Operation World

Sorry for the blog hiatus... here are the country prayer requests from our last few meetings:

1. Particularly Needy People Groups:

• Children in crisis—1+ million child laborers, including 40,000+ sold into sex trafficking as a minor. Tens of thousands of homeless street children. Many are from foreign background. Children are subject to all kinds of abuse and ill treatment.
• HIV/AIDS sufferers—highest infection rate in Asia, with at least 700,000 affected. Much in part to the combination of the bustling sex trade and drugs.
• Students—many are responsive to the gospel, but backsliding is a huge challenge. Pray for the 1.3 million students who remain unevangelized.
• Buddhist monks—number 300,000+ and highly honored in Thailand. High-profile scandals and being targeted by Islamic insurgents in the south have troubled the monastic institution. Pray for Christian outreach to them—many are true seekers and open to the gospel.
• Refugees—Thailand has long been a haven for those fleeing neighboring countries. Notably, the 1.2 million from Myanmar, where many are from persecuted minorities. Most refugees are illegal and face harsh exploitation, from dangerous manual labor, to sex slavery.

2. The historic lack of Thai leadership in churches is part of the slow growth, the failures of rural churches and the lack of vision, but this is rapidly changing. 1,500 attended evangelism training in 2010, and there are 20 Bible schools and seminaries and 17 seminaries and 17 TEE (Theological Education by Extension) centers, in addition to many informal training programs. Pray for the shaping of Christian leaders who demonstrate vision, integrity, and wisdom and who assist in the flowering of a truly Thai Church.

3. Chinese-Thai Christians are a significant minority in the Church, especially at the leadership level. The charisma and financial clout of this community could be very beneficial for evangelism if fully activated. But many are deeply embedded in sin-- prostitution, gambling, drugs. The Chinese-Thai community as in the last few generations increasingly assimilated into Thai culture. Pray for more Chinese-Thai Christians to be called into serving in and supporting full-time ministry.