Missions Update: A Church Plant Story in Thailand
In May 2021, Ed and Sue Danneker took their first prayer walk in the region of Baan Bo in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand. Our two international workers and three Alliance Thai pastors began to pray blessing on the people that they would open their hearts to let the King of Glory in.
The Baan Bo area is a developing area with over 30,000 people and no visible church yet. Two nearby Thai Alliance churches decided to partner together to see what it would take to plant a new church in this area. They asked Ed and Sue Danneker and Pastor Attapon to move to this under-reached area in 2023 to be the “boots on the ground.”
Our Eastern PA district family joined in praying that many Thai in Baan Bo will come to saving faith and that a church will be planted. Praise God that today a small group of new believers meets together and three from the Baan Bo area were baptized in Fall 2024.
Here are the powerful testimonies shared during the baptism service:
Teeda’s Testimony
Ed and Sue met Teeda shortly after moving to Baan Bo. After her mother, Roong, started her faith journey in October, Teeda accompanied her mom to different Christian events. Teeda was ready to commit her life to Jesus in May 2024.
“I thank God that He found the sheep that was lost. Before I met God, I almost decided to not believe anything, outside of science. I was not a very pleasant person and did not think I needed any help. I thought I could do everything myself. But when I met God, He filled my life with everything.
I want to thank God for His love that is secure and steadfast. And God showed love to my family too. I want to encourage everyone, don’t stop praying to God. Deep in your heart, know that God is with you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be anxious. God loves everyone, whether we are lovable or not.”
Guang’s Testimony
“In February, I started to learn about God. I had just lost my job; I felt like a failure and was disappointed even though I did not do anything wrong. At that time, I did not understand anything about Christianity. With nothing else to do, I followed my older sister, Roong, to cell group. From that time until now, I think of the verse in John 13:7 where Jesus said, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
When I look back, everything was God’s plan. The first day I was out of work was February 1. I did not understand why, but I went to Ed and Sue’s house on February 2 (for the cell group). I remember we studied Genesis. I met Ed, Sue, and Attapon. They showed love and concern to me, even though they did not know me. I felt a warm friendly feeling, and it gave me hope.
To this day, I thank God very much. God changed my heart during those first three months. Then in May, I started studying the discipleship material, ‘Life of the Disciple.’ It was the day I asked Jesus into my heart. And now I am baptized. Thank you, Jesus.”
Goy’s Testimony
Ed and Sue first met Goy’s American husband. As a believer in Jesus, he was concerned for his wife’s salvation. They offered to reach out to her and met on several occasions. But it wasn’t until the end of March when her husband left for six months on business that Goy started to attend cell group. She put her faith in Jesus in June 2024.
“What I have been searching for I have finally found. God has led….and revealed the truth so I that could find Him. I thank God that He has given me eternal life, that I am saved. When I pray, God answers, even though I ask for little things in my life. Now when I have a bad thought or temptation to sin, I feel a warning from God. I want to thank Ed and Sue for not giving up on me, so that I could finally find God.
When I studied at university, I received Christian literature and invitations to Christian events, but I would just throw them away. I wasn’t interested at that time, I thought to myself, I already have a religion. But I still had many questions that I could not find answers. But God through the Bible can answer them. I truly thank God.”
Our Eastern PA district family gave almost $3 million in 2024 to the Great Commission Fund to make Jesus known around the world. In that, many of you also supported Chris Metelsky from Penns Valley Community Church to join Ed and Sue as an apprentice for 2025. He is adjusting well. Thank you for praying and giving!