The Cross Before the Crown: Seven Pictures of Christian Leadership

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

Ephesians 4:11-12

Greetings Ministry Partners,

The role of pastors and church leaders is primarily to equip the saints to do the work of ministry. Equipping means imparting the tools for effective ministry: understanding the Bible, understanding and defending sound doctrine, effectively sharing the gospel, and serving in the local church with our gifts, abilities, and resources.

Over the past 10 years, we thank God for bringing the CCI ministry to Thailand. Our primary focus is on people, as they are created in the image of God. We pay special attention to believers, particularly those called to be leaders, pastors, teachers, and evangelists, as they hold significant roles and influence in God’s mission.

The main goal of CCI is to develop these individuals into productive members of the community. We began with a small group of about 20 coordinators who represented the CCIs in various local areas across the country. My role has been to empower and encourage these leaders to grow and teach others, adhering to the principles of God's Word. Just as Paul reminded Timothy to teach faithful individuals who can, in turn, teach others, we strive to create a ripple effect of knowledge and faith.

We are committed to working diligently for God's Kingdom, and I am grateful for the CCI mission executives and staff. Dr. David and Pastor Glenn have devoted themselves to teaching and training us, and we are now applying this knowledge in our own country. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the team coordinators in Thailand who have played a vital role in advancing this mission. 

From that day until now, we have received countless blessings from God and have made strides in fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. We have trained pastoral leaders and laid a solid foundation of faith for local churches, focusing on developing their potential to carry out their missions effectively and efficiently. 

I believe that God has blessed CCI and its missions worldwide because we are engaged in work that reflects His heart. All glory be to God. Thank you to all of you who have faithfully prayed for and supported the CCI ministry in Thailand.

Thank you for your faithful support and prayers for CCI Thailand.

In His Grace,

Kittikun Meetang

CCI Thailand National Director

Impact of CCI Coordinators in Thailand from January to September 2024!

• 46 new CCI training classrooms made up of 20 coordinators and 99 teachers
• 538 is the number of people receiving training from classes across the country
• 2,813 is the number of people the coordinators have presented the ministry to
• 503 people trained to become teachers through TTWs
• 14 newly established churches from teachers and trainees

We honor God by training God's people to go out and do effective ministry.

Coordinator Spotlight

Pastor Sirivat Kittichanon, Phayao Province Coordinator

"Throughout September, there was frequent rainfall, affecting many provinces in Northern Thailand, especially Phayao Province, where there were multiple floods. The most severe flooding occurred in the community near Phayao University, where flash floods caused significant damage to students and the general public. This event gave us (CCI Thailand) an opportunity to serve and be a blessing to society, especially to the students affected by the floods. Some of the flood victims were Christians, while others were not. CCI Thailand donated funds for flood relief, and the local church contributed by purchasing goods to give to the university’s disaster relief center, which had set up a service point in the flood-affected area.



This was a great opportunity to serve people and share God's love with others, just as the Bible says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31 (NIV): "The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." This shows people that Christians have God's love when we demonstrate that love through our actions, allowing them to experience it firsthand.

I had the chance to meet with students, professors, village leaders, and residents who were affected. I spoke with them, encouraged them, and introduced myself as being from the CCI Thailand church near the university. I felt proud to be part of the community.

One evening, it rained heavily, and the students couldn't leave their dorms to get food because of the storm. I invited them to come into the church, set up chairs for them, welcomed them, and sat down to talk with them. I shared the story of Jesus in a casual way. The students felt warm and comfortable without any fear or hesitation about it being a religious conversation. God was present in every situation. Praise the Lord that His name is being made known to many people."

-Pastor Sirivat Kittichanon

Training

Last month, the coordinators joined forces to teach and organize seminars on various mission topics. Thanks to God and the solidarity of all the coordinators, we organized six training sessions at the beginning of this month alone, with 140 people participating.

On September 21, I taught about the Cross Before the Crown, a curriculum for preparing for leadership life. Facing hardships before receiving the crown guides us in carrying out our mission effectively. This is according to 2 Timothy 2:1-26. This course was written by Dr. David Nelson, President. More than 50 participants from the south attended this seminar.

Pastor Apichat, the Eastern Region Coordinator, and teachers organized a training on biblical finances. The seminar, God's Financial Principles, was held in Rayong Province, Eastern Thailand. The participants benefited and were greatly blessed to understand the principles of living under God's faithfulness and acceptance of the true authority of God.

On September 18, Pastor Syphanom and his team of teachers organized and conducted a seminar on Resolving Conflict in a Godly Manner, developed by Dr. David Nelson. This seminar was held for pastors and church leaders on the Thai and Laos border. More than 60 participants participated. Participants benefited and developed principles of reconciliation and forgiveness according to the principles of the Bible.

For more updates, click here to join the private CCI Thailand Network Facebook page.