TUMI in Thailand

“I am a pastor with leaders who need training. Can you help us?”

This was the question we heard over and over again. We were in Bangkok, Thailand for The Global Proclamation Congress this past June. More than 400 denominations, organizations, and missions groups were present, and we at World Impact sent a six-member delegation to explore ways we could provide resources helpful for indigenous churches to make their contribution to the Great Commission. We did not foresee, however, that God would so dramatically open doors that this event would become one of the most fruitful events in our history.

Over the time we met with more than 600 laborers from nations across the globe. They humbled us by their gospel outreach in the face of decades of persecution and hardship—in villages, cities and prisons. Their commitment to reach the unreached people in the most hostile regions was inspiring.

We shared with them our strategic vision; explained our expansive catalog of discipleship, church planting, and leadership materials; and gave them a copy of Fight the Good Fight of Faith, our new believer workbook. When we added that it was being translated into Arabic, Swahili, French, Kinyarwanda, and Russian, they were overjoyed! Some clasped the book, filled with joy and gratitude. Others spoke of their prayers for a meaningful contact at the Congress that would help them equip their flock, and testified that we, in truth, were the answer to that prayer.

We spoke with many who inquired about the possibility of translating this workbook into their indigenous language. While we had hoped that we might secure a single translation agreement, we had no idea how the Spirit would move at the Congress. We signed agreements for eight languages: Odia (India), Nepali (Nepal), Bengali (Bangladesh), Hindi, Punjabi, and Telugu (India), Tamil and Sinhala (for Sri Lanka)! Translating this pivotal resource into these languages will certainly be critical for the emerging church in Asia, representing thousands of churches in their various nations where they are spoken, and, through their witness, literally millions of unreached people it can potentially touch. We are convinced that God will use these tools in the hands of these gifted pastors and workers to evangelize and disciple thousands in communities where Christ is not yet known.

Thank you for standing with us, side by side, for the expansion of the Kingdom around the world. Together, we are making a difference.