Sexuality and the challenges for church leaders

CAM has had the wonderful opportunity to help shed light on the difficult and often sensitive issues of sexuality and what that means as a religious leader. This was the third 3 day workshop that CAM has conducted.  The first session was back in February and had such positive feedback that CAM was asked to facilitate more workshops.  The next 3 day workshop was presented to a large youth group of about 60 teenagers at a youth camp.

The latest workshop was held this month (MAY) at the BaanKlangDoi Resort. 

There were lots of activities and role plays to engage the participants in meaningful dialogue regarding various issues of sexuality.  The facilitators were able to create a safe and inviting atmosphere for sharing and encouraged all the participants to speak from their hearts.

We hope this is just the beginning of important issues to be discussed within the church and the surrounding communities.  Sexuality is an important part of being human and needs to discussed to help the church deal with all the issues surrounding it.

Just being able to talk about sexuality has been a huge step to resolve the stigma and discrimination that happens within our churches and communities.

Please pray for the church leaders in the CCT and that they can use the lessons learned in these seminars to better care for their congregations. 

Thank you to all the facilitators for putting on such an important seminar and challenging the church to tackle the tough issues.

Group photo of church leaders and facilitators

Peer Group Training

The training included information on how Anti Retro Viral (ARV) medications affect the body and how they interrupt the replication process. The information was very technical, but the CAM staff were able to explain the process in simple terms so that everybody had a better understanding.



CAM staff decided to also provide training and insight to the HIV positive group that they care for in a very practical way. The training was on how to read and interpret the blood work that the group receives when they go to the doctor for testing. There is a lot of technical information that doesn't quite get explained to these people by their doctors.


Everybody was encouraged to ask questions and the CAM staff created a fun and relaxed learning environment.

13th annual HIV/AIDS conference in Bangkok

The CAM staff and several community church leaders around Chiang Mai participated in the 13th annual HIV/AIDS conference held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. There was 17 people in all traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The conference was an informative 3 day event with a huge selection of widely varied workshops. The workshops ranged from how to talk to your kids about sex to transgender to human rights issues.

The conference had a grand exhibition hall that had information booths from many NGO and faith based organizations. Skits, dramas and panel discussions were held in the exhibition hall as well.

During one of the workshops Ajarn Sanan the Director of CAM was able to share information about the HIV/AIDS situation in Northern Thailand and what CAM is doing to help bring about greater awareness and ways to address the issues HIV + people face.

Ajarn Sanan on stage being honored alongside other prominent community members throughout Thailand by the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Prime Minister Abhisit was able to get a tour of the Exhibition hall and visit with several NGO's that are committed to working with people living with HIV and AIDS.
Every night the CAM staff processed the days event and were able to learn new things from each other. Overall, it was a great experience.