‘Christ for Thailand’ Results in More Than 400 Baptisms

The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “Christ for Thailand” initiative has concluded with more than 400 people baptized across the country.

The week-long evangelistic campaign began on March 1, 2023, and was held in more than 40 locations nationwide, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. The program’s aim was to spread the gospel message and bring individuals to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

According to the  leaders in the Adventist Church in Thailand, the initiative was a resounding success, with hundreds of people responding to the gospel message and making the decision to be baptized.

The initiative was aimed at spreading the message of love and hope to the people of Thailand. The Adventist Church expressed its gratitude to all those who participated in the Christ for Thailand initiative and helped spread the message of love and hope. The church also thanked the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the initiative a success.

“We are overwhelmed by the response that we have received from the people of Thailand,” said Arnel Gabin, Nurture Discipleship Retention — Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle Initiative coordinator and spokesperson for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Adventist Church (SSD). “We are grateful to everyone who participated in the initiative and helped us spread the message of love and hope to those who need it the most.”

Thousands of people gathered at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand on March 11, to witness the culmination of the third nationwide evangelism since the pandemic, which resulted in baptisms happening all around the division. This event is the result of a collaboration between the General Conference, the SSD, the Southeastern Asia Union Mission, and the Thailand Mission of the Adventist Church and other church groups.

From Translation to Conversion

The “Christ for Thailand’s” evangelistic series was completed on Saturday (Sabbath) afternoon with simultaneous baptisms around the region. The groundwork and planning for this crucial occasion began months earlier, when pastors, local church leaders, and lay members prayed for wisdom and blessings for hours.

After days of Bible study and fellowship, many people decided to embrace Jesus in baptism on Sabbath afternoon. Several newly baptized members shared their reactions.

“For me it is very hard [getting baptized],” Chalisa, a third-year nursing student at the Asia-Pacific International University in Muaklek, Thailandm, said. “I have to start all over again.”

Chalisa grew up in a household with many Christian friends, both in high school and university. She heard testimonies about God and His love. She was apprehensive and unwilling to accept this unusual worldview because of her Buddhist upbringing. However, circumstances led her to experience a deeper knowledge about Jesus.

She wanted to avoid being assigned as an interpreter for the series because she knew she would endure the full force of the Christian message. Yet, after agreeing to serve as an interpreter, she ended up accepting Christ that same Sabbath through baptism.

Every time music was played and candidates were immersed in three baptismal pools, church leaders and more than 600 delegates from different countries around the region celebrated and clapped their hands.

Unity in Mission

During the worship service, General Conference vice president Guillermo “Billy” Biaggi preached on “The Spiritual Need of Church Unity,” inspired by Jesus’ request in John 17 that His disciples may be one.

“In John 17, the Lord is urging us to commit our life to sacrifice our lives for Jesus, and He is pleading for us to be one,” Biaggi said. “The Lord wishes that we offer ourselves for mission, so that everyone may be one and the world may believe in Jesus,” he said.

Every member and leader present was reminded of the church’s mission and the only assurance of unity in diversity and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Christ for Thailand series is part of the Adventist Church’s commitment to communicate the gospel of hope and salvation with people all over the globe, regional church leaders said. It also sought to help people to overcome their daily problems and find meaning and purpose for their lives.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.