ACMissioNZ Prayer Supporters’ Update 31 March 2017

Greetings to our friends, supporters and prayer partners, and once again my sincere appreciation for your support and encouragement in so many ways, especially for your prayers.

INDIA

One of the highlights of my recent time in India was the visit I made, with Revs. Steve Lawson and Jeff Walsh from ACGC and Immanuel, to the Advent Christian church at Adda Road in Andhra Pradesh State. Adda Road is one of the Advent Christian Conference of India’s churches, and it has been a ministry partner of Yesuway Jeevan Mission for over five years. It was founded in a rural area by Rev. Paul Gantham and when YJM began supporting it, there were 15 families – about 50 members – meeting in what is known as a “shed” (pictured below left). Now, five years later, their building was full and overflowing with more than 200 members as we attended their morning fellowship meeting in a new, much larger building. (Picture below right)

We were very warmly welcomed and enjoyed a long, joyful service, which was followed by a meal of my favourite Indian dish – briyani! Because of the growth in the congregation and ministries to nearby areas, Paul Gantham has been joined by his son Victor Abraham, in the ministry, and along with their wives they are very busy sharing God’s plan of salvation and the message of His love with residents of several villages in a radius of about 20km from the church, including a village in the nearby mountains.

Because the area is rural, and public transport is not available, the church has purchased an “Auto” (Auto-rickshaw) and it makes many trips to bring members to the Sunday services and other mid-week gatherings and of course is used by the pastors for their visiting and ministry in other places. It works very hard as you can see from the picture below-left, and ACMissioNZ was recently able to send some funds, given by a generous donor, to allow the machine to be thoroughly overhauled – see picture at right. Pastor Paul, in the blue shirt, is sitting at the rear of the mechanics. In India, you generally ensure that you stay with your vehicle as it is worked on, to make sure the work is done satisfactorily!

Please pray regularly for the leadership team at Adda Road. (Pictured below with visitors) They are very committed to and enthusiastic about their ministry, and God has and is blessing their labour and has brought great fruit for His glory – there are now 150 families in fellowship with them!

Please also continue to pray for the sale of the Guindy land – Immanuel is presently in discussion, along with our lawyer Ravi Paul, with two seemingly serious and suitable prospective purchasers. One of these is a very large, joint venture of a large Indian company with a large, very well-known British company – which would have no problems offering “white” money as we are insisting on! The sale would bring the possibility of much needed financial stability for the Advent Christian Conference of India and its ministries and allow YJM/AAM to greatly extend our ministries.

THAILAND

Please continue to pray for the leadership team at Christian Mission Naratchakwai as they continue to share the Good News with folk in their area, and as they seek to reach out in His love to assist those who have special needs.

The monthly food parcels for seniors were distributed to members of the Kudsakoi Church, a member of the Christ for All People Church Association, pastored by Pastor Jalat, as the leaders of the churches in the association met for fellowship and prayer on 14 March. (Below left)

Sunday morning services continued, with English lessons and fun and games in the afternoon for the children, and the Soup of Love was again shared with the elderly and the “shut-ins”, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

MALAYSIA

– Kluang Advent Christian Group’s ministry

Please continue to pray for Ruth and Wilfred and Jerusha and the members of their group for the Holy Spirit to continue to work in their lives and in the lives of those to whom they minister.

Ruth wrote earlier this month…
“Praises to God
Thank you so much for standing in the gap with us and for the people we are praying for.
Your prayers have blessed us in many wonderful ways. We appreciate your prayers.

1. Wilfred’s friend has been touched by God’s grace to bear the pain of the loss of his dear wife. He has found God working in his situation and God’s healing upon his life and his two children.  God’s peace reigns over him and his family.
2. We want to thank God and give Him all the Glory for taking us through our ups and downs during the year 2016.
3. We want to praise God for friends who called up to share how God intervened into their most difficult and sticky situations. The Word of God that was shared to them brought them strength to rely upon Him.
4. A friend of ours who is a young professional, shared how her daughter went through a rough time in her marriage. God has healed her. She is now more confident and able to handle her situation with God’s strength and encouragement from His Word.

Prayer Requests

1. Pray for our friends who are taking care of their aged parents, that they will be strengthened by the Word of God, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically.
2. Pray for parents with teenage children, for God’s wisdom to be upon them so that they will be able to train them in the right way, with the foundation of God’s Word instilled in them.

As prayer partners, you are part of the blessings we are experiencing over here.”

PHILIPPINES

– ADVENT CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE (BPACCI)

Earlier this month, Conference President Rev. Efren Miranda wrote…

“BPACCI’S Commitment to Discipleship
Two trainings of small group leaders were conducted recently. One training was in New Life in Christ Fellowship, Zamboanga City, a newly planted church under the shepherding of Pastor Julieto Bonifacio, Maranatha Bible Church. Gingoog City, under leadership of Pastor Repuco Zambas, also hosted a training event. The training in Zamboanga was attended by 18 participants and 24 attended in Gingoog City.

Small group training
The last training, in October last year, was on “Understanding the Small Group” – where the participants were led to understand that small groups in churches are particularly for making disciples. Recent training sessions were on “Equipping Tract” – where individuals who commit to engage in making disciples were taught on the stages or procedures involved in doing the particular task.

A follow-up training will be in April and will highlight the materials (booklets) containing lessons corresponding to each stage or procedure. These are on “Deepening Relationship with the Lord” and “Establishing a Multiplying Ministry.”

Another activity of this kind will be conducted before another audience; those who are now attending a weekly meeting in small groups led by auxiliary heads. They have potential to become a second generation of leaders. A team of trainers representing the Northwestern Mindanao District has been established. This primarily maximizes the local resources, such as the leadership potentials, while at the same time minimizes financial requirements of trainings.

The training held in Zamboanga City concluded with a baptism service for four young people, who recently committed to follow our Lord Jesus.”

MYANMAR

Because of the shorter time between this and the last Update, no new reports have been received from Myanmar this month.

Please pray for Pastor Kenneth, the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar’s President for 2017, and for Pastors Timothy, Joseph and David, who with Kenneth form the Conference’s leadership team. Pray also for the pastors and full time workers, including church planters, who serve the Lord in the four organisations within the Conference.

Praise the Lord for the following ACCM Statistics for the calendar year 2016…
Total number of churches: 39
Total members: 1,817
Baptisms: 137
The four organisations also care for 300 orphans in total.
They also have three Bible Colleges

May God bless you richly as you serve Him in Missions by your prayers and support.