“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Thailand is a country with an abundance of fruit.  Some of these fruits, such as bananas, oranges, and pineapples, are common to the Western tastebud.  Venture into a local street market and you’ll likely be introduced to some new ones as well (dragonfruit, rambutan, and jackfruit, just to name a few).  Regardless of its shape, size, and taste, there’s something important to remember that holds true for all fruit: it needs a connection in order to grow.  The same is true for God’s people: good fruit is borne from a continual connection with God’s Kingdom, deeply rooted in the Word of God.[slideshow=81]

The WELS Thailand Mission recently hosted a stewardship seminar in Chiang Mai to nurture and encourage its growing national workforce of “branches” serving throughout the region.  The two-day seminar began with a communion service, during which special recognition was given to all in attendance formally called to serve the Lord in various capacities — missionaries, pastors, vicars, evangelists, and interns.  The number of people within the ranks of the church who stood to receive this recognition was strikingly larger than it would have been just a few years ago, a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness to the mission.

The sessions of the seminar which followed focused on the scriptural principles of stewardship and giving in their many forms.  This focus of study was chosen not only to encourage the individual seminar participants in their personal faith life; the goal is that these church leaders will be able to mentor their different congregations and contacts to practice good stewardship and draw closer to becoming self-supporting mission sites as they give cheerfully to the Lord.

It was encouraging to hear from all the branches, gathered together at one time and place.  Each branch had the opportunity to share some of the joys and challenges as a worker called to produce good fruit for the Vine.  Please pray along with us that God would bless the WELS Thailand Mission with continued and frequent opportunities to gather its workers who share in the ministry here, that more branches grow from the Vine, and that these branches may continue to bear good and lasting fruit wherever they serve.