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TBMF NewsletterMay 10, 2006 Thanks for the Memories….. This will be the last TBMF Newsletter that I (Duane) write. As of May 15, TBMF will officially start a new system in which there will no longer be a TBMF General Secretary. More about that in a minute, but first, let me say that it has been a pleasure to work in this role. This newsletter goes out to missionaries, former missionaries, volunteers, cooperating board representatives and others. Getting to know you all, getting to see what you do and how you all go about serving the Lord has been the best part of this job. Though as individuals and organizations we have our own goals and priorities, it is exciting to have been in this position and see how God has put our efforts together to build His kingdom and to work in the lives of people all over Thailand . It has been a privilege to work with you as General Secretary. Many of you will know already, but our personal plans are to return to the US on June 9 th , for a 1 year US Assignment. Then next year we hope to return to renew work among the Karen. We will work with the Thai Karen evangelism department which will put us in proximity to the Thai/Burma border. We would use that access to the border then, to also be a bridge to the Baptist churches in the refugee camps and hope to support their work in the camps and across the border in the IDP areas of Burma . No, I didn't run out of jokes: Some might think I am discontinuing the newsletter because I ran out of jokes. This may be wishful thinking but is not true. Thanks to all of you who sent me jokes and quips. Sorry I didn't get to use them all, but maybe there will be more opportunities later. Feel free to send me jokes any time though, even if I'm not writing a newsletter. The more things change, the more they stay the same: In 1981 - Prince Charles got married Liverpool was crowned soccer champions Australia lost the Ashes Tournament The Pope died In 2005 - Prince Charles got married Liverpool was crowned soccer champions Australia lost the Ashes Tournament The Pope died I'm not sure if this says anything about the changes within TBMF, but if I was the Pope, I would encourage Prince Charles not to marry again. Congrats to the grads: Congratulations to Sean Binkley, Rachel Fox, Melanie Mann and Anna Yawan who are all graduating from high school this year. Anna already left Thailand and has been studying in India for the last few years. Now it is Sean, Rachael and Melanie's turn to leave the nest and the friendly confines of Thailand . These three will be going to study further in the US . Anna will start study in Australia a little later. These youth have only known plastic, screw on bottle caps, televisions with remote controls, music from CDs, and popcorn from microwave ovens. They don't have the character building experiences of hunting for bottle openers, getting up off the sofa to change channels, listening to scratchy sounding record albums or shaking the popcorn pan so it doesn't burn. On the other hand, they grew up with computers and look at them as something normal, so maybe they are ready to head out into the modern world. TBMF Changes: Bob Dylan sang about “the times are a-changin”. It is true enough for us personally. In 1974 we had long hair. Now some of us long for hair. In 1974 we tried to look like Marlon Brando and Liz Taylor. Now we try not to look like Marlon Brando and Liz Taylor. In 1974 we understood Acid Rock. Now we understand acid reflux. In 1974 we were hoping for a BMW. Now we hope for a good BM. In 1974, TBMF was born. Now it is being reorganized. As mentioned above, there will no longer be a TBMF General Secretary. I'd like to think it is because we are irreplaceable, but in reality no one was waiting in the wings to take over the position. That encouraged the TBMF Cooperating Boards to take a fresh look at TBMF in general. They established an overall plan for a new structure and charged the TBMF Coordinating Committee to fill in the remaining blanks and implement the new organization by May 15 th . Through March and April the Coordinating Committee met three times and fleshed out the plans. So starting officially on May 15 th , TBMF will have a different look. Chatchai Montreevat who has ably been serving as Financial Manager will take on additional responsibilities and become the Chief Operating Officer. He will head up the TBMF office and generally oversee the activities and business side of TBMF. In addition, various missionaries will be named as liaisons for TBMF's major partner groups. The liaisons will be the chief contact point for any of the TBMF related mission organizations and the local churches and associations to which they relate. The Chairperson of the Fellowship, along with other duties, will be the main liaison for the CCT. The Coordinating Committee will morph into the TBMF Advisory Team and will have some expanded responsibilities. A new position, the TBMF Communications Officer, was also created. This person will write future newsletters and keep up the prayer chain. Along with the new structure and positions are some new e-mail addresses. coo@tbmf.org (Chief Operating Officer - Chatchai Montreevat) accounts@tbmf.org (Accounts Department - Joy Kankeow and Suporn Kunthima) secretary@tbmf.org (Office Secretary - Bi Clark ) communications@tbmf.org (Communications Officer - Ellen Burnette) info@tbmf.org (a forwarding email address to the responsible person. Use this if you don't know exactly who to write to) If you want to reach Duane or Marcia Binkley, please use dmbink@pobox.com . Another one: In 1974 we were looking for a new, hip, joint. In 2005 the doctor says we need a new hip joint. Some more faces in new places TBMF Pastor – Bob Santilli has been serving International Ministries in the US as Special Assistant to the Executive Director for Prayer and Pastoral Care. In that capacity, Bob has been to Thailand on several occasions and was speaker at the 2005 TBMF Conference. At his last visit in conjunction with the TBMF Consultation, Bob offered to serve as TBMF Pastor. His offer was endorsed by the Board Representatives at the Consultation as well as by International Ministries. Bob will make periodic visits to Thailand and will be visiting the missionaries in their work locations. But first, Bob recently announced will be getting married to Barbara Eckart on July 1. Congratulations Bob! And thanks for offering to help here in Thailand . Volunteer Coordinator – Pat Brown has offered to serve in the role of Volunteer Coordinator. She'll help do the ground work prior to the arrival of volunteers and then look after people once they get here. So future correspondence regarding volunteers can go to Pat at: rlamonb@loxinfo.co.th . This is the first time there has been someone to help exclusively with volunteers so thanks goes to Pat. Team & Tour Coordinator - Alex Rodgers' title will change to Team & Tour Coordinator and as the name implies, will continue to help organize the time of teams and tours. Alex can continue to be reached at: alexinchiangmai@loxinfo.co.th or tbmftour@csloxinfo.com . Failure to Communicate 1: This is a dialogue from a 911 emergency call in the US : Dispatcher: 9-1-1 , What is the nature of your emergency? Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart! Dispatcher: Is this her first child? Caller: No you idiot, this is her husband! TBMF Conference: Don't forget that the TBMF Conference will be August 1 – 5. For something different and new, the conference will be held in Sukhothai this time. Thanks goes to Andrew Bermudez from New Jersey in the US for gathering a team to work with the children and youth. Thanks also goes to David Kerrigan from BMS for coming to serve as speaker. Finally: This is probably long enough for a newsletter so I will close here. Thanks again for being such a great group to work with. I hope we never failed to communicate, but to close, here is another 911 call: Dispatcher: 9-1-1 , what is your emergency? Caller: I am trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an 11 on it. Dispatcher: This is nine eleven . Caller: I thought you just said this is 9-1-1 . Dispatcher: Yes ma'am. 9-1-1 and 9-11 are the same thing. Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid! See you next year! |