Pastor Brings Cultural Insight to Adventist-Buddhist Relations

Seventh-day Adventist pastor Saeng Saengthip was recently appointed director of the Center for Adventist-Buddhist Relations (CABR), one of six Global Mission Centers operated by the Office of Adventist Mission. He replaces the former director, Khamsay Phetchareun, who was elected last December as president of the newly established Northeastern Thailand Region. 

Saengthip brings a rich cross-cultural background to the position. Born in Thailand to Laotian parents and raised in a Buddhist family, he is fluent in Laotian, Thai, and English and has extensive experience serving Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee communities in North America and abroad. 

Adventist Mission director Gary Krause welcomed the appointment, highlighting Saengthip’s personal and professional preparation for the work. 

“I’m delighted that Pastor Saeng is joining our Adventist Mission team,” Krause said. “His humility, deep love for people, education, experience, and strong understanding of his cultural heritage uniquely qualify him for this important work.” 

ChanMin Chung, director of Global Mission Centers, also affirmed the vote. 

“Pastor Saengthip has a profound commitment to building meaningful bridges with people shaped by Buddhist worldviews,” Chung said. “His relational approach to ministry and his creativity will be a valuable asset as the Center continues its work.” 

Building Relationships Through Community 

Saengthip’s journey began in Thailand before his family emigrated to the United States when he was 11 years old, eventually settling in Sacramento, California. He first encountered Seventh-day Adventists through friendships formed in his apartment community, and through students from Weimar College (now Weimar University). Saengthip then began attending a church plant affiliated with the Sacramento Japanese Seventh-day Adventist Church—now the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

At age 13 he attended a Thai church camp at Camp Cedar Falls in southern California, where he decided to follow Jesus and was baptized. He soon became active in the church plant, serving as a youth music leader. 

Responding to God’s Call 

By the age of 18, Saengthip sensed a call to pastoral ministry. Navigating that calling within his close-knit family required patience, prayer, and deep respect for his parents and community. Throughout this period he remained committed to honoring his family while continuing his education and ministry preparation. 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Weimar University and later completed a Master of Divinity degree at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in 2005. 

Over time, Saengthip has seen God work quietly and faithfully within his own family, reinforcing his belief in long-term, relational ministry rooted in love and trust. 

Experience in Cross-Cultural Mission 

Saengthip has served in a variety of ministry settings, particularly among Asian immigrant and refugee communities. His experience includes serving as associate pastor at the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sacramento; church planting among Laotian refugees and immigrants in Michigan; serving as associate director of ASAP Ministries, where he supported frontline workers across Southeast Asia; and most recently pastoring the Laotian Seventh-day Adventist group in Michigan—the only established Laotian Seventh-day Adventist community in the United States. 

Reflecting on his new role, Saengthip emphasized the importance of patience, humility, and dependence on God. 

“God has taught me that ministry among people of Buddhist backgrounds is deeply relational and often takes time,” he said. “But it can be done. I have seen God do it in my own family—more than once.” 

As director of the Center for Adventist-Buddhist Relations, Saengthip will support General Conference division leaders by identifying effective, respectful approaches for engaging people shaped by Buddhist worldviews. The center provides contextualized disciple-making resources, equips workers, and helps identify models for establishing new communities of believers. 

For more information, visit the Center for Adventist-Buddhist Relations website.