Dear friends, supporters and prayer partners,
Greetings to you and thank you for your continued support and prayers for our brothers and sisters in South East Asia who serve the Lord under the Advent Christian banner. Once again the past six weeks or so since my last update have brought many matters for which we can thank the Lord, and there is much that we need to continue to pray about.
INDIA ST. XAVIER’S SCHOOL, KHAGARIA, BIHAR
The Advent Christian Conference of India purchased St Xavier’s School in Khagaria, Bihar in April 2003, soon after Pastor Paul Sunder Raj went to the area as a missionary/church planter. At that time there were 183 children on the roll.
Since the school was purchased it has proved to be a tremendous “bridge into the community” for the Conference’s outreach with the Gospel. On many occasions in the past ten years, when Pastor Paul and his team members have been threatened by those opposed to the preaching of the Gospel by the team, the parents of the children attending the school have successfully turned away the threats by indicating that they value the school and the quality education it is bringing to their children, and by indicating to those carrying out the threats that they would have a large group of parents to deal with if they cause any further problems. Praise the Lord for those interventions and for the support the school enjoys and for the opportunities it has given for the sharing of the Gospel and Christian ethics.
Today, the school, which is one of only two English medium schools in Khagaria City, has 1010 students in classes Nursery to Standard 10. It has 25 teachers of whom 17 have come from Tamil Nadu State as missionaries, and 8 non-teaching staff. At present 25 of the students are receiving free education, 80 are paying 50% fees and the balance are paying full fees
As the roll number of the school has grown over the years the land and buildings have become very cramped and unsuitable, and have been seriously flooded on several occasions in recent years when heavy rains have occurred. Even during short rains the school grounds fill with water – if it rains continuously for just half an hour rain water enters into all the left side class rooms. (See below left) Congested class rooms due to shortage of space available in the rooms causes students to have problems in writing and carrying out other activities, moving about and in fact learning properly. (See below right) There is not sufficient outside space for parking cycles, for the children’s leisure activities, or to conduct any kind of program or activity which involves all of the children or to include their parents or caregivers.
The school presently faces a crisis! Government authorities have advised the school Board that unless they relocate and meet government regulations as far as the size of land and buildings required by those regulations, the school will be compulsorily closed in April 2014! The owner of the rented premises from which the school operates has also been pressing the school board over the past year or two to relocate as he requires the land for other purposes. He has given several “deadlines” which have come and gone but the ultimatum from the Government Education authorities is likely to be carried out as they have threatened!
The minimum area of land required by the Government is 2 acres and the school Board has located a suitable piece of land in a suitable location. The cost of that land is 1 crore and 60 lakhs rupees – 16 million rupees, which is approximately NZ$307,000 at present exchange rates. The cost to build suitable buildings is estimated at 90 lakhs rupees – 9 million rupees, which is approximately NZ$175,000 at present exchange rates. The school Board has 30 lakhs set aside for development – 3 million rupees, which is approximately NZ$58,000.
This seems an impossible situation for the school and perhaps for the Advent Christian ministry in Khagaria as a whole. But our God is the God of the impossible – Matthew 19:26 tells us “…but with God all things are possible.” and Luke 1:37 says “For nothing is impossible with God.”
Will you please bring this urgent situation before the Lord in prayer on a regular basis, seeking wisdom for the school Board and for the members of the team in Bihar and for an outcome that will allow the school and the outreach ministry to continue?
A report received recently from Pastor Denny Moses, who keeps us up to date with ministry matters in Bihar brought details of many matters for which we can thank the Lord and pray about…
“Greetings to you in the Loving name of Jesus Christ. Report of months of June and July.
- Baliya Church. For the Glory of God we conducted one leaders’ equipping meeting. 35 people gathered and we motivated them to spread the Gospel fast.
- A two day Mini Convention held in Prabatta Church. We preached God’s word of “STANDING FOR JESUS AT ALL TIMES”. In that meeting around 80 people gathered.
- A two day CHILDREN’S RALLY was held in Gogri Church. Because of this program the children are coming to church.
- Brothers Santhosh, Rajesh, Pinke, and Rekha have been sent to Bible College for training for ministry
- Please pray for Brother Ubethra. His family members are rejecting him as he accepted Jesus. In his family no one is ready to talk with him.
- To the Glory of God we have distributed 11,000 tracts and 3,000 New Testaments in different places.”
In the power of the Holy Spirit our AC team in Khagaria, along with many other teams throughout the State of Bihar, continue the spiritual transformation of the State “from Graveyard to Vineyard.” Praise the Lord for that progress.
Yesuway Jeevan Mission recently completed a project for the Conditional Immortality Association of New Zealand by arranging for the translation of Pastor Warren Prestidge’s book “LIFE, DEATH and DESTINY” into the Tamil language. Mission Manager Immanuel’s wife Rani did the translation and proof reading and 350 copies of the book were printed.
These have recently been distributed to the pastors and Bible Women of the Advent Christian Conference of India and the Fellowship of Blessed Hope Churches. Copies of the book have also been given to the Christian bookstores in the city of Chennai for them to sell or give away as they choose. A quantity will also be sent to the Asian Indian Christian Church in Silver Spring, Maryland in the USA which is pastored by a former FBHC pastor.
Please pray for those who read this book which clearly sets out our Conditional Immortality doctrine.
THAILAND
Our Brother John Middlewood recently wrote as follows as he sought prayer for his own ministry – Christian Mission Naratchakwai – and for those associated with the Christ For All People Churches Association (CFAPCA)…
“Satan is alive and well in this part of Thailand and is not happy at all with what is going on. We see evidence of his being desperate in [his] activities on a daily basis around us. Only through the power of God and your prayers do we keep going and are able to keep going. Thank you for your continued support and prayers in particular.”
John’s ministry is seeing increasing numbers of children and young people and one or two additional adults attending Saturday activities and Sunday services and the other churches of the CFAPCA are seeing growth, baptisms and new daughter churches being planted. Satan has good reason to be unhappy with what has been happening since the formation of the Association late last year – in an area around Nakhon Phanom where the worship of evil spirits is widespread, as God is blessing the preaching of the message of His love and His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ.
John had arranged for Pastor Boonta, the pastor of a very small CFAPCA church at Laobada to bring his few very poor, elderly believers to Naratchakwai once a month for fellowship, for a meal and for Pastor Boonta to present the sermon for the morning service. As well as reducing the pressure for John, this was also aimed at providing fellowship for the members of the Laobada church away from the village where the majority of the Buddhist residents have been actively antagonistic to the Christians.
Since that decision was made the sole male member of the congregation has died from cancer and his wife almost electrocuted herself and in the process burned one arm with boiling water. Their children, who are Buddhists, are pressuring the wife to return to their faith and are blaming the Christian faith for the loss of their father. Pastor Boonta’s mother in law, who they have been caring for for many years died only a short time ago and now his wife, Porn, has been stricken with some kind of illness which the hospital doctors believe to be some kind of nerve/brain disorder, which is causing extreme pain and some facial disfigurement and loss of sight in one eye but they don’t know the full extent and what is causing it yet. The doctors have transferred Porn to a hospital about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Nakhon Phanom and have indicated that she may be bed-ridden for at least six months. Pastor Boonta and Porn have a daughter, Bow, who I think suffers from serious cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic and wheelchair bound, so Pastor Boonta now has the sole responsibility to care for her as well as his wife.
Please pray for this family and for John and Maeo and the other members of the CFAPCA as they seek to support and uphold their brother and sisters.
Please also pray for John as he seeks to make arrangements for the care of the members of the Laobada church and for the filling of the preaching slot at CMN that Pastor Boonta was going to take.
Please thank the Lord and pray for the four Christian girls who have been such a help to John and Maeo over recent months when they have had their health problems. Bee, Lita, Pan and Beem 2 have been and are carrying a substantial load of responsibility for heading up the children and youth ministries at CMN and assisting with the English Camps for three Saturdays each month which are in many ways CMN’s “bridge into the community”.
Please pray especially for Bee who last Sunday gave her second monthly “talk” to the congregation at the morning service. John recently wrote that “the young people are paying attention to her and listening to her message.”
Pray too for Jane, Fanta and Tat, three university students who are assisting with the English Camps and with some of the activities at CMN. They are not yet Christians – please pray that the Christian example of their peers and of John and Maeo will, in God’s time, bring them to salvation in Jesus Christ. John says these girls would be wonderful helpers in the ministries.
Thank the Lord for increasing attendances at their morning services.
Thank the Lord also for good reports from John and Maeo’s doctor at a recent check-up.
MYANMAR
Pastor Timothy, one of the leaders of the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar, recently reported that following receipt of another generous donation from a New Zealand supporter, all the residents of Pastor Paul’s village have now been supplied with mosquito nets. Please praise the Lord that a total of 500 persons have been provided with a mosquito net and it is expected that this will greatly reduce the number of villagers who contract malaria.
Pastor Paul is also concerned at the lack of a means to transport those who are sick and injured from his village and the other 84 villages in the district to the one hospital at Thantlang. None of the 85 villages has a doctor or a hospital or clinic or means of transporting sick and injured folk to the district hospital. Many villagers have lost their lives because of this inability to get them to medical treatment. For instance, Timothy’s home village has 250 homes with 1580 residents and is 28 miles from Thantlang – the only way to get to the hospital is on foot.
Although it is not the ideal means of transport for the sick and injured, Pastor Paul would like to provide a motorcycle to be based at his village to act as an “ambulance” for all the villages in the district. The cost of an Indian made motorcycle is 550,000 kyats which is about NZ$660. Please pray that the Lord will provide Pastor Paul with this further way of showing Christian care, compassion and assistance for his people – as well as preaching and teaching them he is keen to make their lives easier too.
Pastor J is also rejoicing as a gift of US$1,500 has been received to enable a church building to be constructed in the village in which one of his church planters – Sister Th – is ministering in Rakhine State. As well as being a centre for worship and fellowship for the Christians in the village, the building will serve as a school and as a venue for other activities in the village. Much activity will be carried out in what will be the first church in the village and the district – please pray that the Lord’s blessing will be upon Sister Th and those to whom she ministers. Thank the Lord for the US donor of the funds for the building and for the New Zealand supporter who supports Sister Th every month. Communication with the village is very difficult but we hope to have a picture of the building when it is completed.
Pastor Timothy asks us to pray for a thanksgiving and dedication service to be held for his recently completed new home where he and his family and the 19 orphan children who they care for will live. The service will be held on Monday 23 September at 10am local time which is 4pm New Zealand time. Timothy has invited neighbours, pastor friends, and Christian and community leaders and wants the home and the service to bring honour to the Lord. His family is preparing to provide a midday meal for 200 people!
Pastor David recently reported concerning his organisation’s church planting ministry in and around Yangon and provided pictures…
“Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ from Yangon, Myanmar. This is one of our church planter report and pictures to you. Our church planters are working hard for the kingdom of God and to win lost souls to Christ. They are doing out reach house-to-house and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Through their sacrifice of their time and energy many people of Buddhism hear the gospel.
Thanks for your partnership with us in your prayer. Thanks and God bless you.”
Please pray for this kind of ministry which is carried out by all the leaders of the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar both in and around Yangon and in several other States to the north and south of Yangon
MALAYSIA
Ruth Devairakkam and husband Wilfred report as follows concernign the ministries of their little Advent Christian group in Kluang, as they continue their one-to-one ministry. Please thank the Lord for their very personal ministries to their contacts and pray that their care and concern may be recognised by the recipients as coming through our Christian brothers and sisters from the Lord.
“Greetings in the precious Name of Jesus. We want to thank you for your intense intercession for our work here.
LIVER CONDITION HEALED.
One of our contacts, a lady, requested prayer as she was to undergo liver operation. She called us up to say that the doctor told her, she need not undergo surgery. She is very happy that the Lord has granted her new strength.
CONFIRMED DENGGI FEVER – HEALED.
Another contact was admitted at the hospital for denggi fever. This contact called upon the Name of Jesus for healing. Three days later, the doctor told her that there is no trace of denggi. She gives all the glory to God for His goodness upon her life.
BREAKTHROUGH FROM A COMPLICATED SITUATION.
Another lady who has fellowship with us, just had a complete breakthrough from a very complicated situation. Today, she shared that her trust in Jesus has given her victory over that situation. She knows for sure that Jesus has intervened into her life. Through this, she is experiencing wholeness and spiritual strength. She does not read or write, as she has never been to school.
PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS HOUSING AREAS VISIT US FOR ENCOURAGEMENT.
Friends from various housing areas (Christians and non-Christians) visit our home and the homes of our ACC members for words of encouragement and prayer. We also help them when they are not well, taking them to the hospital, doing errands for widows and cooking meals for them when necessary. These people also call our ACC members in their own housing areas for prayer.
BIBLE STUDY FOR TAMIL-SPEAKING CONTACTS.
My husband Wilfred and I give Bible study in Tamil to some Tamil-speaking contacts.
MALAYSIA DAY SERVICE.
The Kluang Combined Churches Malaysia Day Service was held on September 15, 2013. The Service was well-attended by participants from many Churches. Advent Christian Church too was represented by some of our members. Pastors from various Churches were given specific topics to be prayed for, and I was one of them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with Christians from many organizations.” (See picture)
PHILIPPINES
Rev Efren Miranda, President of the PHILIPPINE ADVENT CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE (pictured below left) recently reported as follows…
FINISHING WHAT HAS BEEN STARTED
For his second term of office, the Philippine Conference president strained on stirring the pastors and churches to finish those that BPACCI has started. In his recent visits to the Districts and the local churches, he reminded the constituencies on several programs which were conceptualized and introduced during his first term. These included those that are geared towards establishing a local support system utilizing local resources which God bestowed upon the Filipino Advent Christians. He also has brought to mind about the BPACCI Intentional Discipleship which is now stepping to its third phase.
“BEARS” BENEFIT NOW ON EFFECT
While the 500 projected number of participants/enrolees is still far from range, the Board of Trustees that voluntarily mans the operation of BPACCI Emergency Assistance and Relief Services announced that benefits of said program has taken effect beginning the month of July, 2013. Five regular members have enjoyed the adjusted benefits sticking to the established policy. Each member has to contribute Ten pesos and Twenty pesos to assist a fellow member at hospitalization and death respectively.
To this date, 90 have fully paid the membership requirement. Others have initially deposited but could not avail of the benefits until they completely pay the six hundred pesos. Accumulated amount on this institutionalized “dayong” of the BPACCI now totals Sixty Thousand Four hundred Pesos. Local Church Pastors and church leaders are reminded to encourage church members to take part since increased enrolment to the program means a maximized benefit to be enjoyed. Releases have been made against the deposited amount. Therefore, as the policy states, members are encouraged to make some replenishment to ensure funds for emergency assistance be available as always.
ON BPACCI INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
Church Pastors are instructed to set their Cell group leaders for a Training to be done by district beginning next month. Through this, participants are expected to learn about managing their respective cell groups well in view of producing true disciples of the Lord Jesus.
District Presidents are now called to promote the said affair in their respective areas and suggest the tentative date to host the Training for proper coordination and scheduling. Initially, the Claveria District has planned to be the first to host the event seeing the urgency of the said training for the laymen in the churches. The committee on Discipleship through the headship of the Evangelism Department has formed a core group of trainers who will be responsible in facilitating the event.
NORWESMIN DISTRICT RESETS – The North-western Mindanao District comprising four Advent Christian Churches from Iligan City down to Zamboanga peninsula have recently held its quarterly meeting. Agenda of said gathering includes discussing each church’s commitment in preparation for the next Biennial Convention in May 2015. It was recalled that in the recent General Assembly on May, the District after presenting a proposal was chosen as venue and host of the 8th major gathering of the Conference.
Rev. Virgilio Pallo, the Senior pastor of In Christ Glory Church, Iligan City. Next to him to the right is Ptr. Ernesto Rosala of Maranatha Bible Church, Clarin, Misamis Occidental, Ptr. Mario Suan, Associate to Ptr. Pallo. Rev. Eleazar Comajig of New Life Fellowship, Iligan City, Ptr. Jedno Pabayo, Outreach pastor of NLF, Iligan, and Ptr. Roderick John Sarmiento of Naburos Advent Christian Church, Balinagao, Misamis Occidental.
The pastors who represented four local churches also convened to elect the new set of officers who will lead the district towards fulfilling God’s mandate. A business meeting followed the election. The focus of the district for the moment is to assist the smaller churches, empowering the leaders to become more equipped for the task particularly on issues concerning disciple-making.
CARAGA CHURCH HOLDS 3RD ANNIVERSARY
The Cornerstone Maranatha Community Church situated at Aclan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte has recently held its 3rd Thanksgiving celebration in congruent with the 3rd year Foundation of the church.
This year’s theme is founded in one of Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesian church, “Redeeming the time because the days are evil”. In his homily as the guest speaker, the Philippine Conference president made light about the theme in the context of evangelism bringing in two essential thoughts which include spreading and availing of the Gospel because each time of the day that passes never comes to its place back for the second time. He concluded his message challenging the invited guests to accept God’s offer of salvation brought by His Son on earth. A good number, mostly tricycle drivers, responded to the call.
Photo shows Pastor Joel Dumanon, the host pastor. He serves full time in the church while his wife is a public school teacher by profession.
Mrs Nely Gamayon, Director of ORO BIBLE COLLEGE recently reported as follows…
“Dear friends in New Zealand, Praise the Lord for OBC enrolment this semester. We have 27 students officially enrolled; 23 are in classes and 4 are out on their internship. We have just celebrated the National Language Month as mandated by the Philippine government. OBC through the Filipino subject did a culminating program. The students in their Filipiniana attire with their teacher, Mrs. Josephine Gajudo are pictured. The students presenting their interpretative speech in Filipino Language.
Pastor Pabling Molina did not renew his term as pastor of Maranatha Bible Church. He is going to work in the US for the needs of his family. The church has called Pastor Jess P. Gawangon as the new pastor starting September 1, 2013. {Pastor Gawangon} will still be teaching at OBC and finish the term for all the courses assigned to him, but his deanship for the Field Education is now given to Pastor Reniel M. Comajeg.(Pictured left) I have taken back Pastor Reniel’s Academic deanship for the rest of the school year.
From the Field Education department, our church planting activities continue with our Bible studies and children’s ministry. OBC faculty with students lead Bible studies for adults and young people and teach children in the community outreach. As of this semester, there are already 65 children attending the classes. The students contribute towards the food that they prepare for the children to eat after their class. A friend of Pastor Reniel’s wife has started donating towards the feeding program for the children.
{There is an} adult Bible study, the children’s classes taught by first year students and Alma Cortes and then the feeding of the children afterwards. We praise the Lord for the family that receives the OBC ministry in the area. They have sacrificed to improve their home to accommodate the adults, the children and the students of OBC.
For our prayer needs:
- A tent for the children’s ministry in our outreach
- Baptisms for the adults who have been attending the Bible studies
- Commitment of the people in the area, especially as they are harassed by the catholic faith defenders
- New Bible study contacts
- The establishment of a fellowship in the area
- New area for the NSTP activities
- Funds for the completion of the repairs of the buildings – faculty apartments
- Preparation for the effect of the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum in the country – AY 2015-2016; 2016 – 2017; 2017-2018; 2018-2019; 2019-2020.
- Discipleship program of the college to contribute in the intentional discipleship program of the BPACCI.
- OBC budget; retirement funds
- Commitment of students enrolled; more students will come for the second semester and the succeeding school years
Thank you very much for your prayers, encouragement and support.”
Many thanks once again for your prayers and your partnership with us in Advent Christian ministries in south-east Asia. God bless you as you serve Him in this way.
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