After watching a Thai-sponsored TV program, a viewer called from Illinois to say that he and a group of friends are watching the programs and are so thankful for the message. The group had been in refugee camps on the Thai border in the 1980s, where they encountered the ministry of Judy Aitken, a missionary who gave Bible studies to hundreds of people in the camps.

The caller said, “When we came to the United States, we thought all Christian churches were alike, so we went to the church where we lived. But we never forgot the wonderful message that we had learned in the camps. When we found your ‘Kaow Dee’ TV program, we heard again the wonderful message and praised God for leading us to it.”

The Thai church plant in Hollywood has run into a lot of setbacks. An invisible but nonetheless real challenge is that Thai-Laotian Protestant churches usually do not want to be associated with Seventh-day Adventist Christians. In addition, Buddhists do not want to have anything to do with Christian churches at all.

The “Kaow Dee” (Good News) TV ministry for Thai-Laotian people began in early 2005. Its purpose is to take God's last-day messages to His people among the Thai and Laotian people—and satellite television is an excellent way to do it.

Viewers have been responding to the broadcasts. Some are meeting in small groups, some individuals are watching; but regardless of the setting, all the feedback is positive.

Some viewers are in Southern California and attend Thai services held in the Hollywood church. Members are trying to find ways to follow up with these interested viewers.

In May 2005, six people were baptized into Christ’s fellowship as a result of the TV ministry following member visitation, fellowship and long-term follow-up. Recently, Laotian leaders from many parts of California came to Hollywood for training so they would know how to follow up with TV interests in their cities.