Thailand, Asia

THA06b - ITDP - Support of Church Planters

Partnership Overview

For a variety of reasons the hill tribes of Thailand often do not have the same opportunities as other Thai nationals, therefore making it difficult for them to alleviate themselves from poverty. It is with these concerns that the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) is providing assistance. ITDP is a local Non-government Organization (NGO) and since 1990 they have received grants for implementing rural development activities designed to help in the efforts to alleviate the resource-poor out of poverty.

However, these villagers not only need their physical needs met but also their spiritual needs. The best way to do this is to work alongside the rural development staff and teachers. Through the evangelist there will be ongoing leadership training and discipleship. It is hoped that eventually churches can be planted in project areas.

This partnership provides financial support for ITDP's church planters. 

History Of Partnership

Since 1990 the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) has assisted hill tribe people to cope with the many changes that have taken place in their livelihoods. This has predominantly been through small projects providing special assistance with drinking water, irrigation systems, farming and income generation, fish farming, establishing a Fair-Trade International Coffee Cooperative, and self-help groups.

Bright Hope World's association with ITDP commenced in 2005 when we started buying coffee from them and importing it to New Zealand. Since then we have been in regular contact with Mike Mann and have visited Thailand a number of times. It is therefore exciting to now be able to partner with them in other aspects of their ministry.

Beneficiaries

This partnership directly benefits the individual church planters who are financially supported.

What We Like About The Partnership

ITDP is making a real difference in the lives of many hill tribe people in Northern Thailand.  They have been involved there for many years and are committed to helping these people holistically.  By providing for their physical needs and helping lift them out of their lifestyle of poverty, they have built good relationships with a number of villages and have established an excellent platform to now send church planters to these areas.

Key People

Leadership Profile

Mike and Becky Mann are the directors of ITDP and are our contact in Thailand.  They have been providing support to the hill tribe villages in Northern Thailand and surrounding regions since 1990. Mike is from America and is a global consultant for rural development. In addition to being a director of ITDP, he also consults around the world. They have four children, Richard, Melanie, Ryan and Robert.

Other People Involved

The various church planters who will receive support from this partnership.

Vision And Annual Strategy

ITDP's vision is to provide holistic care for the hill tribe people of Thailand involving not just empowering them physically  but also seeking to meet their spiritual needs.

The evangelists will work in the same project villages as the rural development field staff, building relationships with villagers. They will run seminars, help start Sunday schools and devotional groups/churches in the villages and provide Christian education materials for training and distribution.

Annual Budget

BHW is looking to provide US$4,840 annually for each church planter.  The number of church planters we support is restricted only by the availability of funds so the budget here is unlimited.