BACKTHAILAND:
GOLD DIPLOMA IN IBRA'S BIBLE SCHOOL
Official statistics on the number
of Christians in Thailand show that they comprise less than one percent
of the total population. Wattanah Sangterahpitikul, however, is convinced
that this number is not accurate, and he should know. Wattanah directs the
work of "The Way of Life", IBRA Radio's office in Bangkok, and
he knows of tens of thousands of Thai people, young and old, who listen
daily to IBRA Radio's broadcasts. Each month, IBRA broadcasts 66 radio programs
and 18 TV programs and they all tell of the only Savior who forgives us
of all our sins. Wattanah believes that the main reason for the success
of the Gospel in Thailand is the broad based media outreach of various Christian
groups. It is not enough to merely air the programs and be satisfied that
the job is done. Each listener who writes in to IBRA's office is offered
a Bible correspondence course through which they can learn more about Jesus,
who He is and what He can mean for each and every person.
THE BIBLE CORRENSPONDENSE SCHOOL IS GROWING
In six months 140,776 letters have come in and 153,579 have been mailed out. 20,001 new students have signed up for the Bible correspondence course and 9,997 have completed the course. Several hundred thousand people have written in to IBRA and the number of listeners enrolled in the Bible correspondence course is increasing every year, reports Wattanah. Not all are able to finish the course, but about half of them read the lessons, answer the questions and mail in the completed lessons.
FOUR DIFFERENT COURSES
There are now four different courses, one for children and three for teens and adults, and they are, of course, offered free of charge. "Way of Life", besides other literature, has recently received 20,000 pocket size Bibles.- But we don't send the Bibles out at random, says Wattanah. We first want to know that they have a good chance of falling on fertile soil. The first of the three adult courses consists of 8 lessons which are sent out in four stages. The next course contains 6 lessons and, in the final course, the student must study the Gospels of Matthew and Mark plus the book of Acts. Each lesson requires the student to do a good amount of Bible reading on the side so that they can grow on their own.
CONTACT WITH THE CHURCH
- In the middle of the course, we ask the students if they would like to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. If so, we send their name to the church nearest to where they live. Twice a month we send out a team of about 6 people and hold meetings and meet both listeners and correspondence school students, reports Wattanah. Sometimes there are only 50, but often there are up to several hundred people at those meetings, and many of them receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
The Bible correspondence courses are laid out quite simply, keeping in mind that this is not a Christian country, and many people are so thankful that the lessons are not complicated. As proof of their having completed the Bible correspondence course, the students receive an attractive diploma with beautiful calligraphy, a picture and a gold seal from "Way of Life", where a staff of 10 answers letters, corrects the lessons and helps the students. - We want to give our students something they can be proud of, says Wattanah.
WHERE DO THE STUDENTS END UP?
What happens to the students after completing the correspondence course? Many prepare themselves to become preachers or missionaries, and many continue their studies. So the effects spread like ripples on a pond. As a result, IBRA Radio is involved not only in sowing the seed but also in reaping the harvest.
