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

Above the Noise

God was speaking through our music.

By: Kyle Tumberg
January 01 2015, 8:22 am | Comments 0

Farewell to Thailand

Thailand and the Thai people will always hold a special place in our hearts and in our prayers.

By: Kelli Doss
December 01 2014, 12:35 pm | Comments 1

The Master Weaver

Let us not forget our own Master Weaver who knows the pattern of all our hearts.

By: Alicia Palacios
December 01 2014, 11:58 am | Comments 0

Sister Nok

God was working through Nok and Motz’s relationship.

By: Christopher Sorensen
December 01 2014, 11:49 am | Comments 0

My Fireball Friend

A friendship seemed to be blossoming before our eyes.

By: Kyle Tumberg
December 01 2014, 9:50 am | Comments 0

Questions and the Answer

We are called to be His hands and feet.

By: Kelli Doss
November 01 2014, 11:59 am | Comments 0

House Hunting

God guided us exactly where we needed to go.

By: Kyle Tumberg
November 01 2014, 10:26 am | Comments 0

Opportunities and Autographs

Once we began spending time with the children, we noticed that our neighbors began to warm up to us.

By: Kyle Tumberg
October 01 2014, 1:16 pm | Comments 0

Unexpected Encounters

Foreign soil. A new place we had never been. Fog had settled over Hong Kong during our 24-hour layover, but we still wanted to get out and see this city while we had an opportunity.

By: Kelli Doss
September 01 2014, 2:15 pm | Comments 1

Furlough Flight

Thirty-four states in three months! That’s how our furlough has been so far.

By: Kelli Doss
September 01 2014, 12:27 pm | Comments 0

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