2012 LHMT Thanksgiving Banquet

On the evening of November 17, 2012 Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) hosted a Thanksgiving Banquet for many of its supporters and friends.  The purpose of this annual event is to thank God for his continued blessings on the LHMT ministries, to thank the donors for their support during the past year and to do fundraising for the current year.

The LHMT director and staff were very happy to see nearly 200 people in attendance.  As usual, the program started with a time of worship and praise.  Pastor Sarot Komolhatai from Peace of Christ Church in Bangkok shared a message about God’s love and blessing to our ministry.  Peace of Christ Church has been a partner with LHMT for many years.

Every year those who attend look forward to being able to purchase products from the LHMT bookstore and to participate in a silent auction.  This year the auction items were very special.  Jaisaman Church in Samut Songkram provided eight beautiful pictures of King Bhumibol that were done by the Thai artist, Mr. Suwit Jaipom.  Proceeds from the auction were shared by LHMT and Jaisaman Church.  The centerpieces on each table were also on auction and were nice souvenirs for the people who placed the highest bid at their table.  The auction of special items, the sale of the table centerpieces and fund raising have now become a tradition for our Thanksgiving Banquet.

One thing that was new this year was the sale of a number of manger scenes and other special Christmas decorations from the United States.  These proved to be very popular, since Christmas decorations related to the birth of Jesus are not easily found in Thailand.  We also had 10 new donors who gave first-time gifts to our ministry.  These personal gifts are very encouraging and important for LHMT to continue doing its ministry activities in Thailand.

Several LHMT friends provided some entertainment by singing during the dinner.  This always helps to develop an atmosphere of thanks and praise during the meal.  Several people have already volunteered to sing during next year’s banquet.  This year Lutheran Hour Ministries Asia Regional Director, Mrs. Gunya Na Thalang attended the banquet.  She brought greetings from the leaders and staff at the headquarters office in the United States and encouraged the donors to continue supporting the LHMT ministry.

One of our guests was a man who lives in Lopburi, Mr. Hid Maha.  He is over 70 years old and has been supporting LHMT for many years.  Although he has been a friend of LHMT for a long time, he had never met the director or any of the staff personally.  So he decided that he wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with LHMT this year and have the opportunity to talk with the staff.  It was a long trip for him and took a lot of his time, but we are very happy that he came.  The LHMT director and staff really enjoyed finally meeting him and getting to know him.  We thank God for his generous heart and for other wonderful supporters like him.

The LHMT director and staff always enjoy seeing so many friends and supporters join together for an evening of friendship and thanks and praise to God.  We pray for God’s blessing on all who attended and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

 

LHMT Celebrates 20 Years of Ministry Blessings

Every year the director and staff of Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) plan a Thanksgiving Banquet and program to show appreciation to their supporters and others who are friends of their ministry and to do fund raising.  But, this year’s banquet was special. 

On Saturday evening, March 24, 2012 approximately 200 friends and supporters of LHMT gathered together to celebrate their 20th anniversary of ministry in Thailand.  Under the theme “20 Years of Ministry Blessings,” the evening’s program focused on thanking their friends and supporters and thanking God for the wonderful way in which he has guided and provided for LHMT through the past two decades of ministry.

A number of special international guests also enjoyed the festivities.  Lutheran Hour Ministries country directors from Australia, Russia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka arrived a few days before their regional workshop, so that they could attend the celebration.  To make the evening even more special, each of the visiting country directors brought items from their homelands that could be included in the silent auction.

Dr. Douglas Rutt, Director of International Ministries for Lutheran Hour Ministries and Mrs. Gunya Na Thalang, Lutheran Hour Ministries Asia Counselor, were also present.  Dr. Rutt brought greetings from Mr. Bruce Wurdeman, Executive Director of Lutheran Hour Ministries and the staff in St. Louis and gave the message during the opening worship time.  In his message Dr. Rutt talked about the fact that Christianity is not a Western religion, as many people think.  In fact, Christianity is growing in many Asian countries, such as China.  Dr. Rutt also mentioned how good it was to know that LHMT didn’t stop doing ministry during disasters, such as the tsunami and recent flooding in Thailand.  Instead, LHMT used those disasters as opportunities to demonstrate God’s love to the victims by providing for some of their physical needs and by sharing the Good News through Gospel booklets and personal conversations. 

At the end of his message, on behalf of the Lutheran Hour Ministries headquarters in St. Louis, USA, Dr. Rutt presented LHMT with a beautiful lacquer picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

In addition to special music provided by some friends of LHMT, two pastors gave testimonies about how they have appreciated being partners in ministry with LHMT in their communities in the past.  

To help everyone see some of the great things that God has done, a video was shown that highlighted many of the programs and activities that LHMT has done throughout its history.   The lanterns that served as the centerpieces on the tables were reminders that our focus should always be on Jesus.  Attached to each lantern was a note that read, “This light represents the light of Christ in our midst, as we serve together to lead people living in darkness on their Journey Into Light.”  Journey Into Light is the local name for LHMT.

We thank God for his goodness to us and for giving us the privilege of serving him through LHMT/Journey Into Light.  We pray that we will be able to continue serving him for many years to come.

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Government Program Provides Opportunity for Ministry Activity

The LHMT staff had many opportunities to meet and talk with lots of people.

As part of its action plan for 2011, the Suphanburi Provincial Religious Affairs Department, which is under the Thai government Ministry of Culture, is working to have various places of worship in the province provide creative learning opportunities in their areas.  The government wants to enhance the knowledge of the people in the community and to promote ethics and improved quality of life. 

In addition to some of the Buddhist temples and a few other churches, the  pastor and leaders of Pornprasart Church decided to participate.  On July 9, 2011 the church conducted a seminar for nearly 200 people with the theme Restoration of Worship.  They asked Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) to assist by setting up a booth that advertised all of the various LHMT ministries, a booth for selling products from the LHMT Christian bookstore and a game booth. 

Many people were glad to be able to purchase Christian books and materials.

Many people who participated in the seminar visited these booths and talked with LHMT staff.  Some became very interested in the LHMT media materials.  They plan to use the materials themselves and to share them with others. 

A total of 37 people registered to receive the Children’s Bible Correspondence Course (BCC), 33 signed up for the adult BCC and 26 asked to begin receiving the encouraging Gospel text messages on their mobile phones each week to be used in the church. 

Events like this are a good way for LHMT to inform many churches and other Christian organizations about the broad range of their ministry activities and Christian books and other products they have available in their bookstore.  This is also a way to do fund raising and to begin building relationships with pastors and church members.  As more people learn about the LHMT products and ministries, they often invite LHMT staff to lead workshops and other training activities in their communities throughout Thailand.

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LHMT has Ministry Booth and Product Sale at Full Gospel Church Camp

LHMT staff explains to some campers how to use Gospel bracelets

From March 28-30, 2011 more than 400 members from all of the Full Gospel Churches in Thailand met together at Au Manao Hall in Prachuap Khiri Khan for a Christian camp.   LHMT staff were invited to set up a booth with information about the various LHMT ministries and to sell many of the products from the LHMT bookstore. 

Throughout the weekend the LHMT staff had many opportunities to interact with the camp participants, most of whom were not familiar with the ministry programs that LHMT does throughout Thailand.  It was also a good opportunity for the campers to purchase Christian books and materials that will help them to grow in their faith and to share their faith with people in their communities.

LHMT staff helping a camper sign up to receive Gospel text messages

Many good connections between the Full Gospel Church members and LHMT staff were made during the weekend.  A total of 113 people signed up to receive the encouraging Gospel text messages and 82 received Gospel bracelets with colored beads that guide them in sharing the Good News with unbelievers in their families and communities.  LHMT staff will contact each of them in the near future to find out how many times they’ve used the bracelets to tell others about Jesus.  Another 6 people decided to enroll friends in the Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC).  If those people enjoy the BCC, then they’ll enroll others also.

Although LHMT has had a close relationship with the Full Gospel Church in Guiburi for the past few years, setting up the ministry booth and product sale helped make contact with all of the Full Gospel Churches across Thailand.  LHMT looks forward to working together in ministry activities with many of these churches in the future.

2010 Annual Thanksgiving Banquet

All friends and supporters praised God together during the opening worship

On November 6, 2010 from 5:00-9:00pm Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) held its annual Thanksgiving Banquet under the theme “Great is the Lord.”  Nearly 200 friends and supporters enjoyed purchasing products from the LHMT bookstore, bidding on items in the silent auction, and sharing a delicious meal.

Each year the Thanksgiving Banquet is held to thank God for his blessings on our ministry during the past year, to meet friends and supporters, to give an update on our current ministry situation and our plans for the coming year and as an opportunity for doing some fund raising. 

The executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries, Mr. Bruce Wurdeman and his wife Marijane

Special guests for the evening included the executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries in St. Louis, Missouri USA, Mr. Bruce Wurdeman and his wife Marijane and LHM Asia Counselor Ms. Gunya Na Thalang.  Mr. Bruce and his wife spent about ten days in Thailand learning about Thai culture and the ministries of LHMT.  While in Thailand Mr. Bruce was kind enough to share greetings during the banquet, preach at a church in southern Thailand and lead a morning devotion for the LHMT staff.  He and his wife also donated a beautiful cross for the silent auction.  We also want to express our gratitude to Ms. Gunya and our Advocacy Board Members for donating so many wonderful auction items.  The LHMT staff thank them for their generosity.

Rev. Dr. Banjop Kusawadee preaching the encouraging message

We want to give special thanks to Rev. Dr. Banjop Kusawadee, the director of the Luther Seminary in Thailand for the encouraging message during the banquet.  We also thank Mr. Umnuay Ruangchan, the former LHMT radio speaker for singing some special songs and Mr. Ekapat and Ms. Chosita Pongurai, who are LHMT volunteers and supporters, for sharing their beautiful music during the banquet.  Thanks also go to our LHMT staff for leading our uplifting opening worship and to the commissioned volunteers who assisted with the banquet. 

We thank God for a wonderful evening.  Through His blessing and the love and generosity of so many friends and supporters, our annual Thanksgiving Banquet was once again successful and a special time of fellowship with LHMT friends, supporters and special guests.

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Serving God by Servicing Air Conditioners

Mr. Gittipaan Panyamankhong servicing air conditioners

Mr. Gittipaan Panyamankhong has always had a desire to share his faith with others, but he wasn’t sure how he could do that.  With the help of Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand, he now enjoys sharing his faith many times each week.

Mr. Gittipaan’s wife, Mrs. Prasert Panyamankhong visited the LHM bookstore a few years ago.  While there, she learned how LHM does its ministry.  She was impressed and started supporting the ministry by becoming a regular donor. 

When she introduced her husband to LHM, the director was happy to hear about a Christian man who could service air conditioners and hired Mr. Gittipaan to clean and repair the air conditioners in the LHM building.  During his visits, Mr. Gittipaan got to know the LHM ministry and staff.  He told them that he was eager to reach out to other people with the Gospel.  They encouraged him to share his faith with his customers and showed him a variety of LHM materials that he could use. 

Now Mr. Gittipaan enjoys giving LHM tracts and booklets to many of his customers and both he and his wife give monthly donations in support of LHM Ministries.

Mr. Gittipaan Panyamankhong giving donation to LHM Thailand

A Little Can Help a Lot

Ms. Chatchaporn Khomjan turning in the bank to JIL staff

The first time we met Ms. Chatchaporn Khomjan was when we did a ministry booth and product sale at her church.  At that time she told us, “I want to support your ministry so that I can be part of sharing Christ with people.  But, I don’t have much money.”  When we told her about our “One Baht a Day for Christ Ministry,” Ms. Chatchaporn was very interested.  She thought this was a very good idea and took one of the banks and immediately started to put one baht into the bank every day. 

Ms. Chatchaporn was surprised how quickly she filled the bank.  When she came to our Journey Into Light office to turn in the bank, she told us how much she enjoyed putting her money into the bank each day.  When she asked if she could continue, we happily gave her another bank to take home with her.

We have come to know Ms. Chatchaporn quite well, because she has come to our office many times to turn in a full bank and to take another bank home.  She understands that giving “One Baht a Day for Christ Ministry” is not a burden and that she doesn’t need to have much money to be part of sharing Christ with people.  Ms. Chatchaporn says, “Giving one baht a day is easy and a good way for me to show my thanks to God for all the blessings He has given me.”

Thanksgiving Worship and Banquet

LHM Thailand has initiated a special event in the Thanksgiving season to raise local fundraising at the Convention Hall of The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority in Bangkok on Saturday, November 7, 2009.  There were over 150 donors and guests who attended the event.  The Thanksgiving Worship and Banquet went well as planned even though we didn’t reach to the number of guests that we expected. 

At the event all brothers and sisters in Christ worshiped together.  We were blessed because of the work of the Holy Spirit that moved through the power of God’s Word that was shared in the event by the Rev. Ted Na Thalang.  The worship singing, special songs and the testimony for joining the LHM ministry from the commissioned volunteers, Rev. Saeng Sirithienwanichkul and all the activities through the event were pleasant and a blessing.

LHM Thailand had an opportunity to share a CD presentation about our ministries and show how God led and blessed us in many ways and to thank our donors for their generous support to the ministry for proclaiming the Gospel to Thai people and connecting them to the church.  Our donors and guests had lots of fun and a good fellowship time together.  We also had ministry product and the donated items for sale that we could correct for the donation as well.  We were thankful in receiving prayer support and many hands that were willing to offer their voluntary service and offering. 

Director, Mrs. Monta Ekwanit Denow thanked the donors and guests for participating in this event and for supporting the ministry and challenged them to have more burdens for the ministry of the Lord to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Thai people.