The following papers are available for those who wish to read more about Northeast Thailand (Issaan) and the work of the Thailand Covenant Church and its affiliated organizations. Dates are noted for all the papers. Some of them are older, and consequently the information in them reflects the situation at the time they were written which may differ in some details from current conditions.
Some additional documents are available from the Contextualization page.
The Development of a Multi-Dimensional Approach to Contextualization in Northeast Thailand -- Master's Thesis (Fuller Theological Seminary - June, 2002) by Paul DeNeui provides the most comprehensive account of the theology and history of the work in Isaan. Note: this is a large file, approximately 250Kb.
The Making of a Sodality in Northeastern Thailand -- A paper written by Gretchen DeNeui in 1991 which traces the history of the Thailand Covenant Church (then known as the Center for Church Planting and Church Growth) and its related organizations from their beginnings until that time.
Integration of Development and Evangelism -- A paper presented in Bangkok in 1990, revised and updated in 1997, arguing for a needed link between world evangelism and development, with illustrations from the integrated holistic ministry in N.E. Thailand.
Agrarian and Environmental Change and Increasing Poverty in Northeast Thailand - 1950s-1990s -- A paper written by Jim Gustafson in 1995 which presents the environmental and agricultural factors which have contributed to the pervasive poverty in Issaan.Northeast Thailand: The Underdevelopment of a Marginalized Periphery -- A technical paper written by Jim Gustafson in 1994 which analyzes the historical, geographical, and cultural background for the lack of development in NE Thailand.
Integrated Holistic Development & the World Mission of the Church -- A paper from 1985 that explains the theory and application of integrated holistic development as practiced by the IDF and the CCPCG (predecessor to the ISD and TCC) and how they fit into the overall mission of the church.
Values of Thai Society -- A list of 25 commonly held elements of the Thai value system that have an impact on efforts to reach Thai people with the Gospel, which has its own, often contradictory, value system.
... To Serve the World -- An article written by Jim Gustafson for the book "Bound to be Free", published in connection with the 90th Anniversary of the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1975. This is an old article, but it contains his comments on the characteristics of the Covenant and its work, as well as outlining the early experiences and thoughts that influenced the nature of his work among the Isaan people.