Celebrating 40 Years
40 years of ministry is something to be celebrated... in normal terms
it is qualifying for long service leave four times over! How the angels
of heaven must sing with joy for such faithful servants.
In this edition of Vision, we celebrate Jan and Roger after four
decades of faithful service.
Jan
The year was 1977;
Jan was a young
woman, a trained nurse,
and a faithful follower
of Jesus. Leaving
the familiarity of her
home in Tasmania, she
embarked on a calling
that would see her
impact many lives.
From the time of
departure to arrival
at her destination of
Sangklaburi, near the
Myanmar (Burmese)
boarder, Jan had
travelled some 20
hours by air and boat.
Hobart was far behind her. The chaos of Bangkok left
its own impression and she was mindful that the River
Kwai on which she travelled harked its own tales of chaos
and brutality dating back to the Thai-Burma Railway
construction under the Japanese in WWII.
By 1977 new vaccines had been researched and
developed for this region responding to a gamut of
infectious diseases; diarrheal disease, malaria, dengue
fever and hepatitis, acute febrile illness and HIV to name
a few. There is no doubt that the Kwai River Christian
hospital was anticipating Jan’s arrival.
Home and work conditions at the hospital
were not easy. There were no phones, no
doctor, no radio and treatment to more
isolated communities was delivered via
ox-cart and boat clinics.
She had arrived to a place unable to provide adequate
healthcare, however plans were eventually realised for
a new hospital to be developed. For Jan this coincided
with new developments in her own life. Jit, the hospital’s
Business Manager had grown an admiration for Jan and
the new hospital development gave opportunity
for Jit to make his intentions known.
From a professional relationship grew a love that was
celebrated in marriage in 1985. Two and a half years later
Anna was born and together Jit and Jan’s ministry grew
albeit amid a time of political unrest in the region.
During 1994 and 1998 the family returned to Australia for
theological studies. During this time God was preparing
them for a new need on their return. Since being away
there was now a growing community of refugees, many
with disabilities.
It was this need that saw the establishment of
Lanternlight Ministries which grew rapidly, more
so than they could have anticipated at the time.
Faith in action! During a critical time in the late 1990s,
Jan became quite ill, where in God’s perfect timing, a
skilled surgeon was made available in Sangklaburi, and
what followed was an incredible miracle of complete
healing. It will not surprise you to learn that Jan returned
to her ministry and then took on teaching at Gethsemane
Bible School. Her work here also touched the lives of
many individuals. There is testimony to empowered
local church communities, and the welcome of countless
teams from Australia.
As Jan has reflected on life she has observed that God’s
call upon her (and us) is not primarily to succeed, but
rather to faithfulness. Jan’s story is a reflection of her
faith in action and it is a privilege to share this story with
our readers – nothing is impossible for Him.
From Jan Martin
Served in Thailand 1986 - 2010
“Jan’s passionate ministry among the Karen people has been
no mean feat. Firstly as a nurse in the hospital and later a carer
for people with disabilities. Her knowledge of the language
as well as local and government services has enabled her to
impact many lives.”
From Chris Pittendrigh
Former Global Interaction Director of Ministries
“The Bangkok Christian Guest House is where I first met Jan
in 1985. Jan characteristically put her heart and soul into her
medical work and her energy seemed limitless. I have fond
memories with Jan as would many people whom she came into
contact with and many others whose lives she has touched.”