3 Years in Thailand, God has been speaking, and a Bias Toward Obedience

Dear friends and family,

We’re writing with full hearts. This month we’re celebrating three years of serving in Thailand. It’s humbling to look back on all that God has done. From learning the language to discipling locals, from hosting outreach teams to raising our daughter here, we’ve seen His hand in every step.

Lately, God has been speaking so much vision and passion into our hearts. We’ve felt freshly stirred, like He’s setting the stage for something new. There are some exciting things ahead that we can’t wait to share with you in the near future. But for now, we’re just grateful for how clearly He’s been moving and speaking.

Ministry right now looks like preparing the base and our team for YWAM Trang’s upcoming DTS (Discipleship Training School). Nicole and I won’t be staffing the school since we’re focused on leading OTM, our outreach ministry, but we’re helping where we can. That means a lot of small projects, deep cleaning, and getting things in place to welcome students and leaders from around the world.

We’re also spending time following up with our local contacts, meeting with school leaders, community partners, and friends to talk about outreach opportunities and future ministry plans with our next visiting teams. And of course, ministry still includes a lot of email and planning meetings, but we know the behind-the-scenes work is valuable and we’re honored to help lay the foundation for what’s next.

As we look toward the rest of the year, we are praying and believing to raise an additional $800 per month in monthly support. This would fully cover our visa fees, housing, baby needs, and ministry budget so we can continue running full-time with what God has called us to here in southern Thailand.

Would you pray with us for that provision? And if you know any friends, family members, or churches that might have a heart to support missions, would you consider sharing our story with them? Personal connections make a huge difference, and we’d love the chance to connect with anyone who wants to partner in what God is doing here.

Recently, in a conversation with some friends, someone made a joke about one of our leaders. We were talking about future plans, and someone said, “Well, we already know what he’d say. He’s got a bias. He’ll always say to do whatever God says.” I laughed and said, “Yeah, he’s got a bias toward obedience.” That phrase stuck with me. At first it was just a funny moment, but later in my quiet times, God kept bringing it back to my heart. And the more I sat with it, the more I realized I want that to be true of me too. I want my life to be marked by a deep, unwavering, joyful bias toward obedience. That moment stirred this spoken word in me, and I wanted to share it with you. Not just as a poem, but as a glimpse of the fire in our hearts and the reason we’re here.

“Biased Toward Obedience”

They said it like it was a joke.

“Man, you got a bias…

A bias toward obedience.”

Like, faithfulness was funny.

Like surrender was strange.

Like kneeling before the King of Glory

was some outdated thing.

But I’ll wear that like a badge

like a banner on my back.

I’ll take “biased”

if it means I’m bent toward the One

who bled and didn’t bend.

Call it biased

but I’ve tasted His goodness

and now I’m ruined for anything less.

Because neutrality is a myth.

You’re either following Him

or following flesh.

You’re either dying to self

or just dying slow.

I’m not here for half obedience

not here to flirt with the edge of the line

not here to tiptoe through grey

and hope grace catches me in the fall.

I want to run full tilt

into the fire of His will.

Yeah, I’m biased.

Biased like Noah building a boat in dry land.

Biased like Abraham leaving what was safe.

Biased like Peter stepping out of the boat

when reason screamed, “Stay.”

Because obedience never made sense to the world.

It made martyrs out of prophets

and kings out of shepherds.

See, I’ve decided

if He speaks, I move.

If He whispers, I obey.

If He stays silent, I still trust His way.

Obedience isn’t legalism

it’s love with feet.

It’s faith with muscle.

It’s a heart so in tune with heaven

that even the smallest command

becomes a mission.

So mock it. Misunderstand it.

Call it foolish, rigid, extreme.

But the narrow road was never wide

and the cross was never comfortable.

I’m not looking for applause.

I’m not chasing man’s approval.

I’m chasing His voice in the garden

His whisper in the night.

And I’ve made up my mind

when I stand before Him

I don’t want to be known

for my gifts, my reach, or my name.

I want to be known

as a man who obeyed.

Without delay. Without debate.

Even when it cost.

Especially when it cost.

So yeah

I’ve got a bias.

A bias toward the nail-pierced hands

toward the call that wrecked my plans

toward the King who laid it all down.

Let my legacy be obedience.

Let my anthem be yes.

Let my whole life be proof

That He is worthy of it all.

Thank you for standing with us. For every prayer, every message, every gift, and every step of faith. You are part of this story and we’re so grateful to be in this with you.

Also, a quick personal update. We’ll be back in Virginia for a short time soon to attend the wedding of two very dear people to us: my little brother Collin and Nicole’s childhood best friend Elisha. It’s wild in the best way to think about how our two cross-country families are merging even more. Through our relationship, God brought together two of our favorite people for life. What a joy to celebrate their wedding back home in Virginia and witness what only God could have orchestrated.

Our time in Virginia will be short and full, so if you’d like to connect while we’re back, please reach out soon so we can plan to see you. And if we don’t get a chance to meet this time, please know we love you, we miss you, and we truly hope to catch you the next time we’re in the States.

With love and deep gratitude,

Connor, Nicole, and Elouise Holloway

YWAM Trang, Thailand