David and Susan’s 11-year ministry in East Asia ended abruptly and dramatically when the COVID-19 crisis forced them to leave their country of service.
They were later refused re-entry. Grieving the loss of their life’s work and searching for God’s guidance, they moved with their family to northern Thailand at the suggestion of ABWE teammates to serve the large population of East Asians residing there.
They discovered that thousands of East Asian families move to Thailand to educate their children in international schools. David and Susan examined the needs of the parents, along with their own skills honed through previous ministry, and decided to launch a language course in their home called “Reading the Bible in English.”
To spread the word among the unbelieving East Asian adults they hoped to reach, David posted advertisements around the neighborhood in their language. On the first day of class, nobody came.
“We sat down and prayed, ‘God, please bring people to our door,’” recalled David.
The second week, one neighbor arrived. The third week brought a lady named Dawn, a nonreligious, divorced mother of a high school girl. Dawn was so fascinated by the class that the next week she brought her neighbor. The following week, she invited more friends.
“Their friends brought more friends, and before the month was out, we had a dozen people,” said David.
The Bible was completely new to Dawn. She, like other East Asians, had accepted the atheism imposed by her government. Now in democratic Thailand, away from public surveillance, she felt free to explore religious beliefs.
At first, Dawn enjoyed reading about Jesus but rejected the concept of sin. After several months of attending the class and visiting a church with David and Susan, her thinking shifted dramatically. She admitted she was a sinner and placed her faith in Christ. So too did the neighbor she had invited.
They were both baptized in August 2024. Dawn emerged from the water jubilant. Later that morning, David noticed that Dawn had changed into dry clothes, but her previous outfit was missing. She replied that she had thrown her wet clothing in the trash.
“My old life is gone; my new life has begun,” she explained.
David and Susan’s witness extends beyond English classes. They invite families, often isolated and lonely in Thailand, to holiday gatherings and help with practical needs. They are able to create instant connections, drawing from their own experience living in East Asia and ability to speak the language.
“This is what God does—he brings people together in fellowship,” said David. “Many seekers see this family dynamic and are so attracted that they want to come to church.”
These new believers are being equipped not only to serve in local churches but to carry the gospel back to East Asia.
Editor’s Note: Names have been changed for security.
