Overview

Located next to the main garbage dump for eastern Bangkok are two ramshackle recycling communities housing well over 1000 people, at least half who are Myanmar nationals. Ann Yangjaroen coordinates a thriving community-development network, with people increasingly learning and living the Gospel. 

Highlights

• 15 People received Jesus and began walking with Him.
• 30 children participated in weekly Sunday School.
• Partnered with 8 government agencies, 7 non-profits and 6 churches for outreach, discipleship, education, health care and other services.
• Coordinated 45 volunteers.
• Coordinated special evants, such as annual Thai Childrens Day in January, attended by 280 children and 70 parents, or a Christmas outreach event attended by 150 people.
• Provided financial assistance that helped 30 children to remain in school.
• Helped 5 older children to begin high-school equivalency classes.
• Helped 5 people obtain legal identification.
• Coordinated and trained a team of 7 volunteers in the community.

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Overview

Dozens of women, girls and some young men or boys freelance on the street all hours of the day. Many are older, mentally ill, or runaway teens. Dao and Bpop Phongphatcharawut facilitate a network of volunteers providing:

• Weekly Bible teaching
• Bi-weekly worship event
• Periodic educational and fun activities
• Weekly street outreach
• Home visits
• Service referrals
• Job training and referrals
• Partnership with churches and an NGO that helps street youth.

Off the Streets, Into His Arms

Nid began to know Jesus a few years ago, but was finally baptized and fully changed last year. Dao helped her learn nail painting and get a job. However a sudden illness took her life August 16. This sweet woman was truly a loss to all of us, but we rejoice knowing where she is now. Nid’s son has struggled with heavy addiction but has also been touched by God, and Bpop is working with him towards getting into a Christian recovery program.

Rescued Not Too Soon

Y, who recently turned 10, was living with her grandmother, Chuan, in Chinatown. Chuan is a good lady, and sells street food. However the late-night activity of that area required Chuan to sell until midnight. She was doing her best for Y, but was struggling. Y sleep on the street near her food cart.

Y is both pretty and personable, and men were noticing her, buying treats at convenient stores. It was clear that the streets were grooming her for trouble. She started buying/wearing makeup and doing her nails.

Through a concerted team effort, including spending extensive time with Chuan to build trust, she finally agreed to place Y in the Sapphire Home, where she is now safe, happy and thriving. She has received Jesus, has caught up to grade level in a small private school, and is a joy to everyone.

Other Highlights

• This year we have seen God change desperate lives to lives with hope.   
• A 13 year old girl that Dao and Bpop fostered beginning last year is now reunited with her father.
• A woman with schizophrenia and other illnesses received a lot of healing, and was able to return to her home town.
• Several women were baptized and have been able to stop sex work.
• So far 4 formerly homeless men have been placed in Ruth Center, a ministry under Youth With a Mission.
• The Maitrichit Church, and ethnic Chinese church in the neighborhood, has begun cooperating with the ministry much more actively.
• A growing number of committed Thai volunteers.
• Several volunteers from Southern Califonia are bringing resources, including 2 outreach banquets this year called “King’s Table”.

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Overview 

The dream since the beginning is that Servantworks’ Thailand Ministries would be based around churches, not NGO’s. But for various reasons, perhaps simply God’s timing, while several churches have started–and 2 moved to other locations–none has stuck. But Nam Neung Gaew under Addy Kotchakreng’s leadership is different, in its focus on holistic ministry to all and developing servant leaders following Jesus’ example.

Highlights

• After meeting on Friday nights every week, the church added Sunday mornings in November.
• 90 people came to a recent Christmas outreach.
• 2 were baptized in October.
• The church took on its first intern from Bangkok Institute of Theology.

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Overview

The Sapphire Home for teen girls completed its first year with 3 girls in residence ages 16, 10 and 8. The ministry is a partnership with Kevin and Robin Shipp of Rohnert Park, California, and their ministry, Desire of Nations.

We are serving as long-term partners/consultants, helping with policy and curriculum development, training, recruiting, coaching and outreach. Because of the pioneering nature of this ministry, along with the challenge of finding and preparing qualified workers, the program is growing slowly by design under director Unna Chantasit. The goal is to add 2 more kids in 2026.

Highlights

• N, 16, the first Sapphire girl beginning late last year, has undergone dramatic healing and transformation, from being severely withdrawn to happy and outgoing.
• Y, 10, was removed from a very high-risk situation in a redlight area and is now thriving.
• L, 8, completely abandoned by all family members and unable to read/write, is happy and gaining literacy.

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Overview

This heading includes specific programs and priorities that we incorporate into all programs, as well as targeted training. Our primary long-term goal is to develop leaders that follow Jesus’ example, particularly serving and speaking to and for the needs of the poor and broken.

Highlights

• Dao and Bpop began part-time classes at the Thailand Baptist Seminary.
• Five highschool senior girls are are all preparing for college entrance exams.
• One is in her first year of a psychology major.
• Alumni Gik Sattaphong is doing well as Director of Dton Naam Ministries, In November she visited the U.S. for fundraising and a conference, and had time to spend a few days with us.
• Addy is building a growing network of Christian leaders with a heart for ministry to those with special needs, and is teaching mentoring students at a nearby Bible school.

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Part of our work involves simply staying in touch with folks we know, whether as former students of The Well, or simply someone we got to know. A number are unable to function normally, so we have helped them get into residential programs, and workers visit a few times per year. Others we do our best to stay in contact, whether simply to say hi or provide counsel. Very often we’re asked for money, which we will provide on occasion, being careful to avoid enablement.

Sometimes these contacts turn serendipitous, as we discover that God has prepared someone for a change. For example, Oum, 23, was recently baptized at Nam Neung Gaew. She had spent a few months there with her mother at when Oum was 9, and remembers receiving Jesus with Pastor Sorn. But going back home she drifted out of touch. We happened to contact Oum’s mother right when Oum was going through a difficult time, and Oum and her 2 sisters came to visit. It turned out she had never forgotten Jesus, and still listened to worship songs she had learned those few months. She said she had even refused to go the temple with her grandmother. Oum is now back in her village along with her 5-year-old daughter, and studying Bible and English with us via online.

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