May 2026 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends and Family,
In this prayer letter we want to share stories about some brothers and sisters at Grace Church Chiang Mai where we worship and serve.
Sunday Worship at Grace Church Chiang Mai
Kayley gave her husband a second chance and welcomed him into the family home after he got out of jail. He had found Christ while behind bars and was so thankful for the opportunity to put his family back together. He brought his wife and their two daughters to Grace Church Chiang Mai. They were hesitant at first but they started to come every Sunday, especially because the children really enjoyed Sunday school. Kayley got baptized this past year. Several months later, she discovered she was pregnant with their third child. Finances were tight and she thought to get an abortion. But many of us at church advised her to keep the baby. Last month, some church members and I threw her a baby shower. She was really touched. Their older daughter Rose shared that she’d never been shown such love and attention. Unbeknownst to us, Kayley and her husband had not been talking to each other for weeks. However, he came to the shower after Karl reached out with a personal invitation. God showed His grace in bringing him there. Please pray for this family.
April 2026 Prayer Letter (and Videos!)
Dear Friends and Family,
Even in the midst of an uncertain world situation, we continue to press forward with life and ministry here in Thailand. Here is what’s been happening with us recently.
Sowing and Reaping in Sunday School
A few weeks ago at our Thai church, I (Sun) was teaching Sunday school about one of the fruits of the Spirit: faithfulness (Gal 5:22-23). I illustrated the concept by sharing the story of Zacchaeus who was faithful to align his lifestyle to the teachings of Jesus by being honest. Zacchaeus knew he had grown prosperous by charging more taxes than he should have and by pocketing the difference. So when the onlookers began to complain how unbecoming it was that Jesus would go stay at the house of a “sinner”, [namely, his house], he had to confront the issue. Right then and there, Zacchaeus told Jesus he was willing to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay four times whatever he cheated anyone (Luke 19:1-10). By his actions, Zacchaeus showed Jesus that he wanted to be a little “Christ” (Acts. 11:26).
In what way do you want to show your faithfulness to Jesus this week? To this question, the six students shared their responses: to not show favoritism, to be more obedient to my mom, to help with caring for my baby brothers, etc. One student who clearly and verbally said he was not ready to follow Jesus six months earlier said that he wanted to put his trust in Jesus. Praise the Lord! I shared this good news with the other Sunday school teachers, who also found it encouraging. Please pray he will truly be faithful to Jesus in his day-to-day living, and understand what faith, repentance, and trusting Christ really mean.
December 2025 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! As we approach the end of yet another year, we are grateful for how God is working in Thailand and that we can be a part of His work. And we are deeply thankful for your prayers, support, and encouragement that enable us to be here. In this letter, I want to look back over the past year and then look ahead to 2026.
Theological Education & Equipping Leaders
The majority of Karl’s time throughout the year is spent in teaching classes in church history and mission studies at Chiang Mai Theological Seminary (CTS), as well as an adjunct course at McGilvary College of Divinity (also located in Chiang Mai). It is gratifying to see students inspired and equipped in the classroom with new insights that they can take back to their churches. The impact of studying at CTS is not limited to the classroom however. The informal times with students before and after class, during breaks, and during other school activities are extremely valuable in getting to know them and have input into their lives and ministries. Every Tuesday during our all-school chapel, CTS faculty take turns preaching exegetically through books of the books of the Bible. Preaching in many Thai churches is topical, moralistic, and not well grounded in Scripture so it is vital for students to see a model of solid Biblical preaching as a standard for grounding God’s people in His Word. One of the core classes at CTS is “Principles of Biblical Interpretation,” taught by Professor Thanit, director of CTS. This class is transformative for many students, giving them tools and methods to understand the Bible more clearly than they have before. In this coming year, please keep in prayer both Karl and the other CTS faculty as they teach and mentor current and future leaders of Thailand’s churches.
Karl teaching at Chiang Mai Theological Seminary
November 2025 Prayer Letter
Dear Family and Friends,
“Hello! Come here!” beckoned an elderly man seated on a bench just beyond the entrance of the War Museum in Siem Reap, Cambodia. “Do you want to hear about the war. I’m a Khmer veteran who experienced the war first hand. It’s free. However, you can make a donation at the end if you’d like.”
Thus began Mr. Sinarth as we acquiescently sat down on the wooden bench opposite his to listen. The field of tanks, munitions, jeeps, and other props of war can wait. As a young teenager, Mr. Sinarth joined the army to help his king Norodom Sihanouk fight against the military Marshall Lon Nol who successfully staged a coup while the king was out of the country. The communist prodigy who later changed his name to Pol Pot was the king’s right hand man, who later treasonously imprisoned him during the Khmer Rouge genocide 1975-79.