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Rice of life:
In the nearby village of Koklang, several believers meet in a cell group. Prasan Latsaboon (see A barber’s blessing) said this group is sustainable. "If Pat (and Rad) are not here, we should be able to keep going," said Latsaboon, who has been studying the Bible, evangelism and leadership. "I’m ready." Latsaboon had taken two months of discipleship training from missionary teachers in 1970. He learned to read the Bible, pray and evangelize. He said it was not enough. Today Latsaboon and the other trainees learn to lead and preach — Latsaboon even joked of evangelizing the field cows during his preaching practice time. Though young, Living Water grows. New Christians, Houmphan said, spread stories of the power of Christ to heal, to comfort and to protect from the spirits the Thai people encounter daily.
Thai Christians can relate, Houmphan said, to the persecuted early Anabaptists, even if most know little of Blaurock and Grebel. They too must defend their faith daily. Houmphan said most of the Living Water church members are poor. Many have only small amounts of education. Their first priorities are their physical needs, then learning discipleship. Specific Anabaptist teachings can come later. "We will come to a point when they see us as Anabaptists practicing theology," Houmphan said. Some already do. Thongbai said the missionaries of her past were consumed by rules. They were in charge; the Isaan believers were the servants. Discipline outweighed forgiveness. Living Water, she said, is new. She hopes it is different. She thinks that it is. She sees the support. She sees grace and forgiveness. She sees the rice and the krajiep. And she smiles. back to page 1 | 2 In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
