A Story
of Hope

Clean water opens the doors to homes and the gospel opens hearts.

As Sweet as Thanksgiving “Pai”

Move over pumpkin—this “Pai” is amazing!

If you’re like many Americans, you’ll eat the Thanksgiving turkey, but you’re really looking forward to the pie!

This year, Filter of Hope has a new favorite “pie”—a Thai named Pai (pronounced “pie”). But there’s nothing fruity or crusty about Pai Wong. He’s a man God is using in big ways in Thailand.

*Pai (right) and his wife Moo (left) pastor a church with many young people in Chiang Mai, Thailand*

In addition to leading Filter of Hope in Thailand, Pai is the pastor of a local church in Chiang Mai, a staff member with Cru Global Church Movements, and a planter of churches in mountain villages in northern Thailand.

Filter of Hope catches on quickly

Because of Pai’s pioneering work in those villages, he and his wife Moo were introduced to Filter of Hope.

Moo says they both immediately saw the potential. “The people in the mountain villages think their water is clean because it comes from the mountains, but it is making them sick. They need this so much. This will also open doors for us to share the gospel and start more churches.”

Pai wasted no time. He started sharing the Filter of Hope project with pastors and churches all around northern Thailand. He spoke at conferences and meetings and then trained the pastors to do the filter distribution and ministry.

*Pai has trained many pastors and church members in different areas of Thailand.*

A new way to connect with Thais

Thailand is 95% Buddhist and the people are deeply entrenched in this tradition. Pastors are searching for ways to interest Thais in conversations about Jesus. Many are embracing Pai’s vision to use the filter project.

Pastor Krit saw the filter project expand his ministry. “When we gave people the filters and taught them how to use them, they had tears of gratitude. Also, there were so many people who opened their hearts to believe and follow Jesus.”

Another pastor, Kru Air, was called by a Christian woman who could no longer cope with her husband’s hatred of God. She thought her husband would never listen to the gospel.

But Kru Air wanted to use the water filter to talk to him about God. Mr. Chutipong opened his heart to receive Christ along with three of his children. He is now involved in the church, has started a Bible study, and will be baptized on December 18th.

Many workers, much fruit

Since June, 166 churches have participated in distributing 712 water filters. The number of people who received clean water is 2,641 and 24 people have received Christ. Filters have been shared with families in all nine northern provinces.

Filter distribution has been slowed by the weather. “The journey to the villages is difficult in the rainy season. Yesterday, there was a flood in the village.” Dirt roads were washed out and travel to villages became impossible.

*Heavy rains can make the mountain roads to villages impassable.*

No one said it would be easy to reach mountain villages. Pai knows. That’s where he grew up. “I’m just a mountain boy.”

Pai is humble, but God has certainly gifted him to spread this project around Thailand. He already has 406 churches eager to be involved in the next phase of filter distribution.

Thailand and beyond

But Thailand isn’t enough. Pai contacted the Cru Global Church Movements staff in Cambodia and Laos and told them about Filter of Hope. They are imitating Pai’s plan and soon will be receiving a shipment of filters, too.

This Thanksgiving, while you enjoy your pie, pray for Pai, Moo, and all of the churches participating in Filter of Hope Thailand. American pie lasts only a few pieces, but the Thai Pai is just getting started.