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

Music and Ministry: A Grandmother’s Story

Using music in ministry at PMA has been a powerful and delightful opportunity for me and my family the last several years. Thanks be to God and to all of you, our dear friends, family and supporters, for making this possible.

By: Christopher Sorensen
March 01 2021, 2:22 pm | Comments 0

Deeper Significance

When we celebrate Christmas away from loved ones, far away from our earthly home, we are reminded of the One who left His heavenly home to come to a dark planet to give us the light of life.

By: Kyle Tumberg
February 01 2021, 2:30 pm | Comments 0

Every Opportunity

“Mom, I hear kids outside. Let’s go and invite them!”

By: Claudette Aleman
February 01 2021, 1:29 pm | Comments 0

A Spiritual Perspective

As I reflect on my experience with Bon and Cherry over the past year and a half I can see that God had a plan and a purpose in bringing them to Khon Kaen to work with us and also in having them leave when they did.

By: Kyle Tumberg
January 01 2021, 11:32 am | Comments 0

Because We Ask

Please continue to pray that we will learn Thai quickly. Thank you for your prayers, support and what you do to make a difference in a broken world.

By: Claudette Aleman
December 01 2020, 12:29 pm | Comments 0

Joon

I can’t help but be amazed at what God has done in Joon’s life. I know that God has a special plan for Joon and that he is not done growing yet.

By: Kyle Tumberg
December 01 2020, 11:31 am | Comments 0

Vacation Ministry

God continues to shows us over and over that making friends for Him is all about being intentional and paying attention to where He is already working.

By: Claudette Aleman
September 01 2020, 11:07 am | Comments 0

Andru

Andru told me that God was putting a burden on his heart to hold a youth camp in Khon Kaen so that he could share with his friends what he had been learning. He asked if I would help him plan it, and I was happy to agree.

By: Kyle Tumberg
September 01 2020, 10:36 am | Comments 0

The Love of Christ in Action

Please continue to pray that we will learn Thai quickly and for the people that will be part of our house church one day.

By: Claudette Aleman
August 01 2020, 4:56 pm | Comments 0

Meet Alison Tumberg

I miss seeing all my friends at church and shopping with my mommy. But one thing I have really enjoyed is going to the train station and passing out food to all the people there who have lost their jobs.

By: Alison Tumberg
July 01 2020, 9:10 am | Comments 0

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