While insider movements are common in the Muslim and Hindu world, they are rare in the Buddhist world. This case study summarizes the formation and development of an insider movement among Buddhists in Thailand. The key principles in the movement are presented and analyzed. Among them are the importance of reaching entire families, avoiding Christian practices that can become a stumbling block to others, promoting the priesthood of all believers, C5 contextualization, and the powerful testimony of a family following Jesus and being transformed by him.
AntonioST (2020) Insider Church: Ekklesia and the Insider Paradigm. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Publishing.
2.
BennettM (2020) Concerning ecclesiology: Four barriers preventing insider movement contextualization from producing biblical churches. Missiology48(4): 392–409.
3.
DicksID (2023) Towards growing participation in new and existing communities. Missiology51(1): 64–73.
4.
GarrisonD (2007) Church Planting Movements: How God Is Redeeming a Lost World. Arkadelphia, AR: WIGTake Resources.
5.
HilderbrandKM (2020) What led Thai-Buddhist background-believers to become Christian? A grounded-theory study. Missiology48(4): 330–43.
6.
HilderbrandKM (2022) The sinner’s prayer: An inappropriate ritual for Thai Christian culture and a suggested replacement. Great Commission Research Journal14(1): 69–85.
7.
JohnsonAR (2005) A contextualized presentation of the Gospel in Thai society. In: LimDSpauldingS (eds) Sharing Jesus Holistically with the Buddhist World. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, pp. 179–216.
8.
LorgunpaiSFongvarinS (2020) Thailand. In: RossKRAlvarezSj FDJohnsonTM (eds) Christianity in East and Southeast Asia. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 155–66.
9.
MejudhonU (2005a) Meekness: A new approach. In: LimDSpauldingSDe NeuiP (eds) Sharing Jesus Effectively in the Buddhist World. Pasadena: William Carey Library, pp. 147–86.
10.
MejudhonU (2005b) The ritual of reconciliation in Thai culture: Discipling new converts. In: LimDSpauldingS (eds) Sharing Jesus Holistically with the Buddhist World. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, pp. 217–52.
11.
OttCWilsonG (2011) Global Church Planting: Biblical Principles and Best Practice for Multiplication. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
12.
PenningtonPJ (2017) Christian Barriers to Jesus: Conversations and Questions from the Indian Context. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
13.
RichardHL (2015) New paradigms for religion, multiple religious belonging, and insider movements. Missiology43(3): 297–308.
14.
SmithAG (1999) Siamese Gold: A History of Church Growth in Thailand: An Interpretive Analysis 1816–1980. Bangkok, Thailand: Kanok Bannasan (OMF Publishers).
15.
SmithAG (2009) A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Buddhism. Ross-shire: Christian Focus Publications.
16.
TravisJJ (2014) The C-Spectrum. In: WinterRDHawthorneSC (eds) Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, pp. 664–65.
17.
TravisJJ (2015) Insider movements – coming to terms with terms. In: TravisJJTalmanH (eds) Understanding Insider Movements: Disciples of Jesus within Diverse Religious Communities [Kindle edn]. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
18.
VisserM (2008) Conversion Growth of Protestant Churches in Thailand. PhD Thesis, Uitgeverij Boekencentrum, Zoetermeer, Netherlands.
19.
WatsonDLWatsonPD (2014) Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
