Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is one of the easiest cities for refugees to access. 

Many refugees facing religious persecution flee to Bangkok seeking shelter; however, they become trapped in their Bangkok dwellings due to the threat of deportation. A local church in Bangkok works with South Carolina Baptists and the International Mission Board (IMB) to sponsor ministry to refugees’ practical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Activating SCBaptist Churches

“Two years ago, I went on a pastors’ vision trip to Thailand,” shared Larry Baldwin, Pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Williamston, SC. “We went to several cities, including Bangkok, and met with IMB missionaries there. We began to pray, ‘God is this where you want us to go?’” 

Rob Merritt, Missions Pastor at Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Easley, SC, led that trip and formed a fast friendship with Baldwin. Together, they planned a return trip which took place in May 2024. Members of both congregations joined them on the trip, and the purpose was simple: minister to refugees in any way possible.

Meeting Practical Needs

Trip participants were able to meet with refugees in their homes; most of which were rooms only as large as 10 square feet. Entire generations would be confined to one room. “They could go back to their normal way of life in their home country,” Merritt shared. “But they won’t renounce Jesus Christ. We served them, laid hands and prayed, and made sure they knew they weren’t forgotten.”

Baldwin recalled his experience similarly. “These people left everything behind. It struck me, ‘Would I leave my livelihood and go somewhere that I didn’t know anything about? Would I leave it behind just because I wouldn’t renounce the name of Christ?’”

If a refugee’s visa has expired, venturing outside their accommodation becomes a dangerous journey. If caught, they may have to pay an expensive bribe or be sent to a detention center to await deportation. For the first time, trip participants were able to secure entry to the detention center to pray for and minister to the adults detained there.

Planning for the Future

While the situation is dire, hope is not lost. The trip’s partner organization provides schooling for refugee children. The goal is to help children earn the equivalent of their high-school GED so that when their family gets placed in a safe country, they’ll have an education with which to get a job to support their living.

Merritt, Baldwin, and the other trip participants were able to teach the children English and Bible lessons. They also hosted a health clinic that connected refugees with doctors and nurses that provided basic healthcare.

“It’s important to remember that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are making the ultimate sacrifice,” Merritt encouraged. “We can represent Christ wherever our feet take us.”

Merritt and the team at the South Carolina Baptist Convention plan to return and help build a college ministry in Bangkok — teaching English to local college students. “I feel very much called to this area and these people,” Merritt added.