Special guests in our BSF classes; Oct 14-15, 2013

What an honor and a delight!  After spending three amazing days at the BSF Leaders Retreat in Singapore, we had the special privilege of having several staff members from BSF headquarters and the BSF Board of Directors visit the Bangkok classes.

Our distinguished guests included Susie Rowan (Executive Director of BSF) and her husband Roger Rowan, Melinda Burnette (Director of Training), Anthony Tan (Board of Directors) and his wife Shirley Tan, and Susanne Sloan (Board of Directors) and her husband Sam Sloan.

Their visit to each of the three Bangkok BSF classes was an enormous encouragement to leaders and class members alike. Susie took the opportunity to speak briefly to each of the classes…and our class members loved it!

Gary & Claudia Walthall

GA’s serving in Bangkok, Thailand

Susie Rowan (BSF exec Director) speaking to the Evening Men's class in Bangkok 

Susie Rowan sitting in a one of the men's discussion group

BSF Leaders Retreat in Singapore; 11-13 Oct, 2013

 There’s just nothing like attending a BSF Leaders Retreat!  They only come around every 3 years. The last one we attended was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  

On October 11-13, forty-one leaders from the three Bangkok classes attended the Asia BSF Leaders Retreat in Singapore. Many of our leaders were attending their first BSF Retreat. I think all of us would agree that being in the presence of the 2,800+ BSF leaders from the Asian classes was a powerful and overwhelming experience!

The teaching and the training were powerful and life-changing. The singing was worshipful and spirit-led. The food and the fellowship were warm and filling! Bonds were developed, lives were changed and precious memories were made. To God be the glory…great things He has done!

We hope you will enjoy seeing a couple of pictures from the retreat.  Thank you so much for your continued interest in the work God is doing in Bangkok, Thailand.

God is Good….All the time!

Gary & Claudia Walthall

Claudia's Leaders (above) dressed in Traditional Thai dress

Gary's leaders (above)

Gary & Claudia 

Thankful for the "small things"

Our Evening Men class in Bangkok has always had a struggling School Program. But, this year, it has been exceptionally difficult to get the students to come to class. While in previous years our numbers were small, this year the “new norm” unfortunately has been zero students for several weeks with an intermingling of 1 to 2 students. We continue to pray that the Lord will convince men in our class to bring their students.

However, last Monday night (21 Oct), we were excited to have three students come! For us, it was a real victory.  Praise be to God!  One of the students was a young girl who was attending BSF for the first time. I can only imagine that she was fearful of being the only student, or at least that she might be the only girl. However, by God’s grace and plan, there was another girl (14 year old) who also came. Praise God for his perfect timing and provision!

In addition to the three students, God also reminded me of His faithfulness to bless the work done in and thru our School Program. Two young men who recently graduated from our School Program, are now attending our adult class! Both of them understand the importance of continuing their Bible study in the men’s class.  As an extra bonus…one of the young men is a gifted piano player and he plays the piano for us as well. What a blessing!

Sometimes I get caught up in the numbers, but God gently reminds me of the greatness and wonder of how He works… even in the small things.

Just thought you might want to know.

Blessings from Bangkok, Thailand

Gary

P.S.

Please continue to pray with us for the success and growth in our School Program.

New Life

New life of any kind should be celebrated, because all life is from God.  But, I am especially excited because this new life is in a 40 year old Thai man who has been in the BSF Bangkok Men’s class for about 2 years.

After lecture tonight (21 Oct), this Thai class member shared with me that he had been baptized last weekend while in Hong Kong! He said that since coming to BSF, he had come to know Christ through the study of God’s word.

He was enthusiastic as he told me about his baptism and was genuinely appreciative of  BSF where God had brought him to faith. Because he is the only Christian in his family, he was pleased to share such good news with me and others at BSF.  

One of the greatest joys of teaching God’s Word is in seeing God change lives. This is just one example of how God is working in Bangkok.

Praise God for the fruit of new life from the study of His Word! 

Thank you for your continued prayer support.

Gary