Changing lives through generosity
Rev Dr Paul Goh recently saw first hand the impact of loving hearts giving generously
October 21, 2025
During his current visit to Thailand as a member of the Uniting Church’s delegation for the World Communion of Reformed Churches’ General Council, President-elect Rev Dr Paul Goh has shared in a unique presentation hosted by one of UCA’s Korean partner churches.
Last weekend, Rev Dr Goh was invited to lunch by Rev Dr Hodeuk Choi, a missionary with Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and co-principal of Sahamit Vittaya School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Over a meal together, nine students were presented with university scholarships while a further three were awarded book grants. These extraordinary gifts were provided by the PCK congregations, friends and family of Rev Dr Choi.
“Their faith, courage and determination is deeply inspiring.”
The young recipients are from second-generation Karen refugee families in Thailand. The Karen people are an ethnolinguistic group who primarily live in southeastern Myanmar and the Myanmar-Thailand border region.
“It was a privilege to offer words of encouragement and a prayer of blessing to these students,” Rev Dr Goh said. “Their faith, courage and determination is deeply inspiring.”
Red Dr Goh encourages us to pray that God will continue to bless these young people as they walk in faith and hope, shining Christ’s light within their communities.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
More news from the Assembly
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Reflections from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference By Paul WallbankAhead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, President Rev. Charissa Suli joined Heads of Churches and Christian leaders from across Australia for an Ecumenical Prayer Service hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in Sydney last week. Held by the Bishops’ Commission for Christian Unity and Inter-religious Dialogue at the Mary MacKillop Memorial…
Standing for Justice
Standing for JusticeThe Uniting Church’s Submission to the Racism InquiryBy Michael ZewdieOn 8 May 2026, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and the Uniting Church in Australia made a joint submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, which is conducting an inquiry into racism, hatred and violence…
A Weekend of Welcome: The Assembly Pride Circle Gathers for the First Time
By Rev Greer HudsonResponding to both our commitment to being a loving, safe and inclusive Church and the long history of struggle and marginalization of LGBTIQA+ members within the UCA, and guided by resolutions from the 15th,16th and 17th Assemblies, the Assembly Standing Committee resolved to form an Assembly Circle of Interest for LGBTIQA+ members and…
For the Love of Our Neighbours: The UCA's Call to End Fossil Fuels
By UCA minister Rev. Meredith WilliamsThe Uniting Church in Australia has always understood that faith without action is incomplete. Our Assembly Strategy 2026–31 calls us to use our voice and our actions to confront injustice — not just within our own borders, but across the world. Nowhere is that prophetic call more urgent than in…
Breaking Every Yoke: A Reflection from AEYA 2026
Breaking Every Yoke: A Reflection from AEYA 2026By UCA Assembly, Amelia Lavaki and Christian ConolIn May 2026, four young leaders from the Uniting Church in Australia travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to take part in the Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA 2026) — a gathering of young Christians from across Asia united…
A Reflection on the Life of Rev Professor Dr Jione Havea
By President Rev Charissa SuliAll the Scriptures for this week have resonated with us differently today. As the Uniting Church in Australia, we mourn the passing of Jione Havea—a husband, father, brother, colleague, mentor, theologian, and faithful servant of the Church. There’s something about this moment that feels both heavy and sacred.In Acts, we hear of…
Meet Paul Wallbank
By Michael ZewdieThe Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is pleased to welcome Mr Paul Wallbank as its incoming National Manager, Media and Communications — a significant appointment as the church continues to deepen its public witness and strengthen how it tells its story to the nation. Paul joins the Assembly from a career that…



