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"Religion
that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by
the world." James 1:27
The CMA churches in our district have adopted the theme
of "Love your Neighbor", planning outreaches to show the love of Christ in each
church community. These outreaches take place about every other month
throughout the year, and while each individual church will plan and host the
event, leaders from the area churches will gather together to help out. This is
great since some churches are very small and feel like the task is too big to
undertake on their own. Today we joined with Kut Kao Pun Church in their
Mother's Day outreach. Today is the birthday of the Queen of Thailand, and as
such is also a government holiday as well as national Mother's Day. Because of
this, the church decided to plan a special event for the widows in their
neighborhood. There are many widows near the church, and the church has been
concerned for their health and also their emotional and spiritual well being.
In the morning, volunteers picked up the widows, who wore
beautiful traditional Thai clothing, and brought them to the church. The
enjoyed a traditional Isaan "concert" of sorts as different people sang songs
honoring mothers as well as traditional worship songs. Pastor Rahin, the
District Superintendent, shared a message of God's love, and the women were
treated to a special lunch. Following lunch, there were free health screenings
and hair cuts. Children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren (like these
twins pictured here) joined together for this special event.
The women were also honored in a traditional Thai way.
They were asked to sit up front, while the younger people kneeled in front of
them and moved down the row, offering words of thanks and honor, and at the
same time receiving words of encouragement and blessing from these older women.
It's a very beautiful way that the Thai have to honor their elders.
Please pray for these women, for many this was this first
time they heard the message of Christ's unconditional love for them. Pray also
for the Kut Kao Pun Church as they continue to reach out to the widows in their
community.
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