“Christian community is not an ideal we have to realize, but rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate. The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our community is in Jesus Christ alone, the more calmly we will learn to think […]
As we struggle through Bangkok traffic, it’s clear Bishop Chanda can’t wait to reach our destination – the infamous Khlong Toei slum. When he graduated from seminary, he prayed that the Lord would call him to serve a ‘nice’ congregation in a good area. Instead, he was called to serve in the slum. He now […]
Home of Grace is a safe refuge in Thailand for mothers-to-be and new mothers who have been rejected by their family or are in difficult situations and need shelter. At Home of Grace, women are provided with care, love, work training and counselling. They are supported in finding a good solution for themselves and their […]
In a village where more than 95 per cent of people are baptised and actively involved in the life of the church, it would be easy for the local congregation to lose a sense of urgency about mission. But not so for the Lua people of Banden in Thailand’s Nan province. Knowing what it’s like […]
It is well known that the reformation started in 1517 by Martin Luther, but how did it end? Or has it? I am 22 years old, I work as a physiotherapist and am a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Horsham in Victoria. For the past three years, I have been representing the youth of […]
Hoom came to ‘Home of Grace’ directly from a construction site. She was already in the seventh month of her pregnancy. The child’s father had gone his own way before Hoom even knew she was pregnant. She continued working until she could no longer cope with the physically hard work. Hoom called a helpline and […]
As Christian households, we have been uniquely placed by God into our community to offer a welcoming invitation of hospitality, to reach out to those who have no place to go and to let them know there is room at the table for them. God first opened his doors and made room at the table […]
In the cool morning air in northern Thailand, a young woman looks around at green rice fields across a flowing stream, all still partly in the shadow of the forested mountains. The lush vegetation that seems intent on blanketing her Lua community village is filled with the sounds of life. Even at this height, it […]
During our retirement, my wife Ruth and I have been blessed with good health and able to volunteer in a number of countries. In each case, there were new faces, a new language and a different culture. As strangers in foreign lands, we knew there would be challenges. But there were also many kindnesses. When […]
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand is still a relatively new church, which is also true of the growing congregations in Nan Province. It is here that the gospel of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name has transformed the lives of the Lua people, who make up the majority of Christians in this area. Traditionally, […]