THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN THAILAND (ACT)

Twenty-five years ago, on 7 October 1991, Ven. Gerald Khoo and Ds Dorothy Khoo started the first Thai service in the modest Chapel at Christ Church Bangkok with just seven members. To date, the Anglican Church in Thailand (ACT) has grown to 510, gathered in 13 congregations, 4 kindergartens, 3 student centres, and two community service ministries across the country.

The growth was not without pain and problems. There were crises that resulted in staff resignations and hurting members leaving, embezzlement and even a fatal traffic accident in which a staff member died in the course of her duty. The most devastating of all was when Ven. Gerald Khoo passed away suddenly on 13 December 2003. Revd Yee Ching Wah was appointed to continue the work. It was a steep learning curve for everyone. In ruminating the various stories that embody this miraculous account of God’s faithfulness and grace, the staff of ACT summed it up with three words: Family, Rootedness and Mission. These delineate the lessons learnt, values for handing down to future generations and describe the character of ACT formed in the last 25 years. ACT is a family that provides fatherly care and brotherly love, it is rooted in Scripture, history and customs, and it exists to preach the gospel and plant churches.