Mark and Becky Leighton
Missions • Global Missions • Local Missions • Short Term Missions • Conference
So That Thai's May Be Truly Free.
"If the Son makes you free, then you will be really free" - John 8:36
25 Years in Thailand!
In August 1985 we arrived in Thailand with Peter (6 years), Andrew (3 years), and John was born 6 weeks later! We were eager, nervous and uncertain. The two things that struck us as we got off the plane was the late afternoon heat and humidity, and the large number of temples - both seemed so oppressive. When we woke up the next morning neither of us could have imagined that we would be in Thailand 25 years later or that we would be leading OMF Thailand!
Yet, here we are! God has been gracious to us. You have helped us by your prayers! Thank you for your years of commitment to us, many of you for 25 years! You have a heart for Asia. We want to highlight some of the accomplishments and answers to prayer over this time. Though we will not know until heaven all of the answers to all the prayers, we do know that “our labor in the Lord is not in vain” (I Cor. 15:58).
Praise God in the first ten years!
We finally became comfortable and effective in Thai language and culture.
We comprehensively affected many who are still going on with Christ and bearing fruit.
Some for whom you prayed:
Dr Pote–his wife finally believed and he continues in the faith.
Doll (Dukada)–she is still not believing but two of her children have trusted Christ.
Nalinee and Dawsak–we still have a friendship though they have not become Christians.
Churches were established in Lopburi and Phrabaht-both are still functioning under Thai leadership and reaching out to their communities.
Praise God in the next twelve years!
Our ministry became less comprehensive and more extensive through leadership and training.
As Regional Director for Central Thailand 12 more churches were planted.
Becky began facilitating Pre-Home Assignment Workshops (PHAW). She has conducted these in 6 different OMF centers in East Asia and been privileged to encourage over 25% of the missionaries in OMF International as well as some in other agencies.
Mark started Sattha Soccer, opening opportunities to hear the gospel for thousands in Central Thailand. Mark handed this ministry on to younger missionaries, but the opportunities remain.
Lydia House continues to reach hundreds of job-seekers under Thai leadership, after Becky was the transitional leader from missionary to Thai.
Some of you joined us and you all prayed for the love of Christ shown in the English Improvement Courses, now under the leadership of younger missionaries.
Praise God in the past three years!
People are more open to the gospel, coming to Christ and more churches are being established than ever before in the history of the country!We actually enjoy the role of Field Director, which is extensive and intensive, more than we imagined! We have a great support team at the Field Headquarters.
New workers have joined: 48 so far!
We continue to encourage and train for more church planting: our colleagues are involved in 30 church planting efforts throughout the country.
For your ongoing prayers we decided to each have our own section in the “Latest with the Leightons.” We share the role of Thailand Field Director. And while we share some tasks, our approach has been to “divide and conquer!”
Mark's Memo...
The Sattha Soccer ministry in Central Thailand is still going on, even though I am not involved. This July 20 guys came to play soccer and to share Christ. A video about this ministry has been developed so have a look at: The Perfect Game http://vimeo.com/12421639 You will see Pastor Jarern of the Phrabaht Church, for whom you have prayed, and get a glimpse of the on-going ministry. Pray that God would continue to send us people who can creatively do evangelism and disciple making in Thailand. Besides soccer we could use someone with clown, music and art skills.
I did help Sattha (and other ministries) by writing a tract connecting soccer, life and Christ. This tract was published by Kanok/OMF Publishers in time for the World Cup. It was used by Sattha and continues to be used throughout this soccer crazy country. The tract has a link to kwamjing.net, OMF Thailand’s internet evangelism ministry. The Sattha team put the web address on their jerseys too! Many Thai are exploring about Christ on-line. Pray for the tract and kwamjing.net to be helpful making Christ known in Thailand.
Starting in June, I have been teaching Church Planting and Evangelism at Bangkok Bible Seminary. I teach 25 students for 3 hours each week. The semester ends in September. Pray for my teaching to be stimulating and helpful to the students, and contribute toward a church-planting movement.
Becky’s Bit…
One of my ministries is to receive all the prayer letters of our missionaries and conduct the daily prayer at our Thailand Field Headquarters. We are always praying for more workers. If you would like to see me make a few comments about this in a new OMF video, go to this link: The Call for 900 http://vimeo.com/11800495 The answers to prayer give us a lot of joy – just last week we learned of several new believers in Suphanburi and in the student ministry! We praise God that new workers have joined the teams of the Regional Leaders: Bekker’s- four; Visser’s – nine and Callow’s – one!Thanks for your prayers and keep praying for more workers, especially for South Thailand.
Member Development is another one of my ministries. In addition to conducting the Pre-Home Assignment Workshops, I help facilitate leadership training courses for our missionaries. I also meet with all of the women in OMF Thailand for “2-Year-Reviews” to encourage them to keep developing as people and in their ministries. Please pray for energy and wisdom so that I can be a true encouragement to our members on the front-lines of church planting.
Thanks again for your prayers! Because we have been having trouble sending out our email prayer letter, we are trying Mail Chimp. We hope this works. Please let us know, and as always we love to hear from you!
Gratefully yours,
Mark and Becky
Mail Address: PO Box 1100, Don Muang, Bangkok, 10211, THAILAND
OMF International USA: 10 West Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO, 80120, USA
Mark mwl8on@gmail.com
Becky leightonbecky@omf.net