Malaysian - Thailand Mission Partnership

Have you ever heard of the Ahka tribe? They are a minority tribe living in the hilly areas of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai of Thailand. Currently they have a population of close to 80,000. They are relatively poor and not favourably viewed by the main-stream Thai people due to their lifestyle and ethnic differences. Thus they are largely marginalised.

Missionaries from Taiwan began work within this tribe initially but due to financial constraints, they had to leave this work. There were 6 churches built at that time. In the year 2000, the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) began to send teams to the area to carry on the work amongst the Akha. The mission work included reaching out to the people through evangelism and social and economic development. Today, the Methodist Church in Malaysia has setup 24 churches within these areas. The key person from Malaysia coordinating the work in Thailand is Pastor Richard Wong who is the Chairman of the Board of Mission for the CAC. As the mission work grew, the Methodist Church in Malaysia decided to join with a local Thai Church in developing it. We thank God that He has provided the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) to form a partnership with MCM in this work. Through this partnership, there will be collaboration in the mission field both in Thailand and in Malaysia through mutual consultation and agreement with each party. CCT and MCM also agreed to offer opportunities to engage each other and share resources in programs that would enhance the mission of the church. The agreement between CCT and MCM was signed in the 23rd of February 2011. MCM was represented by Bishop Hwa Yung and President Boh Che Suan from the CAC. CCT was represented by Rev. Boonratna Boayen, the Moderator of CCT and Rev. Sayam Muangsak, the General Secretary of CCT.

Rev. Boonratna Boayen is no stranger to our land as in the 1960s he served as a missionary amongst the Iban people in Sibu and Kapit. He worked in the long-houses at Sg. Majau and Paku during those years and he was blessed to see the Christians grow there from 1 family to 28 families last year. He was even happier to note that from the initial family he worked with in 1964, 2 of the children then are now pastors working in these areas.

It is in these developments that has made him excited about this newly formed partnership with the MCM. He is looking forward to working with the SCAC and SIAC especially with the Iban people. When asked where he got his energy since he was already 71 years old, he replied that whatever years he still has on this side of heaven was for the Lord as He had only promised 70 years to human beings to live.

May his life be an inspiration to all of us as we strive to serve together in mission both in Thailand and in Malaysia.

By Michael William