July 2010

We set off very early one Sunday morning to make the journey into the Mainland in response to an invitation to preach in a morning service in a house church.  This group just started seven years ago and now meets in a 3-bedroom apartment which they have renovated for church-related programs.  The chairs soon filled up and then stools were added so there were no more aisles or open spaces. Some people ended up in the bedrooms with only a partial view of the pulpit.  We were told that the attendance that Sunday morning was around 120 people and some who came late had to be turned away due to being overcrowded and no available space.  It was a wonderful time of worship, fellowship and sharing.  In talking with the church leaders they commented that they are looking for a larger place but it is difficult to find a suitable place to hold a larger church meeting “in secret”.  While they do not have a pastor they shared their passion to build on the foundation they have established and to reach out to others.  They welcomed us to come back more often and preach/teach God’s Word.

For many people summertime means sunshine, vacation and relaxation.  For the past five years, summer for us means missions work in Cambodia.  When people hear we are in Cambodia they always think we are on holidays but we like to gently remind them that we are here for ministry and it can be quite busy at times.  We arrived in Phnom Penh last week and will be here for seven weeks until the end of August.  As is quite normal at this time of year, in the afternoon there was a torrential thunderstorm.  It rained so hard that we could hardly see across the street.  The streets were flooded and the water spilled over onto the sides and around the buildings and collected in large puddles/small pools everywhere.  Wearing shoes is not a good idea as you can imagine.  Either you have to wear sandals or take off your shoes and socks, roll up your pants and just press onwards through the floods!  It rains most afternoons but only for a short time which certainly keeps the dust down.

We hit the road running as they say.  The day after our arrival we started teaching an introductory course on “Missions” which is being held every morning for 8 week days and teaching a Bible book (Daniel) every afternoon for 8 week days.  The class is made up of local church workers and a group of 14 young adults from the mainland.  This group is here in Cambodia doing missions work among the Cambodians so the Pastor organized these classes and invited R to teach.  D translates all of the speaking into Mandarin.  We eat meals together with the group along with the church workers in the dining room on the G/F of the church building.  It is like suddenly being part of a large family.  We are staying in one of the church’s guest bedrooms on the 5/F during our time in Phnom Penh so we get lots of exercise as we walk up and down the stairs quite a few times every day.  One of the small blessings is that our bedroom has an air-conditioning unit so we can sleep well at night.

We were so encouraged to hear the testimonies of these mainland believers and to learn more about the missions programs and activities of their house church group.  They have established a missions training centre and are sending out teams of “missionaries” to other Asian countries.

It has been quite humbling for us to listen to them express their thanks and appreciation for our teaching.  They said we know you understand the joys but also the challenges and problems of living in another country.  As we shared personal stories and examples of missions work and missionary life you could see their faces light up with understanding and identification.  They said we never heard some of this practical teaching before.  It made them feel that a lot of what they were experiencing was not so unique and was very similar to the experiences of most missionaries.

We could sense in our hearts that God had arranged our schedules for all of us to meet together “for such a time as this” in Phnom Penh for this missions opportunity.  We thank the Lord for His divine plans and guidance in all of our lives.

Please PRAY for –  

Us over this next month as we continue in ministry in Cambodia.  Pray for our health, safety on the roads and for opportunities to touch the hearts and lives of all.

The missions group as they continue to adjust to life in Cambodia.  Pray that God will help them develop effective strategies and establish significant relationships so that the Gospel message will penetrate the Cambodian hearts.  

 

June 2010

NUGGETS

 

We know that ministry is more than public events and activities but also a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth and successful handling of God’s resources so His work can go forward in power and strength.  This past month has been one of those periods of time of seemingly endless meetings, discussions, and interviews.  For one week E B’ble College hosted a visiting theological accreditation team that was reviewing and auditing the College’s academic programs, administration, finances and resources.  In addition, EML held its Board of Directors and Annual General Meeting and as Sub-committee Chairman, Finance and Administration, R was involved in the preparation and presentation of financial and administrative reports. 

 

We would like to express our thanks to the Lord for His leading and guidance and for your prayers during the process of selecting a new principal for the KC Secondary School.  It was quite an undertaking as the whole process had to be completed within six weeks.  As Chairman of the School Board, R spent many hours involved in reviewing all the applications, scheduling suitable times for all of the committee members to meet to review and prioritize the candidates, assembling the questions and arranging the first and second set of interviews and then the final selection.  At the beginning of the process the anxiety level of some committee members tended to be high but as we asked the Lord for wisdom we began to sense a peace and confidence that He was guiding us to the person who would lead our school during this next stage of its journey.  When we announced the new principal to the teachers and students during the School Graduation Ceremony there was an expression of support and acceptance.

 

A few months ago we were informed of a former student of KC Secondary School who was in a hospital palliative care unit as he was dying from cancer.  We visited him on a few occasions and prayed for his healing.  His parents were so pleased to inform us that he accepted the Lord during his hospital stay.  He was a young man of 27 and when we went to the funeral the family was so appreciative of our prayers and concern for him and the family.  It brought a sense of reality in terms of the length of our lives and we were reminded of the words of Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”.     

 

In the midst of all of these important matters we were able to slip away for a few days of B’ble teaching and preaching in Ch’na.  On a typically busy Saturday morning border crossing, we made our way through the crowds of thousands of HK Ch’nese and tourists going into Ch’na.  Taking a 3-hour bus ride from the border we arrived in a local city.  We met “J” two years ago and he is a young man who loves God and has a great passion to share God’s love with others.   Following our last visit with “J”, he invited us to go back to this city to teach some Christian groups wanting to learn more about God.  “J” opened a small shop last year with a desire is to use this place to not only meet customers but to have a chance to share the Gospel with them. 

 

Since most of the Christians work, we could only teach them on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  We held the first B’ble teaching session on Saturday night with about 30 people in a smaller town outside of the city.  We were able to use a local church facility which was started by a young Ch’nese pastor, “Frank”, who used to be a drug addict and the addiction problem was so severe that it almost killed him and destroyed his family.  A few years ago, he met Jesus and his life was changed forever.  Jesus helped him to recover and he went to a B College in Ch’na for some training and met his wife who was a student there also.  He felt God had given him a new life and he committed himself to serving the Lord and to helping others who had the same drug addiction problems.  He and his wife started a small Gospel drug rehabilitation centre and a church to help these men.  They lived and walked by faith with nothing at the beginning but God provided amazingly through other people’s donations.  His parents have been so supportive because they said this son should have been dead but God restored him.  At the beginning, this couple opened their home for meals everyday, to love and embrace the men and let them feel that they were part of a family.  It has been two years since we visited them and “Frank” and his wife told us that most of the men are not only “clean” but have new lives in Jesus!  A few of the men became the workers/helpers in the church.  It was a marvellous sight to see that the group of men who were leading the worship so wonderfully were the same men we met in the centre two years ago!  The power of God to change and transform lives is at work in Ch’na!    

 

Sunday morning we continued the B’ble teaching and then we joined their afternoon service and R was invited to preach.  We were amazed to see this small rehabilitation centre now in this town becoming a community church with about 100 people.  God is doing miraculous things and we see people who are willing to be used by God to touch so many lives!

 

Please PRAY for –  

 

This group of Chr’stians in Ch’na that the drug rehabilitation centre and local church will become a lighthouse in the midst of darkness.  Pray that the Lord will provide the resources, community support and additional personnel for this centre.

           

”J” as he looks for opportunities to turn his business venture into a Kingdom of God enterprise.  He wants to connect with other businessmen and develop Christian-based businesses to bless and benefit God’s work.  Pray that God will open more doors of opportunity for him to share the good news with others.

 

April 2010

As we started out on our recent trip into the Mainl’nd, our hearts were full of thanksgiving that we could be used by God to help the Christians in this big country.  Our two-week ministry trip encompassed stays in four different cities/towns and rural village areas and included travels by plane, train, bus, minibus, van, car and taxi.

 The day after arriving in our first location we started a 3-day intensive Bible teaching/training program with three groups of Christians (about 80 people).  We had been here last year and one of the groups attended our teaching.  This time there were two other groups of Christians who had heard about our visit and wanted to join the teaching.  For security reasons we were housed away from this meeting place and early every morning someone drove us to the door and we went in and stayed until after dark.  The daily teaching was in three sessions – 3 hours each morning and afternoon and 2 hours at night.  We were so touched to see the commitment of many who took vacation time and some even paid for someone to do their job so they could attend the study of God’s Word!  While we were somewhat tired at the end of each day after speaking for 8 hours, we were rejoicing and our bodies were recharged by seeing the passion and spiritual hunger of these dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

 On the Sunday morning, around 100 people attended the service and they had to close the windows to keep the sound down.  With this large number of people in a room, everyone was reminded to sing quietly but shout to the Lord in their hearts.  We could see people singing silently and praising God with tears rolling down their faces!  It is so easy to take our freedoms for granted and to forget that in some places Christians are not able to openly worship God!  Something quite unusual happened after R preached for one hour in that the people did not want to leave!  They asked, “Could you preach again, we want to hear more from God!”  It was a little embarrassing in that when R was invited to preach that Sunday morning we did not ask them how long as we were thinking one hour was already quite long enough for most Christians in HK or Canada!  R had to quickly find some additional sermon notes and he preached for another hour.  We could see by their faces that they were really listening!

 We left this location and travelled north/west to a smaller city.  Due to the distance we decided to take two internal flights instead of taking a 20+ hour bus ride.  When we were in one of the local airports, we heard some of the Ch’nese people say, “Wow, that plane is really small!”  Looking out to the runway we smiled and nodded our heads but we knew we were in God’s hands!  

 We stayed for five days in two small cities and taught the Bible in morning and afternoon sessions to groups of house church leaders from the local areas.  The spiritual oppression in these locations is quite strong.  The first person we met was a gentleman who drove us from the airport and he shared his testimony about his recent conversion and the spiritual warfare he was encountering.  He had many questions and we spent time in prayer for protection and covering over his life as a follower of Jesus.  As we met with other Christians their sincere and genuine faith in God touched our hearts.  They did not have much and we were humbled to receive their gracious hospitality and were treated like honoured guests.  In one home where we stayed, the family gave up their bedroom for us.  The weather was quite cold and with the temperature around 5-10 degs. C. and no heat inside, there were some mornings we woke up and could see our breath.  A group of ladies cooked delicious homemade meals and we often ate with the local Christian leaders around a stove tabletop that used coal to burn underneath.  It was a unique experience and we felt so blessed in our hearts!

 We heard many wonderful testimonies and even though most of them are poor and live very simple lives but their faith in God is rich and deep!  We were a little bit shocked and amazed to see how bold and brave they were even though they may face restrictions.  They were not ashamed of the Gospel and a few times when we got in a taxi with some of them they would share the Gospel with the driver.  They said they didn’t want to miss one person!  At the end of our time in these cities, the Christians thanked us for the Bible teaching and for taking the time and effort to come and teach them.  They expressed they could never afford to pay for someone to come there.  They said please convey our gratitude to the people who support your ministry and tell them we really appreciate their love for us by sending R and D to encourage and bless us.  They asked us numerous times when could we come back again! 

 We then set out for the fourth city of this trip.  This city was the poorest place we had visited so far.  After a long train ride, we were driven for over one hour to the meeting place.  During the journey we could see dust everywhere and simple 1-2 floor village houses.  Most of the people in this area are farmers but it is not the same concept of farming as in North America.  These people only have a few small pieces of land to grow whatever they can.  We did not know what the conditions were like before we arrived.  When we entered a typical Ch’nese village house, there were over 150 Christian leaders inside waiting for us.  They had come from different towns / villages and were excited to gather together for a 3-day Bible teaching/training session.  In order not to draw any undue attention, we lived and ate with over 100 people in this house for 3 days!  The pastors/workers slept on the floor and they were so kind to give us our own bedroom. One of the leaders told us there were about 200 different Christian groups meeting in homes in that area.  In many villages, almost every home had at least one Christian and in many homes the whole family became Christians!

 Walking into the “meeting room” to start our teaching, we saw over 150 people sitting on 10-inch high plastic/wood stools!  During these 3 days of Bible teaching, we were often deeply moved to tears by the words and humble attitudes of many as they declared their faithfulness to serve and trust God even though they were in difficult situations.  These Church leaders only receive the equivalent of about CDN$50 per month for their living allowance but they had no complaints at all!  A few years ago five of the leaders of this group had been arrested and put into prison for 3 years!  They told us even though they experienced persecution and hardships they never gave up and still shared their faith in the prison and many of the prisoners became believers.  After their release they continued to faithfully serve God and share the Gospel without fear!  The numbers of Christians are growing and now they need more church workers!  They have such a passion to reach out that they regularly send “missionaries” to other provinces to plant churches and help the church grow.  Their desire is to send out more workers but due to a lack of resources they do not have the finances to support the pastors’ basic living.  They also thanked us for being willing and making the effort to come and teach them.  They said they really needed some good Bible teaching to help them grow and learn more about God.  They asked if we could come back at least once a year to teach them.  Our hearts could not say no to this opportunity.

 During this two-week trip, R spoke 23 times and D translated all the teaching and preaching into Ch’nese.  We thank the Lord for good health, strength and safety during all of our speaking and travelling. 

 Sitting in the airport prior to our return to HK, we were a little bit exhausted physically but we looked at each other and felt so encouraged and blessed.  We came home with thankful hearts knowing that God is using believers in Ch’na to expand His Kingdom.  

 Thank you so much for your loving support in prayers and finances that allow us to go to these places to minister and bless the Christians there.

Please PRAY for –  

Christians in Ch’na that they will not become discouraged but continue to grow strong in their faith in the midst of trials and difficulties.  Pray that the Lord will raise up more Ch’nese workers and provide the resources to meet their needs.

 R as he gives leadership in the selection of a new principal for the Ka Chi Secondary School.  With the recent announcement of the resignation of the Principal, R is chairing the selection committee to find the right person to lead this school.

 

March 2010

 Last month we had the opportunity to attend the annual global workers’ conference with fellow workers from South Asia and other restricted nations.  It was a good time of worship and fellowship with one another.  We were encouraged by the speaker to look to the Lord for His provision, His deliverance, His anointing to be released in our lives and ministries.  One of the statements that really challenged us was – “to let Jesus move us from we are to where He wants us to be; to move us to a higher plateau in our walk with God”.

 There is nothing more exciting and challenging than to be involved in the beginning of something new that the Lord has birthed in an individual’s life.  Hazel is a Chinese Christian lady with a passion and vision to reach and minister to persons with special needs.  R has been invited to be the spiritual advisor and mentor to the team of workers she is raising up.  Their commitment is to lead and guide persons with special needs to discover their uniqueness and enable them to use their God-given gifts to live a meaningful and dignified life.  This involves training and developing different skills in persons with special needs, placing and supporting them in job opportunities, and providing a caring Christian community of love and respect.  One of the areas where hearing-impaired adults can work is in written translation.  D was asked to teach translation skills and she has begun introductory classes for some adults.  It may be a small beginning but like a mustard seed it can grow into something large and beautiful.

 Paul reminds us to be ready to preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season.  We attended a small group dinner for some of these leaders in a large Chinese restaurant and R was invited to give a word of encouragement and devotional.  As we sat around our table of 16 and surrounded by tables filled with other regular dining guests, he shared about the miracle Jesus performed at a wedding feast.  As you can imagine, in the midst of the “roar” of noise from within the restaurant he had to almost shout to be heard.  Afterwards the group was invited to share their thoughts about they heard.  It was quite a blessing to listen to some express how the Lord spoke to their hearts from His Word in the middle of this meal and celebration.

 We had the joy and privilege to travel into the Main’land and attend a wedding of a Chinese young lady whom we have come to know through our Bible studies.  Almost all of her family and friends are not believers but she and her husband wanted a Christian wedding.  During the big wedding banquet they stopped the festivities and exchanged their vows before God.  The local Chinese pastor then stood up and preached an evangelistic sermon to all the wedding guests.  Some of the church members then went around to the tables and distributed gifts which were Bibles in wrapping paper.  It was an awesome sight to witness the seeds of God’s Word being scattered around.  We had been invited to share but we decided it would be better to keep a low profile in this large gathering.  Our presence and support encouraged and blessed the bride.     

 A team of Canadian Bible College students recently arrived in the city to spend a week involved in teaching English, ministering, playing sports and sharing with students in the PAOC Ka Chi Secondary School.  The team came full of energy and enthusiasm in the Lord to interact with the students and to bring hope and joy into their lives.  This is one of the highlights of the school year as the students have plenty of opportunities to practice their English but also to talk and develop friendships with foreign young people.  These can be significant times in the lives of the students and we are praying that the Canadian team will have life-changing conversations with many.

 

 Hazel as she provides the leadership for this new ministry.  Pray that the Lord will give her wisdom in motivating and assisting special needs people.  D as she teaches translation skills and strengthens the relationship with these special needs adults.  R as he provides spiritual support and encouragement to Hazel and the other leaders.

 Canadian Bible College team and Ka Chi students that as the team teaches in the classrooms, eats lunch with the students, shares their testimony during school assemblies that they will be able to build significant relationships and bridges to the Gospel.

 Our safety and security, health and stamina, and good meetings as we travel and teach during these next few weeks.   Pray for the believers that their hearts will be open to hear and receive from the Lord and they will be encouraged in their walk of faith.  

 

January, 2010

 

 

After leaving the cold and snow of Canada we arrived back home safe and sound to the delight of warmer weather.  As we reflected on our time in Canada, our hearts rejoiced in the Lord for His provisions and presence during all of our travels.  We drove over 10,000 kms and stayed over 50 nights in friends’/pastors’ homes!  We have so many wonderful memories of good times spent with family and friends, sharing our hearts and passion in churches and connecting with lots of people of whom many were long time friends as well as numerous new relationships. 

 

Since arriving back our time has been filled with catching up on various ministry issues and events, sharing meals with family and friends, meetings with pastors, board members and leaders.  We have often heard these words – “Oh, it is so great that you are back, we have been waiting for your return and looking forward to your further involvement in …”   We are believing that there are greater things still to be done!

 

Last year the KC Secondary School Principal/Christian teachers had a great desire to creatively present biblical truths to the students and others in the community.  They recognized that it was important to not only develop the academic skills of students but to also stress the importance of their spiritual development and understanding of God.  As a result they proposed introducing a Christian theme park model within the school to be called “Rainbow Land”.  It was quite exciting for me to participate in this new project and to assist in the development process.

 

The transformation of the school slowly began to unfold and the excitement started to build.  Last month the school had the official opening of Rainbow Land with invitations being sent out to other schools in the community and to the general public.  There were more than 20 schools that sent representatives and students along with many parents and friends.  There were displays and booths, activities and games set up around the school to introduce biblical themes of creation, the fall and sin, salvation, and missions work.  The response was enthusiastic and many expressed astonishment at the creative work and commitment of the teachers to put together this major project.  What a tremendous opportunity to impact so many lives for the Lord!

 

In talking with the principal following this event, she shared that over 30 students indicated a genuine desire to know more about a relationship with God and many others expressed a renewed interest in God and His work.  With the combined effort of many individuals and extra resources to accomplish this task, the main message and focus was on the amazing work of God in history and people’s lives.      

 

Now as students walk around the school they cannot help but be impacted by the words on the walls and stairways.  Our prayer is that the living Word of God will break down barriers and penetrate the hearts and minds of the students for eternity.

 

Please PRAY for –  

 

Teachers and students of KC Secondary School that they will not only be challenged but changed by the words of life displayed on the walls around the school.

 

Rainbow Land project that as parents and other primary/secondary students come to see the displays around the school they will be impacted and hearts touched by the messages.

 

Our health and safety as we travel to another country next month. 

 

July 2009

NUGGETS

Discipleship Training in Restricted Access Area

As we sat on the bus traveling to another city to teach and train new believers, our hearts were so thankful and overwhelmed by the opportunities that God has opened for us during these years.   Looking at the different scenes along the road, from modern buildings to simple farm houses, from congested roadways to wide-open rice-fields, God has brought different people to us and called us to minister to them.

This was our second time to meet with “J” who became a Christian overseas and went back to his home city a few years ago.   J and other Christian friends in this city have been gathering together for fellowship every week.  Without the opportunity for solid Bible teaching and a lack of resources, this group of believers invited us to help them.

Before the meeting, one of the group members who had just become a Christian a few months ago invited us to her flat for a home-cooked dinner with her family.  She had prepared nine dishes and it was a symbol of honour for us as the guests.  We felt so blessed and humbled to have fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from this part of the world.

When we arrived at a small office there were about 20 people waiting for the Bible study class.  They were from different backgrounds: business people, blue-collar workers and college students.  We taught one of the Old Testament books and this was the first time they had heard detailed teaching and explanations from a Bible teacher.   During the class, we could see how hungry they were for God’s Word and they asked many good questions.  They expressed that they were now able to better understand the Bible and practical applications to their daily lives and not just writings for people living thousands of years ago.  

We also took this opportunity to talk and counsel people.  Nowadays there are so many marriage and family problems and we are thankful that God can use us to listen and provide support and encouragement to people who struggle in their lives.  This group has invited us to come back more often to help them.  They said many Christians in this city need to hear good Bible teaching in order to help them in their walk with God.

Ordination for Chinese Pastors

On one Saturday afternoon, R was invited to preach and be one of the ordaining ministers in an ordination service in a Chinese church.  It was especially meaningful for R in that these two young pastors were students that had graduated from Ecclesia Bible College a few years ago and they were both in R’s classes.  It was such a joy to be part of this special occasion and to see these two young Chinese pastors who had committed their lives to serve God now entering a new stage in their ministries.  

Home Assignment – 2009

This summer marks our return to Canada for our Home Assignment.  The last time we were home was three years ago in 2006.  It is a busy time of preparation as we need to finalize a number of ministry tasks and responsibilities before departure.  This fall we will be traveling to different Canadian churches to share about God’s work in Southeast Asia.  We are looking forward to visiting and having fellowship with family and friends and to sharing our hearts and lives with many of you!

 Please PRAY for the –  

Christians in Restricted Access Areas that they will continue to grow strong in their faith and that the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth.

Preparations for our Home Assignment – for all the work that needs to be completed, for the planning of our fall schedule, for the message that Lord would have us share with others.

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June 2009

Ministry in Cambodia……

As we walked out of the Phnom Penh airport terminal, the familiar blast of hot, humid air engulfed us like a wet blanket.  This was now our fourth year of ministry in Cambodia and our hearts were filled with thanksgiving to the Lord for this open door of opportunity to the people in this poor country.  Cambodia has improved in these last few years but they still face major internal issues with 90% of the people still living below the poverty line.  It is an incredible contrast to see many new vehicles like “Lexus” on the road while there are street kids begging for money!

This year marked a special occasion in the completion of the new Chinese church building.  Over four years ago, a Canadian Chinese man who was originally from Cambodia heard about this Chinese Church in Phnom Penh.  He arranged to give the church a piece of land that he owned right in the center of the city for the purpose of a church facility.  We remember going four years ago with the Pastor to look at that piece of land and it was full of weeds and stones!  With faith in the Lord, the congregation started a journey of raising building funds.  It has not been an easy journey especially with the low economic conditions in the country.  The world financial crisis also deeply affected the country and there have been reports of over 40% of the factories being shut down and hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs.  In addition, there have been many problems in terms of construction workers and material supplies.  However, “Nothing is impossible with God”!  The church has witnessed God’s faithfulness and grace with financial support coming in from different countries and groups of Chinese people.  The church building was finally finished early this year!

On the 10th May, a “Dedication Service” was held in the main auditorium with over 200 people including friends and guests celebrating God’s amazing work through this small Chinese church.   When a group of Cambodian children from their village ministry sang and performed, everyone was touched and inspired.  Tears of joy mixed with hearts of thanksgiving filled the whole church.

This 6-floor facility was built with a vision for the future – a place of ministry where God’s light would shine in this “dark” country.  While the physical structure has been completed the spiritual work continues knowing that the enemy will not rest.

R did some teaching and preaching and was the office repairman by fixing the church’s computers.  D helped in their church administration matters, assisted in auditing their Building Fund financial statements and provided valuable support in the decoration plans for the “Dedication Service”.  Over the years, we have developed relationships with the church so we were able to provide counselling and encouragement to many as part of the ministries the Lord has put into our hearts.  We thank God that we can have a small part in His work in Cambodia.

Once again we spent time encouraging and supporting our good Chinese friends, Rita and Matthew, in a village area outside of Phnom Penh.  Their testimony is filled with God’s grace and miracles.  They felt led of the Lord to settle long-term in this village so they designed and built their own home/church which is the first and only church in this village area.  They hold an afternoon school program every day as well as a Sunday service for the local Cambodian children.  The presence of this church has resulted in increased persecution from the parents.   Some of the children have been beaten and locked in their homes to prevent them from going to church.  Rita and Matthew shared that they have not retreated or given up because they truly believe that this is where God wants them to be and to speak the Gospel in the village for Him.  We were so humbled to hear them say: “Our lives have been threatened but we are prepared to die in this village if that is the cost we have to pay for our faith”!

During the stay in Cambodia, we had opportunities to visit a variety of different ministries with some short-term mission teams.  In a village school we taught some English classes and assisted in distributing 200 lunch boxes to the students.  You can imagine how tasty and delicious a simple “rice box” is to these kids.  Our hearts were deeply touched when we saw many of them eat just half and then take the other half back home for their family!    

We visited an orphanage being run by an American family.  Many of the children came into the orphanage after being abandoned due to various physical handicaps.  We also went to a “ghetto” area in the city and met a group of Christians who were operating a center involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of young girls caught up in “human trafficking”.  While we heard shocking stories of child prostitution, they also shared reports of the miraculous work of God in successful rescue attempts.  It was heart-warming to see many different Christians including Cambodians reaching out to help the needy.

During our time, every day was packed with different activities and each one was so meaningful and blessed to us.  The church invited us to go back next year again for a longer period of a few months to help them in different ministries.  We are praying and seeking God’s guidance about this opportunity.

 Please PRAY for the –  

Work in Cambodia – Remember Pastor Janice, the Chinese church workers and the ministries of the Phnom Penh Grace Christian Church that they will continue in the strength and power of the Lord to impact many lives; for Rita and Matthew in the village area that they will be protected and the village children will not be persecuted by their families. 

Shining HIS Light in Asia

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April 2009 We are in the preparation stage for our upcoming ministry in Cambodia.  We will be going to Cambodia during the third week of April and will be there for over 3 weeks.  We will also be attending the dedication service of the new Chinese church building.  It should be a wonderful time of thanksgiving.  We would appreciate your prayers as we travel there and assist in a variety of ministries.

 

 

 

Ling, Angie & Annie and the grandparents that their love will unite them as a family and they will continue to sense God’s presence and experience His Love, Hope, Peace and Joy in their lives.  Pray for God’s protection over these young girls while they are separated from their mother that they will be kept from the worldly influences around them.

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March 6, 2009

As we sat on the train and looked out at the countryside, the clattering sound of the wheels almost drowned out our conversation.  Riding the train brought many memories of times past but our thoughts were now focussed on the future.  At the invitation of some Mainland Christian leaders we were on our way to do some Bible teaching and training.  This was our first time to take a long train ride to visit this part of the country so we were enjoying the sights along the way.  It is not until you get outside of the major cities that you can see the extraordinary differences and contrasts in this vast country.

I was invited to teach an introductory course on the Old Testament Pentateuch to an international group of adults living in one city.  A small local hotel conference room had been booked and a group of 50 gathered together for the class.  Their interest and desire to learn more about the Bible was so encouraging.  We met individuals from a variety of countries who were studying and working in the Mainland.  The response to the teaching was incredibly positive and the only complaint we received was that they were disappointed there was not enough time! 

We then made our way to another location where we linked up with a Chinese house group pastor for a week of Bible teaching and training.  In the Mainland, it is all about relationships.  A few years ago we met a Chinese pastor and later through a series of God-ordained events we reconnected and we were invited to go and help teach/preach in some of their house groups.  They expressed a real need for solid, biblical teaching as many believers have limited knowledge of the Bible and basic Christian truths.

Due to issues of security and safety we made our way to the first house group location through back alleys and stayed all day inside until it was dark at night before leaving another way.  The weather turned cold and rainy and with almost no heat inside, everyone kept their jackets and coats on all day.  Despite the cold temperatures outside the warm reception and loving fellowship we encountered more than made up for the cool weather.    

We spent three days with the first group and taught them every morning and afternoon for two to three hours each session.  There were over 30 adults – some who took time off of their work to attend.  We then went to another location and spent two days with that second group teaching morning, afternoon and night.  It was a busy week packed with times of teaching, sharing, eating and fellowship. 

It was an incredible joy to see their faces light up with understanding as we opened up the Word to them in a deeper and richer way.  We answered their questions and shared from our personal lives and experiences.  Many were young in their faith and wanted to learn how to grow stronger. Some had been believers for years but they had not been taught how to study and read the Bible for themselves.  They knew passages in the NT but had not discovered spiritual truths from the Old Testament.  One young lady came up to us and asked D, “Where does your husband teach and preach?”  She said that she had been studying in a local Bible training centre but had never heard this kind of teaching before.  She wanted to go to the school/church where I taught.

We heard many stories of their experiences and lives as believers in the Mainland.  One older lady shared about her father who had been sick for years and the doctor told the family to prepare for his funeral (this family did not know God yet).  A neighbour who was a Christian had been praying for this man outside his home and asked God to save him.  Later the man who was unconscious and surrounded by the family woke up and said “I want to believe in Jesus”!  The family was shocked and didn’t know what happened.  They soon discovered that their neighbour was praying for him and God healed this man!  The whole family accepted Jesus and the father spent the rest of his life sharing the Gospel door to door to the people in different villages.  During one of his journeys he was arrested and put into jail.  One night as he was praying by himself, the Holy Spirit came upon him and he started to speak in tongues.  The guards were surprised and deeply stirred that this uneducated man could speak in a “foreign” language!  Even though he spent time in jail, after his release he continued to share the Gospel with other people until his death.  His grand-daughter, now a mother, is serving God as a pastor in a local house group.

A young lady reminded us again of the power of God’s Word to save.  A Western woman was in a hospital preparing to give birth to a baby and she was asked to assist in translation.  This Western woman was a Christian and when she left the hospital she gave this young lady a gift of a Bible to read.  She said she started to read it by herself and when she read the Gospels about Jesus dying on a cross for her she cried.  She prayed to the Lord and made a decision to believe in Jesus by herself in her room.  She is now facing problems in her family due to her new faith and was also experiencing pressure to marry as she knows she should not marry an unbeliever. 

 Please PRAY for –  

these Mainland believers as they face the challenge of growing spiritually under difficult circumstances.

the house group pastors/leaders that they will be strengthened in their hearts and refreshed in their spirits to shepherd the people under their responsibility.  Pray for sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance in the decisions and issues they face.

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Just over one year ago the deacons of a local Chinese church came to us and invited me to assist them by becoming their “interim part-time volunteer” pastor.  Their pastor had resigned and they desired both of us to help them in providing stable leadership in the church and to assist in their search for a new pastor.

We embarked on this journey with them believing that the Lord would lead and guide us all in this ministry need.  There was much time spent in prayer, pastoral search meetings, interviews, and monthly board meetings.  This was also a time for the congregation to go through a period of healing and refocusing of priorities.  We thank the Lord that by late summer the church was able to employ two pastoral workers to take over the ministry and lead the church.  We were asked to continue in an advisory capacity and provide leadership mentoring for the new pastors.

We all know that church ministry takes on different forms and activities.  During the year we found ourselves immersed in numerous church-related ministries that often involved a lot of behind-the-scenes work. 

“D” helped lead and organize the ladies fellowship group, assisted in office and accounting work, counselled, encouraged and prayed for many.

In addition to preaching there were a number of joyous events throughout the year.  With a growing number of young adults in the church, we had the delight to lead and share in two wedding ceremonies. 

One of them was quite special in that it was held outdoors in the garden of a hotel.  The couple were both Christians but their family members were not.  This provided a wonderful opportunity for them to express and demonstrate their love and commitment to the Lord and to each other in front of everyone.  Our prayer is that their lives and words will speak deeply into the hearts of their family and friends.  There are more couples making wedding plans for this year and we have already been asked to lead and share in these celebrations.     

On the church’s anniversary Sunday we rejoiced in the blessing of the Lord by also celebrating two baby dedications.  This simple but significant act of dedication to the Lord by the parents and congregation was a wonderful testimony and reminder to everyone of acknowledging the blessings and Lordship of Christ in our families.             

Last fall when the Saturday weather report announced that another typhoon was approaching the city there was disappointment felt by five members of the church.  Sunday was to be their water baptism and this was a special time for them.  On the Sunday morning the storm warning signals were lowered but the wind and rain continued. 

By faith we decided to continue with the baptism service and made our way to the local beach area.  The effects of the typhoon could still be seen and as I stood waiting for each candidate to walk into the water the waves and underwater current could be felt pushing and pulling me back and forth.  Just standing in one place and not falling over proved to be a challenge! 

One of the ladies could not swim so it was a real step of faith for her to venture out into the water and stand there with me.  She held my arm tightly and wanted to be reassured that I would not let go of her.  The words of Isaiah 43:2-3 came to my thoughts, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.” 

Please PRAY for –  

this Chinese Church as they continue to grow numerically and mature spiritually in the Lord.

the two Chinese Pastors that they will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as they lead and guide the congregation.  Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom as we meet and share with them on a personal basis.

Shining HIS Light in Asia

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January 5, 2009

December was a month filled with a number of special Christmas events and get-togethers.  It was especially encouraging to share the biblical Christmas story in the Alpha ESOL class for the hearing impaired adults.  For some it was their first time to understand clearly from the Scriptures the true meaning of Christmas.

We also went over the border and led a Christmas Bible study for our Chinese friends.  The room was packed with almost 30 adults in attendance and it was a delight to read and share from the passages in Matthew and Luke about the birth of Jesus and all the individuals involved in this celebration.  At the end, we had a small party as D had baked some brownies and Christmas snacks.  They really loved the homemade baking and were so thankful for our friendship and fellowship with them.  They also expressed their joy and appreciation for our regular Bible teaching over the past months and were looking forward to 2009 when we would start a new series with them.   

A few days before Christmas, we left HK when the temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius and we travelled into China to a city where the temperature was minus 10 degrees Celsius.  That was a 30 degree temperature change and for us it was quite a shock to our bodies.  We had been invited to join in a teacher training program for Chinese teachers who teach English in the rural area schools.  This was an opportunity to help these teachers learn about new ways and methods to improve their teaching skills and to make learning for their students more enjoyable and effective.  It was an exciting time to spend time with these teachers and to listen to their stories and experiences about teaching and everyday life in China.  On Christmas day we were able to share some songs and some of the meanings behind the celebration of this event in the West.  We do not know what impact our words and lives will have on these teachers but we believe that God has planted his seed in their hearts.  There may be opportunities in the future to re-connect with some of these new friends we made.  

Please PRAY for –  

Chinese adults in our different classes that the true message of Christmas will have a lasting impact in their lives.

Chinese teachers that the Holy Spirit will take the words and actions they witnessed to touch their hearts and minds for eternity.

Shining HIS Light in Hong Kong      

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December 5, 2008

NUGGETS

As we waited for the students to arrive the volunteers gathered together for a time of prayer.  This is not a regular class of Bible story teaching to young students.  This is a unique class with special students who have multiple disabilities.  The students range in age from 10-14 but one could never guess their age just by their appearance.  This is a special school for severely mentally handicapped Chinese children and is attached to a local hospital.

All the students arrive in wheelchairs being pushed by school workers.  Class sizes are small as individual attention is needed for every child.  Only one of the seven children in our class can speak a little and the rest just make various gestures or noises and grunts.  The sound of Chinese Christian children’s choruses playing in the background greets these students as they are wheeled into the classroom.  Their facial expressions and body language changes almost instantly when they hear the voices and have some partial recognition of the individual volunteers. 

 In this group of seven students, four of them are orphans and amazingly two of them are brothers.  People may think that having one disabled child would be considered unfortunate however when we met these two brothers, our hearts went out to them.  We have been asked why God would allow these boys to be born with severe disabilities in one family and why their parents would abandon them but we know that God loves them as much as He loves each one of us.  Some people do not understand why we would spend time every week to be with them, to love and care for all of them.  We truly believe that these special needs children should have the opportunity to know that God loves them and He has a special plan for their lives and future!

We have been part of a team of Chinese Christian volunteers that are assisting in this special Bible class one afternoon a week for the past 3 months.  D is one of the presenters and often leads the children in some choruses or tells Bible stories.  It is challenging for all of us as we have never personally had any direct contact with children with severe mental disabilities before.  As a result we have to use simple teaching activities with plenty of eye contact and human touch.    Most times we receive little or no response but by faith we believe God is using all of us as channels of His love to flow into these cherished lives!

The theme chorus that we sing every week with the children is entitled, “Come Praise the Lord”.  Each child is given a small noise maker or bell and we encourage them to shake their instrument when we sing the words – Praise the Lord!  Time is included in every weekly class to pray individually for these young precious lives.  There have been times when their faces reveal a peaceful and calm expression as we hold their hands and pray with them.  At the conclusion of one of our visits a young girl who is blind and cannot speak started to have tears flow down her face when we finished praying for her and said we were leaving.  God’s Word and love is living and active and can break through all barriers.

It is hard to put into words our feelings and emotions as we meet with these children week by week.  There is a kind of excitement that fills our hearts as we simply share the love of Jesus and wait with anticipation for what the Holy Spirit will speak into the hearts and minds of these beloved children of God.  We recognize that while their individual mental disabilities prevent them from responding in the normal way we expect, we firmly believe that God by His Spirit is touching them deep inside their lives. We have learned so much about unconditional love, total acceptance, compassion, trust and hope.  We are learning the simplicity of what it means to be a child of God because we are discovering afresh the words of Jesus, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.” We have been blessed to share God’s love with some of the least.

Please PRAY for –  

These Special little children that their hearts and lives will be deeply touched and transformed by the power of God.  Pray for the healing of their minds and bodies.

Christian Volunteers as they demonstrate God’s love and concern to these children and also to the school and hospital workers.

Shining HIS Light in Hong Kong

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October 8, 2008

The tune was familiar but I couldn’t understand the words.  As I looked at the platform there stood a group of 20 Indonesian ladies singing and swaying to the sound of a beautiful chorus.  As I struggled to remember the English words it wasn’t long before they soon flooded my mind – “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows, the more that I love Him more love He bestows; each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, the longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows.”  They were not just singing a chorus but these words were sung as a testimony by this group of ladies.  This was their Graduation Ceremony.  They had just completed the two-year diploma course.  

I had the joy and privilege to be one of their lecturers and I couldn’t help but have a feeling of being blessed by the Lord for allowing me to have a small part in their Christian growth and development.  They had met together as a class on almost every Sunday afternoon for the past two years to study and complete their theological courses. 

This was not a simple thing as all of them worked as domestic helpers and they had very little personal time during the week to study and complete their assignments.  They sacrificed their time and money to equip themselves to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and to learn practical leadership and ministry skills.

At the end of the ceremony the lecturers were invited to lay hands on the graduates and pray over them.  It was a very meaningful time as the Holy Spirit touched their hearts and tears of surrender and joy flowed in abundance.

It was so exciting to see some of the employers of these ladies attending the Graduation.  We talked to an old Chinese lady who is the grandmother of one employer family who are also Christians.  She said she was so happy to see her Indonesian helper not only become a Christian in Hong Kong but to discover her desire to learn more about God.  In order to assist their Indonesian helper pay for the tuition fees, the family give her a special gift of money!  The grandmother even said she would love to see the Indonesian helper become a Pastor in the future.   What a lovely and encouraging testimony!   

Over half of these Indonesian ladies had become Christians since coming to Hong Kong.  For many of them their decision to follow Jesus resulted in major concerns and occasional rejection by their family members back in Indonesia.  On this Graduation day, looking at their smiling faces we could see that their hearts were overflowing with joy and love for the Lord.  Little did they know that when they left their home country a few years ago their lives would be changed forever by God.  Some will remain working in Hong Kong but others will return to Indonesia equipped and empowered to be witnesses for the Lord.

This month I also started teaching a 13-week course for students enrolled in the “Master of Christian Ministry” degree program which is part of the EBC English Theological Extension program.  The class of eight students originally came from a variety of countries and cultures (Korea, Indonesia, UK, Uganda and Hong Kong), different language backgrounds and ministry experience which adds a unique flavour to the discussions.  Having a smaller class size means lots of opportunities for sharing, questions and lively interaction.  Some are already in pastoral ministry and others are studying to deepen their theological training and knowledge for future ministry. 

Teaching and equipping others is one of the joys that I feel blessed in doing and I also receive so many blessings from God personally in the process of studying, preparing and presenting the material.  We believe the Lord has called us “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.”   (Ephesians 4:12-13)

As we look upon our lives and ministries here in Hong Kong and Asia we can also join in singing these words, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.”

Please PRAY for –  

Indonesian ladies as they continue to grow in their faith and share the Gospel message with other Indonesian domestic helpers working in Hong Kong.  Pray that God will raise up leaders from this group of graduates to teach, train and guide others.

R’s teaching and EBC students that during this term they will be better equipped for Christian ministry and their lives will be challenged not only by the course material but transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Shining HIS Light in Hong Kong

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