Thailand

Benedict writes: There are so many opportunities, here! To give one example. There was one man at the pastoral training who spoke a little English. He pastors a church 2 or so hours from Chiang Rai. He gives some very basic pastoral training every Sunday night to the other men present at the training week. But he himself is coming to this basic pastoral training and learning, showing that he is in great need of being taught. Ideally, someone would go to his church to see the situation and to guide and teach and help him. But, the men here simply do not have the time because of all their other ministerial commitments and responsibilities. Sunday was a blessed day. It was a joy to worship with fellow believers in such a familiar manner, even though we were nearly 6000 miles from England. At 9:15am, we had the Bible hour with teaching on chapter 13 of the 1689 Confession, ‘Of Sanctification’; we were well-reminded of the ‘irreconcilable war’ that wages in us between the flesh and the Spirit but were encouraged by the truth that sanctification is a work of God, and he shall complete what he has started. Worship began at 10:45am. We were familiar with two of the hymns that were sung: ‘Praise my soul the King of heaven’ and ‘Before the throne of God above’. The sermon drew our attention to the remarkable richness of Genesis in explaining the origins of the world, of sin, and even of salvation, it being so filled with types and pictures of Jesus Christ. We fellowshipped with the brothers and sisters and were heartened by their commitment and love of the Lord.