Many East Asian countries have beautiful rural landscapes. Thailand, for example, is 60 percent rural. Many in the villages, however, are migrating to cities in search of more regular incomes, leaving behind their children and elderly parents. The rural poor remain trapped in the poverty cycle with limited opportunities for education, poor access to healthcare and livelihoods that are continually dependent on the harvest of their cash crops. Some people groups in rural areas suffer from malnutrition, alcoholism, drug abuse and high numbers of HIV/AIDS patients. Most practice a mix of Asian traditional religions including animism, Buddhism, Taoism, ancestor worship and Confucianism. Ministry in the rural context is therefore challenging because the Church needs to serve both the spiritual and practical needs of rural communities. While OMF International is committed to reach, evangelize and disciple East Asians, we desire to do so holistically through community development with the rural people groups. You could be a church planter to a minority people group in Thailand or a community worker in a sustainable micro-enterprise project that offers training in Christian morals and values, money management, etc. You could reach rural Japanese through cooking and craft classes, door-to-door visitations, etc or you could be a medical worker in other countries caring for abandoned children in an orphanage. You desire to see rural people group thrive in their environment and grow in the knowledge and love of Christ. OMF International has long-term and short-term opportunities to serve the rural communities of East Asia. You should be a believer of Christ with heart for God’s kingdom and an excitement to see the Holy Spirit work amongst the nations. You should preferably have some formal ministry and bible training. Fluency in the local language is an advantage but not a per-requisite. A humble, servant-hearted attitude will be necessary. For long-term workers, the first 1-2 years will be spent in full-time language, culture and worldview study, before you serve in a ministry context. Housing in East Asia may differ from Western norm and you will need to raise your own support. If you have a burden to reach the urban peoples of East Asia, contact us to share your vision and explore opportunities.