Thai in United Kingdom

People Name:	Thai
Country:	United Kingdom
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	54,000
World Population:	24,236,500
Primary Language:	Thai
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	0.50 %
Evangelicals:	0.30 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Thai
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Centuries ago the Thai lived north of Yangtzekiang in China. Relentless pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them southward. They conquered many peoples and cultures as they sought a new homeland, and by the 10th century they had settled in Central Thailand. A bloodless revolution in 1932, led by Westernized intellectuals, instituted a democratic constitutional monarchy. However, the country has suffered numerous governmental upheavals since then.

Where Are they Located?

There are Thai communities in the British cities of London, Bath and Manchester.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Thai people in the UK come to attend the fine universities and stay. For that reason, there are well-educated ethnic Thais in the UK. The UK is interested in allowing Thai people to enter who have skills in medicine, accounting, software engineering, and architecture. However, many Thai people there are in the service industries, especially restaurants and the motel industry. There is a higher percentage of women to men largely because some go there to marry British men. This has led to some negative stereotypes which Thai women are trying to address. Others, unfortunately, are trafficked into the UK as prostitutes; most UK brothels include Thai women. The Thai people in the UK are trying to maintain their culture, which is always difficult as they enter the second generation. Even their young enjoy Thai cultural events, which allow them time to be Thai and not try to fit in with another culture and language for a while.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Today, Buddhism is the central and unifying force in Thai society and even maintains social control. The Thai maintain their own Buddhist temples in the UK.

What Are Their Needs?

The Thai Buddhists in the UK need to hear what Jesus Christ has to offer them. In many cases they have been there long enough that the window of opportunity is over.

Prayer Points

Ask God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession. Pray for a strong desire for spiritual truth among Thai Buddhists in the UK that will lead to a movement to Christ. Pray for workers to go to them bearing Christ and His kingdom.