Surin Baptist Church

Children's Day

2008-01-28T04:20:00.000+07:00

Every year Thailand celebrates Children's Day on the second Saturday of January. Children are treated to fun and games at their school, the government offices and the local stores and businesses. Our church traditionally has also celebrated by honoring the children on the second Sunday of January. We usually give all the children in attendance a small gift bag containing candy, cookies and school supplies.

Sunday Evening English Bible Study

2008-01-07T15:48:00.000+07:00

Sunday evenings we have an informal English Bible study at the church (actually, it's held upstairs in our apartment.) We sing, pray and study the Scriptures together. Presently, our regulars include 4 Americans, 1 Filipino, 1 Korean and the rest are Thais (who know some English.) I guess we could be called an International Fellowship. This week Jennifer (in the red shirt) brought her Thai friend (in the pink). This is the second visitor Jennifer has brought to our Bible study. Pray for our visitors--that they might come to know Jesus Christ through this ministry.

Happy New Year 2008 - สวัสดีปีใหม่ 2551

2008-01-03T10:39:00.000+07:00

New Year--new resolutions!! It's been 6 months since the last time I blogged, but I hope to be more consistent in the days and weeks ahead. In Thailand they use the Buddhist year--thus 2551. In fact, Thais pride themselves in noting that Buddhism existed way before Christianity. With patience and love we explain to them from the Scriptures that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." John 1:1,14

Christmas Caroling 2007

2008-01-03T10:00:00.000+07:00

Mr. Biang and family members

Caroling at Mr. Biang's House

Grandma Phem's House

Grandma Noey's House

Mr. Chan's House

Every Christmas a group of us from church go caroling. We usually try to go to the villages where some of our older members live, so we can sing to them.

25th Anniversary Celebration

2007-10-08T19:34:00.000+07:00

Supap giving a testimony

Special Music

Orawan, Uan, May, Ya and their guests

Jim, Pastor Pratuan & his family & Chachawan (Jim's guest)

Pastor Pratuan - our special speaker

We celebrated with a dinner on Saturday night and a special church service--including testimonies--on Sunday. Pastor Pratuan and his family from Nonthaburi province came up to be our speaker. We were so pleased to have several guests attend.

Sunday Meals

2007-06-17T15:08:00.000+07:00

Every Sunday after the morning service our church family and friends gather together around the table (oops...make that the mats on the floor) to enjoy a meal together. We literally have Dinner on the Ground(s). Here are some pictures of this week's meal.

Niang and Nong--our church cooks

The food--yummy!

The servers--May, Ya & Niang

Enjoying the meal

Uncle Mon enjoying his food.

Sunday School Class

2007-06-10T17:09:00.000+07:00

We started a new Thai Sunday School class today. Jim is teaching this class for those who do not speak Northern Khmer. They are studying "Life's Problems" which begins with the story of Job. The Northern Khmer speakers meet in the main auditorium with Mr. Supap teaching them in their own language. They are presently studying the book of Genesis.

Grandpa In's Funeral

2007-06-03T19:05:00.000+07:00

Preparing the gravesite

The casket and flowers

Relatives and Friends

Singing led by Supap

Jim preaching the funeral message

Pastor Chalerm from Satuk Baptist

reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Graveside service

Placing flowers on the casket

Grandfather In's Family

Grandma and her son, Uncle Pat, eating

sticky rice and pork after the funeral.

Northern Khmer Ceremony to Honor the "gods" of Music

2007-04-29T19:09:00.000+07:00

From time to time we would like to include pictures and information about the religious belief system of the Northern Khmer people. This past week Jim had the opportunity to observe a ceremony honoring the "gods" of music. The ceremony was held to call on the "gods" to grant ability to the students who will be learning and using these Thai instruments. The students and their teacher offered a pig head and fruit along with prayers and burning incense.

Ceremony to Honor the "gods" of music

The three idols representing the "gods" of music

Students with their Thai instruments

Praying with burning incense sticks

Family Camp

2007-04-14T11:36:00.000+07:00

Our church hosted family camp this year for several independent Baptist churches, and we had 106 campers from 11 churches attend from April 9th-13th. Two campers made professions of faith. Our theme was "Serving Together with Love."

Meal Time

Games

Preaching

Getting Acquainted

Jumping Tower

Easter Sunday

2007-04-09T11:21:00.000+07:00

We had a beautiful Easter celebration with tables which were covered with orchids set up in the shape of a cross.

Welcome New Missionaries

2007-03-26T13:48:00.000+07:00

Matt & Courtney Jones and their three children--Lindsey, Erica & Trevor along with Amanda Spatz arrived in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday night, March 25th. Matt and Courtney will be attending Thai language school, and Amanda will be teaching their kids. After language study they will move up to Surin province.

House Dedication

2007-03-17T14:00:00.000+07:00

On Saturday morning several of our church members went out to Alaw Village to dedicate Aunt Um's house to the Lord. Aunt Um has an outstanding testimony in her village, and she invited her friends and neighbors to join in and observe as we all sang praises to God and dedicated her home to be a lighthouse of faith in her neighborhood.

Challenge from Scripture

Singing Northern Khmer Songs

Some of Pa Um's Neighbors

Service in Khmer

2006-10-12T13:03:00.000+07:00

"It is more understanding for us to listen to the language which we speak."

That was what people say about the service in Khmer. Most of our members speak this language so we decided to try and we found that they really like it. We use the Khmer Bible and songs which have printed in Thai letters but reading in Khmer words.

Surin Baptist Church 24th Anniversary

2006-08-27T07:45:00.000+07:00

Nate Beckman challenging the church for the future
Making a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord
Enjoying friends and good food!

Mother's Day Celebration

2006-08-15T10:26:00.000+07:00

Mother's Day in Thailand is celebrated on the queen's birthday--August 12th. This past Sunday we honored all the mothers and grandmothers who were present in our services.

Grandma Pem received the honors for having the most children, grandchildren and great grandchildren present--9 in all!

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1:5

Matthew 19:13-15

2006-07-24T09:37:00.000+07:00

This is a picture of the kids that Orawan and I go to teach English every Sunday afternoon. Did you see how cute they are? WE also teach them about GOD.. Please pray for us!!

Celebrating the King's 60-year Reign

2006-06-11T19:33:00.000+07:00

Today our church joined in with the rest of the country in celebrating the 60-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Most people wore yellow which is the king's color. Our musicians began the service by playing the King's anthem while the people sang and held up their yellow flags with the king's emblem. We all read the king's declaration of religious freedom for the Thai people which was issued 37 years ago. Jim preached in the first hour from Romans 13:1-8, and Prayoon preached in the second hour. The Sunday School children colored and made their own flags to wave. It was a special day for all the believers, especially when you consider that Christians here are usually criticized for their faith and accused of not loving their country. Today's special day gave them an opportunity to show that they have not thrown away their great love for Thailand and their king.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 1 Timothy 2:1,2

2006-06-11T18:05:00.000+07:00

Surin Baptist Church Musicians

2006-06-11T17:34:00.000+07:00

Singing the King's Anthem

2006-06-11T17:32:00.000+07:00

Jim Preaching in the First Hour

2006-06-11T17:30:00.000+07:00

Prayoon Preaching in the Second Hour

2006-06-11T17:29:00.000+07:00

Children's Sunday School Class

Tha Sawang Village

2006-06-03T13:03:00.000+07:00

Today (Saturday) Pa Nong, Orawan, Ya, Sai and I went to Tha Sawang Village in Surin. This small village is just 6 kilometers outside of our city limits. Tha Sawang Village has become famous for their skills in silk-weaving. In 2003 this obscure village was chosen to weave silk cloth for all the heads of state, including President George W. Bush, who came to Bangkok, Thailand for the APEC meeting. This year they were chosen to weave 24 pieces of silk for the King of Thailand in celebration of his 60th year on the throne. 128 people have been working on these intricate pieces of cloth 24 hours a day in 3 shifts with 58 people per shift, 6 people per loom since the end of April. They are working on the last 8 pieces, which must be ready for the BIG celebration on June 9th. We were all amazed and impressed with the dedication, hard work, and great skill of these villagers. I was reminded of Paul’s exhortation to us as we work for the King of Kings:

“Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

2006-06-03T11:53:00.000+07:00

Orawan, Pa Nong, Sai & Ya at Tha Sawang Village

2006-06-03T11:48:00.000+07:00

Tha Sawang Village Children in Front of Finished Silk Cloth

2006-06-03T11:45:00.000+07:00

Six Villagers Working Their Shift Weaving Silk for the King

2006-06-03T11:40:00.000+07:00

Close-up View of Weaving Silk for the King

2006-06-03T11:38:00.000+07:00

Weaving Silk for the King of Thailand

Turien Rowe

2006-06-02T19:45:00.000+07:00

Last Sunday we were privileged to have Turien in our morning worship service. Turien and her husband Stu used to live in Surin and were part of our Surin Baptist Church family. Last year they returned to the USA, and we have missed them sooo much! Turien is Thai, but she was saved in the USA. Stu is American, and he became a believer at our English Bible study while living here in Thailand. We are looking forward to having Turien with us for the next several weeks. Pray for Stu while Turien is here in Surin. He’s in the States “holding down the fort.” Actually he’s "moving their fort" from Nebraska to Minnesota. The company he used to work for there rehired him.

2006-06-02T19:44:00.001+07:00

Turien and her nieces

2006-06-02T19:44:00.000+07:00

Turien sharing her testimony

2006-06-02T19:41:00.000+07:00

Music Prelude Before the Service

Introduction to Our Blog

2006-06-01T15:05:00.000+07:00

Dear Friends,

Well, we are making an attempt to get more news in print and photos to you who are praying for the ministry of Surin Baptist Church. Please be patient with us as we work with this new media tool "the blog." We hope this will be a tool for us to better inform you as things happen here half way around the world from most of you.

The color scheme we have chosen is part of the natural color scheme of our people the Khmer-Thai. They are famous for their natural dyes that come out in hues of brown, orange, green and burgandy. Home-woven cloths from around the country can tell people what part of Thailand you come from.

We are expecting big changes in the months and years to come in both the location of our property and style of village ministry. Our first pictures are to remind you of the first place God gave the Church as home.

2006-06-01T10:17:00.000+07:00

Come On Inside!

2006-06-01T10:11:00.000+07:00

Surin Baptist Church

Welcome!

2006-05-31T17:05:00.000+07:00

Welcome to the Surin Baptist Church blog! We will try to keep you posted on all the people, events, and prayer requests of our church family and friends. Thanks for visiting.