Not far from the serene beaches of southwest Thailand’s Andaman Sea lies the humble village of Thap Tawan. Its vivid sunsets and steady heat frame the tropical home of the once-nomadic Moklen (maw-glan), or Sea Gypsies. Now a government-protected ethnic group, the Moklen are also among the least reached peoples of the world.
It’s been just over two decades since a tsunami devastated this coastal area of Thailand, along with parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and as far away as East Africa. Around 230,000 perished. Yet in that time of painstaking reconstruction, God has been rebuilding even more in Thap Tawan.
In partnership with a Wisconsin Converge church, Maew, the visionary leader of Santisuk (Peace) Thap Tawan ministry and her Dutch tent-making husband, Corneel, delivered the Moklen a donation of vital food staples amidst the pandemic’s hard realities. Gong, a gifted young Thai man, soon joined them, forming the winsome church-planting team that was empowered by Bangkok’s Santisuk Sumpun (Peace Fellowship) Church — originally planted by Converge global workers Steve and Nopaluck Cable.
Among the Moklen, these leaders have been running a branch of the Santisuk English School Foundation as well as Santisuk Learning Center, while working tirelessly to help the Moklen meet, know and follow Christ for the last 20 years.
Now a center of village community, the bustling Santisuk Learning Center daily welcomes youth and children to its after-school program, originally begun as a nursery for local children. Santisuk Thap Tawan became a cell group of children and youth in 2015, and in 2024 became the first known church among the Moklen. The Santisuk Bangkok leaders are thrilled that Gong not only relationally pursues the young people and their families, visiting them and praying for them regularly, but also trains and disciples young leaders like Guide, a Moklen high school senior.
More than 10 have come to Christ, plus a few parents and grandparents. One of these, a “closet Christian,” hosts a cell group in her home.
Three of the most surprising converts? Family members of the local witch doctor (maw-phi). His granddaughter, Rose, was among the first converts, and her half-sister, Toei, and the witch doctor’s wife, Grandma Tao, soon also came to know Jesus.
In December 2024, the Thap Tawan team held a Christmas outreach attended by an astounding 170 villagers. The youth also went out to sing Christmas carols, including at the witch doctor’s home. Since February this year, the witch doctor has confounded the team by allowing them to hold a cell group meeting and worship in his home — and beginning to attend himself.
In April, the team held a church membership class and baptized five youth.
“I want to see a new generation of Moklen be transformed by the power of the Good News of Jesus, so they and their families will worship the only true living God,” Gong said.
The spiritual breakthrough among the Moklen is far from over! Please pray
- For the gospel movement among the Moklen to continue.
- For the witch doctor’s salvation, and for believers to boldly share Christ with others.
- For more workers to join the Thailand Initiative’s Moklen Ministry at Santisuk Thap Tawan.