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September 2026 Newsletter
Updated: Sep 9
It’s amazing how major transitions can affect our perception of time. Just two months ago, we were still living in our townhouse in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It’s hard to believe we have been at our new church in Tennessee for less than 2 months.
God has been so faithful to us this year. This time last year, we had just moved from Bangkok back up to Chiang Rai, after a failed attempt at planting a church. We had assembled a small team that wanted to plant with us, and because of our own lack of wisdom, we almost ran out of money, which left us in a very scary position. A lot of lessons about budgeting, saving, raising enough for our needs, etc. were hard-won during that period. (Someone asked me once why we couldn’t receive money from the church in Bangkok. The reason we ended up in that situation was because legally, we were not allowed to take money from Thais for any reason. That’s why we were completely dependent on donors from America. Also, we didn’t have enough money to fly home, and I wasn’t legally allowed to be employed with the visa we had.)
The day we moved back up to Chiang Rai in order to recover financially, my son Theo, who was 1.5 at the time, had a seizure in the play area of a Big C. I’ll never forget the moment he climbed up in my arms to snuggle with me and started shaking violently. I’ll never forget how my heart sank while looking at his face as his eyes rolled back in his head and he shook both clenched fists back and forth. And I’ll never forget the feeling of wondering if we were about to lose him as the paramedics picked him up and put him in the ambulance. We learned later that what he experienced was a febrile seizure, and that despite how scary it was, it was actually benign. That was comforting, but it still took a long time for my body to catch up with my mind as I remembered the scene.
Financial insecurity, major health scares, and uncertainty about the future. Those were scary times. To add insult to injury, that week was also the week that Charlie Kirk was assassinated live on camera for the world to see, the anniversary of 9/11, my late mom’s birthday (who also died at the hands of gun violence), and we all had the flu and were throwing up all week. It was in the midst of those trials that I felt God speak to me and tell me it was time for a major transition.
And here we are, a year later, back in Tennessee, only a few hours from where I grew up and where Liz lived as a kid before moving to Thailand. The church we moved to serve with has exceeded our expectations in every way possible. I have been consistently impressed with their generosity, kindness, patience, and responsiveness to us.
God has also used family, friends, and this church to provide for our financial needs. Not only do I receive a full-time compensation package from the church (which is already a huge blessing), but someone in our extended family donated a car to us as we were coming back.
We also had so many donations in the form of both cash donations and items for our house, that we were able to get established here without using any of our own money or going into any debt! I cannot explain how much of a relief this has been to my soul after last year.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me..Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:10-20)
It has taken time to learn the church and the community, but things are moving along. From my understanding, the church has already grown a bit since we have been here. And we are taking one step at a time to help them move towards increasing levels of joy, excitement, faithfulness, efficiency, and effectiveness. That’s the goal, at least, and by God’s grace, I believe we will see progress during our season here, however long that may be.
A few practical notes. I have started filming my sermons and uploading them to YouTube, so if you want to subscribe to my “Dallas Vaughn” channel, you can.
Here’s a video from Sunday of a song Liz did:
Additionally, Mary Ella is getting baptized this Sunday! So please pray for that, as we’ll have a lot of guests on that day and we’re having a special “homecoming” service for the church, as it celebrates 130 years as a local congregation.
We are also planning on taking a trip to Thailand in the summer. I don’t know when that will be yet, and I’ll have to coordinate with our elders about the details. I will attend the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis this year in June, so the Thailand trip will probably be in May or July. At the end of this year, I will fundraise for that trip, because the total cost for all of us to fly there and back will be about $8,000. We feel very confident that we need to take a trip back as a family every year to maintain our relationships in Thailand and help serve the church there, as well as to allow our kids to visit with their grandparents in Chiang Rai.
As you pray, please pray for us as we continue to learn our church and community here. It has been a major culture shock going from urban Thailand to rural Tennessee/Alabama. I’m sure I do not meet everyone’s expectations since I’m so much of a “city boy” but overall we have still felt welcomed and appreciated, and God has given us great affection for the people here, even as we long for and miss our friends and family in Thailand.
Bonus: If you missed the video, here is a special song Mary Ella and Liz did at my home church when we first got back to America.
THANKS FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM!
By God's grace, we have witnessed many lives transformed, and some family legacies changed forever. But the story is not over yet, and we are anticipating and believing for even greater things moving forward. Consider becoming a financial supporter to help us fund our upcoming trip to Thailand in the summer as well as to support Thai missionaries working in ministry full-time. (The donation page still says we live in Thailand; that will be updated soon.)
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