From the United States and then to Asia, GIS Parents Rob and Jen Derksen have one mission of reaching the unreached in South Asia through two distinct ministries: oral Bible translation and storying the Bible in the heart language of oral people groups, and poverty alleviation for ethnic minorities through employment opportunities and skills training.
Rob focuses on oral Bible storying and translation, which addresses a critical gap, as 60% of the world’s population—and 90% of unreached groups—are oral learners. Rob’s team leads the God Story DTS to train believers to evangelize using an oral storytelling format that preserves the meaning of Scripture while making it easily digestible. Rob recalls a nervous Hmong man who never shared about God with anyone. When Rob’s team sent him out with small groups and he managed to use what he learned in the training to share the story of the Gospel with someone for the first time, he found the confidence to reach others. “For months after, we were getting videos of him and the attendees continually going out to remote villages sharing the Bible stories,” Rob shares.
Alongside Rob’s work, Jen’s ministry, Ariyah Designs, disciples women while empowering them to use their creative talents to support their families. This is done through skills training and employment opportunities. Jen shares the story of Ploy, a Karen hill tribe member who began weaving for Ariyah Designs. “She told us how proud she is that something she made is on purses and bags that women all over the world use every day,” Jen says. “It’s not only about providing for their families, but also about showcasing traditional craftsmanship before it becomes a ‘lost art’ while giving these women a sense of pride, purpose, and helping them see their value in Christ.”
This is only two of the many stories of transformations that were made possible because the Derksens could move to Thailand with confidence, knowing their children’s needs would be met. This support was particularly vital for their daughter, Elli, who started her senior year in high school after they moved to Thailand. Through the community at GIS, Elli witnessed God’s faithfulness personally through how God provided deep and meaningful relationships at such a crucial time in her life. This allows Jen and Rob to focus fully on their calling. Jen reflects, “GIS has been an incredible blessing to our family. It immediately gave a community for both us and our children to connect into. With our children connected and comfortable, we are able to confidently pursue the ministries that God had brought us here to be a part of.”
Grace International School exists to meet the educational and spiritual needs of students, enabling international Christian workers like Rob and Jen Derksen to remain in the field to reach the unreached in Chiang Mai and beyond.
