United Friendship Church Muang Phayao

Mae Tam, Mueang Phayao, Phayao

Location

The Phayao church is located on highway 1021 near the intersection with highway 1. It is on the south side of the city of Phayao near the road that runs lakeside through the city.

The Phayao church is near to where many Khmu in the city of Phayao live and work, making it convenient to invite and gather together frequently.

The location makes it easy for other churches in our network to come and visit as many of our churches are located just off highway 1.

Pastor- Phuu Yomratchawong

Phuu Yomratchawong is the son of a village chief. His father was the village chief in Mae Phrao when Tia Saenwinchai moved his family there. He has many siblings spread across northern Thailand and is a key evangelist to family members living in villages that have yet to have the gospel enter.

He came to Christ when God healed his daughter miraculously and has only grown in his faith since. He is a patient and wise leader, sacrificing deeply to see the church of Phayao grow into maturity. Phuu has travelled from his home an hour away consistently for years in order to first evangelize and then disciple and grow this church. When he is amongst this church you can see his love for them and his joy to worship alongside them.

The "Church"

The people of the Phayao church are mostly Khmu from village settings who have moved into an urban area to find work. They are very much an intergenerational church having very young to very old people.

God has graciously healed many of the members of this church, so they are passionate prayer warriors, often found out together visiting the sick to pray and care for them.

Many are quite young believers, so it can be an endearing experience to worship alongside them in their newfound faith!

History

Context

Worship Services

In 2016 Chaloerm and Jon stood at the lakeside of Phayao lake with Culloden church praying for God to move and plant the gospel in this city amongst the Khmu there. Nearly a year later, God stirred in Phuu a burden for evangelizing in Phayao amongst his family that lived there. He began visiting regularly, evangelizing with his family and other Khmu he knew living in the city.

Some began to believe and start gathering to do cell groups with no church to go to, eventually being big enough to worship together. Phuu began visiting more frequently to shepherd the believers and miraculous healings began happening amongst believers and non-believers alike.

Phayao is a major urban city of northern Thailand. Having a large rice mill, many Khmu are attracted to Phayao in order to work there. It is a key intersection of major traffic routes in the north, so the city sees a lot of traffic passing through.

Being on these routes, many of our leaders pass through Phayao on the way to ministry locations, stopping to connect and encourage the believers here.

The believers of Huay Taak (village next to Mae Phrao) have adopted this church as a ministry location for serving in regularly with Phuu whenever he travels up.

The church comes together on Sunday mornings to worship. They mainly sing in Khmu together as these are the worship songs they have memorized.

They are excited and eager to pray for the sick and fellowship together. With some elderly members who don't drive anymore Phuu is often picking up and dropping off a carload of people to accommodate worship gatherings.