church growth in the 1990s could signify an impending breakthrough

2 Christian radio, the JESUS film, drama and a growing prayer movement are all giving a new level of spiritual response

Challenges for Prayer

1 Thailand means Land of the Free because it successfully retained its freedom when surrounding countries were colonized by Western powers

2 The rottenness at the core of Thai society can only be fully excised and cleansed through a turning to God

3 The growth of the Church has been disappointing

a)The Church of Christ in Thailand, the largest Protestant denomination

b) The Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand

c) High standards of holiness in church life

d) A true indigenization of the Thai Church

e) Ethnic Chinese churches have multiplied, especially in Bangkok, and Chinese Christians are a significant minority in the Church

f) Revival. Increased wealth is leading to a complacency and materialism

g) New spiritual vitality and vision

4 The lack of Thai leadership in the churches is a contributory factor to the slow growth, failures of rural churches and lack of vision

5 Missions have considerable freedom for ministry despite a quota system which somewhat restricts the number of visas

a) The calling, entry and preparation of new workers to this exacting field

b) Safety

c) Effective partnership with Thai believers in strategic outreach

d) The major agencies

Geography

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Area 513,115 sq.km. A fertile and well-watered land bordering on Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

Population (2000) 61,399,249 +0.93%AGR

Capital Bangkok 10 mill.

Peoples

Thai 80.4%.

Chinese 10.5%.

Malay 3.8%.

Mon-Khmer 3.4%.

Tibeto-Burman 1.1%.

Meo-Yao 0.2%.

Other 0.6%

Literacy94%. Official language Thai. All languages 75. Languages with Scriptures 15Bi 9NT 11por 27w.i.p.

Economy

Fertile agricultural land – exporting rice, sugar, rubber. HDI 0.753; 67^th/174. Public debt 13% of GNP. Income/person $2,740 (9% of USA).

Politics

A kingdom since the 13^th Century, and never ruled by a Western power.

Religion

Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the constitution, which was modified in 1998 to loosen ties between the State and Buddhism and increase harmony between religious communities.

Churches in Thailand

Missionaries from Thailand

884 in 24 agencies to 6 countries

Missionaries to Thailand

1,500 in 130 agencies from 33 countries

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