A letter from Barry and Shelly Dawson in serving as Regional Liaisons for Southeast Asia, based in Thailand
november 2014 - Equipping Disciples with the word
Dear Friends and Mission Partners,
When you hear the word “transformation,” what image pops into your mind? If you were asked to create a painting entitled “Hope,” what colorful designs would you brush on the canvas?
A recent letter from an inmate in a Thailand prison sent to our mission partner, the Lamp of Thailand (LoT), is brimming with evidence of transformation and painted with the colors of hope:
“I am the prisoner who study this (Bible) lesson. I am happy to study. Nowadays, I call myself … Christian because I believed. In the past, I think that (when) I killed others (it) is a sin, and this sin will be with me forever. But when I studied the word of God, I knew that I can survive. … Now I still have the (belief), hope, love and survival. I love one verse … that (says), "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
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Lamp of Thailand teaching God's Word to prisoners
The Lamp of Thailand, a ministry of the Church of Christ in Thailand, writes, publishes, and distributes Bible study lessons and Christian education materials. However, prisoners are not the only ones receiving the good news of Christ through the Lamp of Thailand’s outreach ministry.
Following the example of Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20), LoT generously scatters the seeds of God’s Word on many types of soil in Thailand. Their numerous Bible study lessons reach a broad spectrum of people: children, youth, adult Christian believers who want to go deeper in their discipleship, and non-Christian seekers who are interested in learning about the uniqueness of Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior.
During our October visit to Chiang Mai we had the joy of meeting with Rev. Porpak Juanchaiyaphum, Director of LoT, and other members of the LoT ministry team. As they passionately shared about their multi-faceted ministry, we caught a glimpse of the amazing impact of their work. Throughout the year the LoT ministry team is actively engaged in visiting churches, leading worship, training leaders, sharing testimonies, and singing Christian music. They also regularly share the good news of Jesus Christ with high school students, university students, hospital staff, and prison inmates.
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Lamp of Thailand visits a church of the Karen people
Equipping and empowering people with the Word of God is at the heart of the Lamp of Thailand’s ministry. In fact, once some students digest LoT’s faith-building materials, they then begin to teach and lead others in studying God’s Word. The cycle of equipping and empowering disciples continues, often in mysterious and miraculous ways. One foreign prisoner incarcerated in a Bangkok jail recently wrote a letter of thanks to LoT with a special request:
“Thank you for sending me the English (Bible study) course. I really appreciate your efforts on supplying me with this precious correspondence program. As I might have mentioned before, I have been helping my Thai inmates with Thai Bible study. … Would it be possible for me to have the Thai course, along with my ongoing English course? I just realized that it would be great for me to go through the basic (Bible study) course in Thai for the sake of the Thai Bible study (inmate group) I’ve been conducting.… I keep praying for your ministry which carries on with God’s work.”
In the beauty of God’s kingdom, a prisoner who is feeding on the Word of God is being used to teach fellow inmates about the truth of the gospel. In the calculus of God’s kingdom, a prisoner behind bars in Bangkok continues the cycle of multiplying disciples. In the hope of God’s kingdom, a prisoner prays for the Lamp of Thailand’s ministry to carry on God’s work.
As the 2014 Advent and Christmas seasons are swiftly approaching, we are reminded once again of the themes of darkness and light that are so prevalent throughout the Scriptures:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined (Isaiah 9:2).
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:3b-5).
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Barry and Shelly praying with the Lamp of Thailand ministry team
As its name implies, the Lamp of Thailand is a beacon of Christ’s light that touches those who live in darkness and those who unknowingly live in life’s shadows in need of God’s eternal light. Each year LoT reaches tens of thousands with the story of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Another inmate in a Thailand prison recently echoed that truth about the light of Christ when he wrote this to the Lamp of Thailand:
“God’s word is like a representative of God that … guide(s) the lost people to meet the light.”
In this coming season when we rejoice that Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, is sent as God’s Christmas gift for all humanity and all creation, let us also give thanks for the vital ministry of the Lamp of Thailand as it continues to shine Christ’s light into the homes and hearts of the people of this nation.
Invitation to Partner in Mission with Us: We invite you to pray for us, learn about the joys and challenges facing Christians in this region, and give generously to help us raise the financial support that is needed to fund the mission work to which we have been called in Southeast Asia.
Our Mission Interpretation Schedule in the U.S.A. in 2015: We expect to be in the United States for approximately three months (June, July, August) in 2015 to speak at churches, meet with mission committees, pastors, and individuals interested in learning more about Christ’s mission in Southeast Asia. Please contact us at bdawson5@gmail.com for more information about having us visit your church in 2015.
May the peace and love of Christmas be yours throughout the coming new year.
Joyfully in Christ,
Barry and Shelly
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 224
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 235
Read more about Barry and Shelly Dawson's ministry
Write to Barry Dawson
Write to Shelly Dawson
Individuals: Give to E200493 for Barry and Shelly Dawson's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507570 for Barry and Shelly Dawson's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
Double Your Impact!
A group of committed donors has pledged to match all gifts sent by individuals for mission personnel support now through December 31, 2014, up to $137,480. This means your gift today will be matched by a gift to support mission personnel around the world, wherever the need is greatest. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to double the impact of your gift. Thank you!
