A Special Report Highlighting:
Good News Ministry Center
Medical and Feeding Programs
Teaching and Training
Projects under Development
Good News Ministries of Thailand began several years ago as an outreach of the Assemblies of God to help establish churches in Thailands, primarily using crusades and open air evangelism. As the ministry grew, radio and media ministries were introduced along with medical clinics and children's feeding programs. In 1989 Good News Ministry Center was opened as a church and ministry center in the Din Daeng housing estate of Bangkok. Transitions in leadership and donor support over the past several years have resulted in a strong commumity-based ministry functioning in the heart of Thailand's capital city. Good News Ministries continues to assist and develop churches and leaders in "up country" Thailand as well as developing projects in the city of Bangkok.
Good News Church in Bangkok is the center for our worship, discipleship training and the nucleus of our Good News Ministry Center. Bill and Ky prevette have served as the directors of Good News Ministries since 1991 and are involved in both administration and hands-on ministry. The ministry maintains a full-time staff of 7-9 people and is endeavoring to expand in several areas under their leadership. The following report is presented to acquaint you with both the current programs and those in the process of development. We invite you to become an active participant in this vital ministry.
Bangkok, Thailand -- for many visitors Bangkok is an exotic tourist destination. Yet, it has also become one of Asia's largest cities as thousands of new families from surrounding rural Thailand move there every month. They come in search of the promise of a better life and a chance for success. Instead many families are forced to settle in slums and beocome trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness with little provision for housing or basic needs.
Our children's feeding program and medical clinics are both expressions of practical concern and compassion for these families that find themselves in this situation. The need to provide basic care in these areas continues to escalate. By providing a hot nourishing meal and free remedial health care we demonstrate the love of Jesus in tangible ways. We are currently providing for approximately 50 children on a daily basis for $20.00 a month per child. We are increasing our sponsorship program to include many more children throughout Thailand. We ask you to consider becoming involved in these ministries with us by either sponsorship or a one time gift that may be designated to our feeding programs and/or medical clinics.
Good News Ministries is providing learning centers for these children. Pictured here are some young people enjoying one of our drama and puppet presentaions. Many have expressed a desire to learn English as well as developing literacy in their native tongue, Thai. We want to pursue an "enabling strategy" which will equip these children to overcome the cycle that poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness creates. To continue the development of these learning centers funding is needed for teaching supplies, additional equipment and staff, and the construction of additional facilities.
Recently, we met with several government officials to discuss the feasibility of developing a drug rehabilitation and AIDS counseling center for the young people of Din Daeng. Our request has been approved as these officials are willing to help us meet the growing social and releated family problems. In visiting our neighborhood we often see school age children idle or using alcohol and drugs. Without education, job skills and direction many of these young people grow up with little means to overcome life controlling problems or provide for their families. Also, by the year 2000 it is estimated that between 2-4 million Thais will be dead or dying of AIDS. We would like to see a Teen Challenge Center operating in Thailand, currently there is none. Good News Ministries would help in providing the training and oversight for this needed ministry. A Teen Challenge ministry would provide the foundation for an effective outreach to youth with substance abuse problems.
We are being offed the use of the basement of this flat but must raise the funds to furnish and equip it. Presently, we are contacting churches and individuals who would be interested in such a project. A MAPS team(s) can be invited to build and assist in making this center a reality. A project fund has already been opened for this work. If you or your church are interested in this project, please return your response on the final section of this report to us as soon as possible. The proposed center will include a small dormitory for teens, a rehabilitation training classroom, several rooms dedicated to teaching such skills as sewing, furniture assembly and an AIDS counselling center which would be open to the public.
In our ministry we frequently travel to the northernmost point of Thailand, the area known as the Golden Triangle where Burma, Laos, and Thailand come together at one point. This area is known by many as one of the world's centers for the production of raw opuim (used in making heroin). Good News Ministries is currently helping to establish several new churches in this region. e have built a water supply system in one village and have been asked to assist in providing education and healthcare for the children of this area. Northern Thailand is radically different than the region around Bangkok because of its mountains and forests. The people groups of this area are predominately tribal and speak many different dialects.
It is a strategic area for ministry as well. For more than a hundred years the opuim trade has been the sole means of income for most of the people here, however the rapid changes of modernity and increasing poverty have had adverse effects on the lives of the people. Good News Ministries is now assisting several pastors in this region with church planting. The first stage of this process will be building a small training center located very close to the Burmese border which will serve leaders in both Thailand and Burma. We wil keep you updated on this and future developments in the region.
As you can conclude from reading this report, there is no lack of need or opportunity for Good News Ministries in Thailand. Over the past four years our family has tackled many challenges ranging from culture and language acquisition, multiple back surgeries, increasing work responsibilities and the task of directing an ever expanding ministry. During our furlough from July 1993 through July 1994 we had the added challenge of raising necessary work and project funds to enable another four year term to be completed.
We covet your prayers and intercession during this time. The financial needs of this ministry are significant, but they are part of the process the Lord is using to strech and strengthen us. Please pray with us that the national church, Thai staff and ministry here in Bangkok will continue to experience the grace and provision of the Lord in the upcoming months.
Yes, I want to assist Good News Ministries in extending help to the people of Thailand in one of the following:
Good News Ministries
Bill Prevette has a CompuServe account at 73571.3661@compuserve.com and can be reached on the Internet at goodnews@ipied.tu.ac.th.
All donations are receipted and are tax deductible under the Division of Foriegn Missions.
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