As the truck jostled to a halt beside a large cement block pavilion, the passengers—ABWE missionaries Todd and Jen and a Thai pastor named Boon—hastily began unloading tables, chairs, and teaching materials, transforming the farm’s equipment shelter into a makeshift meeting space.
Around them, slender trunks of rubber trees grew in neat lines that extended to the horizon.
Before long, local laborers emerged from under the trees’ leafy canopy. Their excitement grew as they filled the seats, relieved from their fatigue after a long night of tapping latex.
The workers had gathered for one reason: they wanted to hear the gospel.
Two months prior, the owner of the rubber tree farm, a Christian businessman, had invited Boon, known for his passion for evangelism, to briefly present the gospel to his employees while he distributed their yearly bonus gifts of rice. When eight people expressed interest in hearing more, he arranged for Boon, Todd, and Jen to conduct an evangelistic event at the farm.
Todd and Jen had temporarily relocated to the Isaan region of northeastern Thailand from their home in Bangkok to assist Boon and ABWE missionaries Micah and Misti Watkins in revitalizing a church plant. Seeking to equip the handful of dedicated Thai believers for biblical ministry, they provided training in leadership, evangelism, and discipleship.
“It was during the time that we were helping the church find new direction for outreach that this opportunity at the farm opened up,” Todd explained.
At first, they expected only the eight workers who indicated interest.
“Less than a week beforehand, the owner sent a message that 25 people wanted to come,” related Todd. “Over the next couple of days, the number kept increasing, until we realized that more than 30 were planning to show up—nearly everyone from the first gathering.”
Church members volunteered to prepare food, games, and music for the event. When Boon stood up to teach, the crowd stilled. Most of the workers were about to hear the biblical message for the first time—a rare opportunity in their unreached region steeped in Buddhism and spirit worship.
For the next hour, Boon explained the gospel chronologically, employing the “Only Two Paths” illustrated resource that Todd and a colleague developed specifically for the Thai worldview. The audience listened with rapt attention.
“Boon gave a clear call to respond to the gospel, and, praise God, five people chose to accept Christ as their Savior that day!” Todd conveyed. “We were especially excited to see men respond, as reaching men can be difficult.”
Since then, a team from the church, including Micah and Misti, has returned to the farm each month to disciple the new believers and lead a kids’ club. The church is not only becoming rooted in the faith but bearing spiritual fruit.
“By regularly going out there, we’re trying to build more connections in the community and praying that a new church will form,” Todd said.
Misti added: “It’s exciting to see the opportunities that have come out of the farm owner’s faithfulness to share the gospel and the diligent work of the Thai believers in Isaan.”
