Johnny and Ann McClean
    The need
Thailand means ‘Land of the Free', but with social inequality, corruption and people trafficking hiding behind the famous Thai smile, many people feel trapped. Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city where nations live side by side. Tolerance, diversity and a materialistic worldview are the norm. The church is growing but still only 0.7% of 70 million Thai people are believers. The average pastor has only their Bible and some daily reading notes. Prosperity gospel, personality cults and 'evangutainment' are common. There is an urgent need for the Word of God to be taught and the gospel clearly proclaimed. Vision and calling We both first came to Thailand, separately, on short term mission trips in the 1990s. We returned long-term to Thailand with a vision and calling to serve the Thai people and met when Ann was in Language School. Over the last twenty years our ministries have changed but our vision and calling has not diminished. In 2011, we joined New City Fellowship Church (NCFC), in an urban deprived area close to our home in Bangkok. At the same time, our children started attending an international school. In 2015, Johnny was invited to get involved in training preachers with Langham Preaching and Pastor Training International. Over the last ten years these three very different worlds have merged to become the focus of our lives and ministry in Bangkok. Johnny now works alongside Pastor Pramot in our local Thai church, preaching, teaching, and sharing the good news of Jesus in the local community and with refugees week by week. He also helps to organise and lead preaching seminars across Thailand and trains pastors in monthly preaching clubs with both Langham Preaching and Pastor Training International. Ann is Head of Key Stage 3 in an international school where our children are also students. It’s a world away from our church community but still there are many opportunities to show the love of Jesus day by day. She also leads the church Sunday School and enjoys teaching ladies Bible studies when the opportunity arises. |
