Graduation Day

Graduation Day is always a special occasion - and this year was no exception. Nine full-time students and seven pastors celebrated the completion of their courses last Sunday here at the Siloam Bible School.

The graduating students line up outside the hall before the ceremony

Thankfully the weather was not nearly as hot as last year, which made the three-hour long ceremony much more enjoyable for everybody involved! The friends and families of the graduating students crowded into the Bible School's meeting hall to watch as diplomas and degrees were awarded in a solemn formal worship service.

Diplomas being awarded - the view from the stage!

After the service, the smiles broke out! Groups of families and friends gathered to take photos with the graduates - who were showered with flowers and other gifts.

Graduates laden down with flowers and gifts

 We have known some of the graduates for five years. Those studying the English Language programme arrived at the Bible School in May 2009, just days before we moved in here. Pete has taught this class almost every term since then - and so it was particularly moving for us to watch them graduate.

With Moody, a graduate of the English Programme

Please continue to pray for these graduates as they move into work and ministry - and also for the ongoing work of the Siloam Bible School in preparing the future leaders of the Karen Baptist churches.

To vote, or not to vote?

Following much uncertainty over the past few weeks, it looks like the Thai national elections scheduled for Sunday (February 2nd) will take place. People in our area of Chiang Mai will be casting their votes under a tent in a clearing just down the road from the Bible School. There's not much doubt over who our neighbours will vote for - we live in one of the most fervently 'Red Shirt' (pro-government) areas in the country.

Our local polling station - all quiet this morning

Nationally, the picture is much less clear. Protests against this election are ongoing in Bangkok, where violent clashes are feared on Sunday. The leaders of the vocal and well-funded street campaign are urging Thais not to participate in this election, which has also been boycotted by the main opposition party. Clashes between these protesters and pro-government supporters have turned bloody over recent weeks, and emotions are set to run even higher over the next 48 hours.

Even after the election process has finished, the official results may not be released for months. Procedural delays caused by the protesters in Bangkok and southern Thailand mean that there are no registered candidates in some districts. In these places, the election will need to be re-scheduled for a later date. In other places, there may not be enough votes cast to validate the poll. Some observers are predicting that it may be several months before a new government can be formed.

In Thailand, elections are generally held on a Sunday - and the polls will be open from 8am until 3pm. Most of our Christian friends go to vote on their way to or from church. Difficult decisions lie ahead for everyone.

Please pray for Thailand over this weekend and beyond.

62 Years

Every time I visit a Karen village, I am struck by some new observation, challenge or insight. Sometimes, it's the sheer beauty of the mountain roads and rice fields. Other times, it's a new understanding of a Bible passage that I've heard shared in church. But most often, it's the people I've met.

Last weekend, I met Reverend Lay Thoo. He is a Karen evangelist, and I heard him preach three sermons in 24 hours - sermons full of life, humour, grace and biblical insight. In fact, I can't remember hearing three more effective bible talks.

Reverend Lay Thoo preaching at the 7:00 Sunday morning service

What amazed me even more, though, is that Reverend Lay Thoo is 86 years old. He has been serving God as a full time evangelist for the past 62 years. That's not just since before I was born - Reverend Lay Thoo has been travelling and preaching since my dad was a baby.

Back in 1952, travel in these areas of northern Thailand was hard - Reverend Lay Thoo would often walk three days between different villages. His heart for evangelism is still as apparent today - he is constantly urging the current church leaders to focus outwards, and to be obedient to Jesus' Great Commission.

Six years ago, when he was 80 years old, Reverend Lay Thoo was called to be the pastor of a KBC church in Mae Sot. He joked that he told the church that 'Moses was 80 years old when he led the people out of Israel, so you should be prepared for some changes ahead!'

What an inspirational leader - 62 years an evangelist - and still going strong.

Siloam Bible School students and staff

As we approach the end of term here at the Siloam Bible School, we had the annual school photograph day. It's an international place - here are the six English programme students, with our four BMS Action Team volunteers, two Karen teachers and a teacher from Nagaland!

Pray for Thailand

Political tensions are high this weekend in Thailand. Following weeks of persistent anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Prime Minister has dissolved Parliament and called fresh elections, scheduled for Sunday February 2nd.

However, the anti-government protests have continued, and following a break for New Year, a major event in Bangkok is planned for tomorrow, Monday January 13th. Protest leaders have dubbed the event the 'Bangkok Shutdown', and they will be attempting to close down the centre of Bangkok, putting pressure on the caretaker government to postpone the elections.

While the protests have been largely peaceful so far, there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence, and at least 8 people have died since the end of November. Early on Saturday morning, unidentified gunmen shot and injured six protesters at one of the key rally sites in Bangkok.

Coup rumours have been circulating for some time, but while an army take-over might calm the situation temporarily, pro-government protesters may then take to the streets. The roots of the current tension run deep, with some people fearing an increasing division between the pro-government north and north-east, and the anti-government groups which are strongest in Bangkok and the South.

So far, the protests have been largely limited to Bangkok, but today other protests will be taking place across the country. There are two rallies, one anti-government and one pro-government, planned in Chiang Mai this afternoon (Sunday). We have been warned to avoid the rally sites.

Please pray for:

• A peaceful resolution to the current stalemate
• Cool heads to prevail in the tense atmosphere of street protests
• The Thai police and security forces as they attempt to exercise restraint in dealing with protesters tonight and tomorrow
• Thai Christians to play a key role in leading dialogue and reconciliation initiatives

Christmas Tour

Yesterday morning, as the sun rose on a crisp December day here in Chiang Mai, the Bible School was a hive of activity. Excited last-minute preparations were hurriedly completed as three teams assembled, ready for the beginning of this year's Christmas Tour.

Staff and students gathering for the start of the tour

Each group of 18 students and staff will be travelling to different Karen villages between now and their return on Boxing Day. This year, for the first time, they will be joined by a BMS Action Team!  Rosie and Sarah are heading to Mae Hong Son, and Hannah and Hannah are joining the team going to Mae La Noi.

Hannah and Hannah with some of their team members

With bags packed and woolly hats ready for the cold weather, each team gathered to pray for safety in travel, and for good opportunities to share the meaning of Christmas with all those they meet. While there is a strong evangelistic element to the tour, the teams will also aim to encourage and inspire each of the rural churches they visit too.

Let's pray...

In amongst the bags were props for various dramas, a few guitars to accompany carol singing visits, and a pre-made picnic lunch of fried chicken and rice.  There was not much room for extra baggage - one truck had 18 people in it!

One of the trucks getting loaded up

Some of the villages which the teams are heading for are among the most remote places in Thailand. The views on yesterday's journey for Hannah and Hannah's team were incredible - unmade roads stretching up into beautifully untouched mountain forests and precariously perched villages.

I came back into Chiang Mai late last night, and the Bible School seems strangely quiet this morning. Please pray for the staff, students and especially for the Action Team as they adjust to life 'on tour'. You will be able to catch up with the Action Team's adventures on their blog once they are back within reach of the internet at http://www.actionteamblogs.org/category/thailand/

Looking back...

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Karen Baptist Convention (KBC) Youth Department.  The young people have decided to make this a special celebration year - thanking God for all that He has done in and through the Youth Department over those years.

So, two weeks ago, the first event took place - the dedication of a commemorative statue in Lampang province, a few hours south of Chiang Mai.  About 150 people traveled from far and wide for the ceremony, held in a location with significant historical importance for the Karen church.

Although there is now no trace of any settlement here, this field was once the site of a Karen village, Ban Nork. In 1881, Karen missionaries from Burma arrived here and began preaching the gospel.  Within a few months, the entire village had become Christian, and the first Karen Baptist church in Thailand was established.

Today, Ban Nork village has moved about 3km away, to a site with a better water supply.  So we had to walk a fair distance to get to the ceremony - and early in the morning, too, as the worship service began at 7:00am. The walk was interesting - the path was muddy and slippery, and infested with leeches!

However, the backdrop of green rice fields and untouched forested hills unveiled a beautiful landscape as the sun rose. It was an amazing sight.

The combination of being in an area awash with great history, celebrating 55 years of God's faithfulness, and the beauty of creation around us was incredibly moving. During the worship service, standing in that field, my thoughts began to turn to the future - particularly for the Karen church.

Looking at the Karen young people around me with all their energy, gifts and skills, I wondered: What might God use these young people to do over the next 55 years? This generation faces new battles - new hardships to struggle with, new barriers to break, new forms of discrimination to tackle.  But could it be that God might use this generation to continue the amazing vision of those early Karen missionaries - not only to reach their own people group for Christ, but to cross borders and cultures, to go to the ends of the earth?