A letter from Sharon Bryant serving in Thailand
Fall 2014 - Being in the Right Place
Dear Friends,
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Rev. Dr. Ann Rogers Brigham preaching in worship at the CCT, our partner church
There is a deep joy that fills my heart each day, for God has put me in the right place and given me work to do that fills my time, uses my gifts, and reveals the work of the Holy Spirit in strange and wonderful ways! While the decision for me to move to Bangkok and work in the Ecumenical Relations Office of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) was made jointly by PC(USA) World Mission and the CCT, it has become obvious to me that it truly was the will of God. The work that I now do with the rest of the Ecumenical Relations staff mirrors what I have been doing with Christian Volunteers in Thailand (CVT), but now I am able to do so much more for so many more people! And the work of Christian Volunteers in Thailand (CVT) is much more visible—so visible that the officers of the CCT have approved three new staff positions: a mission co-worker to share the workload of caring for all mission workers (CVTs and mission co-workers), another mission worker to specialize in child protection and human trafficking, and a Thai to assist with record keeping and support the CCT’s Korean mission workers. While two of these have yet to join us, we have been blessed by the work of Rev. Dr. Ann Rogers Brigham this summer. Ann is the pastor of the Congregational (UCC) Church of Almaden Valley in California. She took a six-week sabbatical to come to Thailand to share in the work and ministry of the Ecumenical Relations Office. She traveled with me as we visited CVT volunteers in seven of the Christian schools of the CCT and led teacher-training seminars for the English teachers in those schools. Her past experience living and working in Thailand and her experience in teaching English as a second language to Vietnamese persons living in California showed in her work with the Thai teachers, our volunteers and me.
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Rev. James Riggins being recognized for his time of service as a CVT volunteer
The Christian Volunteers in Thailand (CVT) program celebrated the completion of service for three of our volunteers at our 2014 Summer Retreat and Training Program at Kanom Beach in August. Rev. James Riggins, Trinh Hagedorn and Caren Martin will complete their time of service in Thailand this fall and start a new chapter in their lives. Trinh and Caren will be returning to the U.S.A., while James has decided to complete a doctorate in cross-cultural ministry through an American university that offers the program by extension here in Thailand. Each CVT volunteer received a pewter plate with elephants and other uniquely Thai scenes around the rim and recognition of their service to the Thai people etched in the center. Fifteen other volunteers attending the retreat, which was largely funded by a grant from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), performed skits that humorously portrayed the service of these three volunteers during their “graduation ceremony.”
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Christian clergy participating in a worship service during a public celebration of the queen’s birthday
One of the unique joys of my work in the ecumenical relations office of the CCT, in addition to hosting visits from many church partners around the world, is the opportunity to participate in ecumenical and interfaith activities as one of the representatives of our partner church. This year, on the birthday of the Queen of Thailand, representatives of the five major religions officially recognized by the Thai government were invited to participate in a daylong celebration. Participating with representatives of the Buddhist faith (94.6 percent of the Thai population), Islam (4.6 percent of the Thai population) and two other religions, the Christian contingent (0.7 percent of the Thai population) included ordained clergy from several Roman Catholic and Protestant groups. We shared core beliefs of our Christian faith through a brief worship service that was broadcast through a public address system to all the people gathered for this celebration. The service included readings from scripture, hymns and prayers for the Thai people and for their queen.
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The graveside service for Miss Eakin in Petchaburi with members of the Ecumenical Relations staff looking on
A sweetly solemn moment in the past three months was the burial of a daughter of American missionaries to Thailand. The ashes of Miss Rosella Louise Eakin, the daughter of Rev. John L. Eakin, were laid to rest in a Thai church cemetery in Petchaburi. Miss Eakin grew up in Petchaburi during her father’s tenure as a Presbyterian missionary in Thailand before and after World War II. One of her final wishes was for her ashes to be returned to her childhood home and interred in the cemetery of the church there next to the grave of her father. Following the morning worship service on Sunday, July 31, 2014, the pastor of the church in Petchaburi presided over a brief graveside service. For those of us who were there, it was another reminder of the legacy of the work of Presbyterian missionaries in this place in years gone by.
• Please pray for the people of Thailand as they work to establish a new democracy and to reunite the country. There is now an interim government in place with general elections scheduled for next year.
• Please continue to pray for the CVT volunteers as they show the love and grace of God to Thai students, and for our CVT alumni as they make the transition into a new chapter in their lives.
• Please pray for the continuing dialog with leaders of other religions in Thailand that God might create more opportunities for us to witness to the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Praise God for the faithful service of our Presbyterian missionaries in Thailand in years past that laid the foundation for the work that we do today.
Thank you for your continuing support of my work and our volunteers. I continually praise God for your generous hearts. Please remember us when you consider the work you will support with a financial contribution this year.
With joy,
Sharon Bryant
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 224
Read more about Sharon Bryant's ministry
Blog: Thailand Tales
Write to Sharon Bryant
Individuals: Give online to E200484 for Sharon Bryant's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507551 for Sharon Bryant's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
