Abstract:
It was during the period 1828 to 1957 that Protestant Christianity laid its foundation in Thailand. This foundation began with the work of a few Western missionaries who came to Thailand to spread their religion. The first missionaries who came to Thailand worked as independent missionaries. However, as missionary work expanded the Board of Foreign Missions in the United States began to assist the work in Thailand both financially and by sending missionaries. As a result of the work of the Board of Foreign Missions, missions in Thailand expanded and for the first time mission stations were opened throughout Thailand, in the North, in the South, and in the Central regions. Years later, as a result of mission expansion, there was increased emphasis on the need for a central coordinating body that would promote greater unity between the various missions stations. Thus, in 1934 the Church of Christ in Thailand was founded. After the founding of the Church of Christ in Thailand, the Thai Christians themselves were encouraged by the missionaries to take a larger role. Thus, in 1957 the role of the missionaries was reduced so that the Thai Christians played a larger part in developing Church policy and evangelism in the Church of Christ in Thailand. From investigation we learn that the expansion of Christian organizations in various forms that were meant to attain the religious goals of the missionaries had important impact on Thai politics, economics, and society. Its impact in these areas was actually greater than its religious impact. This indicates that the Thai people were more willing to accept the methods of the missionaries more than they were willing to accept missionary purposes.