“We aren’t anything special – so God can use us.”

Ron and Kathy (names changed for security reasons) have made several trips from Bangkok to the northern part of Thailand. They rent a car, which is cheaper than owning one.

The couple says once you get out of Bangkok the traffic eases up quite a bit. Then you hit the next metro area, and the congestion builds into a bottleneck. So the pattern goes until they arrive seven or eight hours later.

The United States built some roads in Thailand during the Vietnam War, since the monarchy was politically neutral. Roads to Laos and Cambodia are quite passable as well.

Getting to Jesus is much harder for the Thai people. But that’s why the Converge global workers have been there since 2005.

In their 30s, Ron and Kathy discovered that God was calling them to serve in Christ’s name outside the United States. Much like Thai roads, their path to following Christ and spreading his love has slow stretches and rough patches.

“We’re just ordinary people,” Kathy said. “We aren’t anything special, so God can use us.”

The two met at the University of Minnesota after many years of their life were spent as nonbelievers. They had exposure to Christ’s message at youth camps and worship services and from family members. But they didn’t accept Christ’s heart and will for them until they were in their 30s.

They returned to Minneapolis from the gorgeous resort community of Ely, Minnesota, with a desire for global work. So, they joined a Converge church that had a training program for international service.

Kathy said the experience was intense ― like getting a master’s degree. But they persevered to the end and took a trip to Thailand in 2000. At that point, they were open to many places.

They visited China after Thailand to consider the country for ministry. But Thailand was definitely God’s plan for them.

“People from our first trip were prophesying even then,” she said. “You’re coming back here. We know you are. We really fit in.”

“God broke both our hearts”

Ron and Kathy both grew up in solidly middle-class families. Kathy, who lived in Chicago until she was 15, has a solid motivation to serve people in poverty, as does Ron. Both took the Perspectives course on world missions and it gave them compassion for the poor.

“God broke both our hearts,” she said of caring for the poor. “We both work in the same ministry.”

For example, they’ve developed a relationship with a woman who started working for them when the pandemic ended the woman’s job. The couple befriended her and helped her to make sure she was OK. They were trying to love her and would share about Jesus with her.

At first, she changed the subject when the Christian faith came up. Then, Ron and Kathy learned the woman’s husband had been an alcoholic for a long time.

“I encouraged her to pray for her alcoholic husband to stop drinking,” Kathy said. “She did pray, and he stopped drinking. God’s answering her prayers.”

Related: Giving life to a dead man

Not long after that experience, Ron had a chance to speak with the woman about the Scriptures in the book of Isaiah. They ended up talking for about an hour. When Kathy got home, she naturally ended up conversing with the woman. Without realizing it, Kathy encouraged the woman with some of the same truths Ron shared.

Moreover, that woman came to Ron and Kathy’s church once. The people responded with the same warmth and love for this woman they have all the time.

“That one time at church left her feeling like she was with family,” Kathy said. “Our church is just amazing. There’s so much love and there’s none of this backbiting or wars about stuff. Asian people don’t do things alone much. They usually need somebody else to be with them.”

The woman has not trusted Christ yet, but she’s already encouraging others to spend time in God’s presence. For example, she came to the couple last month with concerns about a family member’s marriage.

The woman explained to them how she had told the family member in a challenging marriage to go to church. ‘She needs to know about Jesus,’ the woman told Kathy and Ron.

“She hasn’t even believed and she’s already an evangelist,” Kathy added.

A spirituality moving ahead, even if unevenly

Seeing people growing in Christ and moving toward him, even with a stop-and-go spirituality, encourages Ron and Kathy so much.

The Buddhist faith many Thai identify with, even if only as a nominal influence, has several connections with Christ’s teaching. For one, the people are taught to do good and yet struggle to keep the rules of their faith.

Ron and Kathy are ready to share the solution: Jesus kept all the rules for those who can’t.

Another barrier can be the nation’s unity and cohesiveness in sharing their values and ideology. Differing from the Thai way can be seen as a betrayal.

At the same time, the pandemic and other realities have weakened the happiness of a country known for its smiles and kindness.

Related: Escaping the wheel of suffering

“The Thai people’s emotional and mental health are really struggling,” Kathy said. “People don’t want to touch each other.”

Therefore, suicides and PTSD are increasing, as is isolation among people generally known for warmth and friendliness.

A new opportunity for ministry

At the same time, Ron and Kathy are planning for new ways of doing ministry that will continue their desire to start churches among the poor. They’ve planted some churches that meet in homes and are developing more Thai leaders.

As they stopped teaching English in the last year, a new opportunity has emerged in north Thailand. The couple will start ministering through the Thai Peace Foundation to continue planting more churches.

“The purpose of it is to provide ways to develop community in Thailand,” she said. “TPF was established as another vehicle to minister in hope of church planting, particularly to the poor.”

Related: How to become a missionary

The traffic and ease of driving in Thailand are way out of Ron and Kathy’s control. As Kathy said, they are ordinary people. Whether built by the U.S. or not, the asphalt roads in Thailand won’t be improving through their labor or love.

The same is true for the slums, where the government increasingly redevelops homes for people into living spaces that may be better or may not be. Only time will tell there. But among the poor, God is at work. Bible studies and gatherings bless families and give young children hope and love.

So, as they continue serving in Jesus’ name, even when moving to a new location in months to come, God uses them to make it easier for people to find Christ and follow him into a new life.

“We really want to see a church planting movement,” Kathy said. “We haven’t cracked that nut yet but we’re praying for that.”

Converge International Ministries is praying for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group ― in our generation. Learn how Converge can help your church reach the nations with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.