Reaching out to the Oppressed

Bahn* was overcome with emotion as he listened to the Bible being read in his native language. It had been many months since he had heard the word of God spoken in his own tongue. As this young man wept with joy, MB Mission church planter Dave Sinclair-Peters put his hand on Bahn’s shoulder and silently offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the privilege of sharing this time with Bahn.

The country in South East Asia where Bahn comes from has many political and social problems. Hundreds of thousands of people from Bahn’s home country have flocked to Thailand to look for employment as migrant workers. As Thailand has become more prosperous, fewer Thai people are willing to work in jobs that are widely thought of as “demeaning” so people from Bahn’s home country have filled the labour shortage. But this people group is often discriminated against in Thai society and experiences much oppression.

Bahn is one of these people who have moved to Thailand to look for employment. He came to Thailand as a believer but did not speak the Thai language and was not involved in any church community. Bahn had been in Thailand for a few months before he met MB Mission church planters Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters.

A few years ago, Dave & Louise started a church plant called the Bethel Church. Now the Thai believers from this church have a burden to see people from Bahn’s people group come to know Jesus. God has filled their hearts with His incredible love for this people group, and a new cell group has been started among a group of migrant workers in the slum of a rice factory.

At first, communication was a challenge because the workers only had a limited understanding of Thai. But then God brought a pastor from the same people group as these migrant workers. Bahn was at the cell group on the day that this pastor first came to the rice factory. He rejoiced as he heard God’s word for the first time in many months and had the opportunity to fellowship with other believers.

On this same day, five other men from this people group gave their lives to Jesus when they heard about God’s love for the first time! These men even chose to take the next day off of work so that they could attend church. Praise God for placing a passion in the hearts of Thai believers to share the good news with this oppressed people group. Pray that those who have chosen to follow Jesus will grow in their faith and that many more will place their hope in Jesus.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. – Psalm 9:9-10

* Name has been changed