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Missionaries Profile

Thailand

Religions: Buddhism (state religion); Islam; .5% Christian

Languages: Thai (official), English, Lao, Chinese, Malay

Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%

Location: Southeast Asia surrounded by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand

Size: 198,115 square miles, 513,115 square kilometers, or about the size of Texas

Population: 61,798,000 (2001 est.)

Ripley, Catherine "Kit" Ripley Catherine "Kit"

 

Kit works in a wide variety of ways with ethnic minorities from the hill tribes of northern Thailand.  Kit's primary ministry involvement is with the New Life Center, in Chiang Mai.  The New Life Center works with tribal minority girls who have come out of exploitative labor situations or are at risk for becoming victims of labor exploitation.  Her work there includes teaching residents Bible and personal budgeting classes, directing the handicraft program and providing pastoral care and leadership development for New Life Center staff.  She also leads therapeutic art classes and does clinical consultation with victims of human trafficking.


 


Kit also works in leadership development with tribal women and serves as an advisor to the Lahu Baptist Women's Society and the Thailand Baptist Women's Union.  She serves on a Lahu Ministry Team, doing preaching and Bible teaching in rural mountain villages.  In addition, she facilitates training in conflict transformation.


 


Language used in ministry: Thai