It's been a very long time since we've updated you on what's going on here in Thailand. Our apologies for the delay!
We've had a very busy summer filled with ministry, training, family, and fun.
Here's a quick summary of what we've been up to:
- Team Leader Conference in Spain
- College Shopping with Lizzy
- Catching Up with Supporting Churches
- Full House Again!
- New Self Tech's First Employee!
- Let's Get Julia Back to Thailand
- Help Us Launch the Hillmans
- Support Some Local Teammates
Team Leader Conference in Spain
As soon as the 23-24 school year was wrapped up, our family jumped on a plane for Spain. Our mission org, Serge, holds a biannual conference for those in leadership positions.
The time was fruitful on many levels. We were able to re-connect with beloved Serge friends and coworkers. There were trainings related to specific leadership issues. We were able to gather with groups engaged in specific kinds of ministry (eg. facilitative church planting, business for transformation, etc). And we were able to enjoy some restful time with friends and family.
The conference was a catalyst for some great ministry ideas and cooperation. As a result of conversations we had there, we are working on building some training for Thai pastors with fellow missionaries from other teams. We were also given some great ways to accelerate the growth of our business for transformation, New Self Tech.
College Shopping with Lizzy
It's hard to believe, but our second daughter, Lizzy, just started her senior year at Grace International School. So we're working on plans for what will happen in May when she graduates!
In mid July, Ben took Lizzy to the US to visit a number of colleges. In about 1 week, they visited 9 different campuses in 3 different states! They're still a little blurry eyed from the experience!
Lizzy has 2-3 schools she's most interested in, which is a great blessing. Please pray that as she starts sending in applications, God would lead her to a school that meets her academic, social, personal, and financial needs!
Catching up with Supporting Churches
While in the US, Ben and Lizzy were able to visit a few of our supporting churches in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. It was a wonderful opportunity to share what God has been doing here and get caught up with old friends.
As much as our ministry has our minds full with everything happening here, when we visit supporting churches, we get a snapshot of what God is doing in these churches and communities as well. It's a reminder to us of his faithfulness through all the details of his church around the world!
Please pray for our supporters, both churches and individuals. They/you-all are a huge part of the team that makes the ministry we do in Thailand possible.
Full House Again
On the way home from their 2 weeks in the US, Ben and Lizzy picked up a stray daughter! Our eldest daughter, Elie, was able to travel back to Thailand and spend 3 1/2 weeks with us.
It's hard to describe just how wonderful it was to have our entire family together, in our home, on our terms. It very rarely happens these days.
We spent the time getting caught up, filling Elie with all the Thai food and experiences she'd been missing, and making some new memories together.
Of all the things we do here, leaving family, especially our kids, is probably the hardest experience of them all. We are so deeply thankful to God for the time we are able to have together and the fact that our kids are growing up happy and healthy!
Please pray for Elie as she begins her junior year of college soon and re-adjusts to life on "the other side of the pond".
New Self Tech's First Employee
As mentioned above, our trip to Spain produced a number of great ideas for our ministry efforts. One of those was to begin the process of hiring a Thai employee for our business for transformation (B4T) New Self Tech.
Ben began the search process before leaving with Lizzy for the US in July. He created a job description for a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Specialist who will create marketing content that will get our website ranked in search engines like Google. With the help of Iglu (the IT company we partner with here), he was able to interview 3 great candidates!
After prayerful consideration, he presented a job offer to our first employee. And she accepted! She will begin working on September 3rd!
Please pray for Ben and "B" as they begin training and working together. Pray that Ben can provide a fruitful, satisfying work experience for B. And pray that B's efforts would attract many interested customers for our online products!
We are excited to see how the growth of New Self Tech will empower sustainable church planting all over Thailand!
Let's Get Julia Back to Thailand!
As you may know, our teammate, Julia Sloan, served with us for 2 years and is transitioning from short term to long term. She is currently in the US raising enough support to cover her new long term budget.
Julia was able to visit us in Wisconsin and even visit a couple of churches with us. It was so good to be with her again and show her all the wonders of "God's country" Oostburg, Wisconsin! :)
We would really love to have Julia back with us in Thailand ASAP! Would you please pray that God would provide financial and prayer supporters for her? If you'd like to help her get back to Thailand by becoming a financial supporter, please visit her Serge giving page.
Click HERE to Help Julia Return to Thailand!
Help Us Launch the Hillmans
At the same time, we have a young couple, Miles and Hannah Hillman, who are working to raise support to join our team for the first time.
Miles and Hannah will be helping us run and grow our intern and apprenticeship programs. They'll also help us grow our ministry of encouraging and empowering Thai pastors and Thai church plants.
Would you please pray that God would provide for the Hillmans so they would be able to join us soon? We're praying for an arrival of September 2025. If you'd like to support them you can visit their Serge giving page as well.
Click HERE to Help Launch Miles and Hannah Hillman!
Support Some Local Teammates
We have one more family that is already with us here in Thailand who is needing extra financial support.
They are doing amazing work. For security reasons, we can't share their names or exactly what they're doing. But if we could tell you, you would be amazed at what God is doing through them to give the hope of the gospel to some deeply hurting people.
Because of these security concerns, it is much more difficult for them to raise support than it is for us. They can't just reach out with a public newsletter like we can. So we are doing everything we can to help them be fully funded.
Please pray for them, their ministry, and their support raising efforts.
If you are interested in supporting them, would you please contact us via email ([email protected]) and we will pass your contact information on to them.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support for the work God is doing in Thailand!
Blessings,
Ben and Becca Johnson
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