Spend enough time in Thailand, and you’ll almost certainly hear a Thai person speak this classic broken English phrase: “Same same, but different.” The apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12:4 that “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” This month the “It is Finished” Bible Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand, celebrates the graduation of two more students, and although these two individuals have very different gifts and backgrounds, both are ready to utilize their Christian training to serve their one true Lord. Same same, but different.

One of the graduates is a Hmong man named Tae. At the age of 28, he is the oldest of the current Bible Institute level students. It’s not just this fact that makes him a wonderful role model for the other Bible students, though. The Lord has blessed this man with a remarkable gift for sharing his faith through word and deed to people of all ages. His willingness to serve wherever needed and his perseverance in his studies are two more gifts granted by the Spirit to him. Having very little formal education in his home village did not stop Tae from diligently studying Scriptures; in fact, it’s just further testament to the grace and power of God in his life.

The other graduate is a 22-year old woman named Jen. Having completed high school, Jen has more educational background than many of the students at the Bible Institute. Of all the students, she also has the most solid command of the English language, which she hopes to use as an outreach tool in her future ministry, along with her musical gifts. Jen is often the spokesperson among some of her more quiet classmates, yet she also has a humble spirit which listens to the opinions of others. She is the first female graduate from the “It is Finished” Bible Institute. [slideshow=60]

The two graduates will continue to hone their God-given gifts as they soon begin on different internship assignments. Tae will work within his home village as well as assisting the church in Hmong Village 9. Jen will travel to southern Thailand to serve as an intern in Krabi. Please join us in asking for God’s continued blessing upon these two very different servants as they serve their same Risen Lord.