Our Detour, God's Destination: God Redirects Laborers to the Unreached Northern Thai People

By John & Abigail Harrell

Famous for its award-winning food, pristine beaches, and friendly smiles, Thailand is, in many ways, the opposite of classic mission-field imagery. In fact, during our move to northern Thailand in 2019, it seemed we were the only passengers who were not tourists. Though the tourism scene has changed drastically since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the deep brokenness that never shows up on travel brochures remains the same. 

We first visited Thailand in 2018 on a short-term trip to see some Christian workers in the northeast region. Shortly after, our elders commended us to the Lord’s work in Thailand. We had planned to come alongside the workers we had visited, but just before our expected departure, they experienced a series of crises. They advised us to move to a city where we could attend language school, since they did not have the capacity to assist us with things like establishing visas and finding language tutors in their remote location. 

We made arrangements in the smallest city we knew of that had reputable language schools, since big cities have more English speakers. We chose the location with language acquisition in mind, but looking back, we are convinced that the Lord saw a destination in the exact place we saw a detour.

The “lost sheep” of Chiang Rai
That city was Chiang Rai, the capital of Thailand’s northernmost province, which borders Myanmar and Laos at the infamous Golden Triangle of opium trafficking. The population of the city is around 200,000—about the size of Augusta, Georgia, or Rochester, New York.

We soon learned that the province is home to dozens of minority groups, many of which have responded to the Gospel at rates far greater than the majority people groups that speak dialects of Thai or Central Thai. We were thrilled to see many thriving ministries reaching the minority groups and refugees. When measured collectively, the area is commonly estimated to have the highest rate of professing Christians in the nation. We soon learned, however, that the majority people group in the area remains largely unreached, with some estimates as low as 0.03 percent evangelical.1

This group has been known by several names, but in Chiang Rai, the people usually call themselves “City People” or “Northern Thai.” Word on the street in Chiang Rai’s Christian community is that missionaries, both national and foreign, grow weary and move on to more responsive people groups. A small gathering of Northern Thai believers told a friend of ours, who mobilizes local churches in evangelistic efforts among the Northern Thai, that they would rather work with other people groups because their own people are too hard to reach.

Our hearts grew burdened for these people, who have yet to realize their spiritually lost condition and receive the deliverance available in Christ. We often think of our Lord Jesus’s parable of the lost sheep:

What man of you, having 100 sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:4–7)

Although this passage is applicable to each Christian, it is special to us as we think of the Northern Thai people. Our Lord set the example of persistence in pursuing those who are difficult to reach.

Spiritual myths and pandemic challenges
Several factors contribute to the difficulty of reaching the Northern Thai with the hope of Jesus. They are a people of great loyalty and determination, which holds true when it comes to practicing Buddhism and the ancestral traditions of appeasing and manipulating the spirit world. Many people feel that to become a Christian would be to betray their community. They are also afraid they will anger the spirits by exploring Christianity—not understanding that Christ has total authority to free them from bondage to evil spirits.

The belief that Christianity is something for foreigners and minority groups, not for “real” Thai people, also hinders their response to the Gospel. The saying goes, “To be Thai is to be Buddhist.” Also circulating is the myth that Christians hold spiritual power to brainwash others into converting. Sadly, when they feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit and are drawn to the fragrance of Christ, many worry they are falling under a sort of manipulative witchcraft.

The Northern Thai enjoy a level of prosperity and social status unparalleled by any other group in the region. So ministries that use care for the poor as a platform for demonstrating Christ’s love are less likely to reach them. Many Northern Thai families have no pressing physical needs. Finding a way to demonstrate the love of Christ can feel daunting when living among a self-sufficient people. We’re encouraged, though, by Jesus’s conversation with His disciples following the encounter with the rich young ruler:

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:23–27)

As we considered whether the Lord would have us continue with our plans to serve in northeast Thailand or stay in Chiang Rai, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Before long, provincial borders closed. Our student visas became unstable, and we began looking for a way to remain in the country despite the pandemic. Because John has some background in teaching English, a friend recommended he apply to teach at Hilltop English School, a children’s after-school English program owned by a local believer. Everything came together quickly. Not only did we receive a stable visa, but we also discovered a context where we could show Christ’s love to a Northern Thai community and foster opportunities to talk about the Lord while we had the attention of whole families.

Teaching English might seem an unexpected way to demonstrate Christ’s love, but in Thailand’s tourism economy and educational system, English is key to job security and educational opportunities. When we provide affordable, excellent English education, we send a message to parents that we want to see their children succeed and have good futures.

We also host events and foster community—something many families seem starved of in the hustle and bustle of city life. During these community events and visits with families, we put words to our actions and share the story of Jesus with the families.

Thai jasmine rice as a prayer prompt
Reaching the digitally immersed Northern Thai people with print media or even in-person conversation is difficult—another challenge besides those mentioned earlier. When you sit down in a café, everyone is on their mobile phones. We were delighted to have the opportunity to help ROCK International produce the King of Glory movie in Thai. We’d cherish your prayers as we focus on finding ways to help send the movie “viral” among not only our friends and acquaintances but also Thai-speaking social media users everywhere. 

In our three-and-a-half years so far, we haven’t seen anyone commit his or her life to Christ. Some days, we feel discouraged, but we press on, knowing that the Lord’s love for the Northern Thai people is unchanging and His love for us is unchanged by whether or not we see any fruit from our labor. We are encouraged to see several families growing in their interest in the Gospel and in their openness to allowing their children to learn about Christ. Please pray that all the families we work with will understand the Gospel and receive the free gift of salvation. Pray, too, that we will stay encouraged in what the Lord calls us to do and be filled with boldness and creativity in sharing Jesus’s love and truth.

We’re grateful for the fame of Thai beaches and cuisine, even though they mask the darker realities of Thailand. The coming and going of travelers brings opportunities for the Gospel to make its way to Thailand, not unlike the Roman roads of the first century. In fact, a Christian couple who recently visited Hilltop English School and, Lord willing, plans to join us began praying about serving in Thailand after becoming regulars at their local Thai restaurant.

The next time you purchase Thai jasmine rice or visit a Thai restaurant, would you pray for the Thai people to understand and respond to the Gospel? Would you ask the Lord to raise up laborers from all over the world who will share the Lord Jesus’s love and message in Thailand? We believe the impact will be of eternal significance. 

John and Abigail Harrell are commended from Woodland Hills Community Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Originally published in Missions magazine, June 2023. For more content, sign up for a free subscription (US) to Missions at CMML.us/magazine/subscribe.