Social Mission of Protestant Churches and the Roles of Royal Initiated Project on Sustainable Development in Kulayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research article has three objectives: 1) to study the social missions of the Karen Baptist Church, Protestant churches in the area of  Kulayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province; 2) to study the role of the Royal Initiated Project on the Kulayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province; and 3) to synthesize social innovations and the interaction of Karen Baptist Church’s social missions with the role of the Royal Initiated Project and the missions of government agencies affecting sustainable development in the area of Kulayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province. This research applied qualitative research, which is divided into documentary research and field research, using techniques for collecting data by in-depth interview of 21 key informants and participant observation.

The results of the research revealed that the social missions of the Protestant churches in the area of Kulayaniwattana Dustrict, Chiang Mai Province consisted of ; 1) Education Missions, Baptist missionaries help develop the Karen people with education and knowledge to have a better quality of life; 2) Health Mission is a turning point that makes Karen people come to believe in Jesus, Baptist missionaries take care of various diseases; and 3) Career Promotion Missions, Baptist missionaries promote a career in agriculture. The roles of the Royal Initiated Project are: 1) Economic, the Royal Initiated Project support the cultivation of agricultural plants  such as coffee, field crops, livestock, and weaving housewives enterprises; 2) Society, the Royal Initiated Project has worked with local schools; 3) Environment, such as the problem of water in the dry season, and the Royal Initiated Project support various agencies which related to the environment; and 4) Infrastructure, the Royal Initiated Project improve the local structure such as roads, electricity and water supply system that leads to community development, enhancing the quality of life and enjoying convenient transportation, which leads to sustainable development of communities in the area of  Kulayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province.