Central Thai

Thailand is a deeply Buddhist nation, with over 92 percent of its population espousing the Buddhist faith. Missionaries have had very little success at penetrating this massive “spiritual wall.”

AFM has ministered to the Central Thai of Thailand since 2011.

About the People

The Royal Kingdom of Thailand (which means Land of the Free) was founded in 1238 in a declaration of independence from Khmer overlords. Bordered by Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia, the country also boasts coastlines on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Thailand exports large quantities of Jasmin rice, silk cloth, silver and silver jewelry, wicker weaving, cabbage, herbs and naturally dyed cotton. Open-air markets carry plenty of fresh produce at reasonable prices, and vegetarian restaurants abound. Temperatures range between 60 and 100 degrees year-round, and the political climate is peaceful.

Thailand is a deeply Buddhist nation, with over 92 percent of its population espousing the Buddhist faith. Missionaries have had very little success at penetrating this massive “spiritual wall.” Only about 1.6 percent of the Thai population is Christian. There are 37 Seventh-day Adventist churches in Thailand, most of which are in the north. Khon Kaen—the focus of the Central Thai Project—has no Seventh-day Adventist presence.

About the Project

The primary goal of the AFM missionaries on the Central Thai Project is to establish an indigenous church-planting movement among Thai Buddhists in Central Thailand. To reach this goal, they live closely among the people, learn the Thai language, study local culture and religion, and build deep friendships. Using what they learn, they will craft evangelistic materials in the Thai Buddhist context. They aim to share Christianity in a way that leads to conversions that are deeply meaningful and lasting. Local converts will be discipled to become leaders in the first church plant, and they will be trained to plant new churches. In this way, the result will be a locally-led, newly-born Adventist Christian movement that continues expanding God’s kingdom in Thailand.

In 2014, the Northern Khmer Project merged with the Central Thai project to begin a multifaceted ministry to Thai Buddhists in Khon Kaen. The newly enlarged team runs a music school and focuses on creating worship music and outreach materials carefully crafted to reach Thai Buddhist hearts.

People-Group Facts

  • Population: 67 million
  • Language: Thai
  • Religion: Buddhism

    Serving this Project

    • Kaitlyn Wright

      Student Missionary for 2022-2023

    • Heather Mariano

      Student Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Sinegugu Katenga

      Student Missionary for 2021-2022

    • Henrique Hubner & Uedila Feitosa Martins Do Patrocinio

      AFM-Brazil missionaries for 2020.

    • Claudette & René Aleman

      Career Missionaries since 2021.

    • Christopher & Shannon Sorensen

      Career Missionaries since 2003.

    • Kyle & Cindi Tumberg

      Career Missionaries since 2012.

    Project Update

    Entered area in 2011

    Incorporated into SDA church in 2021

    • Churches planted — 1
    • Established Peace Music Academy in 2013

    2022 Update

    • Churches — 2 (1 Thai; 1 international)
    • Members — 40

    Previously served here

    • Vanessa Machado Mezalira

      AFM-Brazil Short-term missionary for 2019.

    • Christopher Viar

      Student Missionary for 2019-2020

    • Rachel Bourque

      Student Missionary for 2019-2021

    • Lucacs Souza

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Zoe Shiu

      Student Missionary from 2018–2019.

    • Rachelle Nelson

      Student Missionary for 2018-2019

    • Joao Voos Ramos

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Gabriela Da Silva Messias

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018

    • Bryan Chen

      Student Missionary from 2017-2018

    • Miriam Bernstein

      Short-Term Missionary from 2017-2018

    • Karina Brinckhaus

      Short-Term Missionary for 2018-2019.

    • Melissa Guthrie

      Student Missionary from 2016-2017

    • Danielle Willer

      Student Missionary from 2017-2018

    • Anna Rorabeck

      Student Missionary from 2016-2017

    • Tiffany Steinweg

      Student missionary from 2015-2016.

    • Nina Sanadze

      Student Missionary from 2015-2016

    • Brianna Hoffecker

      Student Missionary from 2014-2015

    • Breanna Thornton

      Student Missionary from 2014-2015.

    • Jessica Richter

      Student Missionary from 2013-2014

    • Mishala Abrams

      Student Missionary from 2005-2006.

    • Robbie & Kelli Doss

      Career Missionaries since 2010.

    • Ricardo & Alicia Palacios

      Career Missionaries since 2011.