January 2025

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Sharon and I want to say thank you for your faithful support in 2024.  As many of you know we took a 30% drop in monthly support starting in August.  We were able to make our financial commitments through to November.  December

12 and under soccer competition.

, however, our savings were depleted, and we still had Christmas outreach commitments to keep.    We sent out an appeal letter asking for special contributions to help with these activities.  We are so thankful to God and you.  We were able to finish out the year with three  outreach activities.

San Pa Ha Christian Church:

In November we held a community sports day on the church. Campus.    Teams from the San Pa Ha Village, and other churches had friendly matches in volley ball, takraw, bae tong, and 5 on 5 soccer.  Over 200 people of all ages came. We had been planning this event for two years. Due to a number of circumstances we had to postpone the event twice.   But we finally pulled it off. And now people are asking about when the next event will be.

Hua Fai School children attending Christmas program

In December we sponsored a Christmas outreach at the Hua Fai School.  YES, we were able to hold a Christmas program at the school!  200 students attended the event.  We partnered with Joel Lillie who has a ministry that donates motorbike helmets to youth.  His organization was able to provide 75 helmets.  So we informed the school head teacher ahead of time to choose 75 students who really needed the helmets.  For the rest of the   students the San Pa

Handing out helmets Hua Fai School

Ha Church donated small gifts bags. The church youth group showed up at church early and made 200 gifts bags, then showed up to   help pass out to the students. Joel gave a short talk on motorbike safety.  I gave a short devotion on the meaning of Christmas.

Youth group stuffing gifts bags

Prayer Request for San Pa Ha Christian Church

1. Pray seeds were planted in the hearts of school children, teachers, and community who came to the sports event.
2. Pray for our leaders, youth group, and members who are reaching out to the community. Pray they are able to build on the outreach activities to build  relationships that will bring others to Christ.
3. Pray for future development of the sports facilities at the Church so we can offer more activities for the community.  MORE TO COME ON THIS EXCITING UPDATE

Nam Ri Christian Church:

Christmas dinner Nam Ri Christian Church

Christmas program Nam Ri Christian Church

Our final outreach for 2024 was at Nam Ri Christian Church.  The whole village was invited to attend and we had a packed house.  Everyone that attended received a gift bag from the church. This year was special for me as I took my workers from the Brook Falls Orchard.  They are not  yet believers, and I had  invited them to attend Christmas at San Pa Ha church but they were not interested.  Then I invited them to come see Nan. Nan is a big tourist destination for Thais during December and January.  But I told them on that Saturday and Sunday they had to attend the Christmas programs at the church.  So three of my workers came along.  It was a cultural experience for them. I have seen westerners go through culture shock. But this was totally different.  My workers are Lahu and Lisu.  The Nam Rii Church is Lua.  My poor workers could not eat the food!!!  It was too strange for them.  Or the seasonings were different or something.  It just goes to show anyone can experience culture shock at any time any place.  The highlight of the Christmas weekend was a baptism.  This was something new for my workers as they had never seen a baptism before.

Christmas baptism Nam Ri Christian Church

Prayer Request for Nam Ri Christian Church

1. Pray for Benz and Pimpa, the two leaders of the church. They are stretched thin. The church has grown so much under their leadership. Pray we can raise up and train members to be elders and lay leaders to come along side these two faithful servants,
2. Although not a part of the Nam Ri ministry, pray for my workers at Brook Falls Orchard who went with me. Pray that what they witnessed and heard will take root in their hearts. Phirapon, Nam, and Nam’s boyfriend.

On behalf of San Pa Ha Christian Church and Nam Rii Christian Church we want thank you for your faithful support in 2024. Pray that the seeds planted in hearts this Christmas season will take root and grow.  We pray God’s blessing on you for 2025.

David and Sharon Filbeck

Thailand Sustainable Ministries