Thailand Flooding Still a Concern

Academic dean in front of Thailand Assemblies of God Bible Institute

Heavy monsoon rains drenched Southeast Asia four month ago, leaving Thailand and neighboring countries submerged in water. More than 1,000 lives have been lost across the region. Nearly a third of Thailand’s 77 provinces, including Bangkok, have been hit by floods. More than one-fifth of the country’s 64 million people have been affected.

Mark Durene, AG World Missions country coordinator for Thailand, reports: “The floodwaters are receding from some of the worst-hit areas of central Thailand, including the industrial area of Ayutthaya. However, it is slowly creeping through the city of Bangkok, with floodwaters from one foot to four feet deep. Floodwaters have reached our Thailand Assemblies of God Bible Institute. The water level is not excessively high — about one foot in depth — but is still causing damage.”

Durene said that Thailand’s AG General Superintendent Wirachai Kowae reported there are 10 churches in flooded conditions.

“The disaster relief funds we have received,” Durene added, “are being routed through the Thailand Assemblies of God Foundation, and are going out to churches that are helping flood victims both in their congregations and in their surrounding communities.”

Wayne Brown, director of Asia Pacific Student Abroad Initiative, said their home and the APSAI Student Center have been spared from any flooding.  He said, “Most of the Assemblies of God churches in the APSAI community have also been spared from the floods.  Our family, who evacuated from Bangkok two weeks ago, has returned to the city along with the 13 APSAI students and the fellow missionaries who left Bangkok at that same time.”

He continued: “In the APSAI community we are doing an outreach to a flooded neighborhood. We are working with a local church that serves as one of our APSAI ministry partners.” Students and church members are creating aid packages with rice, fish, water and other small items. They will distribute these packages through the flooded areas.”

The missionaries and national churches are continuing to assess the damage. They are praying for direction as to how they can best assist the victims of this ongoing disaster, as the massive body of water continues its long, destructive trip toward the ocean.

Regional Director Russ Turney was in Bangkok a few days ago. He said: “The water is starting to recede, but it will take months for the country to recover. Thousands of homes have had up to eight feet of water, some for weeks. We are very thankful for churches who are responding with funds as we join in helping the national churches serve their communities with compassionate assistance.”

Click here to donate to the Thailand Flood Relief Fund. Enter 891167-9 (48) in the “Comments” box.