TURNING THE TIDE OF OPPRESSION

Exodus 20: 3-5: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.”

Thailand is a country filled with elaborate temples and golden deities.  According to recent statistics, over 95% of the population follow the teachings of Buddha, an oppressive religious system that has evolved over time to include elements of animism and ancestral worship. The grand statues and ornate shrines represent the millions of lives bound by fear. People bow to false gods and pray to their ancestors for appeasement and blessing.  Children as young as five years old are sent by their parents to train as ‘novice-monks.’ continuing the hopeless cycle of bondage, hardship and poverty.

But Thailand is not without a witness for the truth.  A team of missionaries is teaching English to turn this tide of oppression; introducing a new generation to the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Children began coming to the Yes I Can English Centre in September, having no knowledge of God; some had never even heard the name of Jesus. From Creation to the salvation message, staff taught the young students biblical truths that are the real key to freedom in Thailand.

The children were from Buddhist families, so the staff of the Yes I Can English Centre had to be inventive in their teachings; emphasizing Jesus as the only Way, the Truth and the Life. With no understanding of a real and involved creator, this was a whole new concept for the children and their families.

Janet Fehr teaches at the centre. She explains that teaching language skills and evangelism are interwoven in this ministry by using activities, games and songs to aid learning; incorporating the salvation message into each lesson.

As well as the English school, Janet and her team manage several outreaches including the Clean House ministry, a free evangelistic outreach for local children.

The Yes I Can English Centre took advantage of the season by hosting the Christmas Concert, featuring a Nativity Scene and Christmas carols sung by the staff. Parents thoroughly enjoyed the show; it was a great opportunity for them to meet the teachers and gain insight into the ministry.

Recently the English school taught the Ten Commandments.  Coming to the subject of idolatry, so rampant in Thailand, staff shared the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: three men who refused to worship hand-carved gods, even when they were persecuted for it.

Simon Crowe

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