Central Thai

  • Pre-Entry
  • Pre-Evangelism
  • Evangelism
  • Discipleship
  • Phase-Out
  • Completed

About the People

The Royal Kingdom of Thailand (which means Land of the Free) was founded in 1238 in a declaration of independence from Khmer overlords. Bordered by Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia, the country also boasts coastlines on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Thailand exports large quantities of Jasmin rice, silk cloth, silver and silver jewelry, wicker weaving, cabbage, herbs and naturally dyed cotton. Open-air markets carry plenty of fresh produce at reasonable prices, and vegetarian restaurants abound. Temperatures range between 60 and 100 degrees year-round, and the political climate is peaceful.

Thailand is a deeply Buddhist nation, with over 92 percent of its population espousing the Buddhist faith. Missionaries have had very little success at penetrating this massive “spiritual wall.” Only about 1.6 percent of the Thai population is Christian. There are 37 Seventh-day Adventist churches in Thailand, most of which are in the north. Khon Kaen—the focus of the Central Thai Project—has no Seventh-day Adventist presence.

About the Project

The primary goal of the AFM missionaries on the Central Thai Project is to establish an indigenous church-planting movement among Thai Buddhists in Central Thailand. To reach this goal, they live closely among the people, learn the Thai language, study local culture and religion, and build deep friendships. Using what they learn, they will craft evangelistic materials in the Thai Buddhist context. They aim to share Christianity in a way that leads to conversions that are deeply meaningful and lasting. Local converts will be discipled to become leaders in the first church plant, and they will be trained to plant new churches. In this way, the result will be a locally-led, newly-born Adventist Christian movement that continues expanding God’s kingdom in Thailand.

In 2014, the Northern Khmer Project merged with the Central Thai project to begin a multifaceted ministry to Thai Buddhists in Khon Kaen. The newly enlarged team runs a music school and focuses on creating worship music and outreach materials carefully crafted to reach Thai Buddhist hearts.

People-Group Facts

  • Population: 67 million
  • Language: Thai
  • Religion: Buddhism

Frontier Stories

Cookie Baking Class?

Please pray for us. As you know, schedules can become filled with all types of activities, and often we can be so busy doing good things that we might miss out on doing the most important ones.

By: Claudette Aleman
January 01 2023, 3:47 pm | Comments 0

The Chronicles of Khon Kaen: A Brief Pastoral and Missionary History of the Khon Kaen SDA Church in Thailand

Dear friends, Shannon and I and our children have been so privileged to be a small link in this long chain of God’s grace that has been at work here for more than 28 years

By: Christopher Sorensen
January 01 2023, 2:55 pm | Comments 0

Goodbye Thailand

Thailand has become home to us, and it has been much harder preparing to leave than it was to come.

By: Kyle Tumberg
January 01 2023, 2:47 pm | Comments 0

Great Friendships

Leaving family and friends behind to live across the world is not always easy. However, God has a way of sending friends our way to bring joy and fellowship.

By: Claudette Aleman
December 01 2022, 4:51 pm | Comments 0

Our New Pastoral Family

I have learned that God continually sends the right people at the right time.

By: Kyle Tumberg
November 01 2022, 12:13 pm | Comments 0

A Shy Seeker

As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded that people all around us are seeking more and are open to God’s Spirit.

By: Kyle Tumberg
October 01 2022, 1:43 pm | Comments 0

Table Games

I thank God for bringing this beautiful couple into our lives.

By: Claudette Aleman
August 01 2022, 1:12 pm | Comments 0

Missionary Puppy!

If I had known that puppies could help us meet people, I would have used this to convince my parents long ago!

By: Lina Aleman
June 01 2022, 2:44 pm | Comments 0

My Friend Namon

The first day Namon came to class, we played with my toy kitchen. Then her grandma came and talked with my parents while Namon and I played with chalk; then she needed to go home. Please pray that my friends and their families will get to know Jesus.

By: Alison Grace Tumberg
June 01 2022, 2:33 pm | Comments 0

Seeing God’s Hand

If I have learned anything over the past decade that I have served with AFM, it is that mission work is truly a walk of faith.

By: Kyle Tumberg
June 01 2022, 12:29 pm | Comments 0

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