Spotlight on Thailand – Muana and Villy

The population of Thailand is nearly 70 million. Although Christianity has spread among Thailand’s minority peoples, it is yet to fully impact the 52 million ethnically Thai people, who make up the majority of the population. The main societal challenges facing the Ethnic Thai, most of whom identify as Buddhist, are globalisation, urbanisation and influences from alternative spiritualities.

KawanaLife support Muana and Villy, and their daughters Yindii, Zoe and Libi. Muana and Villy have been part of the team in Thailand since 2001, teaching English in government schools and programmes. They are seconded by the Baptist Churches of Mizoram (North East India) to work with Global Interaction.

They share in the lives of the local community, building relationships, opening their home, taking every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. They disciple believers to become faithful witnesses within their own communities, and seek to identify, equip and empower future leaders.

“God is at work among the Ethnic Thai and He is drawing people to Himself. Over the past years, the team has built relationships within their community, begun to share stories of Jesus and walked with people as they have chosen to follow Him. This journey to faith is by the grace of God. Praise God that numerous faith communities are now regularly meeting and local leaders are being equipped to teach and lead their own people. These small faith communities are discovering what it means to follow Jesus in a distinctively Thai way.” (Global Interaction, retrieved 31 December 2021.)

Muana also provides support and guidance to new staff in the language learning program and serves the Global Interaction Thailand cross-cultural team as their Leader.