Thailand Mission

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR MISSION

On August 13, 1921, J. Russell and Gertrude Morse set sail for China as new missionary recruits of Dr. Albert Shelton. On December 23, they arrived at Batang, then a remote mission station on the Tibetan border. Six months after they arrived on the field, Dr. Shelton was killed by Tibetan bandits and died in J. Russell's arms. This marked the beginning of a lifelong ministry in pioneer missionary work for the Morse family.

In 1926, the Morses resigned from the United Christian Missionary Society and launched out as "independent" missionaries, establishing a new base in the Yunnan Province of southwest China. In 1927, J. Russell and Gertrude got to inspect the territory which would eventually encompass their life's work when they were ordered by the US Consul to leave China. The country was at the time experiencing much political turmoil. The family walked 70 days through northern Burma en route to the United States. During the journey they encountered numerous new people groups and were able to see firsthand what a serious missionary work in the area would entail.

In 1929, the Morses returned to Yunnan, China, establishing their mission base in the Mekong Valley. By 1930, the mission had locked onto the Lisu and began evangelizing this group in earnest. As of 1939, the mission has established more than thirty churches among the Lisu and counted over two thousand Christians.

At the end of 1940, the mission moved its base of operations into the Salween Valley of the Yunnan Province, and remained there throughout World War II. During the period 1942-1945, the two older sons, of J. Russell and Gertrude, helped the Allied forces by organizing a network of ground search and rescue teams to aid downed airmen. This effort indirectly contributed to the expansion of the church. As the many native search and rescue teams consisted of Christians, they naturally carried the gospel with them as they fanned out over the Hump area in search of surviving pilots.

During this time, the missionaries and the Lisu Christians came into increasing contact with new groups such as the Rawang people of northern Burma who would later become a major force along with the Lisu in cross-cultural church propagation. By 1946, the Christian population within the mission's area of work had increased to almost 6,000 believers.

The Communist takeover of China in 1949, was a major disruption for all Christian work. The mission had to evacuate all personnel from their stations. J. Russell Morse fell into the hands of the Communists and was imprisoned in solitary confinement for 15 months. The mission, along with many Lisu Christians were forced to flee in North Burma.

The years between 1950-1965, saw the work firmly established in North Burma. During the early 1950's, the mission helped settle over 20,000 Lisu and Rawang Christians onto the Putao plains. Over thirty model villages were established in the process, all of them interconnected with excellent roads and bridges.

References: 

Eugene Morse, Exodus To A Hidden Valley (Cleveland: William Collins Publishing Co., 1974).

Gertrude Morse, The Dogs May Bark...But The Caravan Moves On (Joplin: College Press, 1998).

Doug Priest Jr., editor, The Gospel Unhindered (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1994).  This book has an article each by Joni and Nangsar Morse.

Helen Morse, I Once Was Young (Chiang Mai: Self Published Through ACTS Co., 2005).

Daily Scripture Verse