Thailand 1
February 27th

“I will give you a new heart, O Thailand, and put a new spirit in you!”
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Southeast Asia
Population | 70 million
Area | 513,120㎢ Located in the central part of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
Capital City | Bangkok (10.9 million people)
People Groups | Total 114 groups (Thai 81%, Chinese 10.8%, Malay 6.1%, Burmese 1.2%)
People Groups Unreached | 77 groups (88.2% of the population)
Official Language(s) |  Thai
Total Languages | 92
Bible Translations | Completed 37, New Testament 18, Partial 15
Religion | Christianity 1.3% (Protestant 0.45%), Buddhism 88.7%, Islam 4.5%, Ethnic religion 3%, Non-religious 2.1% Evangelical 0.65 % (450,000 people)

》 About Thiland

Thailand, formerly known as Siam until 1939, is the only Southeast Asian country never colonized by European powers. In 1932, a bloodless revolution established a constitutional monarchy, and since then, Thailand has adopted a parliamentary system where the prime minister leads the government while the king holds a ceremonial role. However, the military has remained influential, staging coups and influencing politics over the years. There was a military coup in 2006, ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, followed by political unrest with large-scale protests in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Thailand officially follows the principle of separation of powers, with the prime minister serving as the head of the government, elected by the Senate. In August 2023, Srettha Thavisin was appointed as the nation’s new prime minister.

The Thai economy is mainly based on services, light industries, and agriculture. With well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise system, and investment-friendly policies, exports account for about two-thirds of the country’s GDP. Major exports include electronics, agricultural products, automotive parts, and processed foods. The tourism industry has also been a consistent contributor to economic growth, even during crises. Over the decades, poverty has significantly declined, with stable inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable levels of public and external debt. However, in the long run, high household debt, political instability, and an aging population pose risks to sustained growth. Thailand’s heavy reliance on exports and tourism made the country vulnerable to the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with restrictions on foreign tourists. Thailand’s GDP per capita is approximately $17,300.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Protestant Christianity in Thailand began in 1828 through missionary Karl Gützlaff, and despite its 200-year history, Christians make up less than 0.5% of the population. However, we are thankful for the approximately 450,000 evangelical Christians in the country, and for church leaders united as the Thailand Evangelism and Church Growth Committee who plan to take the gospel to every village. Let us pray that the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (EFT) will train pastors and believers to stand firm in the gospel and in prayer. Thailand is deeply connected to Buddhism and its guardian angel, Phra Siam Devadhiraj. Pray that the people will be delivered from their desires, idols and all that is unclean.

2. Let us give thanks for 1,500 foreign missionaries from organizations such as OMF International, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), New Tribes Mission (NTM), Assemblies of God (AoG), and Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) serving in Thailand. Let us pray that more missionaries will join them and partner with local churches. There is a shortage of trained leaders from seminaries, Bible colleges and missionary training centers. Thai churches also need to adapt their worship, hymns, leadership, Bible study and evangelism to the local culture. Let us pray that the churches will have tender hearts, willing to share the gospel and take on the mission of evangelism. Let us also pray that the Thai people would receive new hearts and spirits and be saved.

3. Thailand’s tourism industry is closely linked to the sex trade, which employs about 2.8 million people, including 250,000 prostitutes. Many of these workers come from poor ethnic groups in rural areas or are trafficked from neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia. Some young women come to Thailand hoping to find foreign boyfriends, but end up in the sex trade instead. According to a UN report, Thailand is still considered a global hub for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Japan has been one of the largest markets for human trafficking over the past decade, with an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Thai women and children trafficked to Japan for prostitution each year. Let us pray that God will cleanse His name tarnished among the lost souls of Thailand. Let us also pray that Thai people will receive the forgiveness and righteousness of Jesus Christ through the church’s evangelism. Pray for Thai women and children who have been trafficked and sexually exploited so that they can return home soon. Also, pray for their restoration as God’s holy people, cleansed by the blood of the cross.

》 Urgent prayer requests around the world need your prayer!