Dr. Neil and Wannee Thompson

U.S. National Director

Neil went to Thailand in 1978 in the wake of the tragic accident that took the lives of 12 Manorom Christian Hospital (MCH) missionaries and children. Motivated by the lives of men like Hudson Taylor of the last century and Dr. Paul Brand of this, he actively pursued medical missions after attending an Urbana IVCF mission conference. The theme was “Declare His Glory among the Nations.”

While a medical student at Jefferson Medical College he did an elective at MCH. From that point on Neil knew God was calling him to Southeast Asia as a surgeon.

Wannee Panitpattana was the fourth daughter of a Chinese merchant in Bangkok. While Neil was working at MCH in the 1980s, God was working in Wannee’s family. Nominal Buddhist and Chinese ancestor worshippers, her family was changed forever when Wannee’s oldest sister Wanna announced that she was a Christian. Despite threats, opposition and persecution from their father, her other two sisters eventually believed as well. Wannee held back, confused by all this. It wasn’t until her father finally yielded his life to Christ and changed dramatically that she believed.

Neil and Wannee met through a mutual friend at Muang Thai Church in Bangkok. Wannee headed up the finance committee there and reached out to children in the nearby slums. She worked as secretary at Central Department Store during the day and earned her BA in administration during the evenings.

After their marriage in 1989 they worked at MCH in their respective capacities as secretary and surgeon. Little did they imagine that within a few years they would be working together and then leading the MCH administrative team! Neil has been the Hospital Director since 1998, initiating emphases on MCH objectives, values and vision. Professional and Board of Directors’ retreats have helped to facilitate communication and focus MCH’s ministry. Wannee served as part-time secretary, training other staff for that role. She spent most of her energy discipling the youth group at Manorom Church, encouraging and working with Pastor Issara and his wife, Sunanta.

Neil has been the National Director for OMF (USA) since 2001, based in Littleton, Colorado. Neil and Wannee have two sons, Nathan and Kevin.