Central Thai

  • Pre-Entry
  • Pre-Evangelism
  • Evangelism
  • Discipleship
  • Phase-Out
  • Completed

About the People

The Royal Kingdom of Thailand (which means Land of the Free) was founded in 1238 in a declaration of independence from Khmer overlords. Bordered by Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia, the country also boasts coastlines on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Thailand exports large quantities of Jasmin rice, silk cloth, silver and silver jewelry, wicker weaving, cabbage, herbs and naturally dyed cotton. Open-air markets carry plenty of fresh produce at reasonable prices, and vegetarian restaurants abound. Temperatures range between 60 and 100 degrees year-round, and the political climate is peaceful.

Thailand is a deeply Buddhist nation, with over 92 percent of its population espousing the Buddhist faith. Missionaries have had very little success at penetrating this massive “spiritual wall.” Only about 1.6 percent of the Thai population is Christian. There are 37 Seventh-day Adventist churches in Thailand, most of which are in the north. Khon Kaen—the focus of the Central Thai Project—has no Seventh-day Adventist presence.

About the Project

The primary goal of the AFM missionaries on the Central Thai Project is to establish an indigenous church-planting movement among Thai Buddhists in Central Thailand. To reach this goal, they live closely among the people, learn the Thai language, study local culture and religion, and build deep friendships. Using what they learn, they will craft evangelistic materials in the Thai Buddhist context. They aim to share Christianity in a way that leads to conversions that are deeply meaningful and lasting. Local converts will be discipled to become leaders in the first church plant, and they will be trained to plant new churches. In this way, the result will be a locally-led, newly-born Adventist Christian movement that continues expanding God’s kingdom in Thailand.

In 2014, the Northern Khmer Project merged with the Central Thai project to begin a multifaceted ministry to Thai Buddhists in Khon Kaen. The newly enlarged team runs a music school and focuses on creating worship music and outreach materials carefully crafted to reach Thai Buddhist hearts.

People-Group Facts

  • Population: 67 million
  • Language: Thai
  • Religion: Buddhism

Frontier Stories

Morality Through Music

Please pray for us as we seek to sow gospel seeds through creative outreach at our school.

By: Kyle Tumberg
October 01 2015, 6:10 am | Comments 0

Pi Sumalee’s Passion

We pray that Pi Sumalee’s passion and zeal will transfer to others and that many more people will be raised up who have a burden for souls.

By: Kyle Tumberg
September 01 2015, 7:39 am | Comments 0

Meet the Mariscals

Please join us in praying for the Mariscals and the rest of our team as they minister in Khon Kaen.

By: Alicia Palacios
August 01 2015, 6:03 am | Comments 0

Discipleship in Action

Nok has not been a Christian for long, but already she is taking others under her wing and helping them discover the true God.

By: Cindi Tumberg
August 01 2015, 5:49 am | Comments 0

Stretch the Tent and Lengthen the Cords

It was so exciting to see our members and regular attendees enthusiastically inviting their friends and families to church!

By: Christopher Sorensen
July 01 2015, 8:04 am | Comments 0

Taken Back to Thailand

We are looking forward to rejoining our team in Khon Kaen and seeing our friends again.

By: Alicia Palacios
July 01 2015, 7:57 am | Comments 0

We Are Family

We have looked forward to our upcoming furlough for the chance it gives us to be with our loved ones—to talk to them face to face, to hug them.

By: Alicia Palacios
June 01 2015, 7:37 am | Comments 0

A Promising Field

God can reach those who don’t even realize they need Him.

By: Christopher Sorensen
June 01 2015, 6:20 am | Comments 0

The Offering Note

We know God is working in the hearts of these college students.

By: Kyle Tumberg
June 01 2015, 6:18 am | Comments 0

God’s Whispers

I heard God’s whispers above all the hustle of my busy life.

By: Kyle Tumberg
May 01 2015, 1:19 pm | Comments 0

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