Free at Last!

By Kathy Sappia, serving in Thailand with Team Isaan

Editor’s Note: Team Isaan is an Alliance church-planting movement among the Isaan people of northeast Thailand. A prison ministry among this unreached group has introduced many incarcerated people to the gospel, and they have become vibrant evangelists upon their release.

After serving more than 10 years in prison, Suchaya was released on March 31, 2010. We met her in fall 2007 when we first began visiting the Sawang Daen Din (SDD) prison. She had become a believer while she was incarcerated in Bangkok, so she was interested in studying God’s Word.

A Natural Evangelist

She heard about Team Isaan’s ministry to the men and asked the prison officials if we could come to teach the women as well. Already, she had been preparing several women to hear about the truth, as she is a natural evangelist. Known by everyone as “Mae (which means mother), Suchaya has cared for each of the women in the prison and shared openly about how God has changed her life-and how He can change theirs as well.

Suchaya faithfully led the women’s group at SDD prison in deeper study and times of worship every Sunday. Since the prison was closed to us for many months due to fear of an H1N1 outbreak, she continued to study the Bible with the women and prayed with them every night.

Answered Prayer

Last month when we visited Suchaya and two other women, we were excited to learn that after years of crying out to God for her freedom, she was being released that very week. I asked the other women if they still plan to meet together even after “Mae” is gone, and they said confidently, “Yes!”

Please pray that the group of women will continue to worship and grow in their walk with God even after their “mother” is gone. Pray that God will provide opportunities for Suchaya to proclaim the gospel in her new environment.

Learn More

Read about the upcoming International Day of Prayer for the Isaan.

Check out our Alliance work in Thailand.

 What You Can Do

Please consider your role in helping to support Alliance Great Commission Ministries. It is through this central fund that we are able to minister among the Isaan.

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