Rainy-Season Bible School among the Lisu (Thailand, 1938)

On May 28, 1938, John and Isobel Kuhn, joined by Charles Paterson, opened their first rainy-season Bible school among the Lisu people in northern Thailand. The timing was deliberate. When heavy rains slowed travel, farming, and daily labor, the months could be redeemed for focused instruction in God’s Word. Rather than treating the season as an obstacle, they received it as a providential window for concentrated discipleship.

John and Isobel Kuhn; Charles Paterson

John Kuhn was known for steady, patient teaching and a pastoral concern for believers who would soon return to scattered mountain communities. Isobel Kuhn labored with quiet resolve, valuing the spiritual formation of families and the training of women and children alongside men. Charles Paterson strengthened the work with practical support and shared ministry, helping to sustain a learning environment despite limited supplies and difficult conditions. Their partnership modeled humble cooperation, not competition, and a conviction that Christ’s church grows strongest through rooted instruction.

Purpose and Method

The school gathered learners to hear the gospel, study Scripture, and grow in prayer and obedience. The aim was not a quick response but lasting fruit—believers able to read, remember, and obey the Word, and to teach others. The rhythm of the school emphasized attentive listening, clear explanation, and application to daily life, forming disciples who would carry Christ back to their households and villages. Their approach echoed the pattern of Scripture: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Perseverance, Courage, and Love

The rains brought muddy trails, illness risks, damp lodging, and scarcity. Yet the workers and learners persisted, showing a kind of everyday heroism—faithful endurance that refused to abandon the slow work of spiritual growth. Their love was courageous but not flashy, expressed through presence, teaching, and steady prayer. The season underscored a lasting principle: “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).