Larry and Paula Dinkins

Missionaries to Thailand - Mobilizing for East Asia's Peoples

Larry and Paula Dinkins started their ministry to the Thai in 1980 as church planters and over the years transitioned into a Bible teaching ministry with an emphasis on training Thai and tribal pastors, teachers and evangelists. In 2002 they were redirected to the homeside due to Paula’s bone marrow cancer. The treatment for Paula’s cancer has been successful and she is in remission. As a result Larry and Paula are now mobilizers and recruiters in the Southern California region as well as the Midwest.

Besides mobilization, Larry and Paula are involved in a number of Thai churches in the Los Angeles area. Larry teaches a number of biblically oriented seminars as well as series on Buddhism and prayer counseling. He was coordinator in Thailand for Walk Thru the Bible and based his PhD on an adaptation of the WTB method to the Thai. Larry is also helping adapt the Perspectives course to the Thai context. Larry has authored two OMF books and several articles on missionary life. Paula is involved with various prayer ministries (such as Moms In Touch International) and mentoring.

Larry and Paula both came to Christ through Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Oklahoma. After graduation Larry attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a masters degree in theology. Paula served as a staff member with Campus Crusade in Southern California until their marriage in 1978. After acceptance into OMF in 1979, Larry and Paula started church planting in Central Thailand which lasted until 1987, when they were transferred to the Bangkok Bible College. In 1995 they moved to North Thailand to start theological education by extension. Larry helped start the Chiang Mai Theological Seminary in 2001 before they had to return to the States due to Paula's cancer.

Larry and Paula have four children, Andy (25), Tim (22), Amber (20) and Titus (18). Larry and Paula anticipate returning to Thailand in the future as Paula’s condition improves. Meanwhile they are available for preaching, meetings and seminars.