Events

February: 15^th onwards Film Ministry.

March: Three days Annual convention 28, 29 and 30

May: 1^st -one day mini convention in Bala Bazar.

3^rd – one day mini convention in Mahesh Kutt

VBS:

July: One day youth Meeting

August: Four days convention in Baliya and Bakri Churches.

September: One day Women’s Fellowship

October: Annual Fasting prayer on 24, 25 and 26

December: Christmas Rally will begin from 5^th to 22^nd in all Churches.

Projects,

#. We are planning to build the church compound wall in Bakri church.

#. We are planning to start the Tailoring coaching center in Bala Bazar Church and Mansi Church. Pr. Santhosh’s mother in Bala Bazar, Pr. Punniya Dev’s wife Mrs. Asha, in Mansi will be trainers to the candidates.

#. We are planning to send some believers to Bible Training Institution

#. Baptism Services will be held in months of March and October during the convention time. So please pray for the new souls which should be added in the kingdom of God.

#. Please pray earnestly for our mission school – St Xavier’s – which supports the ministry. The land owner of the school has strictly ordered us to vacate the campus compulsorily without fail in the month of March 2012. Our Almighty Lord should open a way to purchase a needed land of 35000Sq, and to build school in it. Please pray for this in your daily prayer.

#The permanent land need for the church in at Mahesh Kutt

It has been a super time of fellowship and witnessing. The amount of work accomplished was only done by the hand of God. The impressions that our volunteers made at the schools they went to teach was awesome. The high school has already asked for a Saturday English camp and we are working on it.

God blessed us all from the time the team arrived until they left.  We thank and praise God for that.

Sunday allowed us to meet with lots of other Christians – in fact, some I had never seen before. There were about 25-30 “white faces”. I think the most I have ever seen at the Christian Mission at one time.  There were about 8 different languages represented in the group. All together there were about 150 people.  The service began at 9:30 am and lasted until a little after 12 noon. Then we all got together for a fellowship meal.

We also had our food packet presentations to our senior citizens.  A great time was held by all and the word of God sas spread a bit further. Thanks and praise God. John and Maeo and the team

[Show as slideshow]

Here we are back again with newsletter number 5 for January. Lord willing this should bring us up to date. Some of you may know and others may not know. The Christian Mission currently has 4 English classes going. Primary class has, for the most part beginning learners, mostly grades 6 and 7. Currently there are 7 students in that class. Next, there is an advanced class. That group currently has three students. They also serve as leaders within the church and do much of the teaching. The third group is a group of 8 university students. They are first year English majors wanting to be teachers. The forth group, just recently started is a group of 6 second year university students, English majors wanting to be teachers. Presently, I am teaching English 15 or so hours per week. For the last 3-4 years we have had a group of volunteers from the advanced group going out to teach in English Camps on Saturday at various village schools. Beginning the end of last year (2011) we started having two English Camps per month. The groups are called (translated) Older teaching Younger. The goal is for us to teach 4-6 grade students in village schools and they in turn teach the Kinder-grade 3 students in their schools. One Saturday Camp can handle about 80 elementary students. The students are taught VERY Basic English, sometimes songs, storytelling and an attempt is made to reinforce their self-confidence and willingness to speak out. The pictures attached to this newsletter are from an English Camp that was conducted by our live-in students on January 21, 2012. Three small elementary schools have combined to make the number of 80 students and we are currently rotating between these three schools. Our second group, the first year university students are conducting English Camps at middle schools and high schools as time allows. Working out all of the schedule conflicts can sometimes be a real challenge.

I ask your prayers for the kids teaching and the kids learning that they will begin to realize the importance of English for them in the future. Many different programs look fantastic on paper, but when you start looking at things a bit closer, it is kind of like a trip to Universal Studios. Many of you will know what that means. We need prayers that thinking and actions will change from the highest levels right down to the students. Thank you, enjoy and God Bless. John

[Show as slideshow]

A good time was had by all, and Alex and Jason entertained, taught and had everyone laughing and having a great time. Pictures are attached.  God Bless, John and Maeo and the rest here.

[Show as slideshow]

Greetings again. It does look like I am moving forward a little bit. Let me take a look at the pictures and see what I am supposed to talk about this time. This is Number 3 for January 2012.

Pictures below are from our Sunday service on January 8, 2012. It was a normal service, with a bit more action because of our guests.

We are starting to think about Youth Camp again in April. It is a time for the youth to get away and get together for 4 days and three nights. There are usually 100-150 kids that participate in this program. In addition to the churches in our group, there are 2-3 Baptist churches that participate too, so again we get a very wide variety of kids all mixed together. Please keep that in your prayers.  God bless from all of us here at the Christian Mission. Thanks and praise God for your prayers and support.  John, Maeo and the mission.

[Show as slideshow]

A remittance was recently sent to the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar (ACCM) sending funds given by generous individuals and groups in the United States, for the purchase of a loom (to allow one group to begin setting up a small, home-based weaving business), a portable generator, a set of bunks and mosquito nets, and funds to cover the cost of sending the four ACCM leaders to a leadership development seminar hosted by the Face to Faith organisation in Yangon.

One of the ACCM leaders, Pastor Kenneth replied as follows….

“Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you are well and your work is going well. I and my family and all ACCM members praying for you and for all the donors. Our family and all the children who are with me and all our mission works also going very well as you pray for us.
Concerning the gifts for handloom, I do very much appreciate and praise God for His wonderful blessings through you and through all the donors. Our heart really felt thanks to the Lord and to all the donors and to you. We cannot express our happiness by mouth, we praise the Lord again and again. This is another prayer request, at the end of February, we are to move to another house. Because the house now we are renting cost too much and we cannot continue to rent it anymore. Therefore, please do remember us in your prayer time for the plan of our house moving. When I get a loom, I will take a picture and will try to send you as soon as possible.”

In a subsequent email he also wrote…

“In my previous letter, I forgot to mention about the {funds} for Bunks and Net. And also I receive which you send us for training needs.

I personally would like to say thank you to all the donors – for a loom, and the donors (La Grange WH& FMS) for Bunks & Nets, the donors (Central Region WH&FMS) for a Generator and the donors (Canyon Creek Bible Fellowship) for our training needs.

We can do nothing for you, but we always mention about you in our prayer time. May the Lord continue to bless you more and more as you love and serve Him faithfully.”

Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar President, Pastor Timothy reports….

“Many great political prisoners were released in yesterday and we hope the rest of Political prisoners will be released again on 12 Feb 2012 (our Union day). We think the Gov will announce no fire (no fight) with all other tribe armies and will have meaningful conference soon (like Pyin Long, Shan State 1947).
Many US great leaders and western leaders come to here day after day for our Democracy.”

(We have prayed for the return of democracy to this country for many years and it seems that we may be seeing the beginnings of that process in answer to our prayers. Aung San Suu Kyi, a non-violent pro-democracy social activist of Myanmar who was kept under house arrest by the previous military junta which ruled the country, formally registered on January 18 to run for a seat in parliament in an April 1 by-election, in the latest sign of change in the military-dominated country. Please continue to pray that those in power in Myanmar will continue down this road – to ease the pressure on their people. Ernie Schache)

Pastor Timothy also reported that he and his family held a Thanksgiving Day at his home on 22 January to celebrate his 19 years as a Christian Pastor and 12 years for his family’s mission activities. Other AC pastors from the city and another 20 pastors from other churches along with their wives were invited to share in the celebration. One of the pigs from his farm became the “guest of honour!” More than 200 people attended the service of thanksgiving – items from a Youth Choir were part of the celebrations.

“Please pray for the following prayer point (it is very urgent)

In our church there is a believer, name Indhu Devi. She is a faithful believer in our church. One of her relatives – brother –in- law – has expired four days before.

She neglected to do the rituals ceremony of the Hindu religion during the funeral – because of this reason, all the relatives of Indhu Devi had started to scold and beat her. Some men from the village beaten her because of her faith on following Jesus

And Sis Nirmala (another believer near Indhu Devi’s home) and her son Pankaj also had beaten by the village men. More than that [they said] that “we beat and send back your pastor (Pr. Paul Sundar Raj & Team) also if he come again here”.

Due to this incident there is mutiny in the Sanhouli village. Please pray earnestly for this prayer request, there should be peace and open door for our Lord’s gospel.”

We have one English Camp on January 21 and will have two in February. In addition we have a team coming in from Face2Faith to conduct a seminar on leadership February 18-24. Please pray for this because I am going to have to be doing the translating and I need your prayers. In between all of this, I am currently teaching 4 English classes – I have a beginning class, and advanced high school class, a first year university class and a second year university class. Pray for these university students – they are all English majors and want to be English teachers.

We will be conducting our annual business meeting this month also so pray for that.

A history of the Christian mission of Naratchakwai is available on John’s wedsite, linked below:

The Story of Christian Mission of Naratchakwai/
{Hover over the images to read the caption}

[Show as slideshow]

January 2012

I am happy to report our ministry updated in Myanmar. Myanmar is a spiritually poor country; more than 90% of its people are Buddhist.  But here is a small, evangelistic community to burdened for our country to know Jesus and save their life.

God is good all time for us helping our ministry and protect the whole year of 2011.

Now our ministry is growing many size in our country as church planting and children ministry and Bible school.Many people hear the good news of Jesus and accepted Jesus as their lord and savior through our ministry. Every part of our church planters are working hard for God kingdom increase here in Myanmar.

We want to say a big thanks for your helping with in your prayer and lovingly support for our ministry.

Thanks and God bless you.

In Him,

David

Christmas Ministry

Christmas 2011 is wonderful for us. Because joy to the world the Lord is come. Isaiah 9;6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Every lasting father.” Many Buddhist people come and join with us. We have good time to share about Jesus and born on Earth. To save sinner on the world. Many people hear the good news of Jesus and his born on earth. It is a great blessings for us give his only son for us. Christmas is not only for Christian and but also for all of people on earth. And we offer good food free in our church. Many poor people come and eat freely in that time. God give us his son freely and now we give food freely for all of our community here in our country.

Women‘s Ministry

Women ministry is very important in our ministry. Most of women are widow and hopeless in their life. There is no one care for them. We share the good news of Jesus Christ and encourage them with the word of God. It is joyful for us to give some of small gift for Christmas time. Because God is given his only Son for us. Some are already received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. But some are still praying for them and not yet accepted Jesus. We are helping with in our prayer and encourage for them every week and year. And they know how much Christian love people and wonder for their life. We need to love careless people and neglected people and share our faith in Christ.

Literature Ministry

Literature ministry is also one of the best ways to share the gospel in our country. We distributed free three kind of literature and many people interest for reading and respond is always coming. Some of Pastor are coming and pick up book and give people free in their community and churches. We are praying to distribute many kinds of good book around in Myanmar. Thank you for your helping with in your prayer and if you have good book to translate in Myanmar we are welcome to you for this ministry.

Children’s Ministry

Children ministry is very important in our ministry, because the children and young people become tomorrow leader in our ministry. We love them and care for every needs in their life. In this month they need new clothes and praying many time for that. God is good and provide wonderful ways for them. They are so happy and thank God for his mercy and grace. Every children received new clothes and they are so happy in their life. Please see attachment of pictures and they are smiling face in their life. God is so good and provided in their need. Not only for clothes but also they eat good food in this time. And thanks for your helping with in your prayer and lovingly help for children ministry in Myanmar. In Matthew 18:5 “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcome me.” Now many children changing their life before they come to our home. All of children have changing life testimony in Christ and they can share their friends in public school.

Baptism Report

Evangelism outreach ministry is our main purpose in our ministry. By the grace of God we are going and share the gospel to non-Christian every month. In this year we baptism many people in our ministry. In the Bible say, Matthew 28;19 “Go and make disciple of all nations baptism them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Many of people are not yet hear the gospel in our Country. They are hunger and waiting the gospel now. We sacrifice our life and our time for his kingdom and the lost soul to win. Isaiah 6;8 “I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said Here am I send me.” We are ready for going and preach the gospel to his kingdom increase here Myanmar.

CAGAYAN DE ORO -ILIGAN

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is with sadness that I write to you at this time, a time which we normally associate with “Peace and Joy”. Most of you will be aware of the typhoon which hit the island of Mindanao on Friday night devastating the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan by horrific flash floods.  It was in Cagayan De Oro that I lived and worked for seven years. CagayanDe Oro is also the city which has been home for the Vann family and the Walsh family during their years of service at OBC.  (As I have been writing this I have had “Facebook” messages from Mm Penny and Mm Rhonda. We all have tears in our eyes.)

I give thanks to our Heavenly Father that all of the people that I know survived the onslaught of the water although some of them have lost all that they had. They have walked away with only the clothes they were wearing.

Oro Bible College has had damage to the roof of the “Boys’ Dorm” but even so some of the homeless are being accommodated in the dormitories and others are being accommodated in Maranatha Bible Church which is next-door to the College.

Pastor Billy Comahig has been given the responsibility of ascertaining the needs of the churches and members and so I copy his e-mails to me. I have also been in daily phone contact with him and with Pastor Reniel Comajeg.

Dear Brethren,
The storm that hit the Philippines particularly in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City brings so much damaged of the people living in the places mentioned above. Hundreds of people died and thousands of families lost their houses and belongings.

About our churches here in Cagayan de Oro, I was able to talk to Rev. Pablito Molina, the pastor of Maranatha Bible Church and initially he said that there are about more or less ten (10 ) families who are affected by the typhoon. I visited Pastor Benjie Ragas and Initially he said that there are six (6 ) families affected in Christian Community Fellowship an advent Christian Church in Macanhan. In Iligan Churches, I was able to talk to Rev. Eleazar Comahig and initially he said that there are more than fifteen families affected by the typhoon and He lost his motorbike that he used for the ministry as well as all the church musical instruments and their projector. He added that they are having some problem cooking because they lost their kitchen materials for cooking.The In Christ Glory Church was also affected and The secretary of the conference here in the Philippines said that initially there are seven ( 7) families affected by the typhoon in In Christ Glory Church. Some Oro Bible College students was also affected and a portion of the rooftop of the Oro Bible College building was also affected by the typhoon.

I will continue to give you the update as soon as I will get additional information about the affected areas. Please Help our Brethren, They really need food, clothing, and their other basic needs.

In Christ, Brother Billy M. Comahig

Pastor Billy also wrote

Dear Dad,
The people are really in need for food, Clothing and materials to rebuild and repair their Houses. Oro Bible College need money to fix the roof top of the boys Dormitory.
First of all, Your prayers are a great help for the victims of the flood. You can also help the victims by donating any amount of Money for their  food, For their Clothes, and for materials for repairing and rebuilding their houses.
In His Service,
Billy

I have also copied from ACGC e-news from Mm Nely Gamayon

“Greetings in the most precious name of Jesus Christ. As of Dec. 18, 2011, in Iligan city, Christ Glory Church and some of its members are affected, and former Bishop Eleazar Comajig and the New Life Church in Iligan are also affected. Both churches in Iligan were flooded, so the equipment, furniture, computers and everything inside the church were flooded.

“In Cagayan de Oro there are 346 dead already as of Dec. 18, 413 still missing and more than 3,000 families affected. The Maranatha church has some members affected also. They need clothing, and help for food. Their houses are still full of mud and they cannot clean it because the whole city has no water. The fire trucks are going around the city on schedule rationing water. Refilling stations are running short of water supply.

“At OBC, we have the families of our students who are affected. We housed them at the dorm. They lost everything to the flood. They also need clothing, beddings and food. I have a brother who lost his house to the flood, too. The water came into their house at 2:00 a.m. When his wife woke up and stepped on the floor, she found that the water was already knee deep. When she stood up to open the door, water rushed in and carried her up to the wall. Thank God she and my brother were still able to get out of the house and run to the neighbor’s roof. Their neighbor’s house was a two-floor building. Until today, they could not go back and clean their house because there is no water. They were not able to save anything from the house.”

Pastor Reniel has taken his wife Felany and baby Elisha Grant to Claveria and has been advised not to bring the baby back to CDO for at least a week because of the stench and airborne diseases. City water, if available, will not be fit for drinking, cooking and maybe even showering for about a month.

Pastor Benjie Ragas and his aunt Mm Marquino and her family have evacuated the Macanhan church and are staying with a church member, the church being flooded, destroying all their belongings and church equipment.

The photos are but a few of the ones I have received which were sent to me by Pastor Reniel. He asked that I did not publish some of the more graphic ones showing those in the funeral parlour and on the street. For those of you who may wish to view more you can open

http://youtu.be/xivpP7qVrEU

or the www.nzherald.co.nz and go to Cagayan De Oro.

Other photos are available on other news sites.

If you wish to help our brothers and sisters donations may be made to

ACMissioNZ PO Box 202162, Southgate, Takanini, Auckland 2246, NEW ZEALAND

Please pray for these, our brothers and sisters in Christ, that even in this time of sadness and anxiety they will know God’s “Peace and Joy” and be a light shining out to those who are suffering and mourning with them.

Thank you for your continued support, financially and in prayer.  May you also know the Peace and Joy of Christ at this Christmas time and in the coming year.

In the Master’s service

Grant Aldridge

Here is a recent news report

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/storm-triggered-flash-floods-kill-nearly-60-in-southern-philippines-many-missing/2011/12/16/gIQA6vkNzO_story.html