CASE FOR SUPPORT SUGGESTED ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS
1) Meet the team picture:
2) Michael and Hope Johnson came to Thailand on January 13, 1999, some 21+ years ago and God has blessed the work of their hands since the beginning. After 2 years of Central Thai language study in Bangkok, they sensed God’s leadership to move to the Northern most province of Thailand called Chiangrai to begin new work of opening up an English language school as a bridge to bless the community and be a platform for establishing relationships that would lead to the Gospel and ultimately to planning a church. Michael currently serves as the pastor of a church plant called Baan Athitaan Church (BAC) that started in the Johnson home in September/October of 2001. One of Michael’s favorite and main responsibilities is in leading, training and equipping our 5 full time Thai national partners in what it means to serve God with a pure heart and join God in making disciples among 1st generation believers. Michael also leads NTIM’s outreach program called Grace Language School (GLS) where we are able to begin building new relationships with students every two months. What a joy it is to work together as a team and see God reach into the hearts of some of the least reached people groups in our world today and see one of our students from one of these UPGs become the first person in their entire family to become a follower of Jesus. Hope is also very active at BAC especially in the area of music and she also teaches English at GLS. God has also recently given Hope a very special and unique opportunity to serve as Head of School at Chiangrai International School (CRIS) where she is able to be the salt and light of Jesus through this educational platform that she is leading.
3) Sutasinee (Ja) Srijai joined the ministry on June 1, 2003, some 17 years ago, shortly after she graduated with a degree in Accounting from Payap University. Ja is from the 3rd largest unreached people group in Thailand known as the Khon Muang UPG. She became the first person in her entire family to become a follower of Jesus while she was in her 3rd year as a university student. She was introduced to Christ one day while in English class during a time when the English teacher asked someone from Campus Crusade for Christ to come and share the message of Christ in her class. Through God’s leadership, we invited Ja to serve the Lord with us after she graduated from university. Since that time, she has been involved in so many aspects of the ministry. Today, she is primarily involved in handling all of our finances for GLS, BAC, and for Channel of Blessing Foundation (CBF), which, for all practical purposes, is NTIM’s sister foundation in Thailand. She is heavily involved in mentoring and discipling university students and currently mentors and meets with 10 people every single week helping them grow in their walk with Jesus. Ja’s favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:33 which says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
4) Achirawat (Jay) Saelee joined the ministry on November 17, 2009, 11 years ago, shortly after he graduated with a degree in English Studies from Chiangrai Rachabhat University. Jay is from a people group in Thailand known as the Hmong Daw. Jay became the 3nd person in his entire family to become a follower of Jesus while he was in his 1st year as a university student. He was introduced to Christ through Campus Crusade for Christ and shortly thereafter became a student at Grace Language School and became active in Baan Athitaan Church where Michael had the privilege of baptizing him on October 21, 2007. Through God’s leadership, we invited Jay to come and serve the Lord with us after he graduated from university. Since that time, he has been involved in so many aspects of the ministry. Today, Jay is primarily involved in leading our soccer outreach ministry. He is also very active in teaching English and is one of our key translators. He is also very active in teaching the Bible and currently teaches during our university cell group. Jay is also heavily involved in mentoring and discipling university students and currently mentors and meets with several guys every single week helping them grow in their walk with Jesus. Jay’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 37:4-5 which says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
5) Worrawalan (Boom) Taweepanarak joined the ministry on January 3, 2015, 5 years ago, shortly after she graduated with a degree in linguistics from Chiangrai Rachapbat University. Boom is from the Akha UPG, a UPG that is scattered all over Thailand, Myanmar, China, Laos and Vietnam. Boom became the 2nd person in her entire family to become a follower of Jesus while she was in her 3rd year as a university student. Boom was introduced and led to Christ through her older sister (Bum) who had previously been led to Christ by one of our former NTIM team members from the USA shortly after Bum had begun studying English with us at Grace Language School. Through God’s leadership, we invited Boom to come and serve the Lord with us about a year after she graduated from university. Since that time, Boom has been involved in leading various aspects of our youth ministry and currently serves as our Staff leader for university students. Boom also serves as our Administrator for Grace Language School, as one of our key translators, and as our Worship leader. In addition, Boom also serves as one of our English teachers and guitar teachers. Boom is also heavily involved in mentoring and discipling young people and currently mentors and meets with several new believers every single week helping them grow in their walk with Jesus. Boom’s favorite Bible is Hebrews 12:3-4 which says, “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [a]and lose heart. You have not yet resisted [b]to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”
6) Nattapong (Ball) Khakaew joined the ministry on August 1, 2017, 3 years ago, shortly after he graduated with a degree in English Education from Chiangrai Rachaphat University. Ball is from the 3rd largest unreached people group in Thailand known as the Khon Muang UPG. He became the first person in her entire family to become a follower of Jesus while he was in his 3rd year as a university student. Ball began going to a English outreach of GLS at Rachaphat University called “English Corner.” The relationships he developed led him him to a Christmas program at Baan Athitan Church where he received a scholarship to study at GLS and became on of Michael’s students. Many people spoke into Ball’s life and all of us rejoiced greatly on February 25, 2015 when Ball made the decision to become a follower of Jesus. Michael had the privilege of baptizing Ball on September 13, 2016 at Baan Athitaan Church. Through God’s leadership, we invited Ball to come and serve the Lord with us shortly after he graduated from university. Since that time, Ball has been involved in many aspects of the ministry. Today, Ball is primarily involved in teaching English and takes the lead role in organizing and leading our GLS Children’s English program on Saturday mornings for children grades 1-6. Ball is also one of our key translators. He is also very active in teaching the Bible and leading our youth ministry to junior high students. Jay is also involved in mentoring and discipling new believers and currently mentors and meets with several guys every single week helping them grow in their walk with Jesus. Ball’s favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8 which says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
7) Orranee (Bee) Jabor joined the ministry 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 and wants to serve her Lord Jesus. 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.”
8) The Lihaven family – The Lihavens have been “all in” as partners of Baan Athitaan and Grace Language School for three years. As members of a small team from Canada called Crave International, they believe deeply in the local church and are passionate about sharing God’s Word, helping people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and stepping into the gap on behalf of the vulnerable. “Wherever God can use us, we want to be used.” Keith, Taran, Jayda (11), Cody (9)
9) Alexa Walcot – Alexa serves on the Crave International team and has been part of Grace Language School and Baan Athitaan Church since September 2017. Alexa loves to help people discover their role in reaching the nations and is grateful to have the opportunity to share Jesus in one of the least reached areas of the world and disciple others so they can live out Jesus’ commandment to make disciples of all nations.
10) Del Canlas – Del is from the Philippines and is a partner with us through SI. Del served 10 years in China until God closed that door in the last quarter of 2017. After much prayer and counsel, Del sensed God calling her to serve Him in Northern Thailand alongside GLS with focus on Chinese people. God opened this partnership with my sending agency SI and GLS we arrived in Thailand in October 2019.