| Kit writes – The New Life Center has Moved! In September, the New Life Center received news that the landlord of the Chiang Mai residence that we had been renting had sold the property to a developer. This landlord had graciously rented the property to us at a rate far below market value for over 20 years and she gave us until the end of the year to move out. We praise God for her kindness to the NLCF!
After researching available properties, we finally found an appropriate facility southeast of the city in a suburb called Saraphi. The building is owned by the Women’s Department of the Church of Christ in Thailand (“CCT”), the largest Protestant Christian denomination in the country. The CCT was co-founded by the American Baptist Churches, the Presbyterians and the United Church of Christ and provides me with a missionary visa and work permit that enable me to serve in Thailand.
The NLCF staff were particularly pleased with this choice because it means that the property does not have a history of Buddhist or animist spiritual influences. There is also an active CCT church across the street, and the pastor has kindly offered to allow our residents to play outside on their property as our property has very minimal outdoor space.
The building was built in 2008 and is a beautiful space with parquet floors. The bedrooms upstairs already have beds and bathrooms and can comfortably sleep 7 students per room, plus rooms for the house mothers and offices. The building has been abandoned for the last 3-4 years, so it required some significant clean-up and yard care. But the CCT and New Life Center staff and residents rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to prepare the space so that the residents could move in on Dec 8.
We are so thankful for God’s provision of this new space and our ongoing relationship with the Church of Christ in Thailand!
About Kit Ripley – Kit’s primary ministry is with Imago Art Studio, an outreach of the New Life Center Foundation in northern Thailand. She provides direct clinical care for survivors of trauma including sexual abuse, human trafficking and domestic violence through therapeutic art groups and life-skills workshops. She also promotes spiritual formation through preaching, Bible teaching and facilitating art and contemplative prayer retreats. Additionally, Kit provides support and consultation for the New Life Center administrative team and board of directors, does staff development and training and assists with guest relations |
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