THE GREAT COMMISSIONJtEMII^pm

Among the Tribes of Northern Ttiailand

'And fhe fieofhen shaH

"Goye infog/f fhe worMt

know therf lam f/ie I ord,

andpreach fhe (gospel.'

,^
^blished and mailed Ir^eby
MEL and JUN&BYRS

niyou befbre theireyes7

wfienlstKi//bffsancfified

e2CK.S6-Z3

Forwarding y^eni
MRSALLEN R.NtCHOLS

Talat Chiengkam, Chanqwat Chi'engrei,

Thailand,Asia

116-3^h.S^^eet

Milwaukie, Oregon
U&A.

VOL.

10

JANUARY - MAY, 1958

No, 1

A BUDDHIST MONK

THIS IS NOT PLA.Y: Recently an elder from the leper villitge

brought a visitor to our house. He was from a village about 25 miles distant. Some years ago he had been sp^nkled and then left on his own to try and walk the Chris-'

tian lifoo The nearest Presbyterian help was about fifty miles away. He had repeatedly sent out a call for help since there were others interested in the gospel also,
but no one had come. These people could not enter into

the Christian life because they believed that onrly cer

tain people had the authority to administer the rite of

sprinkling. After four years of no help, he came into contact with a non-leper who had left the leper village
and moved into that area. Through this man he learned

of our presence and our willingness to teach anyone in terested. From this man he also learned something of the rite of baptism, which was as the scripture describes, a **going down into the water" and a "coming up out of the
water" instead of the custom of sprinkling, or as it is called in the Thai, "the ritual of touching the forehead." So it was with these circumstances that this man came to

our doorstep with his offering of sugar cane. I promised

to honor his invitation.

The first Sunday that I arrived, about twenty natives had gathered for service. Pour of them had been sprinkled
and one had been baptized. There were also about five

adults, some children and babies, all prepared to receive the sprinkling ceremony that very day! I suggested that perhaps we had all better spend time studying the Word together so everyone would fully understand what "enter ing" the Christian life meant. This was agreeable. The first few times I spoke only on the theme of man's

when they could receive the rite for "entering" Christ. They said it would make no difference to them which pro
into the water. They were only anxious to get on with the ceremony. They were a little sceptical about the

sinfulness and his need of a Saviour. Each time they asked

cedure I used "touching the forehead" or by "plunging

"plunging" into water, however, for it seemed more humil

iating than the more dignified and less cumbersomeprocess of "touching the forehead". Nevertheless, they were will ing either way. I felt the time had arrived to begin
more teaching on what it meant to "enter" Christ and the

symbolic significance of Christian baptism.

I began with the baptism of Jesus*

Since only one in

the group could read, I had him read from Matt.3:13-17.

TThen cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John

tjo be baptized of him

and Jesus when he was baptized,

'Went up straightway out of the water I pointed out that this rite was conmianded of Jesus and was faithfully practiced by the early church as described in Acts 2:38, Then we went on to Acts 8:29-40. ** and as they went on their way, they came to a certain water what doth
hinder me I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of

God and they both went down into the water and he baptized him and when they were come up out of the
water .*

So far so good.

The attention was keeuo

Hearts were

sober. Here was the Word of God speaking.

But what does

this ''plunging'* into water mean? Was baptism like a washing? Yes. This they could readily understand for they, themselves, go to the river and plunge beneath the water whenever they take a batho

In fact, some of the natives have expressed it this way, "We go down to the river to enter Christ by taking a balh," To cleanse the cup on the outside, however, was profitless if within there was still need of cleansing. It would have little significance to wash the body in a divine act when inwardly they were still full of "hypocrisy and iniquity." This act also had to express an inward cleans ing, the resurrection of a new life - the becoming of a new man. From now on they had to realize that their lips could no longer curse and speak evilo They had been given
new hands which could no longer work for greedy self but now must show forth deeds of mercy and love. In fact, they were to become new creatures. Hopefully I turned to Col. 2:12. "Buried with him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." This "plunging" into water was like unto a

burial. The old self-life was to be buried and spring

ing forth from this watery grave was the new life of re surrection. Herein is your decision to forsake the old for "old things must pass away", and herein is your de cision to exercise faith and grasp that newness of life for "behold all things have been made new." This was like being born again into a new life. Since the native mind demands something definite to accompany his "entering in", the act of baptism has long
before been established to meet this need. From this

(continued on p, 6)

THS THA.1 AT WORK

The stalks of sugar cane are fed into the

wooden press by hand. The press is oper-> ated by a water buffalo walking slowly in
a circle.

The syrup is then boiled down until there

is only the sugar left.

This is separated

into patties, cooled and sold.

(continued from p. 3)
act the heathen as well as the new Christian dates his "entrance into Christ."

How much of this was getting across to the minds so nnfarailiar with spiritual terms? Was it more confusing? Had the spirit of God been speaking to their hearts? The Thai faces give no expression. My heart was soon thrilled however when one of the men who had wanted to be baptized ventured this comment, **! don't think 1 should be baptized today- - I should be taught some more - for this is not plavo" The act of "entering Christ" and its expression in Christian baptism - is not play. How much play is there in the religious world today? How many people continue to play with the meaningless custom of "touching the forehead". How many of those who have claimed to restore the "ancient order" of things still continue to play
with this divine ordinance. Like a child's ball we toss

it around, dropping it into the mud and mire of human speculation, chipping off its beauty and depth, scarring its radiant design with a cold, legal, spiritless broth erhood concept, relegating this most significant exper ience to "one of the steps of salvation" instead of a detailed expression of the entire process of salvation. No longer does baptism signify a death. The old man of sin goes down into the water and holds his breath for a second and comes up beaming and just as alive as ever. There is no death, no burial and no intention of a res urrected life. We simply arise from the waters, content in that we have been obedient to a series of steps pecu liar to a brotherhood. From thence we go on with our

playing in regard to sin, the full direct leadership of

the Holy Spirit and the sobriety of life. May we catch the insight of a simple searching native who said, " this is not play."
.0000000-

We all make footprints on the sands of time. Some leave the imprint of a great soul others just leave
the mark of a heel.
-oo~ooo00-

CALLING NAMES: Nothing gets a Thai quite so rattled as when he is suddenly and unexpectedly confronted with a foreigner. Normally the Thai are quite reserved and ex pressionless, but when you come upon one without warning
there are vivid signs of inner excitement. The normal

and customary greeting is for the Thai to press his open hands together and raise them to his face. This practice
however very nearly caused an accident. On one occasion

I met a Thai doctor riding his bike and carrying two children behind and one in fronts He was surprised to
see me and unconsciously started to make the formal

greeting.

He very nearly lost all his passengers as well

as his dignity.

Some of the more educated will tip their hats or even venture to try the strange custom of shaking hands. The terms for addressing a foreigner are varied. If the

Once they know you are a missionary, they will call you "Teacher" or "Doctor", the term doctor denoting simply
a term of respect.

native is at loss what to say, he will just call you "Mister" much in the same manner we employ the term.

Perhaps the most uncomplimentary term is that used by the children in the market, who have been prompted by the wicked and opposing minds of their parents. While riding

white dung of a bird", while their parents approvingly

look at each other and smile.

or walking through the market one cannot escape the chorus of shouting youngsters, "white dung of a bird

used by the country folk. When they meet you for the first time, they might use the term "Teacher", but if you come often and they learn of your real mission, then
they will address you as "Father who cares for us". It
one call "Father who cares for us" come over and chat

On the other hand, there is a coveted term which is

is refreshing to walk along a country road and hear some

How easy then to tell them of the Heav

with us awhile.
being.

enly Father who cares for them more than any earthly

j^^^^^^^XyXXXXXYXXXXXXXXXXXXYYYyyTryyyTfld-yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYy

FLASH I!! I am sorry to have to inform you X that Mel has Hepatitis, and they will not be arriv I ing in May as planned. We are not sure at this X time just when they will arrive. Will you remember X them in prayer that they will be strengthened and X encouraged and soon be able to travel. ifrs.A.R.N.

x x x x i
x

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXJCXXXXXXXXXXXyyvxTTirygYy

Bal. Nov. 1, 1957 RECEIPTS: Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb.

$ 234.23

Garibaldi Church of Christ

Friends Coburg Church of Christ Trent Church of Christ The Dalles Christian Church Multnomah Church of Christ Ronald Byers Friend Mr. & Mrs. Jay Shields Mrs, 0. E. Hobart, Missouri Mr. and Mrs. Don Thomas

llOl.lT
65.00 50.00 40.00 10,00 400.00 10.00 50,00 30o00 lOoOO 44o45

Baker, Oregon Missionary Group.

Molalla Christian Church

20.00
20.00

Sanonamish Bible Camp, Washington 10.00 Athena Christian Church Missionary. 15.00 Gleaners Sunday School Class, Molalla..o.o 28o00 Church of Christ, Milwaukie 125.00 El Cajon, Calif. Friends 17.00 Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Copenhaver 100.00 Mr, and Mrs. L. M. Finch 5000 Mrs. Arthur Copenhaver 100.00 Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Leavett 25.00 First Christian Church, Roseburg 25.00
Dr. and Mrs. P. G. Salstrom Corbett Christian Church 25.00 10.00

Church of Christ, Oregon City

Southwest Church of Christ Euffl-Join~Us Class,Bdwy.Christian,Lex..Ky..

120.00 65.00 10.00

1575.62

Household (upkeep and repair)

Food Film Correspondence, literature Customs and tax

DISBURSEMENTS: Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb.

$156.25
253.45 31,95 20.77 42.04

$1809o85

Personal (clothes, gifts, medical)...,.... 111.80

Travel Miscellaneous The Photo-Lith Co Check service charge 16.70 5.00 47.20 3,45
$ 688,60

Total Bal, March 1, 1958

$1121.25

^SSlQ-' 3

THE GREAT COMMISSION REMINDER

Among the Tribes of Northern Thailand
'And the heafhen shoU

"Ooyeinfo p//ihewor/d, andpreach fhe (josper

MA(tKI:i6

know thcrtlam the Lord,

when I sha//be ^nc/if/ed

inyou before theireyesT

CZCK. 36-23

t
Published and mailed freeby
MEL and JUNLBYCRS

Forwarding Agent
MRSALLEN R.NtCHOLS 116-36m. Street

Talat Chiengkam, Chanqwat Chiengret,

ThailandAsia

Miiwa ukle, Oregon

USA.

\/0i. 1/

PiONCB OF "THE QUIET HEART"

Hi

The Zapotec Indians in the mountains near Oaxaca city in Mexico have translated the word peace to mean "in the heart sitting quiet." Ihe heart that Just sits down is not enough. Quietness must be the essence of its repose.
Jesus comes to us as the Prince of Peace. He is Master

of "the quiet heart."

3he gift of God wrapped in swaddling

clothes and lying in a manger is the symbol of peace. Strange, that this tranquil scene should create such a holo caust of commercial greed, noisy jingles, mythical cele brations and general confusion. The innkeeper claimed that there was no room in the inn, to-day we have neither room nor time. This noisy troubled world is too busy "cele brating" the birthday of Jesus that there is no time left
to just sit and worship Him who is the Prince of "the quiet heart." When the confusion and merry-making of Christmas sub sides, take time to quietly kneel at the manger scene and

learn of that peace which the world cannot give.

heart be calmed in its stillness.

Let your

May the Holy atmosphere of CHRIS1AS, its peace and

calm, constrain your heart to begin the NEW YEAR quietly.

TIDIN6S>y THAILAND

"May Spirifua! Blessing-"....Mercy

....ancfHeart Peace*'
BE YOURS FROM 60D THE FATHER

AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. AMEN.

The Mel Byers fdm/7y

A LITTLE GIRL*S SOJOURW IN AMERICA

Daddy told me a lot about America so naturally everytime ^ the big plane landed I asked, "Is this America?" Always th6'
answer came back, "no, this is Japan" or "this is Okinawa or

"this is Hawaii." One morning however as we were flying hi^

above the Pacific ocean my daddy woke me up, pressed my face
against the window and shouted, "look - look, see those
green hills and snow covered mountains - that's America."

I declare it looked about like any other country and I didn't

know what all the excitement was about.
fun so I got excited too.

But it looked like

Down below I could see the water pounding against the shoreline of that land which was to be my new home for one
year. Another half hour and we landed in Portland. I

never saw so many English people in all my life - in fact

I could not see a single Thai or native around anywhere. America must be the place where the English people live. Then there was grandpa and grandma and a whole lot of other people just kept looking at me and holding me. I just knew that I
would like America,

God has always taken good care of my daddy and mommy while we were at home in Thailand and so naturally I was a little worried about coming to a new and strange land. But
God must be here in America also for when we arrived at

grandpa's house there was a nice new car waiting for us to

use. It was left by Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Garland Bare. Daddy took us all for a ride and it went so fast and smooth. They really know how to make fancy ox-carts in America. Then God must have talked to some of the people in the Milwaukie

church for they fixed up a nice house for us to live in. They
brought chairs, tables, refrigerator, washing machine and many other things. This has sure been good for me for my mommy says I don't act so good if we have to keep moving about and living with other people all the time. Everyone has been so good and we thank God for His goodness. I don't know much about furlough for that is big peoples' talk but I know daddy isn't home very much. He is alwajrs out preaching somewhere. He says he has to go and tell the people about God and the work in Thailand. Anyway, I think things will be better for me when we get back to Thailand. Daddy
says we will be going home around May 1st. America is nice but it seems to me that people make an

awful fuss and bother just to live.

Everyone is so busy.

I really don't think life is that complicated at all. Oh well, it will be good to get back home. You see I have a

little kitten called "tiger" and an old ragged doll in

Thailand which I haven't seen for a long time.