Happy July 4th

Happy 4^th of July! While most of you reading this blog will eat delicious barbecue with family and friends we had a real special celebration with some of our family friends here in Penang.  Gabe, Dawn, and Sailor along with our guest from Louisiana, Maryrita Ducote celebrated July 4^th in a special way.  Today is Sailor’s 3^rd birthday.  We did not get to watch fireworks, but a Chinese temple did shoot red flares into the sky last night.  Does that count???? We did not eat barbecue but we had the most wonderful seafood (almost as good as the seafood you find in Louisiana).

June 10 – 19 we had the privilege of hosting a youth team from Church of the King in Mandeville, La.  They were a great group of young people and did an awesome job serving the Thai people of Sriracha Thailand along side of the folks from Victory Church International and the folks of Victory Church in Poipet Cambodia.

Some of the activities that we were involved in at Sriracha were:

• Helping the Thai church, One Way,  by cleaning debris from the newly rented facilities
• Cleaning and painting two holding cells at the local Thai  prison
• Doing dramas and sharing their stories at one of the local outdoor markets
• A Friday night Thai youth service and a Sunday morning  Thai service.
• Clean up and service around the Victory Bible College facilities.

Cleaning and painting a holding cell

The cleaning and painting of the holding cell to me was one of the most important acts of kindness that they were able to do.  This act of kindness has opened a wonderful door of ministry for the Victory Church in Sriracha. The students ministered to the prisoners bringing them food and drink. They were also able to pray for them.  The holding cell usually holds illegal immigrants until they are able to be transported to Bangkok and processed there for deportation.  The police officer who arranged this work for could not stop thanking us for what we did for the prison and for those people the holding cells are designed to hold.

The time in Poipet Cambodia was short but very powerful. The main road into Poipet was asphalted only about 7 months ago. Prior to this we were told that during rainy season the pot holes were the size of trucks on this main road.

Main Street Poipet Cambodia

The team was able to see first hand, the poverty that really plagues  Poipet, Cambodia.

Poipet

Besides a youth meeting the team got to visit an Aids clinic.  The condition that those patients live in is heart breaking.  I know that it has touched my life and that it has made a deep impact on the lives of those youth.

Thank you Church of the King for sending such a great group.  I know that they were a wonderful blessing and that they were touched by what they experienced.

Northern Thailand

May 29^th – June 9^th, we completed a successful community service project to the Isaan region of Thailand.  Dr.’s John and Deb Mauterer from the Veterinarian  Relief Foundation, alongside two Thai pastors, served the farmers in their local communities.

We met the local Thai administrator of the region, who told us the government did not have monies allocated for the medicines that were being supplied free of charge. He expressed his gratitude to the American veterinarians for their generosity in helping the farmers in the region with the medicines supplied through their relief fund.

Dr.'s Deb and John (center front) with the local Thai official.

Both veterinarians, accompanied by the local Thai vet assistant, were able to administer vaccinations to more than 100 cattle and 2 water buffaloes. They also aided in administering rabies vaccinations to dogs and cats.  It was quite an adventurous trip to visit the farms.

Farmer bringing in the cattle from his fields.

The majority of farms were located off of the main road and follow dirt roads into remote areas. We saw some beautiful country with freshly planted rice fields, tapioca plants, rubber trees, and sugar cane.

The Thai pastor told us that one of the farmers could not afford the medicines for his herd of 24 cattle. It would have cost him almost 2 months of his total wages to vaccinate his cattle. The medicines that were purchased by the VRF were a  great blessing for the farmers.

The compassion for the rural Thai people is always on the heart of these two Thai pastors, as they find ways to help their communities.  For those of us living in the cities, we may not understand the impact of such a simple act of kindness.  To the farmer here, their livestock is their commodity, it is their job security, and it is their source of provision for food, shelter and clothing. Thank you Dr.’s John and Deb for giving of your time and resources to the Isaan region!

Have you ever grabbed a cow by the tail?

Have you ever contained a water buffalo with a bamboo stick?

Myanmar

I have just returned from the Northeast region of Myanmar.  I got to spend time with some of the most dearest and faithful men and women of God that I have ever met in my life. Despite their hardship and challenges they are serving God with great joy in their heart.  It was truly a learning experience for me.  I know for certain that this was not my first and last trip to that part of the world.

Lastly I got to spend an afternoon at an orphanage.  The orphanage houses 21 children.  Their ages are from 5 – 10 years of age.  The live in small bamboo walled houses but these children are grateful to have a roof over their heads, food to eat, and a wonderful couple who love them and care for them.  They sang for us for almost an hour.  I loved every minute of it and I could tell that they enjoyed being able to perform.  They really stole my heart.  Most of the children are from homes where both of the parents are serious drug addicts.  Heroine is a huge problem in this part of the world.  The orphanage has been opened for two years.  The precious couple that is running this orphanage is doing a tremendous job with what little they have.  The place was very neat and in order.  All that I can say is that God has some of his choice servants doing tremendous acts of compassion.  We were so blessed to be able to bless them with what little money we had left over form our travel budget.  I know that God wants us to do more for them.

North Sumatra, Indonesia

North Sumatra is highlighted in green.

Hello everyone. This is Margaret posting today. I just got back from North Sumatra Indonesia 2 days ago. It has been 27 years since I was in Medan. Medan has changed alot, but the villages remind me of Medan when I was there in 1982. A team from Malaysia, USA and Canada went on a 5 day trip to meet with  Indonesian  believers who were migrant workers in Penang for about 1-8 years. We visited Medan, Berastagi, Kaban Jahe, Kineppan and Jahur, all local towns and  villages in North Sumatra.

Most of these places have a population of a  few thousand families. The main source of income in this area is farming. The team’s goal was to talk with some of the Indonesians and find out how we can partner with them to provide training for job skills.  The  current global recession has affected many of these  Christians.

Heading to visit their friend.

We went visit one  23 year old  young girl who  lost her job and  had to move back home to her family of 8. She is the oldest daughter and she is the one caring for the  5 brothers and sisters while her mother and father work on the farm. The farming is their only source of income.  All 8 live in a 15ft x 10ft  one room house.  We had a demonstration of the kitchen stove while we were there. We had a wonderful time meeting  the family and prayed for the family before  we left.

A typical kitchen located inside of the house. It uses wood for fuel, which is ignited by kerosene.

It was a grand reunion for all of the girls, as it was the first time they all saw each other since they came back to their country. The team had arranged for them to all meet again. Visiting the homes was a wonderful experience.

The goal of the trip will be to create teaching material and training for future community development. The training will start here in Penang through the church. While they are working in Penang, they will have spiritual training and practical vocational and health training  skills to utilize when they go back to their country. Remember to pray for these dear sisters in Christ.

3 of the girls visiting in their friend's home.

A neighbor showing us her weaving skills as she is making her rug called a tikar.

Sitting on the grass mat drinking tea.

Walking to the gardens.

Building a Disciple Making Ministry

 

 

Since April 13^th we have been in Sriracha Thailand. Our purpose for being here is to teach and train the students of Victory Bible College International how to make disciples.  Making disciples is the one thing that, not only did Jesus command us to do, but his life and ministry gives us a very clear picture of how to do it.  Yet it is the one example that so many churches are having a very difficult time following.  Discipleship is too often a class that someone attends or a program that a church runs as many people as they can through and then claims it is making disciples.  This is not what making disciples is all about. Mike Yanconelli is quoted as saying, “Spiritual growth has become an industry, a system, a set of principles, formulas, training programs, curricula, books, and tapes which, if followed promise to produce maturity and depth…Spiritual growth is more than a procedure”

 

Often we think of Matthew 28:18-20 as a verse for missionary activity.  We focus on the “going” part of the verse but somehow we have overlooked the “making disciples” part of the command. We make disciples because it is the Great Commission.  We make disciples because this is the plan that Christ left for the church to follow and the plan that would grow a church that would best represent Him in the earth.  Jesus passed the baton on to his disciples and that baton has been passed down to our generation. Discipling believers is a very important aspect of the Great Commission and should never be relegated to the activity of missionaries in a foreign field. 

Discipling believers is how we nurture healthy and mature believers that can make an effective impact for Christ in the communities where they live.  Robert Coleman made this comment that I find to be woefully true: “Unwittingly, I am afraid, Christian discipleship has often been squeezed into this world’s mold, so that prosperity and success are more cherished than radical obedience.” When we focus on developing mature believers who become disciples who love like Jesus and live like Jesus, then they will be the salt of the earth and the city that is set on a hill.  They will be the light that shines in the dark places and brings people to Christ not only by their words, but by the love that they have for one another and the people that they have been called to reach.

 

 

Penang, Malaysia to Sri racha, Thailand

After returning to Penang on April 8th, we were greeted by our friend, Mary Beth Thoms, who has been in Lebanon for the past 2 years. It was a great reunion as we caught up on all  the good things happening in her life. After unpacking and repacking again , we were all off to Bangkok,  Thailand on April 13th. Fortunately we were not around any of the protesting, and violence that occurred in the city. We went on to Sriracha Thailand, where Tony has been teaching for the past ten days on one of his favorite topics,”Building a Disciple Making Ministry”.

This time of year marks the Thailand New Year , which lasts for 3 days. It began on April 13th.  Though the origin of the celebration has religious roots, it seems it is more like a competition of who has the biggest watergun, or biggest barrel of water on  the back of a truck. Young and old pile into the small trucks and with buckets and pots, splash  water on whoever they can with a vengence. (Note:they particularly like to  get foreigners)

Water fights from the backs of the trucks.

While walking down the street, you may get drenched with a garden hose, or a few buckets of “iced” water. Tony enjoyed the water fight as he joined some of the bible students from the back of the truck. The celebration really gave us an unique insight into the Thai community.  They say that Thailand is the land of smiles.  And after this week I know why it is true.

Back in the USA

For the past few weeks we have been travelling in the USA visiting churches and family members.  Our time with our grand children has been precious.  We have had the honor to preach in some very great churches.  But the main reason that we made this trip back to the USA was to attend the Great Commission Fellowship mission conference in New Orleans, Louisiana with Pastor Mike Mille.  The conference was called “Unusual Minister, Unusual Ministry”.  It was a great time re-connecting with some very dear friends and making new friends.  I would like to share a few quotes from this conference that really spoke to my heart.

“We must discipline ourselves to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit”

“Preach the fact that God can do anything.  Give hope to the hopeless.”

“Don’t chase big, chase what is right.”

“We must take time to know the heart of the Holy Spirit.  Get to know Him and commune with Him.”

“Wait before God until He gives you a Word for your situation.  We must wait until God makes himself so real that we will not doing anything until we have His Word.” 

“When we fast and pray God begins to work. There is not one place in the Bible where fasting and prayer did not see God move by His power.” 

We will be returning to Penang on Aril 6^th.  Then the following week we start a long travel schedule that begins with Thailand.

 

 

 

Manila Philippines

Last week I had the privilege of working with the Manila Victory Church of Asia, pastored by Rich and Ning Conte. Rich Conte moved from America to the Philippines 20 years ago. After years of church planting Rich and his wife Ning were on the verge of burnout. A chance meeting with Dr. Al and Pastor Terry Purvis encouraged Rich that apostolic relationship was the answer to their ministry frustrations.

Since then, Rich and Ning have seen substantial growth in their ministry; notably with their Manila church plant in 2003, which opened with 450 people on the first Sunday. The church in Manila has grown to over 1600 people and holds five Sunday services. They have continued planting new churches across the Philippines and are experiencing genuine revival across the land. Our focus was teaching them how to build a disciple-making ministry.

I have never been in a place where the hunger for God’s word was so fervent. I taught in the Bible College and to the cell leaders. This church really has a passion to see Jesus glorified in their lives and through their ministry. Besides pastoring a growing church, Rich and Ning lead a group of about 21 church planters. This group is starting to catch fire to see church planted in the Philippines and especially around the metro Manila region. I had the opportunity to encourage this dedicated group of men and women who serve Christ passionately.

Bandar Lampung Indonesia

I have just returned from a week long ministry trip in Lampung Indonesia.  My time there was to get introduced to about four different pastoral groups to assess how we can help them to plant churches and to see their churches grow.  We visited some very remote and rural areas where dear saints of God are doing all that they can to reach their communities.  The message that we shared was the strategy of making disciples.  The message was well received and we are in the process of making plans to come back to this region to help them develop a disciple making ministry.  The south Lampung district, where we we focused on,  has more than one million people and only 60 churches.   These pastors know that there is a great need to see this rural area reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we took two hours journeys to these rural churches we drove past what seemed like a never ending stream of houses and farms.  Then we would come upon the church that was situated in the midst of all of these people.  My heart was deeply touched by the great need to help these churches develop ways that they can reach into their communities with the Gospel.   As I flew back to Penang and looked out my window, I could see village after village scattered through out the country side.  There were so many of them.  God has a destiny for these people also.

The Lampung district in Sumatra

Happy birthday to my dearest darling wife

Please join me in wishing happy birthday to the most wonderful wife a man could ever wish for.  Margaret happy birthday sweetheart.  You are my very best friend and you’re the best.  I love you very much.