Message from the Executive Director

Exploring Opportunities In Southeast Asia

by Richard Haney

I recently spent nearly a month in Thailand teaching and exploring. I went to co-lead a seminar on global development for Doctor of Ministry students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary who are already serving as cross-cultural workers. Throughout the trip, I explored places where both missionaries and Thai Christians are proclaiming the Good News.

The 23 NGOs we visited as part of our seminar introduced me to numerous dedicated Westerners serving Burmese and Thai young people. My longrange goal and prayer is to find partners in Thailand and Southeast Asia who are reaching the unreached. We have partners working among Muslims and Hindus, but to date we have no projects or partners in the Buddhist world.

Southeast Asia is home for many of the world’s Buddhists. According to the World Christian Database, Buddhists comprise 7% of the world’s population. The largest Buddhist population is in China (218 million), although Thailand has the highest percentage. Its 68 million people are 90% Buddhist, approximately 8% Muslim and less than 1% Christian. Other majority Buddhist nations include Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Japan, Mongolia, Laos and Vietnam.

The Thai people and culture won my heart’s attention in a matter of days. Thai people are gentle, kind and excel at showing respect. I already had this impression from meeting Thai students 20 years ago when they came to Virginia to study. My wife (who traveled with me) and I reconnected with several of those students over meals in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

As I process this visit, I’m pondering the shades of difference between respect and reverence and worship. Although my knowledge of Buddhism is still fairly limited, my sense is that Buddhists respect the Buddha and follow his teaching but don’t worship him. Buddhism is distinct from Hinduism and the monotheistic religions by not worshipping a deity.

This world of Southeast Asia is a fascinating one. I know that visiting Thailand introduced me to only one country among many. We hope to explore more places and learn what God is doing among Buddhists, Muslims and others. It’s one of the world’s great regions where many ethnic peoples still wait to hear about Jesus. Frontier Fellowship is listening to God’s Spirit and discerning our next steps.