David and Anne Sheahan

Church planters in Thailand

David was born in Wisconsin on a farm. He turned and began following Jesus during his first year at the University of Wisconsin, learned a lot at seminary in Chicagoland, and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1988. Anne was born in Palmer, Alaska. She saw her need for Christ and believed while in high school. Anne worked as a nurse in Anchorage, and married David in 1989. Together they have served as church planters with OMF International in Thailand since 1990, and among other things welcomed their three sons, Mark, Philip and Tom, into the world while there. They all like Thai food and one of them can cook it too.

The Sheahans are part of the OMF church-planting team in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where their emphasis is on discipleship.

“There is one focus that we keep in all our teaching, whether in sermons, in one-on-one discipleship or in evangelism—namely to point to God’s infinite greatness and his inescapable closeness. Practically, his greatness means that we will fear God, avoid diminishing him by our words or living, and guard against mere religious practice. The Thai mindset, molded by Buddhism, is that we are the measure of all things. How wonderful it is when someone from that background catches a glimpse of the supremacy, greatness and centrality of God in all things!

“God’s nearness means that we find joy in the ways God saves us, directs us and satisfies us. The Buddhist path has room only for one’s self. Depending on anyone or anything for help is wrong. It is wonderful to see someone discover that depending on God everyday in everything is not only right, but a source of immense joy too!

“No one senses God’s greatness or his nearness unless God first heals the corresponding blindness. Our prayer is that God will open the spiritual eyes of many Thai people. We ask that he would use us in this, making our words winsome, clear and compelling to those we meet, and we are asking that many at home will join our ministry by praying, as well.