GOD AT WORK. We pray this newsletter finds you well and walking closely with our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been a rewarding quarter for New Heights Ministry (NHM). Our Director of Mission, Jung Dangshing, Pastor Chakrapong, and nine NHM evangelists have been planting seeds of the Gospel to the unreached and harvesting fruit among the growing number of Christians and Churches in northern Thailand. While discipling new converts, Jung has been busy establishing inroads in the Myanmar Refugee Camps along Thailand’s northern border. Many of the Myanmar refugees are of the Karen Tribe and share a common culture with the Karen tribesmen of Thailand. The Thai government has placed very strict rules on visitors and outside influences in the camps to maintain camp safety control. But God has opened doors for New Heights Ministry to make day trips to the camps and meet with the Thai government officials managing the camps. After months of meetings, Jung miraculously received their approval to conduct a week-long Bible Training Seminar in the Maela Ma Luang Refugee Camp in February of 2025. NHM must now overcome monumental logistics problems. The camps have limited electrical power and limited food supplies. NHM must bring in daily food for the fifty Bible training students who will gather in a small government-built structure that does not have electrical power. All NHM missionaries and evangelists will be required to leave the camp before nightfall and will have to stay in the homes of villagers hours away. Please pray that God will provide all that will be needed to make the Bible Training Seminar a success including the continued cooperation of camp officials and providing Bibles in the Karen language. New Heights Ministry is seeking to raise up new Christian leaders and followers who will someday return to Myanmar carrying the Gospel message.
A MAN NAMED PANSAK. In early April, Jung was asked to disciple a Thai man named Pansak Jitsawang who was born to a Muslim father and Buddhist mother, and married a Christian woman. His wife’s witness convinced Pansak that neither Islam nor Buddhism provided what his soul sought. Pansak has been attending the Mae Sariang Christian church regularly and reads his Bible every day. Pansak has a master’s degree in agriculture and has been a guest lecturer at universities and government agricultural research stations. Our NHM evangelists struggled to answer the deep questions about the Christian faith that Pansak asked them. Our evangelists spoke Karen, but their Thai was limited and they felt they were not effectively answering Pansak’s questions. The evangelists ask Jung to speak with Pansak. Jung traveled to Mae Sariang and spent every day for one week helping Pansak understand the Bible and the Christian faith. Pansak wanted to know more about grace, salvation, forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and eternal life given through Jesus. These blessings were so different than Islam or Buddhism. Pansak needed help in understanding why works were important, but not needed for salvation. He struggled with God seeing us as righteous even when we still sinned.
After spending almost a week with Pansak, Jung returned to Chiang Mai before the Songkran Festival (Thai New Year) and agreed to return to Mae Sariang after Songkran. As soon as the Songkran Festival ended, Jung returned to Mae Sariang to continue Bible class for Pansak. Conditions were difficult in Mae Sariang with temperatures reaching 104 degrees F. (40 degrees C.) every day. Jung was thankful they at least had a fan to move the hot air. After two weeks, of intense Bible study, Pansak asked Jung to baptize him. During these same two weeks, NHM Pastor Chakrapong and other NHM evangelists were also conducting Bible training classes in Mae Kah Tai village for other Karen villagers who were preparing for baptism. As a NHM practice, Jung deferred to Chakrapong who leads the Mai Sariang church to baptize Pansak and the Mae Kah Tai villagers. NHM desires to have local pastors and evangelists baptize new believers to strengthen the relationship the new believers have with their local churches.
The baptism ceremony was held on April 24th at Mae Ngao, a small river flowing near Mae Kah Tai, a Karen village where NHM evangelist Duangdee is serving. On April 25-27, New Heights Ministry held a well-received Bible training seminar in Mae Kah Tai village. The financial support provided by NHM made the Bible training possible. Mae Kah Tai is a small Karen village and only two hours driving distance away from Mae Sariang, but Mae Kah Tai has no phone service nor electricity. NHM rented a diesel generator to operate lights, fans, and sound equipment. Many young people came to the seminar and some of them were Myanmar refugees.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. New Heights Ministry supports Christian churches and leaders throughout Northern Thailand to help believers grow closer to God through in-depth Bible training and warm Christian fellowship. Your prayers and financial support are rapidly expanding the Gospel and strengthening the faith of believers. New Heights Ministry strives to meet the basic needs of the tribal peoples of the Golden Triangle. Our community development projects such as constructing concrete freshwater storage tanks and food distribution are greatly welcome in small villages. Last month, New Heights Ministry was blessed to serve Mae Po villagers. Mae Po village is located in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province. Mae Po villagers were originally from a large village nearby that was largely Buddhist and animist. But the Mae Po villagers were recently forced to leave this village because they became Christians. They chose to not fight against this rejection but instead decided to peacefully relocate 20 kilometers away from their home village. There are 41 households in Mae Po village. Mae Po villagers were so comforted and happy to have Jung from NHM to visit them and encourage them in their faith. New Heights evangelist Tawi (photo below) helped Jung distribute the NHM donations of food. Tawi is serving the Mae Po villagers though he is from Mae Hong Son Province and travels every week to Mae Po to minister to the villagers.
OUTREACH. Jung and Chakrapong made several trips to visit the Christian churches in the Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province. Church leaders expressed their desire for support from the New Heights Ministry for Bible Training, food, and community development projects. Jung and Chakrapong prayed with the leaders in asking God to provide for these struggling churches. We desire that God allows us to enter this opened door to disciple and support the churches in this district. Please join us in praying for God’s provisions.
PARTNERSHIP. New Heights Ministry is dedicated to reaching the tribal people of the Golden Triangle for Jesus Christ. Jung Dangshing, along with Pastor Chakrapong and our NHM evangelists are building relationships throughout the region through community development projects, evangelism, Bible training, and medical clinics. Using native evangelists is key to overcoming language and cultural barriers among the native tribes. New Heights Ministry needs your help in recruiting, training, and supporting native evangelists. Would you please pray and ask God if you are to support an NHM evangelist? A donation of $35 (USD) per month will pay for the cost of their transportation between villages. A donation of $75 per month will pay for their food and living expenses. You can support an evangelist through our qualified donation services identified below.
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST. Please pray for the Bible Training Seminar in the Maela Ma Luang Refugee Camp, February 2 to 10, 2025.
JOIN NEW HEIGHT MINISTRY ON MISSION. Brothers and Sisters, you can be a part of the New Heights Ministry Team in sharing the love of Christ in Thailand through prayer, financial support, and/or participating in rural community development projects and medical clinics. Restrictions apply to participating in a rural community development project or medical clinic.
To donate to New Heights Ministry, please click here. Your donations are fully tax deductible.