Experiencing Christmas For The Very First Time

 

Book of Acts Church

 

 

Book of Acts Church - Thailand Village

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and prayer

 

Book of Acts Church

This is where we Worshipped last week.

We Worship in places like this often.

The Atmosphere

The Venue

The power of Our Most High

It’s in places like this we sense the Spirit of God the most

Simply powerful

Jesus IS ALIVE here

 

Baptizing Youth - Tears of Joy

What an incredible first day of our youth program at Goshen Cafe/Ministry

On Saturday September 16 2023, we had the profound honor of baptizing some of our youth, a moment that brought tears of joy to our eyes. These young souls, that we visit in a nearby village, eagerly accepted Jesus into their lives and made the courageous decision to be baptized. As they stepped into the water, a tangible sense of God's grace enveloped us all. Witnessing their transformation reminded us that faith is a life-altering experience, a rebirth in Christ. In that moment, old selves were washed away, and new selves emerged. It was a testament to the power of faith, community, and the unending grace of God. What a day!! Thank you my God, thank you!!

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Our House Church - Book Of Acts

With deep gratitude, we cherish the opportunity to come together, bond, uplift, commune, and dine with the wonderful members of our cell group in the village of Ban Khung Khey. Our purpose in visiting was to bolster the spirits of both leaders and members, assuring them that their unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel holds immense value.

The path they tread is unquestionably tough, and the challenges they face can feel insurmountable at times. Often, leaders and members find themselves battling isolation and grappling with thoughts of surrender. Yet, it's vital to recognize that these struggles aren't due to a scarcity of prayers or effort. The task of sharing the message of Jesus in this nation of Thailand often feels distant from the tangible fruits of labor.

Our overarching goal remains to magnify the glory of Christ and guide people towards the light of Jesus. Throughout this journey, we encounter a spectrum of reactions – attentive listeners, those fueled by anger, individuals who harbor destructive intentions, and those who embrace salvation. Let's always bear in mind that even in the absence of immediate outcomes, we're sowing seeds of love, faith, and a tight-knit community.

As we press forward, let the radiance of your faith continue to shine brightly.

 

TO YOU -  LEADERS & CHURCH MEMBERS

"Thank you for remaining faithful to your calling"

Looking For My Friend - Unexpected News

 This is Muean. I took these photos 13 years ago. 

Here's our story: Thirteen years ago, during my time in Thailand, I had the pleasure of meeting Muean, who would later become a dear friend. He served as our reliable Tuk Tuk driver, always there when Daysi and I needed transportation. On one occasion, a driver with mirrored sunglasses and an unyielding expression caught my attention; his demeanor seemed stern and unwelcoming. Against all odds, I proposed, "Let's go with him," and thus Muean became our go-to driver, ferrying us to our destinations. Our dependence on his service deepened, leading us to exchange contact information for smoother coordination. A connection blossomed, eventually prompting us to extend an invitation to him at our home. I recall a day of tumultuous rain and lightning, where Muean intended to drop us off and leave. However, I insisted he stay at our house until the storm subsided. Despite language barriers, a bond grew. To distract him from his fear of the storm, I tried to redirect his focus. The limited communication didn't hinder the bond we formed. Muean's invitation to his home marked the first significant sign of trust. After residing in that area for about eight months, life's currents shifted, and we found ourselves relocating to a different Thai province, leaving behind our cherished connection with Muean. As time passed, our memories of him remained, often coming up in conversations. Fast-forward to the present, 13 years later, we returned to the very spot where our friendship began. Anxious to reconnect, we questioned the current Tuk Tuk drivers about Muean's whereabouts, sharing a photo I had taken all those years ago. Regrettably, the drivers delivered heartbreaking news—Muean had passed away in April 2023. The news struck me profoundly, catching me off guard with its unexpected sorrow. Refusing to leave things unresolved, Daysi and I embarked on a quest to find Muean's family home. With the help of the Tuk Tuk drivers, we located the address and hired a ride to get there. Upon arrival, we met Muean's wife, who didn't recognize us initially. However, the photos from 13 years ago that I still had in my possession brought back memories, and her joy was palpable. Expressing the emotions I felt in that moment is difficult, as I had anticipated reuniting with my friend with immense joy, only to confront the reality of his passing. Rest in peace, my friend. You taught me not to judge based on appearances, as your kind heart transcended the surface. I'm grateful for the brief yet meaningful time we spent together.

Ministry Vision

Our ministry vision for Thailand comes from Matthew 28:19-20 

Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

 

Our Story

If I told the entire story about how God called us to Thailand it would be too long for this post. If I told you all the incredible things God had done leading up to our departure from Canada, how He moved in powerful ways, again it would be too long for this post. So I’ll give you our story in a nutshell. 

In 2008 God called us to go to Thailand in a dream. Sell everything He Said, Your house, your car, and then leave your jobs. I'm relocating you. There was no doubt about this. We did just that, sold our home, we gave our vehicle away, and resigned from our place of employment. We were relocating to Thailand. Now the next question was, how do we get there, what will we do, and whom will we serve with? So, we prayed and prayed. Out of our prayers came the idea of going to a missions training school. So we looked up missions schools and found a couple. After a few phone calls to the schools, we decided to go to Global Frontier Missions in Talaxiaco, Mexico. We went there for 8 months and after graduation we went to Thailand on an exploratory trip. While in Thailand we got connected to an organization and went and served there for one year. Once we felt God calling us to another area of Thailand we moved to Chanthaburi where we lived for 2 years. We opened a community center, pastored an international church, prison ministry, slum ministry, taught English. We spent a total of 3 years in Thailand bringing the message of Hope, serving in community and just loving the Thai people. We left Thailand to go back to Canada unexpectedly because my mom was in critical condition in the hospital. Fortunately she walked out of the hospital to the doctors and nurses amazement. Fast forward about 13 years and again God is calling us back to Thailand. After a recent 2 month exploratory trip back there, connecting with close Thai friends and serving along side of them, we know for certain, Gods calling us back. Our target month is June 2023. We plan on being in Thailand long term once again. We would like to ask you during prayer time, if you would think of us, please pray that God continues to touch the Thai people and that He would bring in the support needed. This is just a small part of a much bigger story, so many God moments, so many incredible stories to tell. If you want to hear our story in more details email us at mikemady@gmail.com and we will connect with you and tell you some incredible stories about God’s love and His faithfulness. Be encouraged, our God is alive and He has a plan and a future for you and me. He remains Faithful and loves us without any strings attached. He IS LOVE 

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If you would like to hear the whole incredible story regarding our journey, please contact us at mikemady@gmail.com, In the "Subject" line write, "I Want To Hear More"

First Step On Thai Soil

 Mike & Daysi Mady first stepped on Thai soil 13 years ago. They served in a place called Phyakaphumpisai, Maha Sarakham. They are going back to where it all began. Target date is June 2023. Here are a few pics of the area where they will step again.

Going Overseas........

 

Going overseas as missionaries to Thailand is an incredible experience. It's a journey that is filled with struggles, joys, and a sense of purpose that is unmatched. As a missionary, one of the biggest struggles is leaving behind family, friends, and the church family that you have grown to love. It's never easy to say goodbye, but the knowledge that you are going to serve God in a new way can make the tears of leaving a little bit easier to bear, you would think. But most times, for Daysi and myself, this is not the case. There's always a flow of tears that accompany the good-byes. It never gets easier. 

Once in Thailand, the work begins. Missionaries work to share the love of Christ with people who may have never heard of Him before. We’ve experienced this. Praying for a woman that has never heard the name of Jesus before. "Unheard" of  today with our abundance of technology. The language barrier can be tough, but the joy of seeing people's lives transformed makes it all worthwhile. It's a humbling experience to be used by God to change someone's life for the better. To see people accept Christ into their hearts is a moment that you will never forget. The tears of joy that follow are a reminder of why you are there in the first place.

However, the journey is not without its challenges. The culture shock, language barriers, and difficulties in finding housing and food can be tough to navigate. Missionaries must adapt to a new way of life, and it takes time to adjust. Homesickness can also be a challenge, as missing family and friends can be a constant struggle. It's important to stay connected with loved ones back home and to lean on God's strength during these times.

Overall, going overseas as a missionary to Thailand is an incredible adventure. It's a journey that requires faith, patience, and a willingness to serve. While the struggles can be tough, the joy of seeing lives transformed makes it all worth it. If you feel called to serve in this way, know that God will provide and guide you every step of the way. He has for us.

Pulling My Hair Out

This is Posh and this is our story……

I have a funny story to tell you. I’ll tell it just like it was told to me by the director of the English program at the school where Daysi and I taught while in Thailand.

 One day after teaching, Nong, the English director, came up to us and introduced us to Posh, a student about 10 or 11 years old. She told us that this boy was at home cutting the bangs of his hair really, really, short. Also, He was pulling his hair out from the back top part of his head! What??!! OUCH!!  True story. Nong is laughing as she’s sharing this story with us. She proceeds to tell us that Posh’s mom caught him with scissors in hand and asked him, in a very surprised voice, “What in the world are you doing?” Posh simply responds with this, “I want to look like teacher Mike!!” If you haven’t seen me before, go to my FaceBook page and take a look. You’ll notice that I really don’t have a lot of hair and I’m pretty much bald on top, near the back of my head, back then, now I’m totally bald! So as Nong continues with the story, still laughing, she says the boy’s mom then asks, “Who is teacher Mike? Is he a cartoon character?!” That’s when Daysi and I lost it laughing. I told Posh, “No don’t do that. You have a lot of hair and there’s no need to cut it or pull it out to look like teacher Mike.” Nong then tells us that Posh, not his real name but a nickname, really loves teacher Mike. Out of all his classes it’s teacher Mike’s class that he loves and pays attention to the most. She said that because he loves teacher Mike, he wanted to look like him and be with him in ALL his classes. WOW!!! Now, why tell this story? What’s the point of telling? Is it to make myself look good and hopefully receive accolades from people? Is this the purpose? No, not at all! The reason I’m sharing this story is this. Not long after the director shared it with us, this thought came to me. Is that the attitude we as Christians, Christ followers, have with our Teacher? Do we love our Teacher so much that we would want to look like Him? The bible tells us we are to be imitators of Christ. (Eph 5:1) What does that mean? It means to copy Him, to follow His example. It means cutting our bangs, pulling our hair out because we love Jesus so much we want to “look” like Him. We want to reflect His image to the world around us.

I was totally humbled by what Posh did, wanting to look like me. It touched me in a way that made me think of my own walk with Christ. Am I willing to cut my bangs, pull my hair out so that the world around me will see Christ……..in me?

Thank You Supporters

Our missionary journey is not possible with out your prayers and financial support.

Christ is touching lives in Thailand because of you.

Thank you

 

Our Community Center - Act 1

 

Did we tell you the incredible story behind this 5 story building we rented in Thailand and used it as a community center? If not and you are interested in hearing the story, drop us an email at mikemady@gmail.com

It is nothing short of incredible how we were able to rent this beautiful building.

I think you may agree.