PATTAYA

Joelene and I are headed to Thailand in January with seven men and ten ladies from KFA to do ministry on two unique fronts: Among those Thai women who have found no other good way to support their families than by giving their bodies to sex-for-money -- and among the Western men headed to those red-light districts to purchase it.

The men's team will be doing street evangelism on the streets of Pattaya (Walking Street in Pattaya pictured) and Bangkok, where men come to buy a woman for the night. Think New Orleans' Bourbon Street on steroids.

Steve Neyman, stateside coordinator for MST Project (www.mstproject.com), with whom we're partnering in Thailand, did our men's orientation today via Skype.

Some of the things we learned in that time together:
* All ages and all kinds of men come to places like these seeking love and intimacy, filling voids currently taken up by hurt and great need.

* Hurting people hurt people.

* God has called us to be an extension of love rather than judgment.

* We aren't fighting against people - not against flesh and blood - it's bigger and deeper than that.

* 'Grace and love are more transforming than shame and guilt.' (Chris Lenty - MST Project)

Pray for the ministry of these teams as they travel to Thailand next month.

And be blessed.