Visiting with missionaries Chuck and Ruth Fox in Chiang Rai

Yesterday (November 7), I boarded an 8:00 a.m. Thai Airways jet at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and landed an hour later in Thailand's far north at the city of Chiang Rai.  This city of one hundred thousand is the home base of American Baptist International Ministries missionaries Chuck and Ruth Fox.  Chuck and Ruth are old friend my seminary days at the former Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now known as Eastern University's Palmer Seminary).

Chuck & Ruth Fox, a volunteer from Ohio, me in front of the school.

Ruth's primary ministry is working with and teaching at the Chiang Rai International Christian School.  Yesterday I received a tour of this relatively new, Thai and internationally accredited Christian School.

Chuck works with the Akha Baptist churches in northern Thailand.  The Akha are one several hill tribes that make their home in and around Chiang Rai.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch of barbecue chicken, sticky rice, green papaya salad, and fresh bananas at an Akha village not far from the city. One of our lunch companions was Peter, an Akha evangelist and leader.  As we ate we had a lengthy theological discussion --- which fed our souls as we filled our stomachs!

Chuck Fox and Peter after a nourishing lunch.

Today, Chuck and I visited Sahasartsuksa School, located directly across the street from the Fox's home.  The principal of this elementary and secondary school recounted the history of the institution.  It was begun by American Baptist missionaries and a Karen Baptist Church a generation ago.  Originally, the school was a single teacher and handful of students meeting in a small bamboo and thatch roofed building --- the Thai version of a one roomed school house.  Today, the school has 2500 students drawn from all the northern Thai hilltribes, a modern campus, and receives government funds to provide education to students who otherwise would not have educational access.  I was reminded in hearing this story of how often an apparently insignificant beginning in God's time grows into a fruitful and significant ministry.

Student body demographics by ethnic group.

On Fridays students wear their traditional tribal dress.