The crowd of 500 grew silent as Pastor Prasit asked a trivia question: "What continent was Jesus born on?" Few offered answers and many just looked around puzzled. One man said in a questioning way, "America?" Many were surprised to learn that Jesus was born on the continent of Asia. You see, in Thailand many shrug off Christianity as being the foreigners’ religion. Pastor Prasit informed the crowd that Americans and Europeans did not "invent" Christianity, but that Jesus was from Asia and he came not just for one people, but for the whole world!

Thailand recently experienced the worst flooding in a century which ruined homes, businesses and livelihoods. Many fled as water flowed into the capital city of Bangkok, home to 12 million people, and did not drain for up to two months. As people returned to their soggy homes in December, despair set in for many. One man jumped off a nearby bridge shortly after returning to his home. He had lost hope.

Yet SIM friends have given and continue to give generously. On behalf of our Thai partners, THANK YOU for your sacrificial generosity! Thank you in Thai: ขอบคุณมาก! Our brothers and sisters just outside of Bangkok are deeply encouraged by the compassion of total strangers—YOU. Using donated funds, Thai believers were able to clean homes, businesses and the churches. Many things that were damaged or destroyed have been fixed or replaced.

1000 Christmas Gifts

When the pastor, elders and deacons gathered to discuss how to use these funds to help the community, the idea came to combine flood relief with a Christmas outreach. Every year, the churches host an evangelistic Christmas service for kids and parents in the area. In God's providence and timing, we combined two outreach services with flood relief.

We invited 500 people to each service where we gave each one a special flood relief gift bag or "Christmas present". We made 1,000 relief bags packed with essential items. What a great opportunity to love our neighbors and in a small way relieve some of their suffering.

Yet relief bags were not all that we were able to offer. Our pastor took time to explain to our visitors the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate, rejoice and claim hope—even in the aftermath of this terrible disaster. When we know the King and receive his forgiveness, our earthly losses will seem less significant in comparison. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would lead many of these people into a relationship with Jesus, and into His church, for His glory!

If you would like to donate to Flood Relief efforts, please contact your nearest SIM office or give online to project 98381. Thank you and God bless!

	Flooded homes near Bangkok

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