'Wrong
approach' in ad blitz - Bangkok
Post, November 9, 2004
A central body of Protestant
churches has ruled that an advertising
campaign for a free evangelical
Christian book, Power for Living,
is too blunt and might affect
religious relations among people
in the country...
Reverend Thongchai said the committee
decided not to take any harsh
action as the campaign was due
to end at Christmas. Besides,
the 134-page book, written by
the late Jamie Buckingham, an
American pastor, was religiously
correct.
However, the committee issued
a warning that such a campaign
should not be repeated in other
countries...
Reverend Thongchai said about
two million people had contacted
the foundation through its four-digit
hotline. Of this 800,000 managed
to get through.
Aggressive GOD campaign -
Bangkok Post, October 31,
2004
...The Evangelical Fellowship
of Thailand (EFT), the country's
main Christian governing body,
has questioned the foundation's
motives. A source at the EFT said
that the organisation would discuss
the ''Power for Living'' campaign
at its next meeting next month.
Tavivat Puntarigvivat, a philosophy
lecturer at Mahidol University,
questioned the suitability of
the campaign. He did not think
the aggressive thrust was appropriate.
The government should develop
tighter rules and regulations
to keep such movements in check,
he added..
''Buying air time to promote a
belief, whether it be political
or religious is not appropriate,''
he said...
'Aggressive'
book ad campaign stirs up row
- Bangkok Post, October
28
Members of the Christian community
have expressed concern over an
aggressive advertising campaign
for a free evangelical Christian
book, Power for Living, now being
promoted in Thailand...
There are 400,000 requests for
the book--an amazingly high number
for Thailand where practising
Christians account for 0.5% of
the population, he said...
Several newspapers and TV programmes
have even alleged the foundation
is some form of "cult"...
A reader comments (October 27,
2004): Once again I would like
to say thanks for your great site.
I make a point of looking at it
first thing every time I get on
the internet...
I would also like to take the
opportunity to refer to one of
today's items. I am a Christian
(many years ago I was a Missionary
in Thailand) and I was very interested
in the item about Thai Christians
appearing in TV commercials [see
below]. I
don't intend to say much about
it except to refer to Ms Anchalee.
She is a very practical Christian
and for many years she has been
involved in working for a group
which I have also helped support
financially. They work with poor
people who come to Bangkok in
search of fortune if not fame.
They meet these people usually
at Hualampong Station, take them
to overnight accommodation, give
them an evening meal and a morning
meal before sending them off with
advice on how to survive in Bangkok.
In some cases they help in finding
employment for the new arrivals.
All of this is done without cost
to the people they help. In the
last few years they have become
involved in helping men and women
released from prison. Unfortunately
the work they do is not something
which the Thai people generally
support.
My main point in writing the above
is to show that people like Anchalee
are not getting on some bandwagon
but actually do good works quietly
without any fanfare. It shows
also that there are farangs around
whose love for the Thai people
is displayed in practical ways
and are not continually complaining...
Earlier:
Celebrities
plug Christian handbook -
The Nation, October 25,
2005
...To promote “Power for
Living”, Christian celebrities
last week began appearing on television
commercials to regale viewers
with stories about how their strong
belief in God had improved their
lives...
The ads feature singer and composer
Boyd Kosiyabong, model and TV
host Sasithon Wattanakul, former
pop singer Anchalee Jongkadeekij
and Central Pattana CEO Kobchai
Chirathivat.
In the commercials, the celebrities
tell dramatic stories about their
fears, conflicts and problems
before God’s light illuminated
them with happiness...