ACMissioNZ SSE Asia Update | September 2015

(We apologize for the late publishing of Ernie’s update on the website – it has been sitting in draft for a couple of weeks before we noticed it was unpublished!)

Greetings friends, supporters and prayer partners,

MALAYSIA

Sister Ruth Devairakkam recently wrote expressing her appreciation of those who pray for their group and its ministries in Kluang; as follows… the bold emphasis below is mine.

“Praise the Lord for He is great.
1. One of our outstation contacts, a young lady, was delivered from a huge and impossible situation. She is seeing God’s presence and His love and help at the very point of her need. God has blessed her with an uncommon blessing.
2. Another lady lost her relationship with her daughter for eleven years, without any communication. After receiving the Word of God, she began to put her trust in Jesus. Today, the mother and daughter relationship has been restored. She even introduced us to her daughter. All glory to His Name.
Thank you for having prayed along with us. You are part of these blessings.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:
A non-Christian boy is very rebellious. The family members are unable to handle this situation. They have requested us to pray for them, so that they can see a breakthrough for the boy.
– For God to give the boy the strength to deal with the negative in his personality.
– For God’s healing into his childhood and emotional pain.”

Ruth also recently reminded us that they are very active and in regular touch with other Christians in their city – she reported as follows…

“Wilfred and I were on the organizing committee for the Malaysia Day Service held in Kluang on September 16, 2015. 600 people from various Churches attended the Service. I was invited to pray on the theme of education (see picture).”

Please continue to pray for this Advent Christian group and their fellowship and their very practical one-to one outreach to friends and neighbours and their witness to the people of their city.

INDIA

Mission Manager Immanuel recently travelled, accompanied by Advent Christian Conference of India pastor Rev Paul Aruldoss to visit a Christian Pastor contact in the State of Odisha. The State, which has a population of about 44–45 million, is located at the north-eastern corner of the country at the top of the Bay of Bengal.

Until 2011, this state was known as Orissa and its history of the treatment of members of minority faiths, including Christians, by fanatical Hindus has made the news on many occasions in the not too distant past. Large numbers of residents of Christian villages were driven out of their homes – which were destroyed – and into the forests and were told that they could not return unless they embraced the Hindu faith. Atrocities carried out against Christians at that time received much attention. It seems that the situation has in recent times improved somewhat.

Yesuway Jeevan Mission has been in touch with a pastor for some time and Immanuel’s visit was made with the intention that this brother’s ministry could become a YJM ministry partner. Immanuel reported as follows following his visit…

“On 22nd July myself and Rev. Paul Arul Doss went to Jharsaguda which is in Odisha. We travelled by air from Chennai to Bhubaneshwar and from there to Jharsaguda by train. The journey time by train was 6 hours 30 min. Then we stayed in a hotel. On 23rd morning we hired a taxi for village ministries.

First we visited a village called Baghmar. It is a forest area. We parked our car on the road and went by motor bike one by one. There was one old lady aged about 105. We met others also. Though it is a small village we understood around 50 people gather usually to worship our Lord. On that day being not a Sunday around 20 believers were there. They were all very enthusiastic. We all sang songs and I preached in English and Pastor Ahaj Kumar Pani translated in Odia – the language of the State. I was told by the pastor though Odia is a widely spoken language many different kind of languages exist in different areas. Hindi also is understood by many people mostly in city area. We have given sarees as gifts to the ladies (see picture at right) and sweets to the children. They were all happy and encouraged.

The second village was Mirdha Dera there were around 15 believers, we gave gifts to them and had a prayer meeting. The third place was called Gandhi Chouck, where the pastor lives. 30 people gathered there had a meeting and lunch. The fourth place was called Kechho Bahal, there were around 30 people but total number of believers is 60. We had a meeting and distributed gifts. The fifth place was Thalu Phali, there were around 30 people we had good meeting and distributed gifts. The sixth place was Rom Pur, there were around 15 believers we had good meeting and distributed gifts. Then we had a meeting at Jharsuguda with the local town believers. There were around 30 believers gathered we had good meeting and dinner.

The overall ministry is in my opinion is very good and very difficult. Almost all villages are situated inside jungle area. One has to go by motor cycle to reach the places. The believers are very downtrodden and poor. But there is large scope for this kind of village ministry. In that particular area where Pastor Pani is doing ministry there are around 50 villages and he is able to reach out to only 5 villages. His aim is to cover all other 45 villages also. He is assisted by one Pr. Mathew. Pr. Mathew is doing ministry also in adjacent district. He has 6 children and is income is very poor. Pr. Pani has 2 sons and he seems to look better. (Pastors Mathew and Pani with Immanuel pictured at right)

As far as the preaching part is concerned I had to take the responsibility since Rev. Arul Doss could not speak English fluently. He prayed prayers at all the ministry areas. The ministry in Odisha also looks wide open. The pastors feel the Spirit of the Lord is moving. I also experienced that kind of spiritual movement. I had not properly prepared for the sermons but where ever I preached the Lord was helping me in delivering the messages powerfully. I can say this because I am not used to that kind of speeches. The Spirit of the Lord only guided me.

On 24th night by 11 pm we got into a train and travelled to Bhubaneswar, then from there to Chennai by air and arrived safely. In conclusion I would like to say that the ministry was wonderful. If the Mission decides to participate in Odisha ministries I think definitely it is worthwhile.”

Please pray for wisdom for Immanuel and YJM as we consider adding them to our list of ministry partners. Pastor Pani and his people are doing a fine job of sharing the love of God and the Gospel with many who are still in the darkness of sin. We could only send them a small amount of financial assistance each month but they presently have no source of funds other than what their people, most of whom are desperately poor, are able to give.

MYANMAR

Members of the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar continue to fulfil the obligation they believe they have to share the blessing of the Christian faith with those in their country who are still in the darkness of their sin. They continue to reach out both in the areas in which they live and minister and to distant areas of the country which are largely unreached with the Gospel. As has been seen during the recent catastrophic flooding experienced in many parts of their country they are also very active in reaching out, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in practical ways to assist those who have suffered.

Pastor Kenneth recently reported as follows about some of his organisation’s newly planted churches…

“Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Our church in Yangon has activities in three departments. Church, Youth and Women. Women’s group takes worship service on every Saturday night and Youth takes on every Sunday night. Church worship service happens on Sunday morning. Every Friday night we take the home-cell program to our church members’ houses with our students.

We are very refreshed and excited in praise and worship. The Church Youth Group is praying to build-up our praise and worship program with more music. They are now praying to be able to buy an amplifier, sound box, mikes and other accessories. But they only have MMK.130,000/. The needs for all those is MMK.545,000/. They are praying now to be able to buy before Christmas, 2015.

On Saturday (12 September) I and Pastor Mawia and one of our students went to visit one of our mission fields in Min-gone village. The whole day was raining and the road is also narrow. We used a motor bike. Our mission in Min-gone village is now building a house for the Church worship. But they only can do half. They are praying to be able to complete before coming summer (2016). In building we invite some of our church members and we have dedication prayer for the house. After having prayer meeting we were coming back to Yangon in the evening on that same day. By His grace, our mission work is growing slowly. Our Pastor in this village is Pastor Sein Thun.

Coming next week I and Pastor Mawia will visit our church in Padan Village, Magwe Division. Our Pastor in that village is Pastor Lal Thla Muan.
By His Grace, Gospel for Myanmar Mission is growing day by day and year by year. It is the answer of your prayer. May the Lord continue to bless all who pray for the mission work here in Myanmar. We do very much appreciate and thankful for your prayer and support in finances. We also praise God for His blessing through you.

Prayer Requests:
1. To be able to buy Music Instruments for Youth in Yangon Church before Christmas, 2015.
2. To be able to finish Min-gone Church building before coming summer.
3. For all the pastors and ministers in Gospel for Myanmar Mission.

Thank you for your prayer. May the Lord continue to bless you.
In His Grace,
Kenneth & Eunice.”

Pastor Timothy reported as follows following another visit to the flood stricken areas of his home State…

“While I was in Kalay 27 Aug night, the flooding of Mitha river destroyed some villages of Chin State and Sagaing Division. Hakhalay in the Chin State (pictured right) had 69 houses but the flood destroyed 60 houses. Natnaan Village in Kalay District in the Sagaing Division had 90 houses but the flood destroyed 48 homes. 20 people were lost. Please pray for these homeless people. “

He again wrote, asking for prayer for a further visit to the flood affected areas, where he is at the time this report is being written…

“I will visit to Sagaing division and Chin state again on Wed 23 Sept. The Hakha relief committee has invited me to preach at Carson Baptist Church, New Hakha. My people need physical, mental and spiritual release. I will bring 4 friends – Christian leaders. And I will return to Yangon the end of Sept.
Please pray for my team and for flood victims.”

Please pray especially for the opportunity Timothy has been given by the authorities to preach at New Hakha on Sunday 27 September. Please also pray regularly for the political situation in the country – there continues to be unrest between the main Buddhist faith of the country and members of other faiths, including Christians. The move toward true democracy seems to have slowed somewhat – please pray that the 2015 General Election, scheduled to take place on November 8 will be free and fair and will bring fair representation for the people.

 THAILAND

Christian Mission Naratchakwai’s ministries continue, with some new people recently joining their Sunday morning worship services. They continue to distribute their “Soup of Love” each month and recently took the soup pot and cookies to Natom Village which is about 30 kilometres from Naratchakwai. (Pictures right and below)

Ploy commented…

“We went to Ban Natom and enjoyed to give them the soup and cookies. Wow – they look happy to eat. Thanks God that you select a very good day to have a Soup of Love project. We love to watch people smile and eat. Thank you very much.”

She added later that

“The people in this village are friendly, we like them.”!

Please continue to pray for Maeo and Pastor Boontaa and the team of girls/young ladies who plan, prepare and carry out the ministries. Please pray especially for the three new girls – friends of Ploy – who have joined the team and are assisting in many practical ways. Ploy recently commented…

“We are praying that Kaew and EubEib and Fai will come to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour too. They are interested about God and I hope they will accept Jesus Christ soon.”

ACMissioNZ had planned to send a group of young people from Takanini Community Church, and some older folk too from New Zealand and the United States to minister and work and fellowship with the folk at Christian Mission in late December 2015/early January 2016. Following John Middlewood’s untimely death in late 2014, after discussions with the folk at CMN the visit has been postponed until December 2016/January 2017. Please pray with us that as in early 2016 we begin to discuss with the folk at CMN the many practical matters that need to be in place for a visit such as this, the Lord will give us wisdom and allow everything to be arranged in good time. One of the most important matters is the availability of someone who can be with the group at all times to translate for us – we are praying that Ploy and some of the senior girls will be available to do this for us.

PHILIPPINES

Praise the Lord that His Holy Spirit is bringing blessing to the churches of the Philippine Advent Christian Conference. Conference President Efren Miranda recently wrote…

“Philippine Advent Christian Conference (PACC) Iligan Churches work toward 20/20 Vision.

Two local churches situated in Iligan City came on August 31, 2015, to hold baptismal rite to twenty-four new believers at one of the beaches in this city. Rev. Virgilio Pallo, the senior pastor of In Christ Glory Church (ICGC), along with a few church leaders are seen in pictures below implementing baptism by immersion to seventeen believers. This concluded the three-day Leaders’ Weekend Retreat the church conducted recently.

The said retreat is one of the basic activities now conducted in churches who are implementing the Intensified Cell Group Strategy of the PACCI. During this said affair, those who have made a commitment to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior are led to fully grasp the Christian life – the benefits which go along with it and then how will they live in conformity to the Master’s purpose. At the end of the retreat, each is accommodated or encouraged to belong to a small group for a weekly Bible instruction.

Apparently, nineteen individuals had committed to follow Christ’s example of baptism, but for a valid reason [two] failed to appear in the actual schedule.

Simultaneously, a few meters on the right side, was the New Life Fellowship conducting water baptism to seven individuals who are products of an outreach ministry led by Pastor Jedno Pabayo at Barangay Tipanoy, situated eight kilometers away from the main church. Baptisms in Iligan City churches that day equalled to 24 individuals. The New Life Fellowship leaders report they are set to officially open a new church plant at Maramag, Bukidnon this coming September 19, 2015.

Surely, PACCI’s vision 20/20 is inevitable – if each part of the Conference plays its role.”

Please pray that the Lord will bring much blessing to and through these new members of His great, worldwide family. Please pray especially for the new church plant, opened last Sunday, September 19, at Maramag, Bukidnon, asking that the Lord will bring much blessing to the people of that area as His people share the Gospel with them.

Once again, my sincere thanks for your partnership in the Lord’s ministries in South East Asia. I thank you for your prayers and encouragement and financial support for our brothers and sisters in the LORD in the past and I ask for your continued prayers for them and for their ministries.

God bless you as you serve Him in Missions in this way.