Church in Sansai
Earlier this year, while Nat and I were in Chiengmai visiting her family, brother Peter Lim told me that a village church in Sansai needs to relocate. This congregation of about 2 dozen members, mainly elderly people have been meeting in a shed provided by one of the members. The legalistic members of the church in Chiengmai, led by brother Traw have influenced this family not to allow this church to continue using their premises.

The congregation’s weekly giving is hardly more than $10, but through the 40 years that they have been in existence, they have accumulated a bank balance of $4,250. A 4 acre land, not far away has been offered to them at $12,500. These people are resolved to move out as soon as they have raised funds to purchase the land, even if it is to meet in a tent.

I returned home with this great burden and shared it with the leadership at Pasir Panjang. Immediately the church responded by matching the balance held by the Sansai brethren. When Peter told me that none of the 43 churches whom he approached in Thailand gave anything, the church sent me this past week to see if we can be of further service.

While I was there, word got around about our initiative. On that Sunday, more than a dozen members from small groups nearby without preachers/churches came for worship. We had lunch together and then meet to see what the needs were and how we can meet these needs. It was really encouraging for me to hear each of the men speak with passion and resolution in keeping the faith and staying together as a church. What really impressed me was that the church was already taking a monthly contribution for the relocation in spite of the fact that no one else has upheld their hands.

With us on this trip were two others from Pasir Panjang (pictured on the right), sister Foon Yoong and a visitor, Phay Siew Hua. What they saw and felt during the trip has caused them to donate almost $2,000 to this heroic cause.

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