This is the third year in a row we have lost a loved one — my dad (May 2024), Jessie’s dad (May 2025), and last week, Jerry Kidd.
I met Bro. Jerry in Bangkok, Thailand, during a turning point in my life around 2008-2009. At the time, I had recently been saved and was about to finish my studies at the university. Also, the Lord was calling me to ministry, but the biggest problem was that I didn’t know where or how to begin. At this critical moment, the Lord brought Bro. Jerry into my life. Knowing I was not yet prepared to fulfill the calling on my life, he spoke to me about the possibility of coming to the States to be trained at the seminary, then returning to Thailand to serve the Lord.
The funny thing is, when I mentioned this to my parents at the time, their first worry was that I’d be sold in the States! (Years later, when they finally met Bro. Jerry, they talked about it, and he jokingly told my parents that he tried to sell me, but nobody was interested!) Although being sold was never a concern for me, coming to the States was definitely a significant decision in many ways, especially since I had to travel to the other side of the world without knowing what the future held.
But I trusted him, he trusted me, and most importantly, we all trusted the Lord in the process, and the rest is (His)Story. From the day I met him until now has been about 16-17 years. Back then, I was in my 20s and single. Now I’m 40 with a wonderful wife and 3 sons, and have been serving the Lord in Thailand all these years.
Bro. Jerry and Ms. Sue loved me and my family like their own. Our children call them “Papa Jerry and Mama Sue.” Throughout the years, the Lord has used him to teach me many valuable lessons both through words and, more importantly, through his example. He is one of the few people I feel I owe a great deal to for who I am and everything I am doing today. Words fail to express how grateful I am for all God has done through him in my life.
He was born to do and be part of God’s mission globally, and he did just that so well for more than half a century. May he now rest in the bosom of the Father whom he loved and served all his life.” Please remember his wife (Sue Kidd) and the rest of the family in your prayers during this time.
• First Time Behind the Pulpit! — It’s always a passion and a joy for me to continue to disciple and raise up men for His service. Mr. X just finished a six-month internship with me, and I gave him the opportunity to share a passage of Scripture he had studied during our time together. He nervously accepted the invitation and did very well for it being the first time for him to stand behind the pulpit! There was some encouraging feedback from our people as well. Afterward, he told me he didn’t realize how much time, discipline, and energy it took to do that, and he’s surprised I do that every week! He has shown interest in continuing to learn and wants more opportunities to teach and preach. Please pray for him and me as we grow together.
• Children’s Day — A community in our area had an event for Children’s Day, and they needed some snacks for the kids. So, our church was able to be a blessing in this way. I’m glad they remembered and thought about us. We plan to continue reaching out to this community, hoping to be a light to them and to make Him known.
• A Trip to the North — Early this month, we took a trip to the north of Thailand. This was the first time I had visited there since my dad’s funeral in May 2024. Once we got there and settled in, we went straight to visit my dad’s tombstone. It was very emotional for me — I just sat there and wept. Though it’s been almost two years, sometimes it feels just like yesterday.
Besides spending some time with my family, we had a couple of things in mind. One, we got to help the community there by giving away almost 900 pounds of rice to several needy families. The people were very grateful. Also, I took some time to visit several pastors in that area and encouraged them in their service for the Lord. Some of them are still young, but several of them have known me since I was little. I also talked to a pastor who was kicked out of the church by the members with the craziest accusation I ever heard. They accused the pastor and his wife of frequently being “possessed by dirty spirits and going out at night to hunt for raw meat to eat.” I encouraged him to stand firm in the Lord. Please pray for all these pastors.
• Visiting with Our Friends & Supporters — Though it was brief, it was good to see Bro. Sean and his family from LA while they were in Thailand. They have been praying and supporting our ministry for some time now. They got to worship with us, and we also spent some time visiting with them on another day. Though it’s not very often, we always cherish every time we get to reunite with our supporters. We are thankful for all of you and looking forward to the time we get to fellowship together!
• A Cross — We recently made a cross to put on a tree right in front of our house. These pieces of wood are very special, too. My dad got this wood almost 30 years ago to use as a bed frame for me. We recently had to replace the bed, and I saw the wood was still sound, so I brought back a few pieces to make a cross. After we hung the cross, several of our neighbors noticed it, and we have already had a few conversations concerning the cross! The guy who helped me make this is a non-Christian, and it was his first time, but he did a great job. As he was panting, I saw that he knelt down in front of the cross. He may not think anything about it, but small gestures like that remind me once again why we are here — seeing people kneeling down before Christ!
We are grateful for your love, prayer, and support. May God bless you and have a blessed weekend!
