Isan of Northeast Thailand

  • 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 northern Thailand. Hua Hin—the focus of the Southern Thai Project—has no Seventh-day Adventist presence.

About the Project

The primary goal of the AFM missionaries on the Isan Buddhists project is to establish an indigenous church-planting movement among the Isan Buddhists in Thailand. AFM missionaries live closely among the people, learn the Thai language, study local culture and religion, and build deep friendships to reach this goal. Using what they learn, they will craft evangelistic materials for the Thai Buddhist context. Their aim is 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 planted and trained to plant new churches. In this way, the result will be a locally-led newborn Adventist Christian movement that continues expanding God’s kingdom in Thailand.

People-Group Facts

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

Frontier Stories

Listen to Help Heal

We want to help them discover and unlock all the potential that God has created in them and train them to heal their communities. Pray that our team will learn to listen more and elevate others like Jesus did.

By: Jared Wright
February 01 2024, 10:26 am | Comments 0

Steadfast Momentum

As we look to the future, we also have hope because we know that we have the faithful support of God and our family and friends around the world.

By: Jared Wright
January 01 2024, 10:19 am | Comments 0

Healing Spaces

We believe that with your help, many families here in Thailand will be transformed and learn to delight in healthy relationships as God intended.

By: Jared Wright
October 01 2023, 10:42 am | Comments 0

Enough and Loved

Like a ship hoisting full sails, yet without a rudder, every gust of wind blows them in a chaotic course with no discernible destination. Yet, we believe that as we work to establish emotionally healthy spiritual family groups here in northeast Thailand, these children and adults will find a place of healing and hope.

By: Jared Wright
September 01 2023, 8:51 am | Comments 0

Engaging the Bible

We invite you to partner with us and pledge your support to help us catalyze a disciple-making movement here in Thailand that will transform lives and reveal the depth of God’s love for the Isan Thai people.

By: Jared Wright
August 01 2023, 9:29 am | Comments 0

Walls and Stumbling Blocks

As we walked on in the sweltering heat, the incident caused me to reflect on how, as Christians, we may also have traditions, rituals, beliefs, or even just opinions that keep us from serving people and connecting with them when they need us most, or when we need them.

By: Jared Wright
July 01 2023, 11:19 am | Comments 0

Fighting with Love

When any of His hurting children, young or old, experiences the healing power of God’s love through us and is able to connect without fear, then the power of darkness is broken. This is the war I want to fight.

By: Jared Wright
May 01 2023, 10:14 am | Comments 0

Checking for Understanding

Transmission of knowledge is only a small part of the process of teaching and, thus, only a small part of the process of making disciples.

By: Jared Wright
April 01 2023, 2:25 pm | Comments 0

It Beggars Belief

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18 NLT).

By: Jared Wright
December 01 2022, 3:21 pm | Comments 0

Real Pain and the Plea for Help

I am still unsure how best to help my student, but I believe God has another way to help her that we have not even thought of yet.

By: Nilubon Srisai
October 01 2022, 9:05 am | Comments 0

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