A seminary graduation and a national church workers retreat for WELS' mission in Thailand were cause for celebration this month.

Seven Hmong men graduated from the seminary training program in Chiang Rai, Thailand, Aug. 6, bringing the total number of national pastors serving the Thailand Evangelical Lutheran Church to eight. Three of these men will be pastors of nearby village churches while the remaining four will serve as professors at the seminary or as pastors at large to help with new mission efforts.

"This is a substantial step in the continuation and expansion of mission work in Thailand and is the fruit of many unique connections and efforts over the years," says Rev. Dave Kehl, chairman of the Thailand/Laos Oversight Committee. Kehl says that a new freshman class will be starting at the seminary this fall, and several others trained in other locations are only a few courses short of graduating.

Then, from Aug. 10–14 about 30 men and their families—along with Rev. Kenneth Pasch and Rev. Bob Edwards, members of the Thailand/Laos Oversight Committee—met in Chiang Rai to discuss future ministry plans for the national church in Thailand. Kehl says this was a momentous occasion because it brought together church leaders from two previously separate mission efforts of Home and World Missions. Now the ministry is coordinated through the Thailand/Laos Oversight Committee of the Joint Mission Council.

"This is the first time this wider group of leaders and their spouses came together to discuss how to understand each other, appreciate each other, and get to know each other," says Kehl. "They discussed how we can unite this ministry to be something we can work together on for the glory of God and the spread of his kingdom."

Pasch will begin full-time work as the new on-site field coordinator for Thailand in September.