LESSON 1: GOD IS ALREADY AT WORK!
There were no walls, no roof and no rows of chairs, only an empty plot of land in Takhro.
Yet as Bpa Kok (“Bpa” (ป้า) is a respectful term meaning “auntie”, commonly used for an older woman) explained how the land had been set aside for a future church, it became clear that the space was already filled with prayer and hope. Her daughter and son-in-law had purchased the land and told her to use it to build God’s church and His kingdom. Her son-in-law, who has cancer and has recently stopped treatment, longs to see the church built in his lifetime.
Standing on the land, our team prayed that the church would be like the wise builder in Jesus’ parable, firmly founded on Christ. We also realised that before God builds walls, He builds people.
That became the central lesson of our trip.
Seven members of AWESOME, a Wesley Small Group, travelled to Takhro and Phaisali, Thailand, in July 2026 to serve alongside Wesley missionaries Jonathan and Phoebe Kong. For many of us, this was our first missions trip and we often felt like “headless chickens” preparing skits, crafts, English activities and Bible stories for children we had never met.
“Standing on the land, our team prayed that the church would be like the wise builder in Jesus’ parable, firmly founded on Christ. We also realised that before God builds walls, He builds people.”
Yet God used us, His imperfect people, for His perfect plans.
At Petchinda School, we began with station games for 230 children and youths. We worried about the weather and how the programme would be received. Thank God that He held back the rain and the students quickly warmed to us. We then shared the Parable of the Prodigal Son through a skit, reflection questions and a craft. We came hoping to bless, but we ourselves were blessed by the school’s hospitality and generosity.
Other moments taught us that missions is not always about explicitly sharing the gospel. At Ban Takhro School, we adapted the Parable of the Prodigal Son into an English lesson and character-building activity. The initial atmosphere felt cold, but gradually warmed as the students and teachers engaged with us. We learnt that faithful service can build trust and open doors for future ministry.
At Nom Samrong, Jon and Phoebe have been supporting a church plant there for about one and a half years, but attendance was often low. We were told to expect only two or three children for our village outreach.
Even so, the local believers prepared in faith for more people to come. Bpa Tom rented a snack cart, while Bpa Chad and the other aunties prepared kway teow. Our team also prepared songs, a skit and crafts, not knowing who would come.
As the programme began, what started with only a few soon grew into a much larger gathering than expected. There was enough food for everyone and we even had to adapt our craft activity because we had not brought enough materials.
That evening reminded us that faithfulness sometimes means preparing before we see the fruit. God could still be drawing people, one invitation, one gathering and one faithful act at a time.
LESSON 2: FAITHFUL PRESENCE AND PRACTICAL LOVE
Throughout the trip, Jonathan and Phoebe gave us a glimpse of what faithful, long-term missions look like. Their love for the people of Takhro could be seen in the way they visited families, nurtured children, built relationships with schools and responded to practical needs. Their love was not merely sentimental, but thoughtful, discerning and sometimes firm.
They may not immediately see the full fruit of every children’s programme, home visit or gospel conversation. Yet in their years of faithful presence, they are planting seeds that God may use to transform future families, leaders and churches.
Our final home visit made this especially clear. We visited families whose homes have few proper walls, limited electricity and face the constant risk of flooding. When Jonathan encouraged the caregivers to give the children more food because they appeared malnourished, they explained that they simply could not afford to do so. He responded by buying milk from a nearby shop.
It was a simple act, but it reflected the heart of their ministry. They not only shared the gospel through words, but also paid attention to the practical realities and responded with compassion.
Sometimes ministry looks like sharing a testimony. Sometimes it looks like teaching a Bible story. Sometimes it looks like buying milk.
Jonathan and Phoebe were careful not to create dependence. As they prepare for their home assignment back to Singapore, they intentionally equipped the local believers so that the ministry could continue without them. Their goal was not to make themselves indispensable, but to help build a church that depended firmly upon God.
On Sunday, we worshipped with the Takhro church members in someone’s living room. There was no worship band, projection screen or formal sanctuary, but God’s people gathered faithfully. It reminded us that a church does not begin when a building is completed. The Church already exists wherever believers worship Christ, care for one another and make disciples.
They may not immediately see the full fruit of every children’s programme, home visit or gospel conversation. Yet in their years of faithful presence, they are planting seeds that God may use to transform future families, leaders and churches.
LESSON 3: ONE ACT OF OBEDIENCE, GENERATIONS OF FRUIT!
One of the most powerful stories we heard was the testimony of Bpa Chad, the first believer in Phaisali. As a young woman, she suffered a serious knife injury and was bedridden for 19 months. An OMF missionary, Pastor Koos, visited her for 14 consecutive days to wash her foot, change her dressings and remind her, “Jesus loves you.”
Those simple acts helped lead Bpa Chad to Christ.
Pastor Koos faithfully shared the gospel and served the people until he was martyred in the 1980s. His death devastated Bpa Chad but strengthened her conviction, and that of many others in the Phaisali church, including the mother of Pastor Rena, the current pastor-in-charge of the Phaisali church.
Despite opposition from her husband, Bpa Chad remained faithful, prayed for him and eventually saw him believe in Jesus. She later taught Sunday School, shared the gospel with others and used the earnings from her seafood business to purchase the land on which the present Phaisali church stands.
Pastor Koos may never have known the full impact of caring for one injured girl or what his death for the sake of the gospel would mean. Yet through their lives, we have seen God reach families, raise leaders and strengthen churches. Bpa Chad’s testimony reminded us that no act of obedience is insignificant in God’s hands.
REFLECTION: WHAT ARE WE TRULY BUILDING?
As Wesley moves towards Vision 2035, the Takhro church challenged me to ask: what are we truly building?
Church facilities matter because they create space for worship, community and missions. Yet alongside every physical structure, we must build people who are rooted in Christ, reach those who do not yet know Christ and disciple the next generation. Otherwise, what is the purpose of having a church building if there are no people being formed to worship, serve and continue God’s mission within it?
We travelled to Takhro thinking about what we could bring. We returned thinking about what we had received: courage from believers who shared their faith freely, generosity from people who had little to spare and a renewed vision of missions as faithful presence over time.
Through Jonathan and Phoebe, we saw that missions is not only a calling to a particular country or ministry role. It can also be a daily willingness to love people patiently, serve them wisely and point them towards Christ. Their example challenged us to consider how we too might live more missionally wherever God has placed us.
We did not bring God to Takhro. God was already there!
The Takhro church building may not yet stand, but the Church is already being built, one child, one family, one testimony and one act of obedience at a time.
We did not bring God to Takhro. God was already there!
PRAYER POINTERS
Believers in Takhro and Phaisali: That they remain firmly rooted in Christ, grow in unity and continue sharing the gospel boldly with their families and neighbours.
The future Takhro church: God’s provision, wisdom and perfect timing for the church building and that the congregation will continue growing spiritually even before the physical structure is completed.
Jonathan, Phoebe and the local leaders: Strength, discernment and perseverance as they disciple believers, develop local leaders and build ministries that can continue sustainably even when they return home to Singapore for their home assignment.
Children and families: Safe homes, sufficient food, good health and strong family relationships and that the children will continue growing in faith and sharing what they have learnt with others.
Church plant at Nom Samrong: That the believers will remain faithful even when growth appears slow and that God will continue drawing children, families and new believers into the community.
Those facing illness and hardship: That they and their families will experience God’s comfort, healing, provision and hope in the midst of uncertainty.
Wesley Methodist Church: That we will not only build physical spaces but also intentionally disciple people, invest in the next generation and live missionally wherever God has placed us.
Missions team: That what God revealed during the trip will continue transforming how we love, serve, give and share our faith back home in Singapore.
Photo courtesy of Wesley Missions
Read also: Enough: Seeing God’s Provision in Timor-Leste
