Protestantism in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Protestants in Thailand by some estimations constitute from 2 to 3% of the population. Protestantism
was introduced to Thailand
in 1816.
(CCT) founded in 1934 by a merger of several Protestant groups, including Presbyterians, Lutherans from the German Marburger Mission and others. It is considered to be the largest Protestant church in Thailand, consists of Thai, Chinese, Karen, and English-speaking congregations. It is a member of the World Council of Churches
and has about 60,000 members.
Among the other Protestant groups represented in Thailand are Lutherans, Baptists, Adventist
s, Methodists, Pentecostals and charismatic
s, and Anglicans. Anglican Churches in Thailand belong to the Anglican Church in Thailand
, a deanery of the Diocese of Singapore
of the Church of the Province of South East Asia
.
, which has over 200 full-time foreign staff and over 100 Thai staff, ministering in 20 locations. Another evangelistic missionary organization, OMF International
, has an outreach to place Christian teachers in the Kingdom's schools. In the large cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, numerous ministries are operating in hotel conference rooms, storefronts, and other rented facilities as an outreach to the local residents.
and Bangkok Christian Hospital
are among the best medical facilities in Bangkok
.
was officially established, though its organised work began in 1828. Part of the Bible in Thai was first published in 1834. The New Testament
in Thai was printed for the first time in 1843. The first full collection of Bible texts in Thai came out in 1883. In 2005, Thailand Bible Society distributed 43,740 copies of the Bible
and 9,629 copies of New Testament
in the Thai language.
Gideons International
's "Scripture Blitz" was held in Thailand in November 2005, where 227,295 Bibles were placed by a team of 30 men from around the world.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
was introduced to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in 1816.
Protestant organizations
The largest Protestant association is the Church of Christ in ThailandChurch of Christ in Thailand
The Church of Christ in Thailand is a Protestant Christian association. It is the largest Protestant denomination in Thailand and is considered to be the largest by group of Protestant members in Thailand....
(CCT) founded in 1934 by a merger of several Protestant groups, including Presbyterians, Lutherans from the German Marburger Mission and others. It is considered to be the largest Protestant church in Thailand, consists of Thai, Chinese, Karen, and English-speaking congregations. It is a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and has about 60,000 members.
Among the other Protestant groups represented in Thailand are Lutherans, Baptists, Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...
s, Methodists, Pentecostals and charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
s, and Anglicans. Anglican Churches in Thailand belong to the Anglican Church in Thailand
Anglican Church in Thailand
The Anglican Church in Thailand is a Deanery of the Diocese of Singapore within the Province of South East Asia. It is in communion with other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion.ACT began with the Parish of Christ Church Bangkok...
, a deanery of the Diocese of Singapore
Anglican Diocese of Singapore
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore to date and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese...
of the Church of the Province of South East Asia
Church of the Province of South East Asia
The Church of the Province of South East Asia, a member church of the Anglican Communion, was created in 1996, comprising the four dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia...
.
Evangelistic ministries
There are many evangelical Christian ministries operating throughout the country, with some being newly-founded small churches. Foreign missionaries and residents are establishing churches and prayer groups throughout Thailand. One of the largest is Youth with a MissionYouth With A Mission
Youth With A Mission is an international, inter-denominational, non-profit Christian missionary organization...
, which has over 200 full-time foreign staff and over 100 Thai staff, ministering in 20 locations. Another evangelistic missionary organization, OMF International
OMF International
OMF International is an interdenominational Protestant Christian missionary society, founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.-Overview:...
, has an outreach to place Christian teachers in the Kingdom's schools. In the large cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, numerous ministries are operating in hotel conference rooms, storefronts, and other rented facilities as an outreach to the local residents.
Protestant hospitals
Bangkok Adventist Mission HospitalBangkok Adventist Mission Hospital
Bangkok Adventist Hospital is a general hospital with registered capacity of 200 beds and 24 bassinets, situated in Bangkok, Thailand. The hospital is widely known among Thai people as "Mission Hospital"...
and Bangkok Christian Hospital
Bangkok Christian Hospital
The Bangkok Christian Hospital is one of the oldest general hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand. Situated on Silom Road, Bangrak District.- History :...
are among the best medical facilities in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
Bible ministry
United Bible Society began to work in Thailand in 1828. In 1966, Thailand Bible SocietyThailand Bible Society
Thailand Bible Society is a non-denominational Christian organization dedicated to translating and distributing the Bible and selected books of the Bible in Thailand. The Thailand Bible Society is a member of the United Bible Societies Association....
was officially established, though its organised work began in 1828. Part of the Bible in Thai was first published in 1834. The New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
in Thai was printed for the first time in 1843. The first full collection of Bible texts in Thai came out in 1883. In 2005, Thailand Bible Society distributed 43,740 copies of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and 9,629 copies of New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
in the Thai language.
Gideons International
Gideons International
Gideons International is an evangelical Christian organization dedicated to distributing copies of the Bible in over 94 languages and 194 countries of the world, most famously in hotel and motel rooms. The organization was founded in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin, as an early American parachurch...
's "Scripture Blitz" was held in Thailand in November 2005, where 227,295 Bibles were placed by a team of 30 men from around the world.
See also
- Church of Christ in ThailandChurch of Christ in ThailandThe Church of Christ in Thailand is a Protestant Christian association. It is the largest Protestant denomination in Thailand and is considered to be the largest by group of Protestant members in Thailand....
- Christian Care Foundation for Children with DisabilitiesChristian Care Foundation for Children with DisabilitiesChristian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities - non-governmental organization in Thailand. Established in 1986 by Christian Outreach for Relief & Development , UK. Located in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok....
- Christianity in ThailandChristianity in ThailandChristianity was first introduced to Thailand by European missionaries. Historically it took on a significant role in the modernization of Thailand. It represents 0.7% of the national population, which is predominantly Buddhist...
- Worldwide Faith MissionsWorldwide Faith MissionsWorldwide Faith Missions is a non-governmental international Christian relief and development church missionary organization based in the United States of America with mission branches in India, Burma , and Thailand. It is a part of the worldwide missions church movement.- History:Worldwide Faith...
- Gideons InternationalGideons InternationalGideons International is an evangelical Christian organization dedicated to distributing copies of the Bible in over 94 languages and 194 countries of the world, most famously in hotel and motel rooms. The organization was founded in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin, as an early American parachurch...