As I write this update, I am sitting in a local coffee shop and thinking about all of the discipleship and mentoring that happens through the awesome Thai staff that God has surrounded our work with. All of our 5 full time staff are 1st generation believers and committed to evangelism and discipleship. We have introduced three of them to you already but today we want to introduce you to Bee who like Boom, is a 1st generation believer from the Akha Unreached People Group (UPG) and who also serves as NTIM Staff at Grace Language School and Baan Athitaan Church.
As we shared in our last update, one of the great joys that God has graciously allowed me to experience on a regular basis is the joy of seeing 1st generation believers grow in their relationship with God and become true fishers of men and mentors for other 1st generation believers. Jesus said in Matthew 4:19, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Now let me tell you about a Thai hero. Bee is a Thai citizen and is from the Akha people group. Bee joined the NTIM ministry team on September 15, 2017, 3 years ago, shortly after she graduated with a degree in Tourism from Chiangrai Rachaphat University. Bee is from the Akha UPG, a UPG that is scattered all over Thailand, Myanmar, China, Laos and Vietnam. Bee became the 1st person in her entire family to become a follower of Jesus while she was living in a Christian children’s home called “Baan Eden.” We have known Bee since the time she was in the 4th grade when Baan Eden began coming to worship with us at Baan Athitaan Church. We have been a part of this young lady’s life and have tried to work closely with Baan Eden to see Bee grow into the woman she is today who deeply loves the Lord and wants to serve her Lord Jesus. Here is a short video clip of Bee’s baptism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abzj_wZZMGs&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1lq4y-8Wdwf8EDFgl6lrFOYlA397ADCjDvd9cwciS3DSiE6ieqsBuGi1g
Through God’s leadership, we invited Bee to come and serve the Lord with us shortly after she graduated from university. Since that time, Bee has served in many different roles. Today, Bee is primarily involved in handling most of the coordination of things related to Baan Athitaan Church. She serves as our Administrative Assistant at BAC. She coordinates our ministry related to children’s church, related to our outreach to HIV infected children, and related to our building. She also is active in teaching the Bible and leading our youth ministry to senior high students. She is also involved in mentoring and discipling new believers and currently mentors and meets with several people every single week helping them grow in their walk with Jesus.
Bee’s favorite Bible verse is Matthew 5:16 which says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” God has truly blessed the work of NTIM through this young lady and we are glad God has placed here on our team for such a time as this.
Prayer Example: “Lord, thank You for loving us enough to send someone into our lives to tell us about the gospel. We thank You for loving Bee enough to send someone into her life to tell him about the gospel. We thank You for loving others enough to send people like Bee into the lives of others to tell them about the gospel. We want to take this moment and ask You to bless Bee in a very special way. Help her to be salt and light in all that she does. Help her as she serves You faithfully through NTIM at Grace Language School and at Baan Athitaan Church. We ask that You would be pleased to use her to help reach her family, her friends, her neighbors, her own people group, and even other people groups. Thank You for her work with NTIM and how she faithfully serves You each and every day. We pray that You would give her great love and wisdom as she pours her life into discipling young university students there in Northern Thailand. We pray this in Jesus name.”
Today is Day 13 of our Season of Prayer of getting to know and then actively praying for Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), its partners, and all of the various unreached people groups in and around Northern Thailand. Thank you for joining us for this great time of seeking the face of God on behalf of millions who have never heard the message of our Lord Jesus.