Ruth, having invested many years in some of IM’s educational ministries in Thailand, is currently serving on special assignment as a regional consultant based in the U.S. In this role, she is working globally to establish baselines and strategies in line with the goals International Ministries has established through the Responding to the Call initiatives for education. She is also assisting the Mission Mobilization team to identify global opportunities for teachers and aid in recruitment.

 Ruth writes – Your help is needed in Thailand!  Did you know that there are 30 Christian Thai schools connected to International Ministries through the Church of Christ in Thailand and the Christian Service Foundation?  Additionally, we have a relationship with the Chiang Rai International Christian School.  What do they all have in common?  They need teachers! I was privileged to meet with the directors and managers of these schools over a 5-day educational consultation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was an important time of mutual sharing and discernment as together we looked at the meaning of the partnership.

The Thai Christian schools face many challenges today.  The government has created public schools in areas where missionaries originally began to work and these have caused competition for them.  In particular, the Thai schools would like to have native English speakers come to introduce English in the classroom.  Is this something that you or someone you know might be willing to consider for a year or two?

In addition to my visits with these formal educational institutions, I was introduced to the excellent work that our IM Global Servants in Thailand are doing with education in the larger context of their programs.  Over the month of my visit, I was privileged to meet up with:

• Annie Dieselberg, who is needing support for 30 children of the women who come out of the bars and brothels to a healthier and more wholesome way of life;
• Kim Brown, who is helping 60+ children through the House of Blessing, a ministry designed to help pre-school children from the slums of Chiang Mai to get a head start; she also supports education for 48 children and adults with disabilities and 26 disadvantaged children (K-12);
• Jeni Pedzinski and Kit Ripley, who both work in various capacities at the New Life Center which provides support and scholarships for 350 students in high school and university, as well as vocational training
• Scott Coats, who has been able to encourage scholarships from the Bangkok Christian Guesthouse (15), Milagros (8) and the Thailand Girls’ Scholarship Fund (16)
• Pisamai, Administrative Assistant for STEP – Chiang Rai which is helping 30 students

Many lives are being changed through educational opportunities being offered through these programs.  Thank you for reading, thinking about and considering these programs.  Please prayerfully contemplate how you might participate in supporting any or all of these ministries that bring hope and open new doors for the children of Thailand.

Thank you for supporting me as I respond to the many educational IM programs we have around the world.  I am tasked to help find resources, recruit teachers, provide training, and help create partnerships or networks where appropriate.  Please continue to pray for me as I continue my journey as an IM Global Servant in the area of education.

Read Ruth’s full journal at https://internationalministries.org/stories-from-the-front-lines-thailand/