Church here in Thailand is on Saturday. Every weekend on Saturday morning, many gather from a local impoverished community in North Pattaya to hear a message from the pastor, Gideon. Some, like me, go on motorbikes and a few go in cars. Most go by foot. Some with shoes. Some without shoes. But we go, and we all gather together to hear the Word and have a meal afterward.

I’ve watched this tiny slum church grow and serve the community so generously. They have built and fed and clothed this community with dignity.

This week I sat next to an elderly woman and her granddaughter. Sweet smiles, no shoes, and full of joy! On the other side of the aisle were 3 elderly women who walked 2 miles in their finest Thai dresses for church. Behind us were all our Sew Free ladies greeting everyone who walked in the door. Kids running around during worship who were so happy with dirty little feet. Their moms were helping cook food for everyone to enjoy after service.

Then, worship began and the room erupted with joy. Everyone was jumping and dancing and clapping. It’s always a party at Gideon’s church!

Eventually, it came time for tithes and offering. Everyone was sitting back in their seats and reaching in their pockets for the moment they would faithfully give to the church. A verse on generosity was shared, but few people were paying close attention. They were busy counting out their money. The woman I sat next to began counting out the coins in her pocket. She handed a few small coins to her granddaughter telling her to place them in the bag when it passed by. I turned slightly and saw a few of our sewing ladies count out their money. Across the aisle a few more were counting coins.

The bag began getting passed around and every person sitting in the church gave an offering. Every time it came to a new person, you could hear the coins hitting the bottom of the bag. They had no shoes, no cars, no motorbikes, and yet every single person gave. I was sitting in a church full of widows as they gave their last two mites. 

It humbled me to my core. I’m privileged to sit with people who care so deeply for their community that they would truly give all they have.