 |
| 25 Years ago! |
This month, Annie and I are celebrating a big milestone in our Christian life and ministry. On July 9, 1989, 32 years ago Annie and I both were baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time during a foundation class at our church. We had a upper room experience at the end of the class where the Holy Spirit of God came upon us like tongues of fire all at once. That moment changed everything in our lives forever! We were delivered of many things at that time and the major thing for me was after 20 years of alcoholism, I was totally set free! From that day forward until even today we fell in love with Jesus and wanted to serve Him any way we could. We started immediately in lay ministry at our church. We became greeters, ushers, intercessors, small group leaders, leaders of small group leaders, licensed ministers with jail and prison ministry within our church. In October 1993, we sold everything we had and quit our good jobs and we became pastors at Cotr Palestine, Texas. We gave up all we had and became pastors of this small church where we learned our first lessons in full time ministry. We went from almost nothing to a good size church for a small town in east Texas in three years. During the 3rd year, we went on a mission trip to Vietnam and Thailand, where God began to speak to us about moving to Thailand to be missionaries.
On October 15, 1996, after much prayer and fasting, many prophesies and confirmations, we left to be missionaries in NE Thailand. We knew only one person here in Thailand when we came and we began our life as a missionary helping as many churches and local pastors as we could. This coming October we will have been in Thailand for 25 years now. We have done everything and went through many trials and tribulations, sickness and sorrow, hurts and pain but it has all been worth it and we are still here until God let’s us retire. We are still full of love and fire to serve God but our bodies are getting older everyday, so we know that some day in the future we will have to be a day to return to live close to our children and maybe we can do some lay ministry in a local church. But until that day we will continue on here making disciples and edifying the local churches where we minister. That too has become a big challenge with COVID but we are here Lord use us as long as you can. So praise God today for 32 years of being filed with the Spirit of God, and almost 25 years of ministry here in Thailand. We will be here till you lead us somewhere else. So we celebrate and give praise and glory to God for all that He has done!
 |
| Khon Kaen, Thailand |
 |
| Lock down food! |
This update is mostly a prayer request for us and for Thailand. Just as we thought things were getting better in our last update, another wave of COVID broke loose in Bangkok and now has spread to all over Thailand. Today another record of infections of over 10,000 people and over 100 deaths for Thailand. Our province is better than some places but infections are increasing every day. Right now, all of the hospitals and field hospitals are full. So, much prayer is needed for all of us. Bangkok area is in total lockdown and we are in a partial lockdown here. Annie and I have pretty much quarantined ourselves except for going out to shop for essential items. Please pray for our protection from all of this and it will pass quickly so we can get back to visiting the churches. Amen?
Another problem is the vaccine situation. It’s getting to the point where you have to be vaccinated to travel around here in Thailand. The problem is the two vaccines (Sinovac and Astrasenca) that Thailand is using are almost worthless against all variants and have many bad side effects. Some of the other embassies are helping their citizens here to get a good vaccine but of course the American embassy is not interested in helping us Americans here in Thailand. The private hospitals are trying to purchase the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines but there is a long waiting line and supposedly will not be available until October or later. Pray for Annie and I to have favor and be able to get a good vaccine soon.
As far as the churches here, almost all are back to online church, including COTR Buriram. They are taking advantage of this time to start the move and build a temporary building on the new land. The old church building has been disassembled and will be used for the new one. Hopefully, they will be able to get the new temporary building finished before the lockdown is over. Amen? Once again, if anyone feels led to give to this project, please let me know.
I thank God that I have been able to continue to minister with online teaching during the time but it is not the same as going out and preaching. Especially for Annie as well. Pray this COVID situation will be over soon and we can get moving again. Amen?
Okay thanks for all of your prayers and support! We pray for all of you continually for God to bless you all and meet all of your needs as well.
We love y’all!
Ralph and Annie
PS
If anyone would like to give a one time offering or support us on a monthly basis on line, click on the Donate Button at www.ralphdryden.com , or give via PayPal directly to us at PayPal.Me/RalphDDryden or give via mail:
Contributions by check can be sent to:
Church on the Rock
P O Box 1228
Nederland, TX 77627
