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Rice of life:
On Easter Sunday in Borabu, Thailand, members of Living Water Church paused for the Lord's Supper. From the Gospels, they read of Jesus breaking bread and sharing the wine. Then they shared their own "bread of life" — balls of sticky rice taken from a communal basket — and krajiep juice made from rosella, fruit from a type of hibiscus. Christianity is new for most in the Isaan region of northeast Thailand and Laos, but it arrives with a reputation. Many believe the faith is a Western religion that seeks to undermine Buddhism's near-monopoly of Thailand. Living Water treats bread and wine as cultural manifestations of faith. While the other churches in the region area speak Thai, Living Water uses the regional Isaan language. Worshipers sing praises with Isaan tunes on local instruments. They stand and dance in church, swaying softly, their arms winding and twisting through the air. Actions or objects can be contextualized as long as the truth of Christ remains central, said Pat and Rad Houmphan, mission workers in Borabu since 1996. By presenting a Savior who feels at home in Thailand, Living Water eliminates contextual barriers involved with a supposedly Western religion.
Thongbai Sadlane remembers the mission workers in her small village of Ban Daeng. The medication they gave her mother came with gospel tracts. For years, the workers led a fellowship in the community. When the missionaries left, local leaders carried the fellowship, but the church slowly faded out as the original Thai leaders aged. When the Houmphans first came to her village, only three Christians remained. Living Water now hosts a congregation of nearly 40 people in Ban Daeng. "Maybe the church fell because we were lacking leaders. We should be doing more leadership training for the young now," Thongbai said. A half-dozen church members are working through self-study programs with materials from the Alliance church. Houmphan said the group regularly meets with mentors — Thongbai and Living Water pastor Samarn Senavong — to talk about how to apply what they learn. "We’re missionaries. Someday we'll be leaving. We have to empower leaders for when we’re gone," Houmphan said. "Leading them to know Christ is only the first step. To nurture them so they become mature and strong Christians takes more time." In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
