Pray for Thailand on Sunday, November 1, 2015

Lectionary Selection: Mark 12:28-34

Prayers for Thailand:
God of love and grace, in Thailand, where Christians are the smallest minority of any Southeast Asian nation, give your people the enthusiasm to share the full love of Jesus Christ with those who long for knowledge, who long for peace within and without, and who long for the kind of rightness and true justice that belong to you and your ways. We pray especially for ethnic minorities who come here, hoping for safety, greater economic security, and a home of their own, but who may find the struggle very great indeed. We pray for those who discover that they have become wandering strangers in a strange land, just as our ancestors in the faith were before us. Fill us, O God, with love for our neighbors across the world—love every bit as strong as we love ourselves. We pray through Christ, AMEN.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Thailand:
Who are the Saints? Scripture tells us that all who are committed to the Way of Jesus Christ are Saints. Throughout history the Church has given special attention to followers of the Way whose service and sacrifice have become well-known. Here, in the Church of Christ in Thailand, the first Sunday in November is the Annual Day of Prayer for the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) Social Development and Service Unit, and the World Day of Mercy and Relief.

On such a day, it’s good to remember a Saint who is not terribly visible, even in the church. Call her Dr. Grace – a Christian who holds a Ph.D. and who has served for a lifetime in low-paying teaching or Christian service jobs. She hasn’t sought a name for herself, but she has a passion for education. In retirement, she is still active in tutoring math, in teaching piano, and in supporting the ministries of her congregation, her Church District, and the CCT as a whole. Why is she not terribly visible? Perhaps it’s her gender; perhaps it’s her status as an ethnic minority, perhaps it’s that she never made much money – these factors can cause people to go unnoticed here just as they can in other places.

But think about it: those whom Jesus loved in a particular way were often ones whose names we still don’t know, but who loved God with all their hearts, minds, and strength, and whose love for their neighbor was not far from the Realm of God.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Anne Gregory)

Mission Partners in Thailand:

More information on Thailand: http://www.globalministries.org/thailand

Global Ministries Missionaries in Thailand:
Anne Gregory serves as a missionary with The Church of Christ in Thailand. Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.