Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Congress

This year I have chance to attend the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

And I have able to attending the Development Consultation as a resource person. My paper topic " Holistic Development That Results in Sustaibable and Marketable Livelihood for the Case of Maesai Grace Church.

Holistic Development  That Results in

Sustainable and Marketable Livelihoods:

The Case of Maesai Grace Church

Prepared For:  APBF/BWAid Development Consultation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2-4 Sept 2012)

Introduction:

The Maesai Grace Church was established 8 years ago as part of a Korean missionary church planting effort to reach Burmese speaking people living in Thailand.   Under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Go Shin Maung,  this church has been involved in establishing a number of ministries in their community on both sides of the border town where they are located.   The Mekong Minority Foundation has had the privilege of partnering with this church for several years. 

The attachment lists the numerous ministries of this thriving community of believers.   This paper primarily focuses on the micro finance ministry which is a savings and loan program for the community.

Micro Finance  Program

The Maesai Grace Church established the micro finance program with three main objectives in mind:  1) to help it’s members begin to save,  2) reduce migration,  and 3) help the members to establish small businesses or investments.     Many of the people who migrate across the border from Myanmar come to Thailand for work.   Usually,  the border town of Maesai is only a transit point.  They will seek better paying jobs further in the country nearer to Bangkok once they have learned some language and a bit about the system works related to migrant workers in Thailand.  The church believes that it can help migrants from Myanmar to reduce their risks by reducing their migration and by helping them to find ways to make a stable income.   Also, rather than continue to seek employment,  by helping these people to establish their own small enterprise,  then they will be more independent and less likely to be taken advantaged by unethical employers.      

The initiative started out with 30 members.  They agreed to save 10 Baht / day or 300 Baht/ month.   (Approximately US$10/ month).  The rationale was that instead of buying that extra cup of coffee each day, drink a glass of water instead and save that 10 Baht.   Each month,  members are allowed to take loans, which they return either short term or medium term with an interest of 1% per month.    After 3 years of operation,  the group has grown to over 70 members,  12 of whom are children.   The fund has grown to over X00,000 Baht.  The Maesai Grace church savings group is made up of both members of the church and those who are not.  This is considered a ministry of the church with the purpose of reaching out to those in need.     At the end of each year of operation,  the gains of the group are split 50/50 between the members and the fund.  So the members will receive dividends each year.  

Loans have been used for starting small businesses: food/vegetable stalls in the market,  a laundry business, and a dress shop.  Also, five loans have helped members to buy their own land thus becoming established in the town.   Other loans have gone toward the Thai government’s annual fee for migrant worker permits.  A member will borrow up to 3,000 Baht ($100) and return within a period of up to six months.   In order to help increase the savings group’s capital,  MMF has provided a low interest loan of 50,000 Baht ($1,500) each year to the group for the past 3 years.  

Pastor Go Shin Maung seeks to counsel people on business opportunities and always makes a case to his parishioners that moving on to another city in search of better pay is not necessarily the best choice. Always moving to a new place means increased risks to abuse and falling into risky behavior.   Staying means that they can be near people they know and can trust,  namely the members of Maesai Grace Church.     

This ministry,  has been a blessing to over 70 people,  about 30% of whom are not Christian. It’s been a true example of caring for one’s economic needs amidst an opportunity to build caring relationships between believers and those who don’t know Christ yet.   Since the church is involved in helping the community in a number of other ministries as well, the savings and loan ministry is linked to these other ministries to the community as well.

MMF has been learning and partnering  with Maesai Grace church for 3 years.  Together, they have been learning about how the local church can be both salt and light to the world.  One model explains the local church’s purpose as fivefold:   1)  Praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ, 2) Discipleship: helping it’s members to grow and develop spiritually 3)  Learning the Word through teaching and studying the Bible,  4)  Spread the word through evangelising the nations.

As can be seen by the numerous activities of the Maesai Grace Church listed below,  one can see that this church is actively involved in all five of these areas.  

Areas of Ministry of Maesai Grace Church

(1)Worship Service Program

-Wednesday                      -Cell group meeting

-Friday                                  -Choir Practice

-Saturday                            -Youth Fellowship meeting

-Sunday                               -Morning Worship Service 10:00 to 12:00 am

                                                                -Evening Worship Service    7:00 to 8:30 pm

(2) Fellowship with the people and mobilize to the peoples

                -Home visiting to the church member on every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night.

                -We organize the sports program for mobilizing the peoples.

               

(3) Discipleship Program

-We conduct the disciple training.

-And also provide summer bible camp for adult and children.

-Baptism course for new believer.

-Sunday School Program.

-Christian home and family day training for one week.

                 

(4) Church Ministries

                -Agape Children Home

                -Early Child Care Development Center

                -Burmese Migrant Primary School

                -Women Networking Group

                -Micro Finance Program

                -Legal Assist Program

                -Child Protection Program

                -Child Trafficking

(5) Evangelism and Mission

                -Narkaung Moo Church

                -Mae Ning Church

                -Christmas Caroling for Evangelism

Submitted by:  Pastor Go Shin Maung, Maesai Grace Church pastor,  and

Ms.  Nitaya Buayoi,  MMF Director