Christopher & Shannon Sorensen

Career Missionaries since 2003, serving the Southern Thai people of Thailand.

Christopher and Shannon Sorensen launched to Thailand to begin their church-planting efforts among the Northern Khmer people in January 2003. They spent 15 months learning the Central Thai language in Chiangmai. After studying N. Khmer language and culture with Brian and Melissa Mitchell, Margie Jones, and Kelli (Biggs) Doss in Surin, Christopher and his team, along with local Thai pastor Wanlop Intachai, began working on a Bible curriculum to reach the Northern Khmer people and plant an SDA church in Surin province. With the help of a great bunch of student missionaries and local Thai laymen, they also started New Life Radio, Surin. Later Robbie and Kelli Doss joined the team for the Bible study field testing and evangelism phase of the project. In 2014 AFM’s Northern Khmer team merged with AFM’s Central Thai team to jointly develop and publish music and Bible study materials for use throughout the Thailand Adventist Mission. Other major objectives have been 1) the establishment of Peace Music Academy as a joint “Center of Influence” with the General Conference of SDAs and AFM, and 2) the planting of an SDA church in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Today, we sense God’s leading to join our colleagues Brian and Duang Wilson in reaching the Souther Thai Buddhists for Christ in the province of Surat Thani. We praise God for each person brought to Jesus through these projects, and for every one of our faithful friends and supporters who have given so generously over the years to make it all possible!

Frontier Stories

Refining our Message

Recently, Gideon and Pam Petersen came to visit us and lend us their skill and expertise in crafting messages that really speak to the hearts of our Northern Khmer and Thai friends. One question they asked me was, “What is the good news for the Northern Khmer? What does Christ offer them that they currently want—a need that they recognize?”

By: Chris Sorensen
August 01 2012, 9:12 pm | Comments 0

Angel Repairman?

As Tiradate and his son Pu drove together, Pu reached over to turn on the radio. “The radio doesn’t work,” Tiradate told his son, but Pu turned the knob anyway. The dead radio came to life as Chris’ voice filled the car.

By: Chris Sorensen
July 01 2012, 5:59 pm | Comments 0

Ready for Harvest

Recently, my friend and former professor, Dr. Derek Morris, asked me what the most important lesson is that I have learned while sharing Jesus with Buddhists in Asia. One important lesson (though not the most important—to read about that, see Ministry Magazine’s June 2012 editorial page) is that a missionary needs patient endurance and the ability to take prompt action when a golden opportunity arises. As the saying goes: “Rice is not sown and harvested in the same day. Nor will the grain wait on the stalk forever.”

By: Chris Sorensen
June 01 2012, 5:56 pm | Comments 0

John 3:16 Baffles Buddhists

Recently, I boarded a bus returning from our midweek prayer meeting in Buriram. I sat down next to a man about my age, introduced myself and asked him about his family and work. He likewise asked me about my work, which led easily into a witnessing opportunity. I asked him if he had heard much about Jesus. He said he hadn’t.

By: Chris Sorensen
May 01 2012, 5:47 pm | Comments 0

Gifts of Love

Phii Nut is giving her time and service to God, worshiping regularly with us and volunteering for the church by making food for our radio training seminars and decorating for special events like Pastor Timothy’s recent wedding.

By: Christopher and Shannon Sorensen
April 01 2012, 11:15 am | Comments 0

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