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A Campus Ministry of the Churches of Christ
Cheung Doi Church of Christ, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2 May 2003

... for the church here in Chiang Mai...
Amazing - is the best word to describe the last 6 months. God has opened doors all along the way - and He has opened them quickly! I thought the entire fund-raising process would take about 2 years. God did it in 6 months. Our church here has been amazed to watch as God has provided the vision and directed our steps. He used people that I never dreamed would be a part of this project. He moved hearts to sacrifice their time and money in great ways. Thank you for your prayers and partnership. Tears of joy will continue to flow down many cheeks as we realize the power of the Lord in His moving so quickly to bring this project to completion. To God be the glory! - Robert Reagan
Standing in front of the new
Payap Christian Zone building.
Our Plan to Plant More Congregations
We know that our Father wants to have a big family. In 1994 He sent us to begin the Nakorn Ping congregation. By 1998 He had so many children in the village of Baw Gaew that they formed a new congregation. In 2000 He sent out twenty of us to begin the Cheung Doi congregation. We have had front-row seats to see God in action here in Chiang Mai. We praise Him for the 116 people who have been born again since 1994 and the three new congregations. We believe that He is now calling the Reagans and assembling a team to plant another congregation near Payap University in 2004. Already He has put it upon the hearts of many to help lay the ground work for this new venture. After that we don't know if He will use us to start more congregations here in Chiang Mai or to build up the existing congregations, but we all pray that the fire He has kindled here will spread to other Thai cities. What will He do next? Will He send out teams with Thai Christians who grew up in those cities before coming to Chiang Mai to study? Will He call some of you who read this to join those teams? - Sean Todd

Fruit of the Ministry
Baptisms at Payap
Changed Lives
(Quotes from those being transformed)

Tahn*: "When I have a problem, I think about God and He helps me not worry and gives me encouragement. From studying the Bible it has helped me understand others better."

Little*: "God has helped me view others in a good way. In my past I used to do lots of bad things, but now I have stopped doing them because I know that He doesn't want me to do them."

Wah*: " Now that I know more about God, I feel ashamed when I think about committing a sin. He has revealed to me how valuable I am in His eyes."

Yu: "God has changed my thoughts and behavior. No matter what I do, I feel He is with me. So, I'm not afraid. He has given me greater confidence."

Pui: "God has changed my heart to see the non-Christians around me as those who aren't saved yet. Now I want to tell them how much God loves them so that Jesus' death won't be for nothing."

Jack: "Before I met Jesus my life was without direction or purpose. When my father died, I asked a lot of questions that drove me to God. Now I feel I can help others who have similar experiences as me."

Day: "Before I came to know Christ, I thought I could do everything by myself without anyone else's help. Now I understand and I am enjoying telling others that only Jesus can set us free from sin."

Toffy: "God has changed my self-image in a way that is more Christ-like. He has changed my heart to do what I know is the right thing."

Un: "God has taught me how to forgive others and share my love with them."

* Currently studying but not baptized yet.


Amazement & Affirmation
3.4 Million Baht ($85,000) - Only Through God Could this Amount be Raised

Apprentices currently working with the Payap ministry share what they are learning from this victory.


Ben: "My faith is continually being strengthened by seeing the way in which God has provided for the ministry here. This is a true testament to God's power in opening doors for His ministry."

Darby: "When I heard that we had

received enough money, I just wanted to sing praise song after praise song in thanks to God. I saw 'immeasurably more than all we [could] ask or imagine' in real life."

Ann: "This event has again showed me that God has a plan and is leading this ministry in powerful ways. I am looking forward to witnessing God call in the people to fill this building! God is faithful!"

Mitch: "Once again God has provided us with a great lesson about the importance

of Christian unity and fellowship. What a testament to what God can do when Christians work and pray together."

Derran: "I have been greatly encouraged by the support of brothers and sisters in Christ from throughout Asia. It reminds me of how powerful the body of Christ is when united in the Spirit. Praise God for His faithfulness in this work and many others here."


Blessed Be the "Thais" That Bind
Our Hearts in Christian Love...
Churches in Malaysia and Singapore connect to bless the church in Thailand

What began as a dream for the Payap Christian Zone to own their building became for the Malaysian and Singaporean churches a faith- building spiritual exercise.
The call for funds came at a time when the Asian economies were faltering, leading to jobs lost and a bleak outlook.
Yet, many Christians rose to the challenge and gave generously. Churches looked beyond their needs and in faith responded to the call. Involvement came in the form of cash contributions from Christians and churches (no long-term loans were needed!).
Individuals initiated creative fund-raising efforts. The challenge stretched the Asian Christians financially, but it also helped them arise and put faith in God's kingdom reign and to act in faith.
One of the exciting things that arose from this project is the sending of the first batch of Asian interns for training and exposure to missions in Chiang Mai.
Young people spent about a month working with the missionaries in Thailand at the Payap Zone.
Their interaction with the Christians and students of Payap University brought new visitors to the zone and built bridges for further kingdom work.
All these lead to the one exciting observation: the churches in Asia have matured and are helping in concrete ways to help other fellow Asians spread the gospel in this region.
The Christians in these countries have caught the vision and are renewed in their commitment to move beyond their comfort zones to serve God and the people in this region.
Prayerfully, God will use this experience as a springboard to challenge the Asian churches to leap in faith and dive even further into his Kingdom work. God be praised!



Winter Internship

Right during the middle of our fund-raising effort, these four came to work with us at Payap. They helped everyone at Payap feel closer to the brethren in Singapore and Malaysia who were giving so sacrificially for the new building. We hope other teens will follow their lead and come work and train with us in the Chiang Mai Winter Internship.

Dawn: "My life was changed because I saw so many Christians in this Buddhist country singing with all their heart to the Lord and praising Him. It made me feel so small to know that I take so many things for granted in Singapore, especially my relationship with God. I now talk to Him more often."

Eunice: "The new converts and Christians have so much faith in God - they really apply their faith, instead of pure talk. You can tell that from their actions, from their daily requests for prayers. I have learnt to open up more to fellow Christians about my spiritual battles and victories and this has helped me to grow closer to them and God."

Jonathen: "The trip was great. Met lots of old friends. Glad to be able to go and see so many christians in other parts of the world. Thanks Robert for giving me the chance."

Sue Ann: "God is working! God has changed and is changing so many lives through this ministry, including mine. If I look back 20 years from today, my 3 weeks at Payap was an anchor in my faith."

Sue Ann Mak met with Gift (baptized 27 Feb. 2002) and many other girls at the Payap Christian Zone each morning to pray during her internship.

So often we turn to the U.S. for financial help. I admit tobeing stubborn about this, but I refused to go to the States for financial support to purchase these three units.
I wanted it to be a victory for the Asian Churches of Christ. All the funds raised for this project - all 3.4 million Baht ($85,000) have come from Asians and Asian churches!
This is truly a victory for Jesus Christ - a major statement that needs to be heard around the world.
You have helped us bring about this victory! Thank you so much for your sacrifice and your partnership in speading the Good News of Jesus Christ here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Together God used us to bring about this victory! May it all be to the glory of our Father. - Robert Reagan
Retracing God's Lead to Victory
In December 2001 we asked Kon Pak Fook to come to Chiang Mai to lead a weekend retreat at Doi Intanon mountain. He brought along his son Kevin to join in the activities.
While sitting in the building we are currently renting, he and I began to discuss the price of purchasing one unit. I remember him commenting on how much more expensive building prices are in Singapore.
We discussed how it would be a great victory for the churches in Asia to pull their resources together to help purchase a permanent home for the Payap ministry.
In April 2002 we picked up the discussion again and began making steps to introduce the idea to the churches of Christ here in Asia.
At the 2002 Asia Mission Forum in Penang, Malaysia, I discussed this fund-raising idea with a few other Asian church leaders.
It was decided that in August 2002 I would make a trip to Singapore and Malaysia to show a video of the ministry and ask Christians to join us in a partnership. I must confess I was scared to take on such a big project.
God strengthened my faith by opening doors. I asked the owner of the 7-Eleven near the Zone how much it would cost to buy one unit. 		He said he'd check with others. He found one lady who wanted to sell her unit for 1.2 million Baht (about $30,000).
We told her we had too many people to fit into one unit. We requested she ask the owner of two units next to her's if he would be willing to sell at the same price. If so, we'd buy all three. She checked. The other owner wanted to sell too.
I traveled to Singapore and Malaysia and met with leaders of 7 churches. Each church agreed to help!
Then God opened more doors. We requested the owner of the two units lower his price per unit to 1.1 million Baht ($28,000). He agreed. Plus, both owners agreed to pay any transfer fees. So, now the total for all three units was only 3.4 million Baht ($85,000)!

Then, in September 2002 three congregations in Malaysia (Ipoh, Penang and Petaling Jaya) and five congregations in Singapore (AMK-Moulmein, Bedok, Citivision, Geylang and Pasir Panjang) had special contributions, as did our congregation, the Cheung Doi Church of Christ.
Also during this time several churches began to have fund-raisers. Some sold T-shirts and greeting cards; others had a bake sale. Some asked for donations while singing Christian songs on the sidewalk. Some invested in child-safe cutters to sell and gave all proceeds to Payap.
God brought in so much money that we were able to purchase the first 2 of 3 units on 16 December 2002.
Then God brought 15 Pasir Panjang members to Chiang Mai on a mission trip and He brought us four Winter Interns from Singapore and Malaysia. They all fell in love with the ministry and went back home and raised more funds. At times I felt tired of focusing on fund-raising, but by faith, on 21 January 2003, I told the owner of the 3rd unit that I believed we could purchase her unit by the first week of March.
Thank you so much for your support and sacrifice. God has used you to help finish this fund-raising project.

We need your help... God used 10 churches in Asia to sacrifice together to purchase a large, $85,000 building for our campus ministry!

All this money was given in a 6-month period and all of it was given by Asian Christians! It's been a great reminder that when God is behind something He greatly blesses it.

Now that we have a new building, we cannot move in until it undergoes major renovation.

Please pray God will raise up 20 people to give $1,000 each for a total of $20,000 to complete this renovation.

If you are unable to give this amount, please give what you can to be a part of what God is doing in Asia.

By faith, renovation has already started and we will be needing this money by mid May. Make checks payable to "A&M Church of Christ". Put "Payap Renovation Project" in the memo line.

Please address the envelope to:
Kelly Davidson
A&M Church of Christ
1901 Harvey Mitchell Parkway
College Station, Texas 77840

Thank you for your partnership in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. - Robert Reagan


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