Nellie Tham
Missions Personnel Code: "NET"

 

Involvement: Church training, community support, and education

 

Organization: OMF

 

Serving in: Thailand

 

Nellie started attending church when she was nine years old, but did not trust Jesus as her Saviour till four years later. Through Sunday School, she developed a passion for the lost and unreached, and prayed that she would become a missionary one day.

 

At the age of 19, she served as a volunteer staff with Christian Nationals’ Evangelism Commission (CNEC). This eventually led her to serve with them full-time for another 10 years. After completing her studies at the Multnomah Bible College (Oregon, USA) and an internship at Bartley, Nellie left for Thailand as an OMF missionary in 1992.

 

The first few years saw Nellie learning the Thai language and culture. The Lord led her to serve among the Mien (also known as Yao) people group in North Thailand. She then learned the Mien language and culture. Since that time, Nellie has been living among the Mien at various locations over the years.

 

Nellie takes on several roles, one of which is church planting and providing support for local churches. She is also the advisor of the Mien’s Children’s Hostel, originally in Ngao. That hostel was later sold, and the money used to build a new hostel in MaeChan, on the grounds of the Mien Church Centre. The hostel allows boarding for the children to attend school, as their homes are far away. Without the hostel, many of these children would not be able to attain and complete their education (up to secondary). Over the years, the hostel has hosted many children. The staff at the hostel aim to provide not just the necessities, but to also nurture the children with biblical truths. The hostel is a platform for kids to know Jesus, love Him and desire to serve Him wherever they are.

 

Nellie prays that the Lord will continue to keep her faithful in her ministry and life for His glory.