Courier: Perspectives
Asia: Thailand
Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot
The Hmong District 20th of the Church of Christ in Thailand began with three congregations: Khek Noi church, Khun Klang Church and Pa Kluai Church.
Later, the gospel was announced and spread to the Hmong hill tribe people during the years starting in 1987. There was a place of evangelism and a number of churches were established.
It was not mission workers but the influence of Hmong Christians who had settled in the USA who planted these communities of faith.
In 1989 the Hmong church network resolved to establish a committee for coordination of the a district to be the centre of the mission between the various Hmong churches under the Seventh District Church of the Church of Christ in Thailand and to coordinate with other churches as well as other people or organizations. (This has included Mennonite Mission Network.)
Members of Hmong churches experience life as a double minority: a distinct ethnic group within Thai society, and Christians in a largely Buddhist society.
Living out evangelism thorugh social services in our communities is important. We help people in the community with fixing motorcycles, cutting hair, treating diseases, educating about technology, giving out food, etc.
Every year, we encourage local congregations to participate in community development and services by cleaning up the garbage and clearing the grass on the roadside.
All these things give us a forum to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The popularity of Christmas celebrations in Thailand also provides an opportunity for evangelism. Hmong congregations hold a joint service. Before the service, we distribute flyers in homes, testifying about Jesus Christ, and inviting the community to join.
We are committed to Jesus’ way of peace as we carry out evangelism, pastoral care, church planting, empowering leaders and living out unity.
We also care for each other: about half our chruches can indpendently pay their pastors while the other half are supplemented by donations from HD20 or gifts of food.
In 2016 the 34th General Assembly of the Church of Christ in Thailand resolved to be the Hmong District 20th (HD20) of the Church of Christ in Thailand.
In 2017, we were accepted into membership of Mennonite World Conference.
In 2021, HD20 reported 2 534 baptized members in 38 congregations, all but two of which are rural, in northern Thailand.