Christian Church of Friendship Mae Chan

Mae Chan, Chiang Rai

Location

Mae Chan is an urban community 40 minutes north of Chiang Rai city. There is a blend of business and city alongside beautiful rice fields, mountains and nature.

The Mae Chan church has great opportunity to minister to their community as many people living nearby the church building and believers are in a low income situation. There are many practical opportunities to love and care for the people of Mae Chan.

Mae Chan is a city of roughly 100,000+ people. Blending northern Thai people with tribal groups coming to live within the city.

Pastor- Kao Wilai

Kao was born into a ministry family. His father, Jan Wilai, is a pastor and evangelist with our network.

Growing up Kao initially intended to become a soldier in the military. At graduation he started feeling compelled to step towards bible school rather than boot camp. He attended Lanna Bible School for 4 years and discerned clearly that his path was leading towards ministry not the military.

After graduating Kao served in the Chiang Mai church for half a year before transitioning to lead the Mae Chan church who was in need of a full time pastor.

Kao is a gifted teacher and discipler, with a gentle nature and compassionate heart.

The "Church"

The people of Mae Chan church are all non-native to the city. All have moved to Mae Chan from other villages and cities looking for work.

The majority of the congregation is Khmu ethnicity with some Thai and Isaan people. They predominantly speak Thai together in large settings to include all the people. They are a group of young vibrant believers known for their warmth and welcoming atmosphere.

There are many children that are a part of this church due to Pastor Kao's investment into youth ministry.

History

Context

Worship Services

In 2018, Sor travelled down to Lampang to visit her brother who is a believer in the Lampang church. Spending a weekend there, she came to faith and felt compelled to bring this faith back to her family. Jon, Chaloerm, Phuu, and Mueang travelled up the next week to evangelize to her family who ended up coming to Christ as well.

Since that day Sor has been a strong evangelist in her community and the church has grown. Mueang and Ban began travelling up to coach the young church for their first 4 years until Pastor Kao graduated from bible school and moved to Mae Chan to care for the church there.

The warm and welcoming atmoshpere creates a worship service filled with people seeking connection and community. It is common to have non-believers joining their services because they are so inviting and welcoming with their friends and family.

Meeting on a Sunday morning together for worship they will have songs in Khmu and Thai, a time of preaching, and time for prayer together before they share a meal as a church family.

People come and go throughout the service depending on work schedules and availability.

Mae Chan is a busy city with lots of business bustling around. The city can feel much bigger than it really is being so near to Chiang Rai city.

Many of the believers of the church work 6-7 days of the week, so they find opportune times to gather in worship, and their workplaces become key places of ministry and evangelism.

The believers being from the working class are actively evangelizing and ministering to others in their context. The church is growing through radical love expressed to their neighbours and coworkers.