Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I write to you with a heart full of thankfulness to share the work the Lord has done in Northern Thailand. To Him be glory and praise forever! Amen.
The months of August and September in the mountains of Northern Thailand are known as the “rainy season,” and this year, that term seems like an understatement. The rainy season has brought torrential rain, mudslides, and historic flooding. On two separate occasions, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai broke records for rainfall and flooding. This very week, as I write this letter, the Ping River rose to its highest level ever recorded. Water in most of Chiang Mai City ranged from knee to chest-deep. On one occasion, the water came extremely close to our kitchen door, but thankfully, it began to recede. Please pray for those affected by the floods who have lost cars, clothing, furniture, and homes.
Grace Baptist Church - Doi Saket
Please pray for Grace Baptist Church in Doi Saket. I have been encouraged each Sunday by the faithfulness of those attending regularly, and we continue to have new visitors. Five believers have completed basic classes and interviews and, Lord willing, will be added to the church this month. Please pray for six others who have been faithfully attending and show interest in joining, though they are not ready for membership yet.
Our midweek prayer meeting continues to bear fruit. We meet to pray, sing, read scripture, memorize verses, and ask questions. In Thai culture, asking questions is often discouraged, especially if a younger person asks an older person, as it is perceived as prideful. However, within the church, we are working to help them rethink this cultural norm. During our midweek meeting, I’ve seen everyone, especially the younger Thai, becoming more comfortable with asking questions. This growth is truly encouraging.
Please also pray for the lost who attend services each week. May the Lord do the work necessary for them to hear and respond to the call to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pictured (left to right). 1) These are a few of the men I am meeting with for our weekly preaching classes. They have each shown considerable growth over the past year and it is encouraging to see their hunger for the Lord. 2) The room where the church meets for services is completely full each week with around 50 in attendance. 3) Me and my interpreter Long, who is also studying daily and desires to one day preach and pastor a church.
Grace Theological Seminary
GTS has been extremely busy these past couple of months. We have two ongoing week long classes each month for both Thai and Lahu students. In addition to these regular classes, I meet weekly with men from the church to teach a sermon preparation class. In September, we held a preaching workshop attended by over 40 pastors, all eager to improve their preaching and sermon preparation. In October we have a break from teaching and then in November, in addition to our normal classes, we will be offering a seminar on parenting and marriage which will be followed a couple of weeks later by a large conference the first week in December. Please pray for our staff, and my family and I. These conferences, seminars, and classes require a lot of effort and energy. Please pray for strength and endurance during this busy season! We are grateful for the many faithful churches back home that continue to support this important part of the work here in Thailand. As many of you know, hosting a conference is not a cheap endeavor and we couldn’t do it without both your prayers and financial support.
Grace Bannasan - Printing Ministry and Bible Projects
Christian literature in Thailand remains a challenge, particularly as we find more and more good books that are out of print. Historical Christian books are nearly non-existent. Older literature presents unique challenges, partly because translators and editors struggle with the older style of writing and vocabulary. Over the past few years, we’ve worked with a dedicated group of translators and editors, and we’ve seen their growth in both skill and doctrine. I believe we may now be ready to tackle one of the Christian “classics.” Please pray with us as we begin discussing the opportunity to translate and publish a Thai edition of the Pilgrim’s Progress. Lord willing, He will provide the funding so that we can complete this project during 2025.
For HIS Glory,
Matthew Villandry
*All financial support for the Lord’s work in Thailand may be sent to the following address:
Central Baptist Church
c/o The Villandry Family
PO Box 876
Grenada, MS 38902
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