Visiting All Nations in Bangkok

Last month I visited my son, Roma, in Bangkok, where he serves in the Global Apprenticeship Program (GAP) run by the NAMS base at the Church of All Nations. How awesome to see Roma being impacted by God during his time in Thailand!  I was also struck by the ministry needs and opportunities in Bangkok, as well as the powerful work that this small, faithful congregation is doing under the leadership of Father Isaac Lasskey.

The NAMS GAP experience stretches young adults cross-culturally and spiritually.  For Roma, this has meant making new friends from Thailand, a Caribbean island, other Southeast Asian countries, and even one young Cambodian who grew up in Morocco and South Africa.  This local body of Christ truly is a Church of All Nations! 

Roma's adventure has also meant navigating a very complex new language, strange and unusual foods, and cryptic cultural norms. GAP has challenged Roma to step into ministry roles new to him. (Who would have thought I would ever see him actually singing in a church's worship team?!?!)  He also lends his tech and website skills to help the church behind the scenes.  In the midst of it all, Father Isaac is mentoring Roma to hone his interpersonal skills and catechizing him more deeply into the love and call of Jesus for his life.

All Nations is all about sharing the love and life of Jesus - a weekly sidewalk worship service for homeless people, an educational program for Muslim children (a large Muslim neighborhood is right next to the church), outreach relationships with students from the nearby university, and much more.

I highly recommend the NAMS Global Apprenticeship Program to other young men and women who want a real-world missions experience in a vibrant city.  It's changing my son's life and it will change yours!

Written by T. Durell