Manuel and Miriam Becker
From:
Germany
Joined GLOBE:
2015
Field:
Thailand
Project Number
Please always include with your donation!
The unreached
To this day, 40% of the world’s population is cut off from experiencing freedom and healing in Jesus. They are the unreached. They have little to no access to the gospel—no Bible, no church nearby, and often no believer who could tell them about Jesus.
More than 90% of the unreached live in the 10/40 Window. One might assume that most missionaries are working among these three billion people. Yet only 3% of all missionaries serve there.
The Thai people are among the unreached. Without God, darkness prevails. The absence of the gospel in Thailand is visible throughout the country. According to Thai newspapers, more than 70% of Thai men are unfaithful to their partners, domestic violence is widespread, and the number of unreported cases of child abuse is extremely high. Families are suffering. The country needs Jesus.
Thailand is often considered a prime example of unsuccessful mission work. Missionaries have served in Thailand for more than 200 years, yet fewer than 0.5% of Thai Buddhists have begun following Jesus. It has more missionaries than any other country in Southeast Asia, but the least visible fruit. Why are Thai people so resistant to Christianity? We have spent more than ten years researching this question and searching for solutions. The answer is complex, but the short version is this:
The unreached are unreached for a reason. Missionaries often bring the large package of “Western Christianity.” This is typically difficult for the unreached to understand and incompatible with local culture. As a result, it is rejected. That is why we have been exploring what it could look like for Thai people to follow Jesus as Thai people—without being forced to adopt Western culture. We long to see Thai believers follow Jesus in ways that are culturally fitting, reproducible, and capable of multiplying.
Thailand is often considered a prime example of unsuccessful mission work. Missionaries have served in Thailand for more than 200 years, yet fewer than 0.5% of Thai Buddhists have begun following Jesus. It has more missionaries than any other country in Southeast Asia, but the least visible fruit. Why are Thai people so resistant to Christianity? We have spent more than ten years researching this question and searching for solutions. The answer is complex, but the short version is this:
The unreached are unreached for a reason. Missionaries often bring the large package of “Western Christianity.” This is typically difficult for the unreached to understand and incompatible with local culture. As a result, it is rejected. That is why we have been exploring what it could look like for Thai people to follow Jesus as Thai people—without being forced to adopt Western culture. We long to see Thai believers follow Jesus in ways that are culturally fitting, reproducible, and capable of multiplying.
We have lived in Thailand since 2014. Since then, we have led and carried out numerous projects aimed at helping God’s kingdom expand in Thailand.
Among other things, we have led a Bible translation project, created a prayer booklet for Thailand that has been translated into 5 languages, led several Thai people to Jesus and discipled them, and produced a gospel video that has already been viewed tens of thousands of times.
Currently, our focus is on sharing what we have learned over the past years. Manuel has partnered with a Thai pastor to produce a Thai-language Bible podcast. Through this Podcast, we aim to help Thai believers better understand Scripture and follow Jesus in their daily lives.
Manuel serves on the leadership team of SEANET, the largest global network of Christians working among Buddhists. As editor of the SEANET book series, he helps equip missionaries to more effectively reach and disciple Buddhists.
In addition, Manuel writes articles for theological and missiological journals to help missionaries worldwide proclaim Jesus in ways that make sense within their local contexts and, by God’s grace, lead to multiplication.
But we are not only theorists. We seek to live out what we teach. Manuel is part of a motorbike gang, and his dream is to see God’s kingdom transform that community from within.
We invest in a small Thai church and support development projects when needs arise in our context.
We also care deeply about families and marriages. For this reason, we offer an English online video marriage course that couples can complete at their own pace.
Our Mission:
We equip people to follow Jesus authentically.
We train missionaries to serve more effectively.
We help believers understand the Bible more deeply.
APCM
Wir sind ein Werk im Bund des BFP
