Thailand Mission

Each year thousands of women and girls from poorer towns and villages in Thailand flock to cities like Bangkok and Pattaya to work in bars, gogo bars, brothels and massage parlors. Some are sold outright by their families as slaves, where they may end up locked in closed brothels. Others are sent by their families to work in the lucrative tourist sex trade and return the majority of their incomes back home. Some have children of their own that they are hoping to give a better life. But in far too many cases, that dream never comes true.



In the New Testament book of John, Jesus met a woman who, according to the tradition of his culture, was worthless. Not only was she an outcast Samaritan, but she was in a sense the town prostitute, moving from man to man. Jesus showed this woman her true value. He spoke with her with respect, and offered freedom from the inner emptiness that drove and was fed by her behavior. She was so excited to meet someone who brought her past to light in an affirming, non-condemning way that she went and told her whole village about him.



You will be living in a village inside the district of Buriram. This area is in Issan, which is in the poor, north-eastern area of Thailand. There are mostly farmers in Issan, who can't make enough money to provide for their families. Poverty is such a big problem in Thailand which forces many to turn to the sex industry. The prostitutes and influence of the sex industry in Thailand come from the Issan area. Prevention is the main goal and ministry in the villages. In the village you will live among the people and partner with a local woman who was rescued from the bars. She began a center that employs at-risk women and gives them a steady income so that they won't have to resort to the bars. You will come alongside her as a team and continue to build on that foundation.

You will also be serving in the area schools. You will build relationships with the children who are at risk for going into the bars. You will have the opportunity to look into each kid’s eyes, and tell them that they are important and they are valued. There will also be opportunities to do VBS programs following schools to introduce Jesus and how He loves them so much. 

You will also have the opportunity to come alongside the local church in the community.