Surehope is a partnership I helped launch between Gordon-Conwell Seminary, OMF International, and local churches in order to reach the Shan-Dai peoples for Christ. This partnership has resulted in scores of short-term teams to Southeast Asia where the gospel work of ethnographic research, evang****, orphan and children’s ministry, and chrch planting are being accomplished. All of this labor is to plant a passion for the worship of God through Christ-exalting witness, culture-engaging work, and body-uniting partnership for the joy of the Shan and surrounding peoples.
I share all of this to set the context for this post. Currently, there is a team in N. Thailand that is gathering data to produce a 30 day prayer booklet for the Shan-Dai. This team is facing considerable health and spiritual opposition. Please pray for their protection and effectiveness in producing this booklet. Just today I received an email from the team leader who wrote:
I read something written by a Shan woman today that was very sobering. I need to get the exact quote but She said something to the effect that she has two choices, to stay in M-nmar and be constantly raped by Bur*** soldiers or to escape to Thailand where she can be constantly raped for a few baht each time.
The oppression, corruption, and injustice in this part of the world is immense. Pray for gospel light to liberate these people from sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual bondage. Pray for the rape to stop and the rejoicing to begin, rejoicing in a new life for these people.
Brian “Head” Welch, now former lead guitarist for the band 