Thailand Ministry Team

Many who know Michael Mayo think of the work in Thailand as his mission work. But did you know there are more people involved than just Michael?

This ministry started when Michael; his wife, Lou; and their three teenage children moved to Thailand in 2006. After spending years serving in other locations, they saw a huge need in Thailand, so they chose to go there for more long-term work. It took nearly three years for them to feel comfortable speaking the language, but they did much work while they were learning and establishing themselves in northwestern Thailand. Michael, Luanne, and all three now-adult children still reside in the Chiang Mai area.

Michael (far left) with congregation in MaeLati

Passakorn (Pass–a–gorn) is Michael’s right-hand man. When Michael needs to be in two places at the same time, Passakorn is in one of those places. He knows a decent amount of English and uses that skill to help others understand the ministry work when they visit Thailand. Passakorn is enthusiastic about the ministry and has been trained to do nearly everything that Michael does. He serves cheerfully and wholeheartedly, doing whatever is needed. This includes hosting Bible studies, preaching and leading all other aspects of worship, transporting luggage, driving the students several hours to and from their homes so they can live on campus to attend high school, planning and leading activities and events, and much more.

Passakorn

Five congregations have been planted with help from this ministry. Over 96 percent of Thais profess to be Buddhists, while only 0.05 percent of the people in Thailand claim to be Christians, so this has been an uphill battle—but one that’s gained incredible traction.  Chaichana (Chai-cha-na) is the primary minister at the church in MaeLati (Mae-La-Tay), a village about 225 miles south of Chiang Mai. Due to the road conditions, traveling from Chiang Mai to MaeLati takes about five and a half hours.

Passakorn and Chaichana

Suchat (Sue-chot), Chaichana’s younger brother, is the minister at Thichawmae (Tea-cha-mae), a village located twenty-four miles south of MaeLati. The drive from MaeLati to Thichawmae takes about forty-five minutes when the roads aren’t flooded. Many people in those villages do not have vehicles, which means that separate congregations in MaeLati and Thichawmae are a necessity, not a preference.

Suchet

One congregation is located on the Mayo farm in Chiang Mai, where Michael is the primary preacher. The students who live at the dormitory attend this congregation, so Michael and Passakorn use the opportunity as a training ground. The baptized male students lead many aspects of the worship service, including song leading, communion, Scripture reading, and prayer.

Baptized students leading communion in Chiang Mai

The fourth and fifth congregations meet in houses and are taught by Michael, Passakorn, Chaichana, and Suchat. There is a sixth village where worship services are held on a university campus at least twice a month. There are no Christians at this village yet, but several people regularly attend the worship services there. All four preachers travel many times each month, teaching at more than one village to share God’s Word.

Worship service at a home in Khun Yuam (Coon Yam)

While biblically sound preaching is vital to effective mission work, there’s much more that often needs to occur before people are ready to hear preaching. Jaroon helps with some of the ministry’s projects. He works for the foundation while taking courses to receive training for what is similar to a general contractor or industrial maintenance worker. Jaroon will be able to use the skills he learns in school to help the Foundation expand their water and solar benevolence projects. These projects have proven to be crucial in helping the Thai people to be receptive to the gospel.

Left image: Jaroon (far left) working on water system. Right image: Katchakorn (Jaroon’s sister) and Jaroon

With all the work mentioned above, plus the students who are sponsored, there is a large amount of paperwork and tax documentation to complete. Goong takes care of that. She works full-time for the Foundation, handling the paperwork, which includes the student sponsorships. Goong also books rooms for team members when they’re traveling long distances; cooks or orders food for people; assists with projects (including the library mural she painted in the picture below); prepares tax documentation; and keeps everything else organized.

Goong

The job of office manager has grown large enough that Goong needs assistance. Katchakorn (Gotch-a-gorn) attends school for accounting and has already begun working with the Foundation on a part-time basis. She is Jaroon’s younger sister, and she assists Goong with the large task of accounting and office management.

Katchakorn

These people all perform their benevolence work through their foundation, Open Hearts Helping Hands Foundation. Much like a non-profit organization in the United States, having a foundation gives the workers needed legal status with the Thai government. This allows the helpers to legally operate in Thailand and provide the services they offer.  Being an official foundation also helps the Thai people accept the help that is offered, more than they would if the help was coming from individuals. The volunteers on the board of the foundation are Michael, Passakorn, Chaichana, Suphatra, Ratri, Suphanika, and Michael’s daughter, Rebekah.

Villagers in Khun Yuam before a Bible study

There are many others who help behind the scenes in Thailand by hosting Bible studies, preparing meals, providing transportation, and completing other needed work. In the United States, there are several congregations plus many individuals who sponsor students’ education and help support other ministry work for the Open Hearts Helping Hands Foundation. Students are also sponsored by people in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. The website and financial oversight are donated by individuals in the United States. One hundred percent of monetary donations go directly to the ministry in Thailand. Nothing is kept for overhead costs in any of the countries who help support this ministry.

Ladies of the Chiang Mai congregation preparing their monthly fellowship meal

Why Should I Help?

Why do these sponsorships and this foundation matter so much? In Thailand, the primary religion is Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion where help is not offered to others. In fact, the Buddhist monks go outside the temple three times a day to beg for food. The Thai people, many of whom are very poor and don’t have enough food for their own families, offer food to the monks.

When someone wants to put in sustainable water systems, pay for their children’s education, build libraries in small villages, and figure out other ways to help, people ask why. They are confused about this assistance and want to know what the catch is. When they’re told that the answer is, “Because God loves you,” they want to know who God is. They want to know what God is about. They are open to the gospel.

Worship service in MaeLati

To us, this money helps with food, water, and education. To the Thai people, this money shows them that God is real and that He cares about them enough to send someone to help them break free from poverty and starvation. When their bellies are full and their minds are learning, they want to know more about this Jesus who instructed others to give to the poor without expecting anything in return.