PAOT History
The vision for PAOT was begun in 1990 and legally registered in 1993 by Pastor Yawla Khamchareon, his wife Metavee and a few other Lahu men who shared the vision of impacting this area and region of Thailand and Southeast Asia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Initially located in borrowed space near the center of Chiang Mai, presently the PAOT team is located on 10 rai (about 2.5 acres) in Doi Saket, a village in the northernmost portion of Chiang Mai. Here, there is a Church, Bible Academy, two orphanages, offices and residences for 20 Lahu families who are involved in this effort.
In 1987, shortly after his water baptism while attending Chiang Mai Bible Institute, Pastor Yawla began his work with the Asian Tribal Ministries as an itinerant evangelist and Bible teacher. During his six year tenure, he learned much about both the challenges and opportunities for Christian outreach. Along with witnessing to individuals and families, it was soon apparent that church planting would naturally follow from efforts made regarding salvation. This meant that local pastors would also have to be raised up, trained and supported through the early months of church growth. These processes instilled within Yawla a heart for the tribal communities, especially those poor and needy villages that were located in the more remote hills-tribe locations.
During this same time, the local church at the PAOT site expanded into the Pentecostal Bible Academy with full time students studying in their native Lahu language, most often catering to the poor but motivated students from many area villages. At this same location, bi-annual Bible study conferences are held, aiming at pastors, deacons and other church leaders. In addition, outreach crusades to many villages served to meet the needs of those villagers who otherwise would not be able to leave their homes for study. Finally, exposure to the needy in these villages lead to PAOT's many programs of material helps. Beginning with medicines and expanding to the provision of clothing, rice and other basic necessities of life, the team is now involved with ten different orphanages in two Provinces in Thailand and one in Myanmar (Burma).
Most recently, Pastor Yawla has found favor with local government officials, including the police and military in presenting them with testimony, tracts and bibles that they would not otherwise receive in a country where less than 0.50% of the Thai population are Christians. It is his belief that as these individuals come to know the Lord, respect God's ways and live a new life that this will make a positive impact on the entire country. He has found many open hearts and interested minds as these personal relationships slowly begin to bear fruit for the Kingdom. Looking ahead, PAOT is now actively involved in the planning stages for a large community center that would bring together in one place these efforts combined with programs that are focused upon hill-tribe integration and self-sufficiency as well as individual Christian growth.
“Introducing PAOT” (Pentecostal Assemblies of Tribes)
Greetings to you, our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ! As our name indicates, we are a Spirit filled group of hill tribe ministers and laborers, working and serving cooperatively together as a team for the Glory of the Lord and His Kingdom.Our founder and director, Pastor Yawla, is now completing his third decade in this endeavor based in the traditional Thai village of Doi Saket in the northernmost part of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s famous second city. The nascent origins of our team are in their many and varied journeys to remote and semi-remote tribal villages that existed in this area primarily due to the migration of indigenous people from Burma, Laos and China. Sometimes walking or using second-hand motorcycles and enduring many unknowns, these early efforts bore fruit as the sincerity and simplicity of the Gospel message and love of Jesus lead to many conversions, water baptisms and eventual Church plantings. After the acquisition of a parcel of land upon a hill previously administered by the Thai National Forestry, PAOT finally had the long desired permanent base of operations needed to conduct Bible training, seminars and other discipleship programs. These efforts were the beginning of our principle of establishing, building and sustaining long-term relationships with local Pastors, some of whom were themselves relatively new in the faith. Immediate discipleship was vitally important in these situations.From these many challenges, PAOT learned and grew and matured. We realized that as more and more hill tribe people migrated to the lowlands and the cities, the challenges that faced us also changed.The temptations that arose from drug use and the sex trade lead to a previously unknown plague among our people: HIV and AIDS. Newborn and very young children in particular often became the innocent victims of suffering as parents were unwilling or unable to care for them. Education became partnered with evangelism in combating these ills. Orphanages and hostels were begun to both care for and provide residency for young hill tribe children who had since been required by the Thai government to attend school. Married couples, often with children of their own, and who had a heart for this type of ministry were recruited, trained, prepared and supported financially in this vital task. These daily activities are conducted in parallel with an annual Bible training, held in various locations in hill tribe villages in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. This seasonal event draws hundreds of participants from Northern Thailand and Burma who gather for song, worship, fellowship and study. Refreshed, renewed and inspired, pastors and their wives and families return to their home villages where they are able to share with many others who are not able to attend. We have seen the benefits of this ripple effect year after year.Finally, more recently the Lord has opened doors and given us favor with the local Thai police Department and government officials, up to and including the Prime Minister. This opportunity to witness and share is most gratifying and it serves both as an evangelical occasion of note as well as providing the Thai authorities with a glimpse into our activities and positive impact upon the local and regional communities. These since and durable relationships help to ensure the stability and continuity of our ministry within a country whose predominant religion differs from our own. It demonstrates the wisdom of cooperation and the benefits that are derived from hard-working and law-abiding Christian families and communities. In summary, we refer to our group here as “the PAOT team.” As the Biblical prescribes, we are many members of one body,working together to attain results that are greater than could be realized and accomplished individually. With our hands firmly upon the plow, tilling up new ground, planting seeds, one waters, one weeds, another tends the garden even as God gives the growth. For this we are grateful, thankful and satisfied. In what follows we will provide details of our programs, activities and on-going commitment to identify and meet a wide variety of needs as they arise. We invite your further inquiry and open the door to your partnerships with us here in the fertile fields of Southeast Asia. May God bless you as you prayerfully consider joining and assisting us in this work.
Outreach and Evangelism
To give you an accurate picture of our approach to this kind of outreach, I will share a specific example with you. In the extreme northwest of Thailand is the province of Mae Hon Song. This beautiful area, boarding Burma (Myanmar) contains some of the most remote and isolated new communities in the country. Beginning at the local county market, two or three of our team members chat with villagers who are there shopping for food and other items. Acquaintances are made and invitations are issued to their local villages. Being accompanied there is very important as we are now the guests of a local resident or family.Most often one of us will bring and play a guitar in the evening after dinner. The hill people all speak tonal languages and most are quite musical. These sounds attract many others and in the best of circumstances, an open air meeting will ensue. The songs are evangelical in nature with most being lively and interesting. In this way, the Word begins to go forward. As the evening progresses, some people will depart, others will fade into the background while usually some will come closer. At this time, another member of our team will recount the Gospel message. Questions and discussions may follow. Some individuals are convicted and accept the Lord that night. Others consider the experience.Follow-up is vital. Once some of the locals are saved, this serves as a further witness to others as the change in their life is immediate and often quite dramatic. Water baptism also serves as a testimony of the genuine nature of the conversion. Nevertheless, results vary widely and there are villages
and tribes that require many visits before the first person or family receives Jesus Christ. At the same time, our home Church prays, both in spiritual warfare and for the souls of those who are lost. Sometimes Spirit-filled healing or prophesies are evidenced showing the people both the power and reality of God’s Presence in their midst. We do have two villages which we are currently planting new churches.
Church Planting and Building
As soon as there are sufficient numbers of new, baptized believers, we must
send in a Pastor and his wife and family. They then will teach the people the
basic Biblical principles such as how to read the Word, how to pray and the
importance of congregating and tithing to support their local ministry. Soon,
gifts and callings are identified enabling us to set the body in order according to
the New Testament principles as provided in the Epistles and other writings.
Initially, meetings and Sunday worship take place in a house, either of the pastor or the chief of the village. Once there is a stable congregation,our team can visit and work together with the villagers to construct a separate church building. Usually, this initial effort is a modest and inexpensive one consisting of bamboo walls and a grass roof. Later, as warranted,wooden structures with cement floors and tin or tile roofs replace the worn out indigenous structures.We invite you to pray for these efforts and, as lead of the Lord, provide funds for the construction materials. Sometimes we can arrange for visits where songs, dance and other celebrations can accompany translated encouragement given by you.
Orphanages
More recently, with the many challenges facing the hill tribe people, orphanages
to care for abandoned children have become necessary. Married ministry
couples with a heart for these children oversee them as all of the children must
attend the local Thai government schools, do their homework and be raised in a
healthy, Christian atmosphere. The children, according to their ages, also have
chores. Some of the children clean, wash and help to cook while others care for
domestic animals such as pigs and chickens. Vegetable gardens are also
common. There are 8 orphanages unde PAOT.
Bible School and Discipleship Training
As individuals in these local communities continue to grow spiritually, some exhibit the gifts and callings required to become pastors, evangelists, deacons, or worship leaders. For them we provide a variety of training and disciplining opportunities. The most common is our Bible study program conducted at our PAOT base. This program is so very important because, unlike the West, many of these emerging ministers have never had the opportunity for formal education. Once they are able to read and write in the local tribal language,we can teach them Bible fundamentals.Advanced students are able to receive counseling directed towards specific problems and needs of their congregation.
Social Concerns
Ministry is, at its core, dealing with the needs and difficulties of individuals and families. In this regard, we are involved with everything from helping with catastrophic medical expenses to educational support to playing football together. Ministry is a serious endeavor, but it must be balanced with times of relaxation and enjoyment.This can include everything from fishing trips to picnics and story-telling which the young people enjoy so much. Sometimes, we will all gather around a large bonfire in the evening enjoying barbeques and sipping tea. These activities bond the all-important relationship based efforts indicated above.
Youth Ministry
We wish that all PAOT’s youth knows, close, realizes, and grows up on spiritual life.Becomes the disciples of Christ, be the good example to the other, be united and love one another. We are holding weekly bible study nights, weekly worship nights for youth. We are teaching new songs, musical instruments. We create worship DVDs in Lahu language. We are networking and building relationships with other youth with sports, music etc. Organising youth conferences in Doi Saket and in villages. And youth outreach to hilltribe villages.In the future we plan to organising praise and worship concert among Lahu youth. Continue our fellowship with other churches, and develop networks with organisations; and aid some youth to attend Bible College or musical and dance class
“Your Portion”
If you are interested in any of these activities, you may wonder, “What can I do?” We encourage you first to contact us regarding your questions, suggestions and feedback. We solicit your prayers and support both of which are vitally important to us. I personally thank you for taking the time to consider our needs.
Notice: We have been praying a lot before we write this proposal and after we have done. We want to seek His will and His guidance because without that there is nothing going to happen. So, please pray and seek God for His direction, and be consideration for these projects which we are writing to you. We are praying for pastors and mission directors, church leaders a lot. We thank God for Pastor Peter’s church is helping us but not monthly they sent once awhile. We need the monthly support for PAOT! How do you think better to give each family monthly support PAOT staff or give one time amount of the funds and we as committee members distributes for each family?
We have a lot of problem for no money for the bills such as electricity bills, rice need to buy for the team as the orphanages. I think in the future, each family they should their own motor and pay by themselves, today PAOT is paying for them, very difficult. If you agree, will discuss more detail with the funds. Hope to hear from you! We can’t do the ministry because of lack of the funds, have to go and works.
More families photos this below: |
