Buddhism dominates the religious landscape of southeast Asia, especially in Thailand where more than 93 percent of people are Buddhists. In the midst of this spiritual climate, the Bangkok missionary team of Nate and Maam Beckman and Duane and Hannah Scott are seeing a growing number of people added to Pinklao Baptist Church.

In the last two years, about 10 new people have been saved—an encouraging number considering the difficulty of Thais to stand against family pressure in order to follow Christ. Some seek Christianity because they are disillusioned with Buddhism. Seph was one of these.

He came to Pinklao Baptist wanting to change religions. Buddhism is unique in that it holds to no god. Its concept of sin also differs from the Bible’s definition. Missionaries must begin with foundational biblical truths. Seph embraced these truths and put his faith in Christ. Seeing his changed life and the church’s friendliness, his mother also trusted Christ, as did his father some months later. 

The witness that speaks the loudest to Thai people is fellow Thais whose lives have been changed. It took the Beckmans and Scotts many years to build up Pinklao Baptist Church, but now that they have a growing body of 40-some attendees, Thais are being reached more rapidly as church members are gaining boldness to tell others about Christ.

This year, a woman named Pawn began attending after a church member met her at a bus stop. Maam Beckman (a Thai believer herself) invited Pawn to study the Bible with her, and after a few weeks, Pawn received Christ.

The Beckmans and Scotts have multiple outreaches, including weekly prison ministry and English classes. The Beckmans’ neighbor, Amma, brought her granddaughter to the classes and became interested enough to attend Pinklao Baptist’s English camp. There, Amma opened her heart to the gospel and was saved. As she grows in Christ, Amma will likely have a spiritual impact on her unsaved daughter and granddaughter. 

  The past two years have been a profound season of fruit gathering for the Beckmans and Scotts. A fruit tree takes several years just to establish a root system, and even more years to mature enough to bear crops. After 16 years, Pinklao Baptist Church is reaching that maturity as more people find Christ and leaders are being trained. The Pinklao church planting team is praying that God will raise up a Thai pastor soon, enabling the church to one day be self-supporting under national leadership.