Urban Leadership Foundation
A hub for leadership training in cities and among the world's 1.4 billion slum-dwellers
A STORY FROM BANGKOK
This is the single most exciting thing that has developed. Just a few months ago we were struggling just to get our new believers to be consistent in attending our Sunday morning house church meetings. We now have over 30 people showing up for a meal time together beforehand and over 20 sticking around for our church meeting. One major factor has been a time switch from Sunday mornings to Monday evenings about six weeks ago. Another huge factor was the acquisition of some worship songbooks that use the Isaan language and "malaam" style indigenous to the northeast of Thailand where most of the Permsup neighbors are from.
The mealtime which we are intentionally inviting everyone to and at which we have Isaan (rather than Thai) food is a great community builder and certainly makes it easier to invite everyone in. But more than any of this, I think, is just the Spirit has broken forth in Permsup. In the past, people would lack the confidence and boldness to come and join with us. Now they are coming and it is a group thing, a growing community phenomena that people are getting used to. "We do this every Monday..." we keep telling folks, and it seems to be catching. I don't know quite how to describe the electricity that seems to be in the air when we sing worship songs in the Isaan language and style. People connect with it in a way we've never seen them connect with our Thai songs. I can almost hear and see a giant key being turned in people's hearts.
(Dave von Stroh, Bangkok)