Isaan Interceders

April 2012

The original decision to try to do Isaan rural house church leadership training was a leap of faith—and it still is! But God has remained faithful. This past week a group of 61 rural house church leaders met for training, to study God’s word and worship Him. The conditions were pretty rough (sleeping in tents, cooking outside on charcoal burners, only two small bathrooms with bucket showers for the whole group to use) but the fellowship in the Lord, the Isaan style music and praise was wonderful! Please pray that those who came will implement the training they received. Please pray now for the next training to be held in September 2012. Pray that those the Lord wants to train and use will come. Pray that the group of four men (3 nationals and a missionary) who head up the planning will have a clear and unified vision for what and how to teach during that training time.

Follow up on earlier request:

Thank you for your prayers for the situation in which the well-intentioned lady had been paying people to come to church. She has indicated that she now understands the problem and says she will to continue to help those in need (which is wonderful!) but will stop paying them to come to church. Praise the Lord for His help!

March 2012

We found out recently that a generous, kind hearted lady involved in a church plant here in Isaan has been paying people to come to worship. We believe she means well (most of the people she is giving money to are really poor and have true needs) but that this method of “evangelism” not only will cause huge problems later but is already causing problems now. So far the lady has refused to stop because it “makes her happy” to do this. Please pray for God’s Holy Spirit to work in all our hearts and minds so that we can come to a joint decision about what God wants us to do. We do need His wisdom!

Follow up on earlier request:

Thank you so much for your prayers! The young Christian couple you prayed for in February had a lovely Christian wedding in spite of the fact that they are each the first Christians in either family. Their large wedding was full of beautiful testimonies to God. For example, during the reception the Master of Ceremonies asked the groom,“A,” how he and his bride, “N”, got along while they were dating. “A” replied, “God helped us! The Bible teaches us that ‘love is patient, love is kind” (and went on quoting the whole verse)…so we learned while we were dating to care for each other and support each other…” Praise the Lord for this couple’s perserverence in asking for a Christian ceremony and bearing witness to several hundred non-believers through that. Pray that the couple’s families and friends will come to know the Lord through the “A” and “N”’s lives and testimonies.

February 2012

“Mrs. N’s” husband is an alcoholic. For years she has been telling me about his
terrible drinking jags and, in spite of the fact that she isn’t a Christian, she has been more than
willing for me to pray for the two of them. Three weeks ago she called to say that Mr. N had drunk
so much alcohol in such a short amount of time that he had to be taken to the hospital where (at
that time) he had been unconscious for over a week, unable to breathe without a breathing tube.
Later “Mr. N” regained consciousness and now can breathe on his own. He was discharged from
the hospital recently--however, he still show signs of severe brain damage and doesn’t recognize
anyone. The “Ns” have two daughters in their early teens. Please pray for God’s intervention in
this family’s life and that somehow He would bring about good through this tragedy. Pray for us to
be able to clearly communicate Christ’s love and forgiveness to both Mr. and Mrs. “N”, their
daughters and extended family.

January 2012

In Isaan it is quite common for a person to be the first Believer in their entire extended family and even in their community. As a result, it is quite likely an Isaan Christian young person has never experienced a loving Christian family life. Please pray for young believers to seek God and His plans for relationships—as singles and also for those Isaan Christians who meet, get to know and marry another Christian and raise a family. Pray that Christian families will be open to sharing their time and family life with single people and newly-weds, discipling them to follow Jesus in this area of their lives. Pray for Isaan believers to obey to Jesus’ command in John 13:34 & 35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Pray specifically for a young Christian couple with no other Believers in either family to be able to give clear witness of how Jesus has changed their lives during their February wedding and as they begin their lives together.

December 2011

Missionaries have been living and faithfully working in one village in NE Thailand for over a year and a half with NO decisions for Christ. In another village there is only Christian family – and they have been the only Christian family there for over 10 years. In January we are going to both these villages to do mobile medical clinics. Please pray for a miracle: that God would reach into the hearts and minds of villagers in both these locations and call out new believers to follow Him and be gathered into reproducing churches.

November 2011

Scott and Valerie Payne write, “Please pray that God will work in the hearts of each family that has been the recipient of flood relief from our church. Pray that God will use this expression of love to open hearts and grow his kingdom among the Isaan.”

October 2011

Every morning three women in my subdivision make offerings according to the national religion here. Either before or after that, they also pour out water to make offerings to the spirit of the large tree at the entrance to our subdivision. I have shared the gospel with them but they are not at all interested—in fact they gave me some information on the national religion to read! Only God can change these women’s hearts, making them dissatisfied with their current worship and want the Truth.  Please pray He does! Pray that as He does, they will seek for the Lord with all their hearts.

Follow up on earlier request:

 This week Andrew Fox reported that “Granny S” and four other people from the seeker group meeting in her home prayed to receive Christ! We are rejoicing with Andrew, his national colleagues and the angels in heaven over these decisions…please pray that these new believers will glorify God by abiding in Jesus, bearing much fruit, and “so prove to be (Jesus’) disciples.” (from John 15: 7 &8)

September 2011

Over 500 people in NE Thailand heard about Jesus! We are so thankful for the opportunity to hold mobile medical clinics in Isaan over four days in late August. Due to the generous gifts from Arizona volunteers we were able to provide free medical exams, free medicines and free information about the Great Physician. More than 50 people made prayerful decisions to follow Christ and an additional 26 more asked for follow-up visits. Please pray that those who indicated they wanted to follow Jesus and those who wanted more information will continue along the path to true discipleship. Pray that the Lord would protect their budding faith and grow them in Him, producing an amazing harvest for His glory.

August 2011

Scott and Valerie Payne and their team recently held an English camp for 110 English Education majors from Mahasarakham University. As these students prepare to be English teachers they are happy to have opportunities to practice and learn English from “native speakers” like the 13 missionaries and volunteers who hosted the camp. But the camp also provided an opportunity for these students to learn something more important for their future than English skills: that God loves them and wants to give them new life in Christ. Please pray that these students will consider the truths that they heard through Bible stories and the testimonies of Thai and American believers and that they will seek God and desire to know Him.

July 2011

In obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19, in September representative Mark Caldwell and two national colleagues will be hosting a training session for Isaan rural church leaders on “Making Disciples.”  Please pray that Jesus will “open their minds so they (can) understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

June 2011

Baptist representative Andrew Fox and his national colleagues are working with four different seeker groups in a province in the Isaan region. Please pray that God will use the Bible stories in the Isaan heart language to touch the hearts of all those who hear. Pray they would both hear His word and believe in Him therefore “pass out of death into life” (John 5:24).

May 2011

“Mother Lady” has been an amazing “person of peace” in her community. She has opened the door of her home for worship (and even renovated the space to make it more comfortable) and invited tens of her relatives and neighbors to attend the new church start in her village. She prepares lunch every week for everyone who comes as well. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to help her and those attending to understand clearly what being a follower of Jesus means. Pray that the Lord will help them to mature in their faith and glorify Him with their lives!

April 2011

Thai Christians have a bold vision of seeing the number of believers among the country’s peoples double by 2015. This is something that will not happen without a lot of sharing of the gospel and faithful praying for God’s Spirit to move in the hearts of people all across this land. On April 25-28 a team of Isaan youth and their leaders will be participating in a special outreach in several villages in Nakhonratchasima Province. Please pray for this team and for those with whom they will meet and witness. Pray that the message will be shared in such a way that villagers will respond in faith to Christ. Pray also that other individuals and teams like this one will faithfully share Christ so that God’s kingdom will indeed grow among the Isaan and God will receive the glory that is due Him.

March 2011

“Lynn’s” husband is in prison a long way away and she is supporting her family on her small income as a maid.  Her life seems very hard. Following our regular discipleship Bible teacher’s study guide this week, we were to start out with praise. Seeing her tired face and knowing her situation, I hesitantly asked her if she had anything she’d like to praise or thank the Lord for. She broke out into a beautiful smile and said, “Oh, yes! I have lots and lots of things to praise God for!” and shared how the Lord had protected her and her son from a poisonous snake right outside her front door this week. Please ask the Lord to continue to care for “Lynn” and her sons and her daughter in law. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use Lynn’s life as a testimony, drawing the sons and daughter in law to God. Pray that Lynn’s husband will be released from prison soon and be able to find work to help the family.

February 2011

t is a common prayer request for those of us on the field to ask for prayer that the Lord to send more laborers to join the work. We praise the Lord that He has answered these requests and a new journeyman joined with us in Isaan in early February! Pray that God would use this new journeyman to share the gospel with university students and others in Mahasarakham, Thailand. There are thousands and thousands of students at various educational institutions here and less than .5% of them know Christ. God has answered prayer in sending this new journeyman and we believe He will answer us again as we pray for her ministry. Pray for many opportunities to share and teach about Christ and for open hearts among the students. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing here among students in Isaan.

January 2011

God has opened volunteer opportunities in two Isaan hospitals for missionary workers. Pray for opportunities to share Christ as they provide care to pediatric patients and their families. Pray for long term relationships to develop through this work.  Please pray that those efforts will bear fruit in new disciples and churches

December 2010

The book of James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) Please pray for workers among the Isaan – both nationals and missionaries-- to have and demonstrate God’s wisdom as they make decisions about their work and lives. Pray they would set Godly priorities about the use of their time and have great discernment about how to go about the tasks God has given them. Pray they would trust in the Lord with all their hearts and not lean on their own understanding. Pray that workers would acknowledge God in all their ways and that God would make their paths straight (from Proverbs 3: 5&6).

November 2010

Scott and Valerie Payne write, “We have taken on a new role as Team Strategy Leader for Isaan Students so we’d like to have lots of prayer support for this endeavor. There are at least 4 million Isaan students and the vast majority of these are not followers of Christ. Students are the future leaders of all areas of life in Thailand so we want to see them reached for Christ and believe that God can really use this population to make a difference in this country and beyond. Pray first of all that these millions of students would have an opportunity to hear and understand the message of the gospel. Pray that God would call them to Himself.”

October 2010

The idea started with a college student’s seemingly simple question on the car ride back from Bible study: “How does a Christian know who to marry?” That question is simple to ask but not so simple to answer! So, the end of October we are hosting a two day seminar for single Christians led by a Thai national on just that subject—plus the important issue of sexual purity. Please pray that many Christian young people will come, the Holy Spirit would speak clearly to their hearts, and they would “walk with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) in this important area of their lives.

September 2010

Mobile medical clinics will be held in 4 areas of Isaan during October. Please pray that God will bring many people to the clinics to be healed physically and spiritually through this ministry. Pray that a new method of following up people after the clinic using distribution of herbal seeds, the Creation Bible story and Isaan music about the Creator will be effective in drawing Isaan people closer to the Lord.

Last night we went to the celebration for a new church start here in Isaan and were so excited to see that “Amy” was there! One of the adults shared with us that she now goes over to help the young couple starting the church every week-end. The relationships that she has formed with the couple and having ministry that she can take responsibility for seems to have really helped her. Praise God for His continued work in her life. Please continue to pray that she will grow in her walk with the Lord and healing relationships with her mother and aunt will result.

August 2010

The Payne family and their summer volunteers (including several motivated missionary kids!) working with students in Mahasarahkham have held two English camps over the past few months. These camps are designed to not only teach English and provide fun relationship building activities but most importantly, to present a winsome witness. Please pray that many students would be drawn to the Lord as a result of these camps. Pray that God would use the Paynes, the volunteers and the missionary kids in His plans to start reproducing churches among the Isaan.

July 2010

Learning Central Thai (the national language of Thailand) is plenty difficult for Westerners as it is…but in mid-September a group of missionaries who have already passed the required level of competency in Central Thai is participating in training that will help them learn yet another language: the “heart language” of their people groups. Pray that participants will feel joy and excitement as they make this extra effort and sacrifice so that their peoples can hear the Gospel in the way they can best understand. Pray for God to bless this training and make it practical and immediately useful.

June 2010

Many of the people who participated in the recent country-wide protests came from Isaan, showing deep felt needs for justice and acknowledgment of their value and worth.  Please pray Isaan people to turn to the Lord in massive numbers, recognizing that He does love them and value them and will work to bring about good for them and their families as they participate in His kingdom’s work.

 You prayed for “Amy,” a 13 year old Isaan girl last month. Thank the Lord she has come back to church several times. Please keep praying for love for the Lord to capture her heart and mind. Pray she would feel secure in His love and care for her.

May 2010

Thirteen year old Amy came to Sunday school this week wearing huge dark glasses - not because she wanted to be fashionable, but to hide the black eyes and bruises from the beatings her “friends” gave her. Although she made a decision to become a Christian last year, 13 year old Amy has started running with a wild crowd, lying, staying out all night and dressing in skimpy clothes. Amy’s grandmother, mother and aunt are furious with her and no one   seems to be able to help Amy to want to repent and live for the Lord and His best for her life. Please pray for God to give the adults in her life, including me, her Sunday school teacher, His wisdom and insight and love for Amy. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convict Amy and give her a deep desire to live for God. Pray for her to have hope that with God’s help she can change.

February 2010

During the Isaan rural leadership training meeting held in February, the leaders went out into the nearby communities and shared the Gospel. Please pray for decisions to become Christians to “stick” and that new house churches would be started as a result.

Due to some scheduling conflicts, the seminar you prayed for in December was actually held in February. Please continue to pray for those young couples who attended—pray they will follow through with decisions they made during that time. Pray for relationships that bring God praise and glory!

January 2010

A volunteer team from Indian Wells Church (Texas) came to Isaan in early February. Please pray for follow-up from their hard work to bear much fruit in the communities and hearts they touched during that time. Praise and thank the Lord for them!

December 2009

We have  been “casting the vision” with several of our  house church members -  trying to help them see that the Lord can use all of us in the work of starting new groups. We are hopeful that “Ot” will soon take leadership of our church and I  am spending time with him weekly in Bible study and training. He’s a very willing participant and we’re praying that the Lord will bless the time together. Please pray with us!

November 2009

Our little church of 30 members has 5 young professional or college student couples who are serious about their relationships and planning to marry – either right away or someday soon. At this writing we are planning to hold a pre-marriage seminar for them in November with the goal of helping them prepare for God glorifying marriages and relationships that please Him now. Please pray for these couples to implement Biblical principles in their lives and so be light and salt to Isaan/Thai people around them.

September 2009

She helped the missionary family do housework and, over time, made a sincere decision for Christ. However, just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we never sin again. Sad to say, this lady gave in to the temptation to steal several times and had to be let go from doing housework. Praise the Lord, though—through His grace and compassion the missionary family has been able to maintain good relationships with this lady. She has genuinely repented and now they have joined with her in opening an outreach group! Please pray that those attending will see our Redeemer through this lady and the relationships she has with the missionary family.

August 2009

 Mobile medical clinics were held in several areas in Isaan in August and September. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would remind people who received tracts and other information again and again about the Lord and His love for them. Pray they will be deeply touched by what they read, saw and heard. Pray they will be gathered into reproducing churches.

July 2009

After many years of hard work, still less than 1% of our people group know the Lord. We are asking God to "do awesome things which we (do) not expect" (Isaiah 64:3) to draw millions of Isaan to repentance, faith and salvation. Please join with us!

June 2009

In March we rejoiced at "Kyle's" baptism. Now we are grieving-- he has turned away from the Lord and says he is seeing visions and having strange experiences. Please lift up "Kyle" to the Redeemer. Ask the Lord to keep Kyle for Himself, to not allow anything or anyone to snatch Kyle away from Him (John 10:28). Pray that God will protect our relationships with Kyle and use us and His word to help bring Kyle back into a relationship of love and obedience to Jesus.

May 2009

 In May agriculture training was held for several self-supported house church pastors. Please pray that they would be able to use what they learned and be able to earn enough income to provide, however simply, for their families while they serve the Lord.

April 2009

We started sharing our lives and faith with
these young women when they were 6 years old. Even though we have moved, we
still keep in contact with them. Now they are 14 and coming to spend the
week-end with us. Please pray they will be drawn to Jesus during that time
and be ready to make decisions to follow him. Please pray for their families
to come to faith as well.

You prayed for the rural house church
leadership training meeting. Then you rejoiced and thanked the Lord with us
when we anticipated baptizing two believers as a result of the evangelism
held during the meeting. So, we know you will be excited to hear that that
day four women (not two!) requested and received baptism. Please pray that
they will continue to grow in faith and trust in the Lord. Please pray that
many other people from that community will be saved and gathered into
reproducing churches.

March 2009

Thank you so much for your prayers for the rural house church leaders training meeting! Two people accepted the Lord as a result of the community –wide evangelism that was part of that meeting. They requested baptism March 8^th…Praise the Lord! We will continue to keep you informed about His work there.

Thank you so much for joining with us in God’s work in the mobile medical clinics held the first week of March through your prayers. Every person that came had an opportunity to hear the Gospel, many for the first time. It was exciting to see Jesus at work, healing people both physically and spiritually. I translated for a young doctor from the US who ended every exam by asking the patients, “Do you know Jesus yet?” A perfect introduction for further sharing! Please pray for the follow-up for people who indicated they wanted to believe or wanted further information. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to confirm the reality of God in their hearts.   

 February 2009

ISAAN OF THAILAND (EE-sahn). In February our rural house church leaders training meeting did something they had never done before: combine a community-wide evangelistic outreach with their training. Please pray now for continued follow-up from contacts made during that time. Pray that many new, reproducing house churches would be started as a result.

ISAAN OF THAILAND (EE-sahn). We’re excited about the mobile medical planned during the first week of March. Pray that lots of patients would come to hear the Good News and the Lord would minister to them physically and spiritually. Pray that many Isaan would be saved and become committed disciples as a direct result of this clinic.  

January 2009

The road to maturity in Christ is never-ending for all of us, but that road can be very difficult for new believers in Thailand. Despite the difficulties Kyle wants to grow in Christ. He will soon follow Christ in believer's baptism. Pray for Kyle as he participates in Bible study, prayer, worship and fellowship.Pray that he will indeed grow and develop as a believer and a leader in God's kingdom in Thailand. Pray for new opportunities to develop for ministry to medical students in two medical schools in Isaan. Pray that God would use former missionaries to Thailand to develop "bridges" to this population and current missionaries would walk across them, reaching the students on the other side!

December 2008

"Pat" and "Rain" are new Isaan believers! How we rejoice in their salvation. Please pray for them as they continue to know God more each day. Both of them seem to have found a hunger for the Word of God and obeying Him. Pat, along with a large number of Isaan men, has struggled with alcoholism for many years. He knows that this his battle with alcohol is destroying his family and he wants to quit. He has been getting up early in the mornings to run and has been able to stop drinking for nearly a week now...Praise God! Also, at our house tonight during Bible study Rain praised God because she is not living in constant fear anymore. They are praying others will see the changes in their lives and want to know God as well. Please keep praying for this couple to continue to seek God for their lives as they tell others about their new life in Christ and as they make decisions for their children. We held our house church retreat on November 1 and 2 at a small meeting facility in Mahasarakham Province. There were approximately 20 of us in attendance for the weekend of worship, teaching and fellowship. Topics included "Living as a Christian in Thai Society", "Tithing", "Christian Sexuality", and many others. This was a good meeting and we believe it was beneficial for all who attended. The really exciting thing is that one non-believer who attended accepted Christ at the retreat! Please pray for all our young-in-the faith believers to daily grow closer to the Lord.

November 2008

We praise the Lord for opportunities to help the folks in our house church grow through a recent church retreat. Praise the Lord for those who helped in leadership, providing a good time of worship and teaching for the believers. We also praise the Lord for the opportunity to have several non-believers at the retreat, one of whom accepted Christ on Sunday morning. Another did not yet accept Christ, but he was glad about getting to learn more and said that he has a lot to think about. Please pray for the new believer to grow in faith and obedience to Christ. Please pray for the one searching for truth to find Him! Please pray for three Lao young women living in our subdivision. We have taken them videos and Christian materials to read and they say they are interested in Christianity. Today when we went to visit, we asked one of them where she was in her reading the Bible. She said she was to the part where they killed Jesus. I then asked her , "But you know what happened next, right?"She said, "No, I don't. what happens?" I told her to keep on reading and find out-that there was a wonderful ending to the story! Please pray that she would in fact keep reading and understand what she reads, coming to salvation in Christ who was raised from the dead.

October 2008

Isaan Thai men frequently travel away from home to find work. We just received this email from one of those men: "It’s long time since I have your business card but I didn’t try to contact you by email. At last I found it in my wallet plus I have my own email address then I said to myself I gotta do some thing to contact you to help me to live like Christian's (do)." Please pray for this man (we'll call him "Sam") to grow in his faith. Pray he will trust in Jesus's goodness and grace and not his own ability. Pray for his family to follow the Lord as well. Thank you!

 'Kyle' believes in Christ as his Savior now for sure! It has been so neat to see him grow and reach out to others. He has finished the NT and is now reading the OT.He has encouraged his friends to come to English Groups, Friday night fellowship, Bible study and church and a good number of them have responded. Last night he brought four friends to church with him again. Wow. He's a real blessing." Please pray he will continue to grow in his faith with an increasingly close walk with the Lord.

September 08

A training camp for rural house church planters was held in Isaan in September. The theme was “Families Living for Christ.”  Please pray that those attending will continue to apply what they learned in faithful, joyful obedience. Pray that God would mightily bless their efforts! Ask God to help them to be “doers of the word and not hearers only.”  (James 1)

 How thankful we are for the fruit we are seeing among students in Mahasarahkham! Please continue to pray that workers there would see the “fruit that will last” as Jesus promised in John 15:16.

 We are praying to God for the Isaan as in Isaiah 64, “Oh that you (God) would burst from the heavens and come down! …When you came down long ago, you did awesome things beyond our highest expectations…”For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eyes has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (Life Application Bible) Please pray that God would draw Isaan people into loving relationship with him and into fellowships of believers for His glory.

 Aug 2008

God has answered many prayers for our work among students in Mahasarakham this summer. He has utilized our summer missionaries and other volunteers in wonderful ways. He has given them and us some amazing opportunities to share with some genuine seekers. Some great relationships have been established and we hope to continue building on what has taken place. Praise God for these answered prayers and pray that He will continue working in the lives of students and others here.

 Training Camp! September 3-5 a church planting movement training camp will be held for national rural church planters among the Isaan. Please pray that God will equip these servant-leaders through this training and bless their fellowship with His love-- both for each other and the unreached Isaan.

Even though Kris and Misty Ellis and Andrew Fox are already in what is considered a full-time job (language and culture learning), the Lord is allowing them to meet and share with Isaan Thai people in various settings. Please pray that Isaan Thai people will be drawn to the Lord through these encounters.

July 2008

Turn about is fair play! Usually, it is missionaries who give out Bibles, isn't it? Here is a different twist!

Years ago, "Mr. Pipe" went to work in Australia. He met a Christian there and the friend gave him a Bible-- in English. "Mr. Pipe" speaks a little English and can read his "ABCs" but not much more. However, he recognized the Bible as being a holy book and kept it all those years. On his return from Australia, he began attending our little church in the NE part of Thailand and has now made a decision for the Lord.  He has a Thai Bible and studies it regularly, trying to obey what he reads. What fun it was for me, the missionary, for "Mr. Pipe" to bring his English Bible to church and give it to the me, the missionary! Please pray God's blessings on Mr. Pipe and his family as they read their Thai Bibles and seek to obey God-- and please pray for me as I do the same, using the English version. Pray God's blessings on the Australian man who did what he could to share God's word-- little did he know God would use it to bless both Mr. Pipe and me!

June 2008

Andrew Fox asks, “Please continue to pray for me as I transition teachers at the beginning of June. The professor I have been studying with is not free once the academic term begins. I will be switching to two different teachers, aiming for better pronunciation. Ask that I am able to continue to make progress.” Pray for  even more opportunities for Andrew to share his faith and  spiritual fruit as a result of his sharing.

Kris and Misty Ellis write, “Your prayers are so valuable to us and the work of God here in Thailand. Our beginning here in Thailand has not been easy.  We feel like we have come up against many obstacles.  The Bible says we are to expect this, but nonetheless it is still hard.  We invite you to pray with us that we would be faithful to follow God no matter the cost.2 Corinthians 12:9 Please also pray for Misty’s teacher who has expressed sincere interest in knowing Jesus and for our continued language learning…that it would be for His glory.  And finally, please pray that while we are in language that we would stay close to God in an intimate way.

Continue to pray for “J” and her family. After sending out last month’s prayer request regarding her non-believing husband who does not help support the family, things went from bad to worse as far as their financial situation goes! Despite J.'s efforts to keep the family out of debt, her husband has made several poor decisions which have recently resulted in a huge debt for the family. But it seems that your prayers are being answered in another way. It seems that these recent events have caused J's husband to see his own weakness and realize that he must depend on someone other than himself and his wife. After a missionary “spoke straight” with him about his need to turn his life around, J overheard him say to one of his friends that Jesus is the only one who can help him get out of the mess he is in. Please pray that J's husband will give his life to Christ, and that he will become a new creature in Him.

May 2008

Pray for J, a Christian woman who works hard trying to support her family. She is married to a man who is not yet a believer, and he continues to be irresponsible when it comes to helping support the family. The burden of dealing with his immaturity and irresponsibility is becoming increasingly difficult for J. Pray that she will find strength in Christ in this situation. Pray that God will work in her husband's life in ways that only He can and bring him to saving, life-changing faith in Christ.

Six summer volunteers from GA BCM will be arriving in late May to spend ten weeks working with university students in Mahasarakham, Thailand. They are excited and ready to serve. Pray that the Lord will go before them preparing the way for the work that they will do. Pray that this team will bear fruit that is eternal.

"Phillip", a recent graduate from MSU, has been involved in our student ministry in Mahasarakham since his freshman year. He has been involved in weekly Bible study and knows a great deal about the gospel, but he has not yet come to faith in Christ. He will be going to Australia for a special five-week course as a result of winning 1st place in a national English speaking competition. Pray that the Lord will place loving, caring believers in his path in Australia who can minister to him and help him come to personal faith in Christ.

April 2008

Please pray for God to send an agricultural missionary worker out to His
"harvest fields" in Isaan- working in both spiritual and physical fields.
Pray that God will send someone with a heart to use agricultural ministry to
meet spiritual and physical needs of Isaan people in the strong Name of the
Lord. (Matthew 9:37)



The Payne family is back in Mahasarahkham! Pray that the Lord will go before
them, preparing students to receive Him and plant churches among the Isaan.
Pray for the Payne family's re-adjustment to living in Thailand after
several months on stateside assignment, especially that their three children
will continue to be happy and healthy and glad to be in Asia.



Pray for open doors to reach prisoners in Isaan. Pray for the favor of
prison officials and that the hearts of the prisoners would be set free by
hearing the Gospel and seeing it lived out. (Isaiah 61).

February 2008

Kris and Misty Ellis write, “Thank you to all of you who prayed for our party that took place on December 29, 2007. After a few minor setbacks, the party took place and around 20 local people came and enjoyed Isaan food and music. We definitely learned a lot about the culture from this experience. The traditional Isaan music was provided by a church a little over one-hour from our house. We ask that you pray for the people who came to this party, and even the people who stood at our gate because maybe they were to afraid to come in... that God would draw them to Himself, and that we would be able to share His truths with them.”

Scott and Valerie Payne work with students and recent college graduates in Isaan (NE Thailand). As you read and pray over these requests, praise the Lord for the heart of love He has given the Paynes for these graduating university students. They ask, “Please pray for Num. She is a believer who has been very involved in our ministry; it has been a joy to work with her. Pray for her as she is making plans to stay in Mahasarakham and work for a while. That would be great to be able to continue to work in ministry with her. Pray also for Wit. He is a student who has been involved in all the various aspects of our ministry but he has still not become a follower of Christ so pray for him. Another student who will be graduating is Nui. She was one of the first students we met, and we were happy that she had recently become a follower of Christ at that time. She has had her ups and downs in life and in her faith, but she is full of potential. Pray that she will have the encouragement she needs to live a life that gives glory to God for the things He has done in her life. Finally, please pray for Ploy. She has also been very involved in our work over the past four years, but has not yet made a commitment to Christ. She has expressed an interest in being a Christian, but is facing opposition from her family. Pray that God work will continue working in her life and in the life of her family members.”

Pray that national leaders Poh Bua, Dang and Yupah will continue to love and serve God with all their hearts, minds and strength in Nong Bua Lam Phu province.