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Wayne first visited
Thailand in September 2006. He was there to participate in a
design workshop for the creation of a new version of The GodMan.
While there, Wayne was able to interact with other missionaries and
national pastors from across the Peninsular Asia region. As each
participant in the meeting was sharing the needs of children and youth
in their respective country, the Lord began to plant a burden in Wayne's
heart. It was the seed of a calling that would take another 16
months to germinate.
In January 2008, Wayne used Bangkok as a transportation hub for travel to various parts of Thailand and other countries in the surrounding region. During this trip, Wayne was able to work with pastors and lay ministry leaders from across Thailand. It was during these times of interaction with Thai believers that the Lord fully germinated His call to Thailand in Wayne's heart. When Wayne came home, he documented what the Lord had placed on his heart, shared it with Tammy, and then filed the document away. Wayne believed that if this was truly a call from the Lord, He would continue to call Wayne back to it over the months or years to come. Additionally, Wayne knew that the Lord would have to perform a miracle in regard to Rebecca's status with AGWM before a field assignment would be granted. The burden that the Lord gave Wayne was one of mobilization, especially among youth and young adults. Wayne did not know it at the time, but there were two new programs that were in the conceptualization stage in Thailand that would need help in the future -- a media program and a program that mobilizes university students to direct ministry. As the Lord was calling Wayne, He was also preparing the field for the work to be done. Thailand is a country that is rich in history. Much of that history is tied to the Buddhist faith. In fact, it is often said in Thailand that to be Thai is to be Buddhist. Thailand is a country of nearly 65 million people with fewer than one percent professing to be evangelical Christians. After Cambodia, this is the lowest concentration of Christians in the entire Southeast Asia region. It is estimated that over 95% of the Thai people have never received an adequate presentation of the gospel and as many as two-thirds of the population has never even heard the name of Jesus. That means that over 64 million Thai people have yet to understand who Jesus is and why they need to be a Christ follower. Missionaries have been working in Thailand for nearly 200 years. And, as Wayne discovered during his visit in January 2008, evangelicals have a higher standing in Thailand today than ever before. The response of the Christian church, especially the Assemblies of God, to the December 2004 tsunami has generated much favor and openness to those who are Christ followers. No one knows how long this favor will last. Thailand has been rocked by political unrest that continues to reshape the country. So far, the political pressures have been region to region or class to class and has not targeted any particular religious movement. We know that the Lord has provided this window of opportunity. We do not know how long it will stay open, but while it is open, we know that we must respond to His call. We are compelled to bring the truth of who Jesus is to the people of Thailand in a way that will penetrate their heart and through tools and programs that can reach all the Thai people. We are compelled to go to Thailand, compelled by the leading of the Holy Spirit to bring the love of Jesus and word of His saving grace to the Thai people. We are compelled to fearlessly proclaim the gospel to the people of Thailand because now is the time for Thailand to know Jesus. |
