1 History

In 1971, an American missionary named Jack Martin started the Prison Ministry in Thailand. He started by teaching English in Bangkwang Prison through the coordination from the Dept. of Corrections. While he was teaching English, he saw the need of the prisoners and their hungry souls. They were interested in learning not just English but life about Jesus Christ. There were lots of prisoners who wanted to learn so he invited volunteers to help him. Due to his limitation of speaking in Thai, he invited Pastor Soonthorn to join him to translate. In 1981, Pastor Soonthorn joined him in doing the ministry, many inmates became more interested to change their lives. The Prison Ministry extended to various prisons. The team were teaching English and Bible in the prisons to promote education and promote moral values. The Prison Ministry became fruitful and extended to various prisons. Many prisoners received new lives and by working together with the Dept. of Corrections the Prison Ministry were able to reach out many prisoners and helped them to uplift their spirit and encouraged them. 

2 A Paradigm: House of Blessing

After more than 20 years, the Christian Prison Ministry have been working to help prisoners according to their purpose. They train and develop the lives of prisoners and saw the changes in their lives. In 2003,, the Board of Prison Ministry started to received ex-prisoners to help them to have a place to stay, to look for a job and even to invest in their lives. During those times, the number of prisoners going back to prisons were increasing. The Board of Committee considered and agreed together to more effectively and efficiently to assist more ex-prisoners. In Oct. 2003, they opened the half way house called the House of Blessing in Suthisarn Road Bangkok. The Minister of Justice Mr. Ponthep Thepkanchana presided the opening of this half-way house. The Board of Committee registered the Christian Prison Ministry Foundation to changed to House of Blessing Foundation. In which this Foundation has wider scope of ministries. In 2013, the House of Blessing Foundation built a new facility for Mother and Children. The opening of this facility was opened by Princess Soamsawalee. This facility is to help the children born in prisons and children of prisoners who were left by their parents. The Foundation sponsored the children of prisoners who were born in Central Women Correctional Institution under the project of Princess Kittiyabha. At present 2021, the House of Blessing Foundation expands more. They have office in the same compound in 600/199 Rimklong Ladprao Road, Bangkapi Huaykwang Bangkok 10310. The ministries has been expanding and become more fruitful to help under privileged people by sending team to set up training in various prisons and Juvenile centers, sending book, Bible lessons and encouraging letters to all prisons throughout Thailand. In fulfilling the ministries in House of Blessing in helping the ex-prisoners by setting up vocational projects, build livelihood programs to help them. By giving them job opportunities, support vocational training. The Foundation has been helping youths in Juvenile Centers by sending team to train them. The Foundation also has made an MOU to the Dept. of Juvenile and Family Court to allow those orphan youth stay in House of Blessing to support and promote their education. Aside from this, the Foundation is helping and sponsoring the children of prisoners together with the children born in prisons. The ministry of House of Blessing has a purpose to develop and build the lives of these children that they may be able to grow having quality lives, secured and be prepared to help others.

3 Visions

The House of Blessing Foundation is a Christian organization that has a goal to fulfill the Lord Jesus calling and purpose to become a model in moral and love through helping prisoners, ex-prisoners, youths and children of prisoners whose lives were changed to become better people, to have good moral values, to have love and to share the life in Christ to everyone. Having hope to be perfect in life. The House of Blessing is pressing toward the goal to move forward with coordination in completion of its calling and purpose.