Greetings to our friends, supporters and prayer partners, and welcome to this fourth update for 2020. Once again, my thanks for your support and encouragement in so many ways. Thank you especially for praying – God continues to answer your prayers in wonderful ways, and although the presence of Covid-19 has significantly affected their activities, we see the Advent Christian ministries in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, India and the Philippines continuing to touch lives for the Lord Jesus Christ.
I suspect that wherever you are as you read this your life will still be affected in some way/s by Covid 19! Here in New Zealand we are still at “Level 1 Lockdown” which allows life more or less as it was before the virus came on the scene, with very few direct restrictions on us personally, but with exhortation to still be careful with social distancing where possible and to get tested for the virus if we have respiratory symptoms of any kind. Our border remains closed to everyone but New Zealand citizens or those who have NZ residency, and all who arrive go directly to 14 days minimum of government-managed isolation. They are tested at 3 days and 12 days and if they test positive for Covid-19 on arrival or when tested later they go into quarantine where they remain until they are deemed to be free of the virus. Because of these stringent conditions, we presently have only 20 active cases of Covid-19, all of whom have tested positive as or soon after they returned from overseas. None of these cases is in hospital. It is 90 days since our country has had a confirmed case of the virus from community transmission and our death toll still stands at only 22.
Sadly, many of the activities of the churches in the countries in Asia which we normally report on are affected one way or another by government regulations, many of which involve lockdowns of the communities, and their ministries have been curtailed to a large extent. In many countries, many workers are paid on a daily basis and so because there is no work available during lockdowns, many families are suffering badly. Because churches are unable to meet, offerings are not being collected and pastors and other paid leaders are not receiving any income. Please make these situations a matter of regular prayer.
A similar situation applies in many parts of the United States, and the International Missions Department of the Advent Christian General Conference advise that their annual Penny Crusade budget, which provides core funding support for our missionaries and ministry partners around the world, is only one third funded at this time. Please make this situation a matter of regular prayer – pray for God’s provision and for wisdom, as reduced funding will likely mean wrestling with difficult questions.
INDIA | Yesuway Jeevan Mission
Thank you for praying for Pastors Paul Sundar Raj (left picture) and Denny Moses, leaders of the Advent Christian Conference of India’s outreach in Khagaria in Bihar State, who about 10 days ago were tested for Covid-19 but found to have typhoid fever. After some days of being in a serious condition, they are now recovering slowly. Please thank the Lord for His answers to our prayers.
We have been advised that another member of the leadership team in Bihar – Pastor Rajesh – is also very unwell – please pray for him and his family.
Covid 19 continues to have serious effects in India – on Thursday 30 July 15,968 new cases were reported for the day bringing the total so far for the country to 1,584,384, with 35,003 deaths, Tamil Nadu State where most of the Advent Christian churches are situated is the second worst affected state – Tamil Nadu’s statistics as at Thursday were a total number of cases recorded as 234,114 with 48,513 active cases at that date, and a total of 3,741 deaths up till then. Some areas of the state, including Chennai, are under total lockdown until 31 July but the State Governor was to decide yesterday (30/7) whether to extend the lockdown until the end of August. We need to pray especially for India as the track of the graph of new Covid cases daily is still rising steeply.
Yesuway Jeevan Mission’s ministry partners are continuing to reach out, when they are able, to those in their communities, showing Christian love and compassion to the poor, the needy, orphans and those who are struggling with everyday life because of Covid 19. None of these organisations is financially well-off but they feel called by the Lord to share what they have and what they are given with those less fortunate than themselves.
Since our last update in June the leadership team at Christ Special School for the Handicapped at Sangkarapuram, Tamil Nadu has made a fourth distribution of foodstuffs and vegetables to the parents and families of children under their care, and at the same time presented a program of awareness and education in regard to Covid-19.
THAILAND Christian Mission Naratchakwai
Christian Mission Naratchakwai resumed their Sunday activities – morning service, Sunday school, English tuition for the children and fun-time – following the removal of the government-imposed lockdown because of Covid-19, on 5 July.
They were excited because “lots of children” attended, including new children. A total of 18 new children and two adults attended for the first time on the first four Sundays. They wrote “They didn’t know about God before and they asked many questions. Thank you God for taking them here.” The English classes for the children in the afternoons also went well.
It was encouraging also to see a few new adults and older teenagers in the pictures of the congregation.
They were pleased to have a visit on Sunday 5th July from Bee Nittaya Suree, one of the Mission’s previous leaders, who helped lead the service that day. Bee now lives and works in Bangkok.
They had recently received delivery of sixteen Bibles (Thai/English and Thai) and seven children’s Bible storybooks which they had purchased, and Ploy wrote….
“We gave a Bible to Pah. She is a lady who has come to CMN for many years and she believes in God. She has a lot of problems in her life but everything is better when she opens her heart to God. Now she comes to the church with her husband but he doesn’t believe in God yet. Please pray for her husband.
We gave another Bible to Suriya’s family. This family came to CMN since we have opened the church after the lock-down. They are Boontaa’s neighbor. This family has many problems and they need encouragement from us. We always pray for them. They come to CMN and listen to God word. God will heal this family.
Please pray for them too.”
Ploy also asked …
“We would like you to pray for Lita’s grandmother. Lita didn’t come to the church for 2 weeks because she had to go to take care her grandmother in the hospital; she had a surgery. Now her grandmother went out from the hospital and is doing the healing at home. Please pray for her to get better soon. Guitar’s mother is sick too, she had to go to the hospital. Please pray for her too. (Lita and Guitar are members of the Leadership Team)
Please continue to pray for the team at Christian Mission – Rear row from left – Ploy, Pastor Boontaa, Dtee (driver),Maeo and Parn. Front row from left – Lita, Kaopun, Job, Guitar and GungGing. Pray especially for Ploy who leads the team of young ladies.
Thank the Lord for the time and effort they put into planning and supervising every aspect of the ministry, including the English lessons.
Ask the Lord to help the girls balance their service for Him with their studies at High School and University
MALAYSIA | Kluang Advent Christian Group
Please continue to pray for Sister Ruth, Brother Wilfred, their family and their small group of faithful, Advent Christian believers who have recently been unable to gather together weekly on Sundays for worship in Ruth and Wilfred’s home in Kluang or in members’ homes for Bible study and communion during the week. Christian ministry is not easy or without danger in Malaysia, but Ruth and Wilfred faithfully continue their one-on-one ministries of friendship, practical assistance and counsel to friends, neighbours and other contacts.
MYANMAR | Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar
Pastor Timothy, who is leader of the Advent Christian Church of Myanmar organisation and President of the Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar recently wrote…
“We really appreciate for your prayer and support. We also pray for you and Advent Christian Missions New Zealand.
Most of Myanmar Churches will be open for Sunday worship service next month. Our Church will start all services next Sunday.” {2nd August}
Pastor Timothy asks us to pray for one of his church planters Pastor Aung Thang, who with his wife Far Hnem Sung have been ministering in the Hlegu District in the Pegu Division, near Yangon City since 2009. Most of the people they minister to are Burmese Buddhist with small numbers of Karen Buddhists. These people are mostly farmers and “hand to mouth” people. (subsistence farmers) Pastor Aung Thang and his wife support 4 orphans as well as their own three children. and have a children’s Sunday school of 15 children. His wife is a nurse and many sick people come to their house and she does what she can to help them, in the name of Jesus.
Pastor Timothy asks that we pray especially for the provision of a solar power system for the Pastor Aung Thang and his church. The village they live and minister in does not have electricity, and the provision of a solar power system – solar plates and inverter/battery – would be very helpful for their water pump, computer work, reading and studying for their children and the orphans they care for and for other activities in their church. The cost of the system is NZ$825.
Another of his church planters – Pastor Kei Sum, who ministers in a very populous area of Yangon City, needs to cover a lot of ground and would like to have an E-bike to get around his area more efficiently – an E-bike with battery would cost about NZ$225.
Will you please pray that by God’s grace these needs may be met?
Please also pray for the Lord’s provision of funds to meet the daily needs for the 30 orphan or underprivileged children who are cared for by Pastor Timothy and his wife Hoi Van – some pictured below?
Please also pray for Pastor Kenneth and his wife Eunice, who lead the Gospel for Myanmar Mission and pray especially for Eunice?
Pastor Kenneth wrote…
“Concerning Eunice, she in still taking medicines as the doctor advised. Her gall-bladder stone is there since September 2017. In the past January we went to the doctor and told her the stone is still there. The doctor gave treatment for another six months and told her to show the doctor at the end of June and if the stone is still there it would be needed to remove. But due to financial difficulties we cannot go to the doctor.”
At my request for an indication of the cost of surgery he replied…
“Concerning the cost of treatment for removing the stone we are not sure yet. When we can see the doctor we will ask the cost for the treatment and when we know I will let you know.”
Please also pray that the end of the lockdown, which Pastor Timothy indicated will be this weekend, will enable Pastor Kenneth’s organisation to re-open their children’s clothing factory which employs six of the ladies from his church congregation and which had, from October 2019 to the time the Covid-19 virus brought about a lockdown in their country, been very busy and had been earning about NZ$255 (200,000 Myanmar Kyats) per month which had been used to support their ministries.
Pastor Kenneth also asks us to pray for two of their recent graduates from their Salem Theological School as follows…
“Pastor John Nay Aung. He is graduated from our Bible School in 2017 and is serving the Lord with me. He married Naomi who graduated last year from our Bible School and is also working with me. Since the church cannot have any worship services we don’t have any income from the church. Therefore, they have financial difficulties. Since we don’t have any room for them, they rent a house for mmk.110,000, (NZ$115) Therefore, he is working at fish farm since March.”
“Pastor Joshua Kua Soe graduated from our Bible School in 2017 and is serving the Lord with me as Assistant Pastor in our church. He got married last week in our church. Since our church cannot support them any more they struggle for their house rent. He is also working at a chicken farm since May.”
“I, therefore, sincerely would like to request your prayer for these two workers. The most difficulty that they have is for their house rent. John Nay Aung house rent is US$80 (NZ$115) per month and for Joshua is US$70 (NZ$100)”
Pastor Kenneth is hoping to build a new dormitory building for the ladies who will attend his Bible School when it re-opens see : MYANMAR | Advent Christian Conference of Myanmar | Pastor Kenneth.
Please pray that the Lord will provide for this need also.
Once again, my sincere thanks for your partnership in the Lord’s ministries in South East Asia. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement to and financial support for our brothers and sisters in the LORD. Please continue to pray for the leaders and members of the Advent Christian ministries we support in India, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and the Philippines – pray that they will know the leading, guiding and blessing of the Holy Spirit as they present the message of God’s love for their people and His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
