31 AUGUST 2010: CALCUTTA UPDATE
Thanks for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for the trafficking issues as the work gathers pace. Many workers and organizations are not able to do stable/sustained work. There are distractions, deviations from the path they should take. Some of the repercussions will be visible only after 3-5 years, it may be too late to take corrective actions. Pray for wise leadership.
One by one we see God answering prayers. We need to be faithful to Him.
INTEGRITY
Pray for individuals and organizations to walk in integrity. We often seem to face problems in this area. When we fail in integrity we also lose the ability to face and overcome the difficulties in our complex work. We need leaders who can build stable organizations that transcend generations and continue to love and serve the poor. Pray that God will remove greedy men who take away what belongs to the poor
Pray for men and women of integrity to work in anti-trafficking and rehab. We need very high levels of trust in this work. Pray that all properties/fund given for the poor may always be used for them.
TO SHINE THE LIGHT
In the recent past we have seen the work of rescue progressing very well. God has answered prayers.
We also need God’s light to shine in many dark areas where things are hidden and we are unable to see. Sometimes we are blind or blinded. Let God lead us to these hidden places. We may have many surprises down the road. We need to know what is happening to be able to do something to rescue kids
INTERCESSORS
We need more men and women who would cry out to God day and night for forgiveness of our sins that bind whole societies, the curse to be broken, evil spirits to be bound, bottle necks to be broken and to bull doze our way through all road blocks. We need travail, agony, tears, sleepless nights of prayer till answer comes. This a hidden work, much of the time. We need those who are secure in Him to do this.
We still need more people who are willing to sacrifice, suffer. Much of the time we are unable to see greater things because we are not willing to pay the price. Unless we do this job well there will always territories that we are unable to conquer and mountains that we are unable to climb.
PERSONAL
I have slowly tried to recover my strength. Trying hard not to be overwhelmed by the work load. Trying to focus on initiatives, problems where people need help. I keep opting out of many things where others can do it but I keep finding work where there is no one to do it. Pray that I grow, learn to do new things that need to be done.
Normally I need to do things where 90% is not visible or understandable to most. I need to find all my security in God Himself. I do often question myself—Am I on the right track? I have had my share of doubts, questions!! No regrets here. He has blessed the work of my hands. Thanks for your prayers. What I write asking for prayer can be strange, hard to comprehend but that is reality as I see on the ground.
I value your prayer/intercession. It matters. This is not a job that anyone of us can do all by ourselves.
With much love and prayers,
Sat ***
12 JULY 2010: CALCUTTA UPDATE
Thanks for your prayers. God has answered prayers in extra ordinary ways in some places. What was once considered impossible in some places, God has made them possible. Please do continue to ask, pray, intercede till God intervenes and answers our prayer, even in places the real evil is not easily visible.
At the national level there will be many surprises and much more work to do. Pray
RESCUES
More rescues have happened in the last one year than ever. Many things considered impossible have been made possible by the prayers of His people. More such prayer is required for many other areas.
Many ministries to the women in this trade are doing well, learning and growing. We also need to remember that probably more girls and women are being trafficked than ever. We need more people investigating new areas to know exactly what is happening.
POLICE
Some officials have been more cooperative than ever. Some of our old problems have been overcome because of these officials. Pray that more higher level officials would do their best to help those working against trafficking.
Pray for the lower level officials to come on board as well. Pray that if local help is not available CBI may be able to intervene and help. More so in inter-state issues.
LEGAL
Some of the recent judgments have been unprecedented. Some of the cases have been completed in a few months, it is more like a dream. I had gone all over to ask for help, but God has moved mountains to get this for us. There have also been stiff sentences awarded to traffickers, including 7 or 10 years. Again unprecedented.
Some of the courts were known to be very corrupt. But many have worked hard without soiling their hands to get these verdicts. A lot of hard work in the legal front was done, normally behind the scenes. Praise God for them.Many had to work in hopeless situations when things were dark and still stick to integrity and trust in Him. They did it.
Pray for justice in the judicial system around the country.
PEOPLE
We do have some godly, capable people doing this work. The very nature of this work is such that many of them will not be known to us. 90% of the work they do may not be acknowledged, that demands a high level of character and inner strength. Pray for them.
Pray for protection on the workers and their families in particular. Many are telling us that their families are being targeted when they go into difficult areas to work. Pray for their mental and emotional health and well being. Often this is targeted.
Pray that God will raise many more such people.
PERSONAL
Continue to pray for me.
As I explore new areas, there are many things that are unpredictable, unknown - however cautious I may be. It takes time to evaluate and understand. Pray for humility, wisdom, understanding and revelation.
I have tried to manage my load, work better. Some days I do not know what has hit me, maybe I have walked into high occult situations without knowing. Pray for protection. The work is more encouraging than before. Sometimes it is overwhelming to realize what my people have done - we have just walked into the Hands of the Devil, by choice.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
06 JULY 2010: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Greetings in the most precious name of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord is good all the time even in times of impossible situations. We thank God for His special way of leading us and protection in the ministries He has called and entrusted to us.
The literature ministry has been as one of our main task to obey God’s command to proclaim the gospel and edify the body of Jesus through the publishing and distribution. I am still working for the NT commentary which is 1400 pages. We are praying for the needed funds to publish this big book of commentary for the Burmese people.
We have several stories to tell this time around.
Our Bethel Church had a five days Bible camp in April from 11-16. There were 64 people attended. 8 people who were not yet believers accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and 6 took baptism. The believers were grounded and renewed in their faith and walk with God.
In the month of May we visited the Church in Mogok (one hour by flight to Mandalay and then 6 hours by local transportation) and stayed there for three nights. The meeting went very successful and 5 people assured of their salvation and took baptism immediately.
The school children in Innpha Church continue to face persecution. This church was founded 5 years ago. The village is about 300 people live and was under the control of a Buddhist monk. When we went to visit and preached the gospel the monk was very angry. And we were given the warning to chop down our head. And sometimes were stoned while preaching. In the midst of such opposition there were a dozen of villagers accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. In this way the Church was started. Now There was only primary school. So the children in the village have to walk on foot for 90 minutes and so 3 hrs a day to go to their school. This has been very common for the villagers in the past. Somehow the monk purchased a light truck vehicle and began to do the transportation for the children in the village which includes the children in the Church free of charge. But soon the problem aroused. The monk asked the children believers to bow down before him if not they could not go with the transportation. The kids rather fear God and could not bow down before the monk and returned back their homes crying. Thank God that these school children fear God rather than men. And they listened to God.
We started the Bible Institute on 1, June. Some students could not continue for their studies and so this year we have only 18 students out of them only 2 new students.
This year we have 11 public school students who are in need of the scholarship. The scholarship provided by the Reaching Ministries for the 4 high school students last year enabled to continue their education and getting done successfully in their final year High school. It was very encouraging and gave them hope.
In addition, everything here depends so much on the National leadership to make things easy or hard, or open or closed. We just heard that the election will be held on the 10th of October.
There was no permission for churches to building in the past 3 decades but now the present leaders are in favor of granting new buildings before the election to get the support.
So we thought this is the best time to get the land and get the permit and start to build the building before it was too late. And the property we are looking for is still standing. The custom here is first come first with just a down payment. There is no other way.
In recent days I challenged our church members more and more to give and we now have about $7000 funds in Kyats (local currency). That is still very a long way for us to reach to our budget. Please do continue to pray for us so that there will be help from concerned and interested friends. It is very hard for us to generate funds from here as most of our members monthly income is $100- 300.
Many thanks for your contributions in the past and our partnership in the gospel has been very effective and fruitful. I am so glad that we can work together for His Kingdom.
Thank God for the successful Bible Camp and soul winning as well as church planting ministries.
Please continue to pray with us for the urgent need for our Church property and the new believers and children at Innpha.
Yours in HIM and for HIS sake.
Jacob, Bethel Ministries
11 JUNE 2010: CALCUTTA REPORT
Thanks for your prayers. Please do continue to ask, pray, intercede till answer comes. The people of God need to intercede for forgiveness and change future history of centuries old problems. The Church needs to be part of that repentance, restitution, restoration process. What does that involve? How much of an answer do we have now?
I am late this time, sorry. I have been making bad mistakes when I write the mail while too tired and under enormous pressure. I decided to wait till things were better with me.
DEVADASI, OCCULT ISSUES, SPIRITUAL BATTLES
Often we seem to be far behind in identifying and dealing with some of these issues. Pray that we have eyes to see this. Many if these are often well hidden or we even miss them when it is right before our eyes. Blinded? The Church at large needs to take up its role in this matters for the workers to really succeed.
Pray for God to forgive us for the many sacrifices/covenants with evil spirits through blood including human blood and to break these covenants and they may have no power over these children. We need true praying people in these areas.
NEW INITIATIVES
I had gone around Chittoor, Pileru, Tirupathi, Puttoor, Nagalapuram. Pray also for Nagari, Thiruthani, Terani, Periyapalayam. Many of these places are known to me for many years. Now there are reports of much trafficking and cult prostitution. I wonder how I failed to hear or notice this for years.
If minor girls are being trafficked from here we need homes for them when they are rescued. We need to work on prevention. We also need good support system for the work here, need to identify godly people who can help us.
Pray for a good network of selfless people from these areas. I am trying to set up some small group of praying people to travel there and intercede, will identify local godly people and take it from there.
We need also to approach Government officials for many things, pray about this. We continue to reach out to Pastors, Churches. We have a lot more to do. Recently preached at one.Working to connect with people in Nepal, Bangladesh to help in repatriation of the trafficked.
REHAB
We have rescues more than ever. But we do not have proper rehab facilities in place. We also need to learn how to take care of these rescued kids. Many parts of our society have been in the forefront of trafficking their own children for centuries. Now they need to get these children and care for them.
The Church in these areas need to get involved in caring for these children as an expression of repentance and restitution on behalf of their society. This would be spiritually very powerful for the Church and help it deal with the occult issues behind trafficking/cult prostitution.
PERSONAL
My health is better than before. The information that reaches me, the huge problems we face are more than what my body can take. Whenever I deal with occult areas I am woken up at 2 or 3 AM to pray, I need a lot more grace and strength for this. I still seem to run out of strength at times.
As new info comes out we need to work on new solutions, new people to work. Pray for this. I am looking at things nationally and trying to work out solutions at national level. Traveling to different places to meet people and help.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
13 MAY 2010: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ of Reaching Ministries.
I am very thankful for your prayers and sending information about the needs for the Bethel ministries to the board members and others who are praying faithfully and concern about our ministries here in Myanmar.
I do appreciate also for ministries of the friends in the border areas and the advice in this with regard of my request. I am responding this email not trying to persuade or convince you but to let you understand the real situation with us.
There have been different views of our country which is because of the way people see things. Some look from outside, some look from far distance and some look from within very closely. Many of the sayings are true about our country but it is not true always. The reality is still yet to be seen.
We have to understand the news we have heard from the border areas are the worst. They are from the immigrants and the tendency is to judge by that kind of situation and standard. But here in the city we don’t have that kind of problem.
I have been preaching the gospel in this country (not in the border areas of Thailand but China and India) for the past 19 years focusing on the other faiths. Most of our church members are from other faiths which is not in favor of the authority. And the church planting we have been doing in the past five years in 7 areas are the villages or places where no church or Christian exists. It has been the Lord’s mighty works and protection by His hands that no one was charged against becoming Christian. In fact we have started building two small huts in two villages where the new converts have been gathered for worship. In these two places there was objection and oppositions. But some how, with the Lords help we overcome all these problems. There is no greater evidence to prove the Lords presence and protection over the ministry for the past 19 years of ministries.
It is true that according to the law the church building is not permitted including some of the temples. There have been ways for the temples and churches to build not in the traditional way of building but for the purpose of gathering believers has been made possible. The
possible way is, Mr A own this building and donated to the church to use. So this became legal and official to use the building as a church and for the ministries. There has been 2 buildings for a church built by foreign missionaries but were closed down, because when they dedicated the buildings the preaching was not the way the people could accept
There is no official permission to work as a Christian worker. But for me, I am a citizen of this country and working in this country. I know what is what and which way is the best way. The fishermen only know where he will catch the fish. Where he should stationed and do the fishing work. I assure you that every single cent contributed to our ministry has ever been so much effective and has been used wisely knowing that we are stewards of God’s treasure.
WE are in the end time. No place in the world is safe and secure for the believers. This is the only matter that as we proceed in the ministries, we want to see not just of us but that fellow believers will contribute and participate in this great challenging ministry, to share the blessings of God with us.
We have been by the power of the Holy Spirit move forward. The Lord has caused us to grow and expand the ministries. We are continuing to grow. The Lord has helped us hitherto. We will continue to move from victory to victory. The ten spies give negative report but Joshua and Caleb said we will win.
I wish if I could come to you and share all the situations personally so that you can see better of the whole picture. Any how I do hope that my limited language will convey my intention to express of my concern regarding our situation and ministries as well as the needs of the ministries. Any question that may arise is warmly welcomed, to explain further.
Thanks and God’s blessings,
Jacob
Please send your gift to:
REACHING Ministries
PO Box 1785
Moses Lake, WA 98837.
Designate: Bethel Ministries
04 MAY 2010: REACHING UPDATE
Greetings Prayer Partners and Friends,
In the following letter from Myanmar, Jacob is referring back to the time when we first met at a Bible Book Store in Chennai, Tamil Nadu South India. Later that evening we met again in the Airport where we had a long conversation, learning about each other and our Ministries. That was the beginning of a long term friendship and Ministry partnership. Following is Jacob's latest letter:
Greetings from Bethel Ministries, Yangon, Myanmar.
It has been several years as I counted back to our time of meeting, and the Reaching Ministries has been sending support regularly. We are very, very grateful to you for the support for the student scholarship fund, the needs for our Bible Institute, and the building for the Institute. You have been a very special and blessing to us in various ways. The Lord has been so good to us through your kind support and understanding of the situations and fulfilling the needs of the ministries so that we can continue to carry on the work. Your contributions to Bethel Ministries has been blessed and Bethel Ministries also is a blessing to the people we serve. We want to be a blessing to others to let the people know Jesus and grow in their new found faith. And also to pass on to others who are faithful to teach and preach. In the past nine years 33 students graduated and these students are in the ministries for church planting and church ministries. As the ministry is growing the need is growing too.
I would like to ask your suggestion for the following 2 requests.
1. To get increase of the scholarship fund. So far in the past the Reaching ministries has been much understanding our situation and needs and has been helping in the way it could offer the service. At the same time this year we are having 16 prospective students who request the scholarship. We would like to select 10 new students who are in need of full scholarship which is $50 per month.
2. Regarding our Church building project. The need is still very huge for us. And we are in urgent need of the building. We have no other resources. We just pray and pray and also make contributions from our income which is yet covering only about 5% of the project. Please kindly consider this need as we are in dire need of our own church building.
Yours in HIM,
Jacob Mung, Bethel Ministries
This letter presents two wonderful challenges for us. Amazingly, all the graduates from Bethel are now in full time Christian Ministry - largely the fruit of REACHING Ministries. This coming term they would like to accept 10 new students who need Scholarship Funds. To accomplish this we will need to have increased giving of $500 per month. Would you be willing to pray and give any amount on a regularly monthly basis toward the support of these eager young people who want to train for effective ministry in reaching their people with the Gospel?
In addition, they still need a permanent place for their rapidly growing Church. In the past Jacob indicated that it would take well over $100,000 to buy and build this facility. We, by God's grace have been able to raise large amounts for special projects but none as large as this. Will you help with an over and above amount for the building of this vital project?
The LORD has promised, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
Thank you for your prayerful consideration in these challenges and for this Ministry.
In His love
Giles Isaacson, Executive Director
REACHING Ministries, PO Box 1785, Moses Lake WA 98837
29 APRIL 2010: CALCUTTA UPDATE
Thanks for your prayers. Please do continue to ask, pray, intercede till answer comes. The people of God need to intercede for forgiveness and change future history of centuries old problems.
DEVADASI, OCCULT ISSUES, SPIRITUAL BATTLES
There are many children married to spirits ending up in brothels. Workers in this area find it difficult to help these children. Pray for grace, strength, wisdom and help for the workers. Most workers do not have a clue as to what hit them. Pray that they may realize it is a spiritual battle and also much more prayer for them is needed. Many workers seem to get disoriented, dispirited and could easily give up. They need to value the work that has been entrusted to them.
In many places along with trafficking we face the hidden issues. We need grace and faith to deal with it. The Church at large needs to be willing to take up this Spiritual battle and pray in the true sense. That is the only way we will see walls crumble. We will get what we ask for. We receive not because we ask not.
NEW INITIATIVES
There are many places where there is no work to deal with trafficking. Pray for new initiatives and that God may take His people there. I am afraid the problem is enormous and we still do not know what is happening in secret in many places. We need people called of God and capable to handle the enormous tasks ahead.
We need people to focus on local level work as well as national level issues. There is a need for multi level operations. As more and more children are rescued, we need more after care Homes.
Pray for Delhi, Varanasi (there are reports of this being a transit point or much more). Pray for Karnataka/Maharashtra border areas, Pune - I will be here this week. Some of these areas are key to anti-trafficking work .
We need Networks in neighboring countries to handle repatriation of trafficked women and children. Kathmandu Nepal has a vibrant group. We need one in Bangladesh. Pray for a good Network of selfless people.
STABILITY
Pray for stability in ministries and workers. We need steady long term work to be able to see significant progress .
Pray for men and women of integrity to build a foundation of Trust. The whole trafficking area is full of evil, lies, zero trust, fears. All those who work against trafficking will have to battle this in their own hearts and organizations they build.
PERSONAL
I have tried to manage my work load better and focus on intercession and preparing for the new battles. Some of my work will involve huge risks, may be even to life. Please pray. There are many unknown, unchartered ways. God has to make ways in the wilderness and in the sea. Often I do not understand what is happening, just feeling my way through. It does not seem to be easy to explain anything. Pray for wisdom and grace.
I have tried to nurse my health by taking better care of myself, my body. I have taken help for cardiac issues. Pray.
Pray for my children, their protection and God’s grace and blessings on them even as I walk often into grave risks. Cephas has started his MD, Anesthesia. Pudens is completing her MA. We want them to build on their godly heritage.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
19 APRIL 2010: MARANATHA UPDATE
Greeting from Bangalore, India.
Our Graduation and Pastors conference went well. Over fifty pastors, including Reaching ministry pastors attended the two day conference. As you know, Pastor Jonathan from Australia and Dr. Joseph were the main speakers. Pastors conference was on the 20th and 21st of March and Graduation on the 22nd. We housed all the Pastors for three days and they went back on the 4th day. A number of our Alumni also came for the conference and Graduation.
It was a blessing to have heard them share their work during the afternoon sessions. There were four sessions each. We had to translate the messages into Malayalam as some of them did not understand English well. We had about 350 people attend the Graduation service. Our dining hall seats only 150, so we had to serve thrice. I am sure you got the Graduation announcement that I sent much earlier.
Pastor Ron Hill from, SSBC, Tacoma is working on my itinerary for me to come and report/present the ministry after almost five years. I have not been able to come to the States for all these years because of building construction, moving into the new Campus, teaching, adding of the Master's program etc. Lord willing I want to come in the first week of May and I hope to visit the Moses Lake church if that is possible.
Faculty Duplex construction started on Feb 20th and is progressing. Our contractor, a believer will complete it in six months if we we do not defalut on the contract ageement and payments. It is for four families and each apartment will have about 1200 sq foot built in area. I trust we will be able to finish in time. A number of Reaching Ministry churches will have VBS during the summer this year as well (April to June).
We thank the Lord for your vision and support that makes Maranatha Reaching Ministry possible.
We Love you and thank the Lord for you each day.
In Christ,
P.J.Mathai
08 APRIL 2010: CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks for all your prayers. One by one many things are falling into place. Please continue to pray for the trafficking issues as the work gathers pace.
STABILITY
Pray for individuals and organizations to be able to be stable and work. This seems to be very difficult. We need people committed to integrity and passion for the trafficked children and be willing to sacrifice for them. We need the right type of people to come in to this work. Pray for more capable people.
Sometimes we need to clear the mess to bring stability, pray also that we may not get into a mess in the first place. Working against trafficking is very difficult and takes a lot out of those who do this work, pray for them.
NATIONAL LEVEL ISSUES
Most people in this work have their hands full in rescue and rehab in their areas of operation. Most seem to be over worked and overwhelmed.
We need some to take up national level issues. Pray that leaders and organizations would be willing to do. Some results may be seen only after 5-10 years.
Indian sub-continent has made covenants with evil spirits even through human blood. The Church at large needs to ask for God’s forgiveness, renounce those covenants and renew their own covenant with God in every corner of the country.
Small children also need National Identity papers and also need to be in the National database. In case they are sold it will be much easier to trace and identify them. The legal system shall not harass the victims of trafficking, release the traffickers but settle the cases fast.
Pray that all those who work in this area of trafficking will work together to achieve much more for all the work they put in.
NEW SOLUTIONS
We need more homes as more children are rescued. Pray for more Churches also to get involved. Women and children need income generation work and also marketing support which is very weak now.
There are many areas where no investigation has been done. I am afraid there are areas where a lot of trafficking takes place but is hidden because no one ever went here looking for it. Pray for more work in such areas.
Pray that we may not be conditioned to our old desire/attitude for easy success and unwillingness to pay a price for anything we do.
Workers and organizations must develop the capacity spiritually to deal with the hidden occult issues. Or else we will be unable to handle all the hurdles thrown at us and we will be unable to see what hit us.
Pray for Delhi, Varanasi, Northern parts of Andhra/Karnataka, Devadasi issues.
PERSONAL
I have had my heart checked. Pray for strength for all the stress that I face in the work, sometimes it is hard. Pray that I would continue to intercede at the highest level. I am trying to manage my load to work within my limits. Pray for grace and wisdom for the work as we face new problems and challenges all the time .
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
08 APRIL 2010: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Greetings in the most blessed name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Time has been passing very quickly and I realized that I did not sent for the February ministries report and now am sending both for the months of February and March.
There has been great blessings to see thousands of literatures and hundreds of Bibles distributed every month. And reaching to the unreached. Thank God that in these two months we could print 2 new titles. One is Sunday school lessons and the other for the Bible Survey. The 4000 questions from the Bible is very helpful to the people and we reprinted. I am still working on the NT commentary which is 1400 pages.
Thank God for the opportunity to serve the people in this way so that thousands of people will be blessed and edified their spiritual lives.
Some of our church members are going through hardships. The worst news we have recently is that one of our member called Mr Tauk Htun was beaten up by a neighbor who is causing all kinds of trouble. Htun asked to live with his family and want to sleep in the night because he is going to work the next day. The neighbor always makes noise every night though it is in the midnight. So on last Wed night the neighbor jumped into Htun's house and tried to beat him up with an iron bar. By God's grace Htun could defend himself but being weaker the neighbor quickly jumped into Htun again and beat up his ear. So the 1/3 of the ear is gone, and he had some face injuries. The local council authority was asked to help and resolve the matter but did not work out. They neglected this case.
Finally there were 6 graduated. 4 students for BTh class and 2 for Bachelor of Ministry. A candidate for graduating students did not passed the oral exam and so she is asked to repeat another year. The graduation was held on the 20th of February. Dr Norm Nelson, The President of Compassion Radio ministries was scheduled to come for our graduation speaker. He came last year and spoke at the graduation. Unfortunately he could not get the visa in time and so he did not come and so we managed to rearranged. Somehow the graduation could be held on the planned date.
The 4 High school students completed their exam successfully. They finished their final exam on the 19th of March. We are really very grateful for your support so that they can continue their studies till the end of the academic year. We look forward to have more students who are in need of help.
We continue to pray for the need of our Church building and we would like to see this happened soon.
1. Please pray that we may have funds at least to buy the land. At present we have just over $5000.00 The land for church we need is about $ 87000.00
2. Please pray also for the new students. This year again we have prospective students who are required and deserve for the scholarship. We have received 8 prospective students so far and all of them need scholarship.
3. Pray for our Bible Camp to be held 11-16 April. We want to see many lives renewed and transformed.
Yours in Him,
Jacob
Bethel Ministries
11 MARCH 2010: CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks for all your prayers. Often I see the Hand of God in that suddenly things appear which appeared impossible earlier.
We as a Nation have to repent for our sins, for the way we have abused and sold our children and for the covenants we made with evil spirits in many ways. Those covenants have to be broken and we need to make covenant with God for our children to be blessed.
THE NORTH
We are still not sure of the extent of trafficking in the North of India. Good people often think that it does not exist. In Delhi those who are concerned about trafficking etc are coming together to pray and Fellowship. We are trying to put together a good support system of godly concerned people together. They will really need it. They will need people with wisdom and experience.
I was very happy to see many more coming in to work. Pray for HIV work, rescue homes, care of children etc. Many types of work need to be done which calls for people with different calling and expertise.
I spoke to one set of Pastors to encourage them to get involved and their Churches. We need God’s people to work together to overcome all the challenges and to do stable work over a long period of time.
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR
Worship of God in brothels and high occult areas and bondages /covenants with spirits to be broken through the Blood of Jesus.
Rescued children may be more successfully taken care of to receive inner healing, to be happy and fruitful people.
Filing of FIR/Websites to host pictures of missing children to trace them.
Pray for government officials who would be willing to help rescue and care for these women and children.
Pray for legal issues to be sorted out, that courts would help. Supreme Court seems to be taking it up, pray for this issue.
More Christians, Churches to be involved, to love and serve. For more true intercessors to prevail in prayer.
Some of the larger issues, national level issues need to be addressed and we need to work with long term vision, even if there are apparent setbacks in the short term.
PERSONAL
Continue to pray for my health and ability to withstand high pressures.
Pray for my children. Cephas finishes Diploma exams this month and moves to do his MD. Pudens finishes her MA. Pray for God’s blessing and protection upon them as I do this work. It is not easy for them.
Pray for me as I prepare to work in some areas of much occult activity for centuries which affected our children.
Pray for God’s protection on my mind, spirit, body, emotions and my family/children. I see that it is a real battle.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
17 FEBRUARY 2010: NICARAGUA REPORT
Gloria Dios! God is alive and doing great things in Nicaragua! Jim and I praise God that He has allowed us to go these past two years on this missions trip. Thank you everyone who prayed for us before, during, and after our trip, your prayers were really felt! Thank you to all who helped send us financial support to go. We not only raised enough money to build a church, but praise God we were able to buy materials for a second church to be built as well-AMEN!
The church site that we helped build on was in the northwestern part of Nicaragua on the Pacific Ocean side. It stands in relation to WA on the American map. The humidity was a lot higher there, so we had to be really careful about heat stroke while working.
We had 3 teams again this year. The medical, children’s clubs, and construction. Jim and I were the cement mixers again this year on the construction team. There were also 2 Nicaragua teams: a medical team-husband and wife dentists, and the pastors who we worked along side with on the construction of the church.
To give a short overview, because I could write a book about the amazing things that happened on our trip. For the kids clubs, last year we started out with 8 kids our first day and ended up with 74. This year our first day we had 80 kids show up! The kids were waiting for us the minute we pulled into camp. About a dozen of them were waiting patiently as we put up our tents, and were anxious to be near us, so we brought out a beach ball and started to play volleyball with them for about 2 hours. The last day count was over 150 kids-wow! We scrambled to find school supplies and toys to give them because we only had 120 kids packets to give out, but God provided.
Last year the medical team saw about 200 people all week, this year they saw over 100 a day, and two lives were definitely saved! Last year for the construction team it took us five days to build the church and our relationships with the pastors there. This year the pastors were at the airport anxious to greet us again, and we were able to build the church in 4 days, and start the foundation for the second church!
Each night there was the power of the HOLY SPIRIT felt at the revival services that surpassed language barriers. Lives were saved and re-committed, I could tell you so much more stories about these peoples lives who were saved, but not enough paper!
Thank you again for the role you all allowed God to use you in this ministry with your prayers and financial support-God used and blessed, and we pray He will bless you as well. We look forward to partnering with you again next year if the Lord so chooses to send us again! Gloria Dios-AMEN!
Jim & Renee’ Johnson
04 FEBRUARY 2010: CALCUTTA REPORT
I am grateful to you for all the prayers raised on behalf of the trafficked. There are some areas of this work where nothing will move unless you pray. Continue to intercede for God to forgive all our sins and also break all the covenants with spirits to hand over children to them to be destroyed. Pray for God’s blessing, grace upon the children and the workers who work for them.
ANSWERS TO PRAYER FROM GOD ALMIGHTY
Often what we see and hear in the field makes us despair. But we also know that the Almighty, Sovereign God is at work. There are many signs that God is at work.
The Supreme Court seems to have taken Trafficking issues seriously and has been hearing cases on a weekly basis. It has been directing the government to act. The Law minister said that Trafficking or similar cases will be finished in six months. Some high profile cases have attracted attention to the way courts and governments function to the detriment of children. There are many more people who want to do their bit, get involved and also pray for the needs. We did not have this earlier.
PERSONAL
Pray for me as I work on prevention. I need to find people to do a number of things. I have struggled with my health due to the work load and the immense mental and emotional loads. Please pray.
I will be travelling much more than before, pray for grace and protection. I will try and focus on what is not being done and explore, see and learn how to deal with the hidden spiritual issues to help the Church deal with it. I give below some things that need to be done for the long term. I have tried hard to do some of the stuff, with may be 10% strike rate.
What can you do? Pick one thing or two and try to do it. Get someone to do it. Pray for it. Many think it is impossible. But it is doable. Everything is possible if we believe the Almighty God to do it.
STATE GOVERNMENTS
All missing children need to have an FIR registered immediately—Talk to Home minister/Secretary/CM/Governor. State Government must handover the cases to CBI, as most children are taken out of the state. The Government must identify the brokers/traffickers. All missing children details must be on the Websites for the perusal of social workers across the country. Then work for information from all the states to be on one Central Government site.
MINISTRY OF LAW –DELHI
All the trafficking cases before the courts must finish in six months. Ideal would be one month. Now some rescued children who are HIV+, with a baby are languishing for over two years at courts. This is another trauma/torture for them. Government/HC/SC can designate special courts to handle these cases to finish in the designated time frame, and to monitor them. Traffickers are out on bail very soon and are at courts which hear these cases and this is a threat to the rescued children, and Social workers.
UNIQUE ID PROJECT-DELHI
The girl child from north Karnataka, North Andhra, Southern Maharashtra who are at risk of trafficking must be brought on to the National ID stream at the earliest with Iris/handprint/biometric info. This will help identify them when they are trafficked and would defeat the elaborate falsification of the identity of the child now prevalent in courts, police stations etc. Children are beaten up to lie about their identity. Names are changed, falsified and strangers appear from nowhere to claim to be the parents.
HOME MINISTRY-DELHI
CBI must be involved in trafficking cases as local police may not be effective across state borders. Evolve fool proof methods to file FIR, as of now police do not file FIR and cases are not on record. NIC (National informatics centre) must help every state to have their own website with details of the children who are missing. One consolidated site where social workers from any state can search for info on any missing/found child. Often the Police tip off about possible raids and the children. Government must identify such groups and bypass them, bring in CBI or----.
Large number of children are being forced into prostitution in many states and some are making huge amounts of money. Central Government/courts must intervene and also confiscate properties/money made in this manner.
OTHER AVENUES
Most of the children trafficked are tribal and so called lower castes. SC/ST commissions can be approached. Every district can have Child Welfare Committees, Supreme court may have already asked the Government to do this.
Work on the Political Parties to put this in their Manifestos.
Most of the above will face stiff resistance. We need a “Man of Peace” in every place who will push things for us/the children. Governors, Chief Ministers, IAS-IPS officers, people in power who have sympathetic hearts to help need to be identified.
With much love and prayers,.
Sat***
04 FEBRUARY 2010: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Greetings in His precious name.
A month has passed very quickly and we are counting on the blessings that God has bestowed on us.
The purpose of our ministries is to evangelize by the gospel of Jesus Christ by means of all the media so that people may come to faith and maturity in Christ. We thank God that the literature ministries has blessed thousands of people and edified their spiritual lives. During this month we are preparing the new titles and reprinting titles for the year 2010.
The church is being built by Christ who is the Head. And we thank the Lord for the 6 new converts who are coming to the Lord from other faiths. They have left all their formal worship and turned to follow Jesus Christ. We gave them baptism on the 4th week and then accepted them into our church on the last week. The following is testimonies of the new converts:
“On the day that the Church planned to gave us baptism I got up in the early morning. And around 7:00 am my father reached my home from the village. I said today I am going to take the baptism and am now becoming a Christian. My father couldn’t believe abut did not stop me. I was so worried when I saw my father, but the Lord intervened and worked in his heart to not stop me going to the Church. I have come to the city to work and support my family but now I found Jesus and accepted Him as my personal Savoir. I am so glad to belonging to Him.” - Miss Ma Khine
“Our family moved to the city from the delta hoping to have a better life. We have been Buddhist by birth and so also our community. And now we choose to follow Jesus and are becoming Christians. Every one who knows us got angry and did not talk with us since we make our decisions. So my self, my wife and our daughter (12years old) are very happy to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and follow Him till our death.” Ko Yae
The Thesis and viva test had been done to the 7 candidates of graduating Bible School students. All of them will be graduating.
PRAYERS ANSWERED.
WE have been praying for the need of Telephone our Bible Institute. And the Lord gave it to us through the love gift of Dr. Larry Armstrong. We did not mentioned nor ask for what we need but the Lord led him to give us the exact amount we need for the telephone.
PRAYER POINTS
1. The Lord has enabled us to train the young people to do Church planting ministries. And we are happy to see this year 7 students are graduating and we trust and pray that the Lord will use them. Pray for their need of support.
2. Our graduation will be on the 20th of February, 2010. The speaker will be Dr Norm Nelson, The President of Compassion Radio ministries.
Yours in Him,
Jacob, Bethel Ministries
03 FEBRUARY 2010: MARI ISAACSON, CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP
Hallo dear friend.
I hope you are doing well.
Traveling in Oregon these last few weeks has been a challenge and a blessing speaking to children and adults alike. Tiring but good. I spent a week in Eugene where it rained almost the whole time. BUT we did have the awesome privilege of seeing a double rainbow!! It was awesome. I spoke in the different clubs sharing with the children about the transition I am in. I also challenged them to pray for the ministry of reaching more children for Christ. If anyone of them wanted to pray for me on a regular basis they could take one of my prayer cards. My phone and email is on the back of the card. Well, after one of the clubs an 8 year old girl named Autumn started emailing and texting me. It's great. She even texts some of the prayers she prays for me. She is such a joy. She even sent me her picture. What fun. There's something special knowing a child is also praying for you. Thank you, Lord!
The next week I was in Klamath Falls where lots thought I was either Cora Johnsons (the director there) sister or mother! We had fun with that. By the way, half way up the pass there was snow... lots of snow. Then instead of rain, we had snow all week. Cora and I spent a lot of time IN the car traveling from club to club... There is a lot of distance between clubs in that area!!! Cora does LOTS of driving. She could use LOTS of prayer for protection on the roads! To end the week, I got to share at her church in the evening service... there were as many children as adults in that service. They all loved Willie :D He was a real hit before and after the service as well. I don't know if the kids will remember what I said, but they will remember Willie and hopefully the song, Jesus Loves Me! The next day, packed with wheat-free brownies, natural peanutbutter, rice milk, and a great book, Cora set me on the train to Salem...
That is where I am now... well, actually I am staying with a great couple in Mamouth who are spoiling me. Tonight I have two Bible Studies... where I have the opportunity to share about my ministry. I will be here the rest of the week. Next week I head to Corvallis for a week. Then it's South to Medford for a week. AFter that I may be back in Salem for a few days before heading to Seattle for a week. The 4th to 6th of March I will be in Portland for meetings. Then the next week I hope to be in another part of Oregon but it is not set yet... then the 14th to 20th I will be in Roseburg. Exciting times! Exciting opportunities! The Lord is fantastic! God's people are fantastic! We sure need each other!
Thank you so for your loving support in 2009. It really means so much to me. Please pray for the needed monthly and one-time finances to get to Alberta in the Spring. It is good to know that nothing is impossible with Him. Furthermore, His timing is perfect. Always perfect. Your prayers are vital! Thank you so much.
God bless you,
mari
30 JANUARY 2010: MARANATHA UPDATE
Greeting from Bangalore. We trust you are doing well. Thank you for the continued prayers and support that makes the ministry possible. I have not written to you for three weeks now but have been praying everyday and thanking the Lord for what Reaching ministry mean to us and the men who are on the field.
Yesterday Pastor Appu called to say that some new members have been added to the church that he is pastoring. As you know Appu, himself, came from a Hindu background. He knows how to deal with a Hindu who might come to the Lord. Pastor Prabakar is going to get married soon. Prabakar, Prabudas and Pradeep have been busy conducting youth camps and meeting people to make new contacts. Paul Prabu and Pusphjraj who works among the blind are doing well.
We have started the work on the half acre property. Boundary walls are being built. We already received all the sanctions/permits from the local government for building the Duplex. It will be for four Faculty members. Appreciate your prayers that the Lord may supply the needs as we progress. We are also getting ready for the graduation. Pastor Jonathan from Australia is going to be graduation speaker this year.
Our Love and regards to all,
PJ Mathai
12 JANUARY 2010: BETHEL MINISTRIES REPORT
Warm Greetings in His precious name. We are very grateful to the Lord for His Grace and the Reaching Ministries for the support in the past years which caused us to complete another year of ministries.
2009 was a year of blessings as well as going through tough times. Living in a land where persecutions occurred time-to-time. Early in the year some 100 house church leaders consented to signed to discontinue their worship services. Some 40 pastor signed and others did not appeared to the council office. Thanks to God who has protected His people including our ministries from all the troubles.
The Lord has been so good to us and we have been able to continue the literature ministry despite the recession which badly affected our ministries. Because some of our customers receive donations from overseas workers regularly, they purchased books from us and distributed to their contact people. As the workers in the overseas could not send as usual, the purchase of literature has gone down. We were able to published 8 new titles which includes the Footsteps of Faith OT Vol 2,3,4 and NT Vol 2. We are now so happy to have the revision of both OT and NT commentary put together into a single volume with hard cover beautifully.
In the month of February we held the 5th Graduation of our Bible Institute. It was a good time; all together 11 students graduated (5 B.Th 4 G Th and 2 C Th).
In April we had a great time of rejoicing for it was a good time for us that there were some eighty campers at our church Bible Camp. By the grace of God there were few young girls and boys who did not have the assurance of salvation, confessed Jesus Christ as their only personal Savior. So after 5 days camp, 8 people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and there was baptism for the new converts.
In the month of May there was discipleship training for 3 weeks and we had some 25 people of which 15 are the survivors of Nargis cyclone early May last year. 14 of them accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. After the training we gave baptism to the 14 new converts from Buddhism.
Our children ministries is exciting. We had about 340 kids this year. We had the children Bible club in 8 centers and the Lord really enabled us to teach among these kids. Most of them are in poor families and have no proper education because they could not afford to pay their tuition fees. Bible teaching in the weekend is a joyful time for them as they learned the Bible verses and Bible stories.
Beginning in June as usual we re-opened the Bible Institute with 26 students and we are happy that the students are called to serve God for the Church of Jesus Christ.
On the 18th of October we celebrated Bethel Church's 10th anniversary. And rejoiced and thanked God for what He had done within us and through us. The Bethel Church started a decade ago with handful people and today we see about 100 average attendance every week. And we have a membership of 146. We are so grateful to the Lord for adding few more new souls to us.
We are also very grateful to the Lord for enabling the Bethel Church with 7 daughter churches. These Churches are started by graduates of our Bible Institute.
The Church in Innpha, about 60 miles away from Yangon started 5 years ago among the Karen Buddhist and animist. Right now there are 5 families of believers out of nearly 100 families in the village. This Church is led by Pastor Khuppi. Within this year there were 4 people who got saved and joined the Church.
The Church in Htaukkyant about 10 miles from Yangon led by Pastor Suan Lian is now with 4 families reaching among the Burmese Buddhist. This year there were 5 new souls added to this Church.
The Church in Kyaukmyaung, in the eastern part of the Yangon City among the Indians was started 3 years ago from Hinduism. There were 5 families the Lord put together. This Church is being led by Pastor Samuel.
Pastor NamKha started the Church in Makway 5 years ago among the Shan Buddhist-animist. There are only 3 families so far and 3 more people were added to the Church this year.
Win Aung started this year in a village of Paletwa township, the southern part of Chin state, which is one of the most remote area and undeveloped in the country. So far we heard from him saying that just two came to Christ. There was a strong warning from the Buddhist monk to the villagers not to turn away from the Buddhism as all of them are under the influence of Buddhist.
Pastor Ve Bie started in June in Dala Township in Yangon Division among the Buddhist people. And now he started contacting people and has Bible study every Saturday with 7-10 people.
Pastor Thet KoKo is working in Hlaingpone village starting early this year. This village is in the delta area. One of the badly hit by Nargis cyclone last year. We have now more than a dozen believers in this village where about 300 families live.
It was a good year to see the wonderful and marvelous works of our Lord to the lives of people who never heard the gospel. Indeed this is the work of the Lord to build His Church among the nations. We thank the Lord for the increase of new membership.
Praise the Lord for
1. The successful 10 years ministries of Bethel Church.
2. The new converts, new churches and more workers in the ministry.
3. The people who prayed and helped us in various ways for the ministries.
Please pray continually with us for
1. The need of our own property and building both for the Church and the Building.
2. To get the support for the workers. 11 Pastors, 5 children workers, 5 Bible Institute instructors.
3. Pray for the financial needs of our Bible Institute students they are not able to pay their fees and we have financially difficulties
4. Pray for the need of Church Building of Bethel in Yangon, Innpha, Makway, Htaukkyant and Tarmway.
5. Pray for the needed funds for the pictorial edition of Footsteps of Faith. OT Vol 2,3,4 and NT Vol 1,2,3,4.
Thank you very much and God’s blessings.
Yours in His Vineyard,
Jacob Mung
Bethel Ministries
11 JANUARY 2010: CALCUTTA UPDATE
We wish you a Blessed New year. May God richly bless you and keep you in the coming year. I want to thank you for all your prayers in the past year and I really appreciate. I would request you to continue to pray.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Prayer mail: Looking at the high level of the occult in RL area, trafficking areas I have been sending this monthly prayer request. Many have consistently prayed for the needs and it has made a lot of difference. But there is much more prayer needed to ask for forgiveness for the historical sins and to make a covenant with God and to renounce former covenant with the demonic.
Intercession: We need more and more people to enter into in serious intercession with God. Some of the issues cannot be addressed except by godly men and women who plead with God for things to change.
Worship in Brothels and RL areas: We need to take God Himself into these areas. The Devil will resist us much. But we need to have God worshiped in these dark areas and God has to be glorified. This point does look strange.
Care of workers, survival: There has been high level of attrition among workers in this area. The emotionally bruising work, high level spiritual battles cause worker drain-out. We cannot have musical chair for workers. We need workers to remain faithful, stable and learn long term issues to build stable ministries. I have tried to help workers cope with all the pressures and not give up. It is better than before but have a long way to go.
EXPLORED
Human rights commission: Made some contact, need to work at some of this long term.
Governor: Met one Governor as by divine appointment at a critical time and things moved somewhat. We need more such appointments.
Government officials: Trying to find officials who are sensitive enough to take up issues to help the children who are trafficked. Often the official world does not move fast enough to help the kids in slavery.
Churches and Pastors: Normally Churches have been reticent about doing work in RL areas or trafficking issues. I have been talking to Pastors and churches to get involved considering the fact that the hidden dimension in this whole thing is spiritual and demonic. Some are willing to help. Pray.
Homes, adoption: For years we prayed for trafficked children to be rescued. God has answered that prayer. But we do not seem to be prepared enough to take good care of the children. There is a huge learning that needs to happen to run good accredited homes. Looking at the number of children in captivity, long term we need families to adopt them, which will throw up huge challenges.
Prayer groups: More people have started praying. We need many more committed people who have been called of God to intercede.
TO EXPLORE
Prevention, Source areas: Although trafficking is wide spread, the major source areas seem to be concentrated in certain belts mostly with a former history of human sacrifices and covenants with spirits. Most of the work is focused on rescue after trafficking. It is high time we worked on prevention on a much larger scale with long term perspectives.
Human sacrifice-covenants: In one sense we can say that trafficking is a sacrifice of a human being. Many children die at 15-17, are HIV+, traumatized, destroyed emotionally and physically, tortured, beaten to death. In a way many of these children are handed over to demons. These covenants need to be broken.
Devadasi: Many of these children are married to Yellamma, a goddess and end up in brothels. Pray for God to stop this.
Drive to Karnataka, AP: Will seek to visit the areas from where children are trafficked in larger numbers to intercede and explore with God’s people what preventive steps can be taken. This will be a spiritual battle as well, please pray.
Missing children data base, ID: In many areas children go missing and there is no FIR filed, so no records. Some Web sites at the state Government level exist. Maybe we need one consolidated Website as well at state level. Pray that at every level and in every state this may be sorted out. We are working on multiple solutions that will work in different areas. Many from Nepal and Bangladesh are also trafficked across borders. We need to make provisions for them to be traced as well
UID: If girls/boys have biometric identification that will help long term as well.
CBI, CM-CS: Many of the trafficked children are carried across the border, states and even national. State police are unable to handle such cases. Central agencies need to get involved, pray. Pray that we may be able to reach out to Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries.
PERSONAL
Past three years have been a great blessing and a time of much growth. God has led me step by step in the work and has given me extra ordinary friends. There have been tough challenges but God has carried us through.
Pray as I carry more load than ever and go into high risk ministry. I do not fully understand what my work will involve. Pray for God’s protection. It is also very sad to see what is happening to children.
I hope to transition in my work to get God’s people to work together at many places where there is this need. May have to travel, drive through to more places.
My Children have been blessed and cared for by God. I cannot ask for more.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
15 DECEMBER 2009: CALCUTTA UPDATE
Thanks for all you prayers, I am grateful.
Pray for God’s intervention. Pray that those who work in red light areas to Net work and help each other. Pray that there may be good trafficking prevention set up in Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra and Nepal. Pray for state wise missing children website and a national one to cater to India-Nepal-Bangladesh.
We are working on multiple tracks and looking at the legal and other implications with the help of friends. Pray for God’s blessing on all the initiatives for the above.
Pray for teams working in high level occult areas, they need to prevail and break the demonic hold. Pray for good rehab facilities, network in source areas
ABUSED CHILDREN
What the abused children go through is unimaginable. Some have been kidnapped, sold, lured away, drugged, deceived by relatives etc. Many are beaten, raped, tortured, forced into prostitution, entertain clients 7-20- even 40 times a day. We know of girls beaten to death - murdered. Some are HIV positive, have full blown AIDS, TB have other STDs. They need much care in this area. It means a lot of work for care givers.
Many rescued children are traumatized; they need counseling and psychiatric care. Mentally these have been broken; they have night mares after rescue; they blame themselves. Often care givers need care themselves.
Many rescued kids cannot go back home, stigmatized and rejected, they have lost all relationships, there are no trust relationships except with those who care for them.
CARE GIVERS
Because of the condition of the women and children forced into prostitution it is the care givers or social workers who are close to the victims and develop trust relationships. What they hear from victims day after day is beyond human endurance. They themselves can be traumatized, lose hope, feel depressed, get discouraged, get disoriented, blame themselves for the whole situation and QUIT.
Care givers need care from the Churches, Pastors, their own family and a good support system from their organizations. They need to learn to be God focused rather than focus on the evil they see and hear about every day. Daily, disciplined, structured times of worship, praise, Bible study and fellowship can help them focus on God better. This must be both at a personal and organizational level. Churches can help here.
All those who work among victims must raise much specific prayer for each worker, their work and the organization. They must work at it as many work on fund raising. Care givers must be constantly monitored for mental and emotional health. When there are signs of distress they can be withdrawn from their regular work, allotted some other work or can go for a time of prayer where they can also get spiritual help
THE HIDDEN DIMENSION
Many red light areas are high on occult activity. There is a lot of witchcraft, mediums in contact with spirits, sooth saying, demon possession, etc. Some children are married to gods/spirits in certain areas and end up in brothels. Many of these areas seem to have a history of human sacrifices.
Anyone dealing with children married to gods are likely encounter the spirits the moment you try to break them away. Often this is a hidden dimension, many workers and organizations may be unable to handle this. This is where we need the help of godly people from the Churches to assist us in prayer, advice and in casting out demons.
Successful structures can be built to deal with it, however impossible it may seem. The Cross , the Blood of Christ, the Name of Christ and the Holy Spirit are all available to us from God to deal with this dimension.
PERSONAL
My health is better, pray for strength for all the work and grace to handle high pressure at times. Pray for God’s protection and the Presence of the Spirit of God for all spiritual battles.
Pray as I prepare to go into some areas early next year to intercede and help God’s people in this work. Some of my work carries high physical and spiritual risk, I need much more prayer.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
10 DECEMBER 2009: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
This time of the year brings a great JOY to so many lives as we share the reason for Jesus' birth - to bring us HOPE, PEACE and LOVE in this dreary world!
At BETHEL, Jesus is our Reason and why we exist - to share the Good News of His birth and life to the world through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
As we celebrated 10 years ministries of preaching the gospel and reaching to the un-reached in our own country to 14 different people groups who never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we look back to see how lives were, and ARE being CHANGED and TRANSFORMED through the ministries and for this reason as we are called to FULFILL our part of the great commission.
This year we faced challenges and blessings in the family as well as at work.
One of the challenges in the ministry was the effect of recession. Due to worldwide economy downturn we were affected too badly. Many of our members lost their jobs and could not get regular income. And they have to travel outside the city to get the job.
The second was the move of our Church. The previous church building was sold and we had to move in a very short notice; within a month. So from the third week of January we moved to a rented building near by the area of our previous location. This means that we did not loose our members for church attendance. We are there temporarily and we pray and look forward to have our own building.
Regarding our family the first challenge was Sandar, that she had been in the government service for the past 19 years and it was a very difficult time to make decision for the resignation. Personally she love the job to care for the poor people and technically the process of resignation is a difficult one. Because just over a year ago she was given the promotion to Dental Surgeon Junior Consultant and the government need professionals now a days. By resignation she will also loose all the benefits and privileges. And this will affect our family income immediately. So after much prayer and asking for God’s direction she submitted her resignation paper on the 20th of February. This is truly a big step for Sandar. There is no regret by choosing to serve the Lord of lords and the King of kings and God of gods.
The second one was regarding our son. He was completing preschool in May. He has to go to KG. And we don’t want to send him to the public school which has compulsory learning and practice of Buddhism. We pray that the Lord will help us to send to the private school where he can learn better and more of freedom. So we choose International Language and Business Centre. He is now attending KG at ILBC school and enjoying it. Doing good in all 6 major subjects with grade A but poor grade in Computer and Drawing.
We thank the Lord for His goodness toward us and we would continue to Love and serve HIM. This is our prayer that “May you find more of the REAL reason of Christmas - experiencing Jesus Christ in a NEW & Life Changing way! A MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
Thank you very much for your prayers and support in various ways causing us success in ministries
Sincerely yours in Him,
Jacob, Sandar and John Mung
10 NOVEMBER 2009: MYANMAR UPDATE
We are grateful to the Lord for His protections and provisions. We are grateful to individuals and to the ministries who have helped. In each day of our lives we are experiencing God's presence as we contend for the faith.
It was on the night of October eleventh, our son was restless. Every hour he would wake and he felt uncomfortable. He had a flu. We worried about him and the next morning we called his doctor who suggested we take him immediately to the Children's hospital. So, we rushed to the hospital. There the doctors examined with urgency; they suspected the swine flu. He was quarantined in a special room allowed only Sandar to stayed with him. After 24 hrs the results came back negative and he was discharged from the hospital.
This situation was very uncomfortable for us as we could not talk. I could not get in and they could not come out. We were separated for 24 hours. After coming back home, Sandar said we were just in jail for 24 hours. And it is true, for me also, even from outside. It was very uneasy for me to stay alone at home and wondering what is happening to them. I can't think of how to hang on if the test resulted into positive.
It is not only in the hospital but also the local council and the healthcare centre in our area took immediate action to quarantine our house. The chairman of the local council was informed by the military intelligent agency and they rushed to our house while we were still in the hospital. The agent saw bundles of books at the hostel and asked why he didn't know who I was and what I was doing. In fact we have given time year to year the report and a copy our family registration card and a family photo was kept by them. The chairman intentionally tried to create problems. Then I went to see in the office and by God's grace I could explained our situations and it was settled. I do hope and pray that he will not cause us more trouble in the days to come.
On the 18th we celebrated the Bethel Church's 10th anniversary. And we rejoice and thank God for what He had done within us, and through us. As a church we started a decade ago with few people and today we see about 100 average in attendance every week. And our membership is up to 146.
We invited our daughter churches nearby us, and there were three churches joined with us. The church in Innpha were representing with 7 children and 5 adults. They were led by Pastor Khuppi (2008 graduate). They got up at 4:00 am to catch the highway bus so that they could be at our service by 8:30 am. A special song by the womens' group was presented. This is the first ever they sang for group song in the Church. The children were presenting an action song. This was so wonderful to hear.
The youth group in Htaukkyant led by Pastor Suan Lian (2005 gradute) presented a group song. They were all together 14. The church in Kyaukmyaung led by Pastor Samuel all together 9 adults presented. It was a joyful time to celebrate the faithfulness and goodness of God toward His people especially to the Bethel Church. The Lord started His church and makes her grow. We thank the Lord for the increase of new membership and the daughter churches, 3 in Yangon area, 3 among the Lahu people, the northeast area, 1 among the Shan in the far north and 1 among the Chinpong, the northwest area. Also, the ministries such as; children, home visits, personal evangelism, literature, camp, discipleship, hostel and Bible Institute, for all the glory and the building of His church.
Hundreds of people came to Christ and edified in their walk with God. And thousands of people were blessed through our ministries. We are so thankful to God for what He has done and we give all the glory and honor to Him. As the result of this celebration we all agree in one accord and proclaimed wholeheartedly to Love more and more God than others, to Love our neighbors and to Love each other.
Please give thanks with me for
1. The successful celebration of 10 years ministries of Bethel Church.
2. The many great things God has done through us and in us.
3. Thanks for the good health we enjoy.
Please pray continually with us for
1. The need of our own property and building both for the Church and the Building. We now found the land which is about 1200 sq ft.
2. To serve the Lord in season and out of season.
Thank you very much,
Yours in His Vineyard,
Jacob Mung
22 OCTOBER 2009: PRAYER AND PRAISE FROM MARANATHA
In the last few months, Kung our children and I have been through unprecedented anxieties and uncertainties. We both came back from Melbourne, Australia in May after having been with our children-Edwin and his wife Priya for about six weeks. Our time in Australia was special and action packed. We had a wonderful time with Moonee Ponds Baptist Church, attended a well known Belgrave convention, visited church families, preached a few times and took trips to Sydney and cruised to Tasmania etc.
Soon after we came back I needed to go and see a doctor but I kept postponing as the college classes started and teaching schedule became so tight. Finally Alice my daughter, on summer break from the States, and Kung called the Wockhardt hospital and got me an appointment. To make it short, the first scan and digital examination showed I had grade II Prostatomegaly. A second PSA showed little change. Dr. Jayaram, a specialist at this well known Hospital began to talk about the different options I have for a Prostate Cancer. He said before going to surgery or Radiation or Cyber knife-Robotic Radiation which will cost about 5000 to 12000 US Dollars. I should also go in for a Biopsy. Kung did not know the details then and asked why biopsy was necessary, and that the Lord will help.
Since the first report we were all pulled and bundled together though miles apart, in prayer and tears without limit. A few sleepless nights but in prayer. I knew I should not let others worry but prepare Kung and the children for any eventuality. The Bible College and its future suddenly became an unspeakable worry. We did let a few friends know and without giving details asked the Bible College also to pray for an urgent health problem. Other than some uneasiness and little pain I felt normal all the while and did behave like normal. Lord had given me wonderful health. I went in for the biopsy and the report was ready after four days.
Kung wanted to collect the biopsy report on the fourth day when I had to go in to the Hospital for another Scan as I had been bleeding since biopsy, but we did not collect the biopsy report. I thought I will have one more day to pray if He would hear us and or He could change the report. Next day, Sept 8, also Edwin’s birthday, I had appointment to see my Doctor, a Hindu doctor and he needed the biopsy report. Rev. Joseph and his wife, who teach here, came to the Hospital that day as they wanted to be with us. I collected the sealed report and before opening it, there at the lounge, Kung and I prayed. She asked me to open and the last sentence that I quickly read... There is not trace of Malignancy- "Amen" came out a little too loud in a Hindu predominated Hospital. I cared the least. I could not believe it- for me it was a miracle. We gave the report to the doctor. He said "You can go home and celebrate" I had told the doctor what we are doing and that we are praying. The doctor had told me from all the scans and PSA reports that it could be cancerous and he had been preparing me. I asked the Lord for a miracle but would submit to what He would do. Kung by faith prayed only for healing and she did not want the biopsy either. Biopsy confirmed her faith and helped me too.
I do not know how or what the Lord did. The Biopsy and all the other tests pointed clearly to a cancerous prostate. Now from the hospital we called the children in the US and Australia. Called my mother and sisters and they all cried with us. Next day we had a thanksgiving service at the College and I shared all in detail after which Kung and I re-dedicated our lives before all.
Now can you imagine our joy but suddenly I began to understand the pain and feeling of my friends who are still going through similar situation and we started praying more earnestly for our friends who need the Lord's healing touch. Just like we prayed for ourselves we now are praying for them. I believe the Lord gave me my life back for the second time as I understand- maybe He did many times! The first time was when I was released by the Kidnappers on March 6, 1992, while we were serving the Lord in Manipur, NE India. We remember that day here as President's day and now another day to thank the Lord. Like many of you I do not like to talk about my problems and hesitated to write these matters in the last news letter. But now I cannot keep quiet about what the Lord has done for us!
Other good news is that Lord willing Timothy, Julie and Angelie would soon be able to make their way here for the fulltime ministry. Their church is seriously considering it. The enemy often tries to block the way. Timothy is also going to speak at the Missions Conference at South Side Baptist, our sending church. We eagerly wait for their coming. In the meantime we want the construction work started on the Faculty Duplex. Pray with us. We have the largest (190) enrollment this year and 98% of them are living in the dormitory on Campus. What a joy it is to teach and train these young men and women and see them go out to the Lord's vineyard every year!
Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for supporting us. Lord is here with us and His hand has been upon this college. He has not let our enemies to rejoice. We were given two special verses-promises, by the Hills in CA during this trial-Thank You! I know the Lord will help me now through this prostate but it is not malignant-Praise the Lord.
All for His glory,
PJ Mathai
12 OCTOBER 2009: MYANMAR UPDATE
Warm Greetings in His precious name.
We are so grateful to God’s people for the support of His works. Living and serving the Lord in Myanmar requires the exercise faith in every moment and in every situation of every hour and day.
The Lord gave us good health and we are so thankful to the Lord for His goodness. John Khai (their son) has finished his first term KG exam successfully. And we are so glad that he is growing to learn the English language and other subjects as well.
By God's grace Jacob was able to visit Kengtung at the end of the month till early part of October as planned. The church planting in Kengtung area especially among the Lahu people was a great encouragement. Meeting with the four church planters and seeing that their work is extraordinary. It was beyond our imagination the way God has worked among the animist Lahu people in recent years.
Kyar Po has worked in the village called Nawng Kwai. The village has totally 32 houses. Among them 14 houses have now turned to Christ. The total membership is now 34 and there is another 10 people awaiting to take baptism.
Aaron is working in Homon village where there are about 60 houses. He has began the church planting work through teaching at school where as a school teacher, he had a chance to teach the students. The Lord opened the door to teach the children of the village chief, and this is how the church is being planted in this village. By now the Lord has blessed with 40 church members.
Lee Shee has worked in Maa Sha Phoo village. There was no Christian when he came to this village some 4 years ago. But now there has been 23 families who have came to Christ.
There was some miracles the Lord has done through His servant. The spiritism priest in the village was so sick one day and Lee Shee was invited because the priest did not know where he will go when he died. He shared the gospel and prayed for him. The next day he died.
A soothsayer in the village came to Lee Shee and wanted to know about the gospel and he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.
The Lord is doing His work among the people and we are seeing the churches are grow.
The Bethel church is due to celebrate her 10th anniversary on the third Sunday of October. And the Bible Institute students have written the final exams of the first Semester.
The high school students continue to pursue their studies in the midst of financial difficulties.
PLEASE GIVE THANKS WITH ME FOR
1. The successful trip to Kengtung area.
2. The good health
PLEASE PRAY CONTINUALLY WITH US FOR
1. The need of property and church building
2. The celebration of the 10th anniversary of Bethel Church
3. To win more souls to the Lord
God's blessings to you all.
Yours in His Vineyard,
Jacob Mung
HERE ARE URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS AND NEWS FROM BETHEL MINISTRIES IN BURMA
1. REACHING Ministries provides scholarship funds for students at Bethel Baptist Bible Institute, who cannot pay all of their tuition. This term four young people had to leave school because they could not pay the $50 per month for tuition, books, board and room. As I think of this and compare the need to the potential of the four missionaries mentioned in the letter from Bethel below, I am greatly concerned that the scholarship funds will come in so that none will have to be turned away.
2. Bethel Baptist Church is now meeting in a crowded rented building. The people are earnestly praying for funds to buy property and build a Church building.
3. Praise the LORD that all of the graduates from Bethel are now in full time ministry, faithfully planting the seed and reaping a great harvest. Please pray for them; Pray that the LORD of the harvest will continue to send forth laborers into this very great and open harvest field.
30 SEPTEMBER 2009: NEWS FROM INDIA
Thanks for all your prayers. As we go into the deep end we need more prayer than ever before
We need to get more Pastors/Churches/Believers involved in this ministry. We need God to come down among His people where spirits had been invoked earlier. Pray for God’s Presence and Fire to come down.
I had spoken at a meeting for Pastors’ to get them and their Churches involved. Pray, this is very important for the future.
BENGAL, ANDHRA, KARNATAKA
A very high number of trafficked children seem to come from these states. The children are often married to some goddess, handed over to them. We have reports of many of them dying very young even at 15--. It looks more like a human sacrifice.
There are classic signs of cult prostitution and a deep entry of the demonic into the whole society. To reverse this God has to come into the community to break what needs to be broken. I hope to travel to some of these areas next year to pray and work on prevention of trafficking.
REHAB IN ANDHRA AND ELSEWHERE
Some of the women in brothels in the north want to leave their work and return home. We need Churches/Pastors/Leaders who would be willing to help them. We need good rehab process/network. Pray for this to happen. We need to work at developing this.
Long term, keeping them in the north away from their home towns may not be the best way. We need to find what is best to keep them from relapse into their old ways.
Pray for Rajmundhry [a city] as a first step. Pray for divine connections to meet the right people at the right time.
PRAYER NETWORK, INTERCESSION
Considering the fact that for centuries we have made covenant with spirits through blood- human blood included- we need to ask God to forgive us our sins. We need to ask God to come among us. God has to heal the land.
The local believers in these areas also need to get involved in praying for these places. I have been doing preliminary work on contacting believers in these areas, pray for effective prayers.
Please do raise prayer wherever you can to plead with God. Even the basic and preliminary efforts of mine have seen much spiritual resistance and backlash. I know we are on the right track.
PERSONAL
Cephas and Pudens are well. God has been very good to us. Pray for Cephas as he writes his exams , makes his choices for future studies etc, for wisdom, blessings and grace. Pudens will complete her Masters by April, pray that God would show the next step.
From the time I tried to get something done in H_S areas I have struggled with my health, energy levels. Pray for grace, wisdom, protection and health. Some of my work has involved much risk but God has also blessed whatever I tried to do.
I have learnt not to combine my load in Cal with other areas, unable to handle them together. Working on solutions. In some of the work I have faced too many battles too early, sort of unexpected at that stage. Pray for wisdom, clear mind and revelation. Pray for a good Spirit of prayer to intercede as I should, to be led by the Spirit.
With much love and prayer,
Sat***
04 SEPTEMBER 2009: NEWS FROM INDIA
IMPORTANT THINGS TO PRAY FOR
Behind trafficking and Red Light areas there is a high level of occult activities and is many cases a history of human sacrifices. Pray that God would break this.
Pray for North Karnataka and North Andhra for God to intervene and stop trafficking in children; many of these girls are married to Yellamma. [Ed - followers of the goddess, and these girls would be temple prostitutes. See also, below.]
Pray for those who work in different places; for Christians in cities to get together fellowship and work together. There are a variety of work that needs to be done, we need the right type of people for every work.
Pray for intercessors to rise up and for grace to pioneer and wade through all that is thrown at us.
Protection and grace for all the unnamed heroes who work for God and the trafficked.
I have made significant preliminary contacts with godly people who can help us move forward in this complex work. Praying and preparing to drive down to some of these areas early next year to intercede.
THE PRESENT REALITY
For the past few months I have consistently heard that small children from specific areas are ending up in brothels. By the time we rescue them they are HIVpositive, pregnant and much else. It is traumatic for the child as well as the care givers. We need to work on preventing trafficking as much as we can in the next few years.
Many of these girls are married to Yellamma/Kali. The way they waste away and die looks more like a human sacrifice. It looks like they are handed over to demons to be destroyed, as Devadasi. It is illegal but it happens quite a lot in areas where there has been a history of human sacrifices. Many of them are from North Karnataka, North Andhra. We will try and get a clear picture from those who rescue the girls, as time passes by.
We have some understanding of the spiritual and hidden issues. God has to help us deal with the known and the unknown to understand what needs to be done. Local believers, Churches and others need to be co-opted to intercede for the past sins, to break curses and covenants with spirits. The level of spiritual resistance and attack we will face is not easy to fathom now. Everything needs to be done step by step.
We have some info on the major spiritual dark centres, more may come in. We may need homes, hostels, schools, education to protect the girls who have already been married to Y. We need people with long term vision to do this. We need to find godly, praying people and leaders from those areas
Much of the work that needs to be done is being done for the first time. In that sense, pioneering anything like this takes a lot of time, thought, effort and work; some setback as well. Pray
THE WAY TO GO
I have started praying and interceding seriously for God’s forgiveness on our gross sins of the past and present in this issue. I have already some names of God’s people who may be able to help in those areas.
After some months of prayer I will start going-driving into those areas for intercession and to connect with God’s people. Pray that effective prayer groups may be formed, and that I have some more of God’s appointments in meeting the right people. Pray that God would raise up people to care for these girls before they are trafficked. If they study 10-12 classes their safety would be much better
As I try to do this I am conscious that it is all an unknown entity. I need much protection from God and His angels, please pray. On September 6, I will be 62, pray for physical and mental strength also. Sometimes the work before me is daunting and beyond human abilities. Pray for the continuing gift of faith.
With much love and prayers,
Sat***
01 SEPTEMBER 2009:BETHEL MINISTRIES - MYANMAR
Greetings to all Reaching friends from Bethel Ministries, Myanmar in the most blessed name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
We thank you in remembrance of you in our prayers and day to day ministries. We believe strongly that Bethel Ministries can carry on by the prayers and supports of God’s people.Thanks to the Lord who has enabled us to come to the end of August. We praise His name because He has been so faithful in the ministries He entrusted to us.
As a family we are so grateful to the Lord that He has given John Khai as a special gift to us. And the 24th marks his 5th anniversary birthday. He just started attending KG this June and is enjoying in learning English, History and Mathematics.
There has been plenty of rain in the city of Yangon and the lower part but the middle part is drought. There is a concern that there might not be cultivation of paddy this year.
The Lord continues to move our works and we are blessed to see some more souls are turning to the Lord this month. We thank the Lord that He added to His church through the efforts of His people. One at Bethel Baptist Church and two at Htaukkyant church. It is so difficult to win a single soul which takes so much time and energy.
The Bible Institute with 26 students continue to carry on. Many students could not afford their fees and this make the short fall and indication of minus to the funds end of this month.
The high school students continue to pursue their studies in the midst of financial difficulties.
Please continue to pray
1. The urgent need of land and building for our Church.
2. That the students high school as well as the Bible Institute students may continue to study.
3. For Jacob as he plans to travel to Kengtung area central eastern (about 1hr 20 minutes by air) to see and encourage the four Church planters and their church planting works.
Thanks and appreciate for your prayers.
Yours in His Vineyard,
Jacob Mung
31 AUGUST 2009: MARANATHA UPDATE
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and God.
As we begin this new academic year I feel honored that God has graciously added another year for us to serve Him. We thank all of you who have made this ministry possible. During the last 12 years of our existence the number of students has increased tremendously. 37 students graduated from the B.Th, B.R.E and B.D program in March 2009. Altogether we have over 200 hundred graduates. Many of our graduates are into full time ministries such as church planting, pastoring multiple churches and starting orphanages.
We are blessed with 190 students this academic year from all over India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Of these 190 students about 10% are from Hindu homes, which means they are the only Christian in their family. Some of the students are persecuted in their own homes and forbidden to go to a Bible college or disowned by their own families. Their trials are many! Please pray that God would give strength to our students to complete their studies and go back to their communities and serve our God faithfully.
The college building was dedicated to the glory of our God on the 20th of February 2009, Philippians 4:20.
We enjoyed having Gene Newman come and teach the students and also be our guest speaker at the building dedication program. It was a delight to have Gunner, Eric and Nathan from TMC and DTS come and preach at the chapel. Gunner taught from Psalm 63 and it was a reminder for all of us to seek after God earnestly.
VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
During the college summer break, God allowed Kung and I to visit our son Edwin and our daughter in-law Priya in Melbourne, Australia. We experienced the beauty of God’s creation and the love of our brothers and sisters at Monee Ponds Baptist during our stay there. I am reminded of the truthfulness and the oneness we have in Christ Jesus. “Indian Nite” was held at Monee Ponds Baptist Church on the 2nd of May for the first time to help raise support for the work here in India. The response that we received from the Pastors and members of Monee Ponds Baptist Church brought tears to our eyes. Our heart-felt gratitude toward all our brothers and sisters at MPBC. Your love and zeal for the Lord has touched our hearts.!!
ANJALI ELIZABETH PALAMOOTIL
Join us in praising our Lord for His wonderful gift of our new born, grand daughter Anjali Elizabeth Palamootil born on July 10, 2009. However, 6 hours after the birth, Julie our daughter in-law, was given a medication to slow her blood loss and speed up healing but she had a strong allergic reaction against the medicine and her heart BP went up to 190/140 and her pulse was racing and she was shaking uncontrollably. The doctors said they haven't seen this kind of reaction before. But by the grace of God Julie is recovering from the C-section and the allergic reaction. Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement throughout Julie's pregnancy and delivery.
SNAKE BITE.
A couple of weeks before the college started, my wife Kung and I were walking from our rented house towards the college when I felt this sudden piercing pain on my left big toe. (I was wearing open toed footwear) Looking at the deep mark I understood it was a snake bite. My medicine that night was prayer and fresh garlic crushed and applied on the wounded part. I thank God for His healing touch and for all those who prayed for me. Prayer is our unfailing weapon!!
BUILDING PERMIT FOR FACULTY DUPLEX
Lord willing, we want to build the faculty duplex in the half acre property that we own just across the main campus. We are praying about the Lord’s timing to begin. We, however, need a building permit and a permit to build the boundary wall. One would think that after constructing the main 24000 sq ft building this small duplex should be easy. No! That was a miracle, and this has to be a miracle as well. But if the Lord is in it, it will be done.
We never realized how soon we would outgrow the present dining hall facility. There are over 20 students always standing during meals as there is no place for them to sit down and eat in the dining hall. Please join us in praying as we plead with God to open the door for the dining hall to be extended and the new faculty duplex to be constructed soon.
ORPHANAGE
We are praying at the prospect of starting an orphanage .The challenges are staggering and we feel overwhelmed and yet we know that God can make all things possible. We do not know how soon or where it will be built but we are urging you to pray with us as we seek God’s will and guidance. Thank you for making this ministry possible through your financial support and prayers. The Lord bless you richly !!
PJ Mathai
31 AUGUST 2009: REACHING MINISTRIES UPDATE
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for this Ministry. We are grateful to the LORD and to you that in spite of the economy, the LORD has provided. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Giving during the months of summer this year has been steady except for the month of August. So to fund the projects that we are committed to, we must draw on our small reserve. And that’s OK, the LORD has provided that for this purpose.
A great concern for us right now is for the Ministry of Regions Beyond. We have been the agency that receives and forwards funds to their Missionaries in La Paz Bolivia. This month they have received only two gifts that don’t even come close to the amount of support that these faithful Missionaries need to survive in that area. Please pray for Regions Beyond and their Missionaries, Don and Amanda LaRoque in Bolivia. They have additional expense at this time because they are trying to obtain their permanent visas, which has been made very difficult and more expensive because of government employee graft in that country. We know that our God is able - please pray.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person brings great results.” James 5:16b
In His love,
Giles Isaacson, Executive Director
05 AUGUST 2009: NEWS FROM CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks for all your prayers. We are grateful for your prayers. I am sorry I am late again in sending this mail. Pray as I try to get more people to work for the trafficked in different ways. Pray for the protection of workers .
NORTH EAST
Went to Meghalaya for a Pastor’s conference, spoke on Trafficking issues. Spoke to Lawyers and Law students in Dimapur and Kohima on Trafficking, hope to get some of them to work on this.
Reconnected with some old friends. Some of them can work on steps to be taken to prevent trafficking or rescue children. There is wide spread awareness in the North East that their children may be disappearing but do not know where they are. Pray that the Chief Ministers may ask for CBI help to rescue their children.
H_S
On the whole most of our work seems to be centered on rescue of women, children and rehabilitation. At some point we need to move more and more to get to the root of the problem; to prevent trafficking.
I am in the process of identifying Pastors, Workers and godly people who can pray for their own areas—for God’s forgiveness for human sacrifices, to break former covenants with spirits, and to work at preventing trafficking. The human sacrifice belt seems to be northern AP, Karnataka, Southern Maharashtra - the areas from where many women are trafficked. They also have the tradition of marrying their girls to spirits, which ultimately leads them to brothels. Local Churches need to get involved and help.
Some months later I would like to walk, drive-around and meet God’s people to pray for these areas. Those who work in Orissa and the above places must pray and stop human sacrifices in some guise. If we pray to stop it, this shall stop. Or else workers will find the going difficult.
LEGAL ACTION
The released children go through a long court process that hurts them and the rescuers very much. I have asked for help to stop this. Pray.
Everywhere it is the same group of men who do a lot of evil. The legal people need to be able to deal with this. We need more Christian Lawyers to come in to help.
STEPS NEEDED
Those who are working to rescue women and children from sexual exploitation need to work together to help each other. Pray for effective networks everywhere.
Those who try to rehabilitate women make different hand crafted items and they need help to sell them. Marketing seems to be an issue. Pray.
Some women who want to come out of their trade need to be helped to get back to their place. Churches need to get involved more seriously.
With much love and prayers,
S***
30 JULY 2009: MYANMAR UPDATE
Greetings from Myanmar.
We thank you and all the friends of Reaching ministries for your support in various ways. I realized that we did not send you our ministries report for June so now we are combining June and July ministries updates
In these two months we thank the Lord that He has sent plenty rain and we enjoyed the ways He was leading us.
Our church as well as the daughter churches were actively involved in evangelism. The Lord added two families in Kengtung area, and two peopple in Makway village. We thank the Lord that He has added three young men at Bethel Baptist Church. And three people at Htaukkyant church. Last Sunday there was heavy rain and there was water floating in the rented church building.
We reopened the Bible Institute on June 1st and there were 30 students. We were having a hard time taking care of the new students as they have difficulty in paying the fees, because the scholarship we received from you was given to the old students. There was no scholarship fund for the new comers. Finally we accepted those who promise they can pay and we accepted 10 new students that made the student body 30. But by the end of June many of these new students could not afford the fees, so 4 of them left from school and now we are with 26 students.
The two new students who went through the discipleship program in May continue their studies despite the difficulties. We tried to help whatever way we could to continue their life to walk in faith.
Regarding the 29 kids we are so thankful on behalf of them to you for sending $60.00 in June and another $2000.00 in early July. This makes them hope in their life to resume their studies. Five high school students received admission in Yangon and are staying with us. And as mentioned each one needs $45.00 per month and the other 24 were given sponsorship $30 each per month going to the school from their homes. This sponsorship covers their tuition, text books work books, papers, pens and pencils and foods etc. So totally the expense is $945.00 for these students. So now we have a balance of $170.00 for next month.
Please continue to pray that:
- The Lord will provide the need of land and building for our Church
- All the students may continue to study without any financial difficulties and health problem.
We do greatly appreciate and thank you very much for your prayers.
Yours in His Vineyard,
Jacob
08 JULY 2009: CALCUTTA, INDIA
I am sorry for the delay in writing. For the past few weeks I have been without internet, power much of the time. Thanks for your prayers. I was in difficult and risky places with God’s protection. Most of the efforts are long term in nature. God prospered the work.
ORISSA
For two days I taught on Human sacrifices, occult issues and cult prostitution etc from the Bible to about 50 workers and others. Many confessed that their forefathers had indeed been guilty. Some secret sins in this regard may have been happening recently as well. Christians have also been guilty of indulging in the occult inviting Satan for help. Maybe because of this many of them could not find God’s help. I saw the destruction and devastation in many villages - Churches, houses burnt and looted. I have called the believers to repent and fully take hold of God.
Pray for the message to spread. We need to consistently pray that God would stop all forms of human sacrifices, God has answered prayers in this regard in a limited sense. I have been contacting people who can help those who have suffered in riots.
THE ROOTS
In the matter of trafficking in Children and women for sex, I believe we see a pattern. When we trace the path we seem to be led to areas where there has been a history of human sacrifices and cult or ritual prostitution - Devadasi system, etc.
While we need to rescue women and children, we need to also work long term to stop it where it originates. Believers need to ask for God’s forgiveness and break and renounce their covenants with spirits and fully be God’s. I would like to go to those areas and pray and find God’s people and Churches there who would intercede for this long term. Do pray for northern Karnataka, northern Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Southern part of West Bengal in this regard.
NEED FOR GRACE
I will be visiting the north east for some meetings and visits this month. Please pray as I try to meet people who can help the trafficked ones in various ways. What I have been seeing and hearing for the past few months are very difficult to accept. Often I have cried. I have continued to intercede with God for his intervention. We have tried to do many things, pray that God would deliver the trafficked. I have just managed to hold my head above the water. I will take some to wait on Him. Please do pray for me. Pray for my body, mind and spirit.
With much love and prayers,
S***
27 JUNE 2009: MARANATHA UPDATE
Greeting from Bangalore. We are doing well and have been busy preparing ourselves for the new school year. Appreciate your prayers as we begin the new year. Pastors were all here in March for the Conference at the time of College Graduation. It was a great time coming together. Appu and his team in Kerala needed another small rented place for worship and it cost only $ 40 a month and we told him to go ahead and rent it by faith. You know, earlier we bought the burial Cell for them which cost over $1000, The church had trouble burring their dead. Now though a little far they have their own place.
During these three months of summer break our students, who went home, conducted Youth Camps, Organized VBS and others Village Evangelism. We sponsored some of them by providing the VBS materials.
The Lord continues to provide for the needs of the College and we are thankful. Thank you for making the Maranatha Reaching Ministry possible. We have not taken anyone from 2009 March Graduates for new work. If we had the money we could appoint two or three men and it would be wonderful.
The Lord bless you and strengthen you.
In Christ,
PJ
04 JUNE 2009: CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks for all your prayers, we are very grateful. I will try to send one more every month as some of you suggest. We just managed to reach home through a severe storm, God protected us from falling branches, trees and flying objects.
PEOPLE IN POWER
I have continued to try and meet and write to people in power. I have been promised help. Pray for me as I follow up. Pray for IAS ,IPS officers to be on board willing to help the trafficked. I need to meet some ministers , Chief ministers and High Officials, pray for that.
I have been talking to and also tracking people who can help. I am also trying to trace Believers who have a desire to do something on this issue. There are road blocks, but they need to be dismantled--
NETWORK
Often, the RL area work is complex. We always need help and advice from others. Or else we tend to fall into many traps. Pray that we would all work together and be faithful to our calling. Many issues seem to transcend city, state and national borders. Pray that we would all pray for each other and work together.
For some months, slowly I have tried to be in touch with, pray for different workers in other places. It is wider now than before, but we have a long way to go. Pray that we overcome our historical problems and suspicions of each other. We have a reached a stage where we need serious Church involvement. We need workers to come from our Churches, more prayer and other help for different ministries. May be we need many families who are willing to adopt the trafficked children. Indian families have not felt secure enough to do this so far. As the numbers are huge, we need families to come forward to do this.
Pray for areas north of Kathmandu from where many girls are being trafficked. It is all well organized. A large number of them are being trafficked into India. Pray for the local Churches to be able to pray and deal with occult and social issues. Pray for Telugu workers
THE OCCULT
We had known for a long time that devadasi system, sacrifices have played a large part in women being involved in this profession and also the RL areas. More and more we see the RL area and people under the occult or demon possession. We continue to hear of women married to some spirit ending up in RL areas. All those spirits have a history of human sacrifice offered to them in the past---many seem to have.
In this kind of situation Churches, believers, and intercessors have much to do. We need godly, selfless, sacrificial men and women to work and pray in this area. Pray for worshiping communities to arise in RL areas, that can be the only antidote to the occult practices of those places.
ORISSA
God has brought some political changes. But many of the affected people in the past riots still live in difficult conditions. There are many who are trying to help them. Some have said that their own forefathers were involved in human sacrifices. From our past experience we know that some of those believers need to get together to ask God for forgiveness and renounce the covenants made with human blood. I will meet and pray with some of them in the third week of this month. Pray that God would raise intercessors in the true sense from among them. I will teach on some of those issues for Christians not to give room to the spirits that destroy.
SOME MORE
Pray for health, mental and physical strength. Often I seem to live on the edge. Sometimes what lands on me is not easy bear. I need more grace. Do pray.
Some of the jobs I do have taken a lot out of me. There are signs that God is doing something new and radical in many ways. We just need the faith and strength to press on and not give up
What has not been done before has to be done. We have seen the Lord at work, Pray for His powerful move to change the situation on the ground
With much love and prayers,
S***
02 JUNE 2009: BETHEL UPDATE
The Lord has worked in the lives of 5 young people were saved in the discipleship program, and they all took baptism. All together 35 successfully completed their discipleship training. Out of these, two young people committed themselves for fulltime ministry and will be going to Bethel Bible Institute for four years prior to their ministry. We are rejoicing with these happenings. The Lord has done mighty things.
We just reopened the Bible Institute and 10 new students have registered. This year again we are having about 30 students.
The 29 kids I mentioned are awaiting to get admission to their schools. They can not afford to pay the fees for their school. Out of the 29 there were four students in grade 11 and one in grade 10 from the Irrawaddy Delta area are also awaiting to get to their schooling in Yangon. We want them to be closer to us so that we can buildup their spiritual life further. These are the ones who completed their discipleship in May.
Please continue to pray that:
1. we may have the enough funds to purchase the land and building for our Church Building soon
2. our Bible Institute may not lack anything but have sufficient.
Thank you very much and we appreciate your prayers so much.
Jacob, Bethel Ministries
20 MAY 2009: MYANMAR STUDENTS
[Ed Note - In response to his previous letter I wrote to Jacob and asked; I am interested in the request for funds for school children grades 8-11. Does this mean that you have established a school for these children? We would like to hear more about this. Jacob responded:]
The request for funds for school children grades 8-11 is not the Bible school we have established. However, this is part of our vision in the Bethel ministries here in Yangon. The school I mentioned is the government school. Bethel Ministries is praying to have a private faith based school in the days to come.
We have about 30 students with our connections to the relief works and the discipleship we are now doing. They request us to help with their education. As we investigate further out of 29 who deserve scholarship, 24 can go to school from their home and 5 of them are very far away in remote villages. And so, we need to help them get their education in Yangon, providing shelter, food and tuition fees. We have two reasons for this. Firstly, the school is very far from their village, about 4 hours walking to and from daily and food. Secondly, we want to continue discipleship and oversee them closely as they are just new Christians coming from other faiths. For these children to be educated in Yangon, the cost is $50 per month providing Shelter, tuition, textbooks and messing. The schooling is for 9 months.
It is our desire and prayer that in the days to come to have the boarding for high school students, to nurture them in their new found faith in Christ as well as give them proper food, education
and training. We want to help these children because they are ambitious and there will be a benefit to the kingdom in the days to come. Some would like to become medical doctors, some engineers and some pastors. So we want these young people to be trained in God's way so that they will become His instruments in the days to come.
Again, thanks for allowing me to share this plan and I am happy to see this project being materialized.
Yours in Christ,
Jacob
12 MAY 2009: ACTION INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
Hello to all who pray, give, or are just interested in what we are doing.
Tuesday I am leaving for India to conduct a Pastors’ Conference for 40 pastors from Orissa and Life Applciation Study Bible conference for pastors in Siliguri. Orissa is one of the most persecuted areas in the world, and it will be my privilege to be a part of the three man team going over to minister to these dear brothers.
Would you please pray for the following?
1. Safety- for the men coming out of Orissa and for the three of us heading over to speak. See attachments for more information on how to pray for Orissa.
2. Elections - The results of the national elections for India will be announced May 16th and these will be critical results for the stability of the country, as well as the level of persecution of Christians that is tolerated.
3. Encouragement – pray that we can be an encouragement to these men. That we could give them food from the Lord that will stay with them, even in the hardest times
4. Joy – that we all would have great joy with whatever God does, whatever He allows while we are there, and simply with Him as enough.
5. Family – that God would give our families peace as we head over to India. That the Lord would remind them of His hand over all, and that He is in control and nothing happens apart from His will.
Thank you all for being a part of this ministry. I will do my best to update you during the trip. As always you can support the ministry at the address and website below.
For His Glory,
Bruce Ingram
07 MAY 2009: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Greetings from Bethel Ministries Yangon, Myanmar.
We thank the Lord that He has been so good to us during the month of April and we would like to share the joy we had in Christ with you.
As our Church has been praying and trying to rescue the perishing souls, there had been some fruits we had seen by the mighty hand of God. As I mentioned in my letter previously we have had over 100 campers during the Myanmar traditional water festival. The result was over two dozens got saved and 14 took baptism. This is the work of God and we are so grateful to the Lord that the Holy Spirit is changing the lives of people. Among the new converts we had about a dozen who came from the delta area, post victims of the Cyclone Nargis, a year ago.
During the month of May we plan again to have another discipleship training for one month. We have about 35 people altogether and about 18 are again from the delta area. We pray for their assurance of salvation and that they will become true disciples of Christ.
At this time we covet your continue and fervent prayer:
1. for the need of a Church Building in Yangon.
2. We would like you to pray for the Nargis Cyclone affected area where some children are having difficuly in continuing their schooling. At present we have about 30 students who are between grades 8-11. The school is going to reopened on June 1st. Each need about US$ 30 for their tuition, textbooks and meals.
3. for the new comers to our Bible School. Because of the difficulties in the economy there is the need to grant scholarship funds.
Thank you very much and appreciate so much for your prayers. May the Lord bless the Reaching Ministries and all the partners.
Jacob Mung
Bethel Ministries
02 MAY 2009: CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks for your prayers. We are grateful. Please do continue to pray as individuals, families and Churches for God to intervene and work. There is high level of demonic activity in many of the RL areas. There has been a lot of occult for generation in these areas. Pray for God’s forgiveness, the hold of demons to be broken. Workers need to be able to understand this issue and be able to overcome.
TELUGU
It looks like there are many women from Andhra Pradesh who are in this profession. Some are married to some spirits-gods they say. Pray for them to belong to God their creator. Pray for Telugu speaking workers. As of now I do not know any Telugu working among these women. Pray for the Churches in AP to pray and deal with this.
NEPALI
There seems to be a steady supply of small children being trafficked from Nepal. Pray that God would break any hidden occult issues, some spirits who have caused this for many years now. It looks like there are specific areas from where these children are trafficked, pray for this to stop. There are young girls from Bangladesh who are trafficked.
PEOPLE IN POWER
Pray that God may raise some in Authority who will do their best against this evil of trafficking. Money has played its part in corrupting many. Pray for men and women whose heart God has touched to help. There is also fear in many and they are unable to do anything, fear needs to be broken.
CARE OF THE RESCUED
We need homes for Nepali children here, pray. We need the right type of people to set up homes. They need focus to do this work. Pray for godly, honest people to do this work. We need those who have experience, love, concern and stable ones. Some are making much money trafficking in children. Pray that God will provide enough resources to those who rescue and care for them.
NETWORK
The work in the RL area is complex. Doing any work that is stable over the years is not easy. We need to learn from each other and work together to face this huge task. And yet it is not evident that we work together in many places. Pray that many may get together in many cities. Pray that my effort in this may also be fruitful. I have tried to teach some workers.
PERSONAL
I have been traveling to meet friends, officials to get help for the trafficked children. It has been tough on me, I do not have the physical strength which I had earlier, pray. Mentally, emotionally it is tough. Much of my work is of pioneering opening the way for others. Often I am not sure which way to go. The Lord has been working out many things in extra ordinary ways.
Some of my work is risky, some friends have voiced their concern, pray for protection. It is all unpredictable. I need to constantly learn, listen to good advice, find ways where none exists. Pray for grace and more mental and emotional strength.
With much love and prayers,
S***
23 APRIL 2009: MARANATHA, INDIA
Greeting from Melbourne, Australia
I trust you are doing well. Kung and I came here for a few Weeks to stay with our children-(Our son Edwin and his wife Priya) They paid for this short vacation during the Bible College summer break. We will go back on the 16th of May and the college reopens on the 1st of July.
We would send out a news letter as we reach Bangalore.
The building dedication on Feb 20, Pastors conference on 18th March, Graduation on the 19th and the wedding of Susantha, our staff on 20th on Campus kept us all busy. As you know, over 50 Pastors including Maranatha Reaching Ministry Pastors came for the Conference and the Graduation. It was a blessed time of meeting with our Pastors.
Bro. Isaacson, we paid the traveling expenses for all our pastors and elders who came with them. They are not able to come at their expense. Appu and his fellow Pastors brought 18 people from Kerala alone. We were able to accommodate them all in College classrooms. A number of the Pastors' wives and families of Susantha and Ajitha (couple who got married on the 20th) also came. Altogether we accommodated over 70 people in the college classrooms for three days and fed them. This means with 150 students, staff and guests we had over 220 people on Campus. We had over 300 people for the Graduation ceremony and for the Graduation dinner. About that many people also for the wedding. All these events went well by God's grace and we thank the Lord for his hand.
Our Speakers, Rev. George Dubish and Rev. Joseph brought many challenges to these pastors. Annual Pastors conference (sometimes twice a year) is a real blessing for all Maranatha Reaching Ministry workers. The Lord has to provide for all the needs.
Pastors working in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka came, some with families. They are Prabudas, Pradeep, Prabakar and Paul Prabu Pushparaj. Leikham could not come but her Uncle came in place or her for the Conference. We hope to have a conference in August, if we can or rather if the Lord provides which is a month after we start the classes. This would also be an opening conference.
We thank the Lord for Maranatha Reaching Ministries. The Lord bless you.
In Christ,
P.J.Mathai
18 APR 2009:BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
We would also like to include our praise item at this time concerning the result of the camp, which is very much encouraging. There were over 100 campers in three different locations. Many are from our Church as well as from others. Over 2 dozen campers made their new found faith in Christ, and 14 of them took baptism immediately.
We thank the Lord for your prayers. The Lord moved among us so well in that believers were built up in their faith and some have come to faith in Christ.
Praise be to God!
Yours in Him, Jacob
09 APR 2009: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Thank you very much for the regular funds that we received today. We are going to have 10 days holiday and during this Thingyan (Burmese cultural water festival and Buddhist new year) we are going to have Bible Camp for our Church people as well as for the Nargis Cyclone victims. There will be about 30 victims who are interested to the Gospel with whom we have shared and will be in the camp. We hope to give them baptism at the end of the camp. Pray that we may have a fruitful time. I will come back after 10 days. Until then the Lord bless and take care you.
Jacob
Bethel Ministries, Myanmar
01 APR 2009: CALCUTTA, INDIA
Thanks again for your sincere prayers. We need it more than ever before. The fight is hard and will be long. Pray for perseverance. Sometimes the work load is too heavy, pray
THE BLOOD ON OUR HANDS
Wherever I have gone I have come to realize we have spilt and are spilling much blood. Because of that, there is a huge curse on us. We hear that little girls trafficked for sex, have been beaten to death. We hear some telling us that their forefathers had made human sacrifice.
It is also likely that some of the covenants with spirits are done with human blood, by ritual drinking of human blood and also shedding it-killings. All this has resulted in huge curses on us leading to many more killings, destruction of tender girls through trafficking. Pray for God to forgive us. All this has to stop NOW.
Pray for Orissa also. We need small and powerful prayer groups to rise up pray for all the bloodshed, human sacrifices of the past and the present.
THE HIDDEN WORLD
In the red light areas and elsewhere there is a huge hidden occult issue. Witchcraft, spiritism, talisman, horoscope, calling on the dead is rampant. Areas seem to be given over to demonic domination. There are demonic activities in building and demon possessions of people. Pray for deliverance.
Many who are into prostitution were married to some god, given over to some evil spirit. Probably whole areas are affected by this practice. Pray for this to be broken. Pray for Satan’s hold over people and areas of sin may broken
Pray for Christians themselves to renounce all dark and hidden practices.
FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY
Pray for those in positions of authority, we need to find men and women who are sensitive to the issue of trafficking. I have been to Delhi and met some officials, I will meet some more later.
Pray for members of Human Rights commission at Delhi and the states. Pray for the Governors that I am trying to meet. Pray for some Chief Ministers that I will meet and ask them to intervene
Pray for Scheduled Caste and Tribes commissions, I would meet them. Most of those affected are of the lower castes and tribes, the poorest. Those who work in the field have encountered huge difficulties and I am trying to help by reaching out to higher officials.
THE VICTIMS AND THE FILTHY LUCRE
Finally they sell and buy children for sex because there is a lot of money in it. This seems to be a huge business model. Many children are just about 10 years old. Pray for the power of money to be broken.
But they are destroying tender lives for a little money. Too many people are turning a blind eye to it because they are paid off and have become beneficiaries in an evil system.
Pray for Heaven, God and His Angels to be with us. Many on the field face risks to their lives and limbs, Pray. I myself am on a more visible track now. Pray for God’s grace, protection and safety. I have already met people in extraordinary ways, by divine appointments; this cannot be planned. We need more such meetings. God has to lead us to those whom He has prepared for this. Pray for His provisions in every way.
With much love and prayers,
S
01 APR 2009: BETHEL MINISTRIES, MYANMAR
The Lord has enabled us to passed through the first quarter of 2009.PTL. We are so grateful to the Lord for His wonderful works through His wonderful people who have been guided by the Holy Spirit of God to work together for the cause of the gospel and His Kingdom.
Literature works: Has been a blessings to thousands. Despite the effect of the economy crisis we were able to print 3 new titles. The two titles are meant for evangelism and we have seen many people already blessed through the books. We are so glad to release the book "Following Jesus" with the current pictures of today.
Our Church ministries. Have been expanded since last two years. And the main Church, that is Bethel Church now has 10 daughter Churches with the efforts made by the graduates of our Bible Institute. These daughter Churches are still small in size but are encouraging to see mostly coming from other faiths. And the Lord is at work to change the lives of people.
Bethel Institute had 10 students graduated this year. Our convocation was held on the 14th of February and Dr. Norm Nelson, Compassion Radio, was the speaker. The Lord used him in a mighty way to challenge us and to exhort us.
Nargis Cyclone Relief works has been a great blessings to many and as the result we now have started a Church in Hlaing Pone, which is a badly affected village. This village had no Christian until two of the Christian health workers came to work just before the cyclone. We are happy to see now over a dozen turned to Christ during our last visit on the 23-26th March. We are planning to have a discipleship course in this month 12-18.
Church Building As mentioned in my email urgent prayer request earlier in January, we are having a great trouble to get a place for our church worship. Because the previous church building was just sold to the another party and the building was occupied immediately. We pray and do believe that God will provide. We are trying our best to get the funds within our group but it is not really possible. We are so grateful that $ 1000 was received from the Reaching Ministries. The project is $60000.00 So far our collections and offerings received was about $5000.
We do greatly appreciate for your prayers and partnership in the gospel. May our Lord bless you all. Thank you very much to you all.
Jacob Mung
Bethel Ministries, Myanmar
09 MAR 2009: BETHEL MINISTRIES, MYANMAR
Thank you very much for your prayers.
We just returned back from the 5 nights four days revival conference in Kalaymyo, the northwestern part of Myanmar.
There were about 3000 people attended. And Jacob preached at the third night service. Many souls are saved and thousands renewed their Christian life.
There will be 10 students graduating this year.
And our church gathering is continue in a rented house nearby the previous building. There is also a piece of land 65 x 135 ft being sold for $64000.00. in this area. The landlord is a retired director of intelligent service who is a Roman Catholic. He just called me saying to talk if I am interested. I said I just love to talk but could not afford to buy.
We pray that the Lord will do the best for us. Our Bible School building is very far away and it is not possible to get there every Sunday for worship. Because of the difficulties in transportation over there. There is no bus service easily available to the public.
This Sunday I have asked Faith Promise to the congregation of our church. So far we have received about $3000.00.
The need of Church building is a big matter to our church and this is our greatest concern next to the soul winning.
Thanks for your prayers and supports.
Jacob
Bethel Ministries
Yangon, Myanmar
28 FEB 2009: S*** INDIA REPORT
Thanks for your prayers. Please do continue to ask, pray, intercede till answer comes
We have seen some new steps taken this month, after many months of prayer
Orissa
I was in Orissa with some friends preaching and teaching some 50 workers. Most of them had lost everything except their lives. Teaching sessions went well. Pray for the believers to be stronger
I believe there may be deeper occult angle in areas where there were brutal killings. In many areas some form of human sacrifice may have been happening. Ask God to forgive us.
I wish I could go and pray in some of these areas as well
Initiatives, Answers
Slowly some move towards a Christian home is being made, pray for every provision especially personnel. Some faithful people are at it
Some more initiatives to give alternate employment is being made
Our desire and prayer to bring in more godly people into the RL area ministry is being answered. We need more people
I have been meeting believers to put me in touch with Govt officials, ministers and others. I will also be in Delhi for this. Pray. We need more support.
I hope to go to Kathmandu at some point. I am wondering whether I need to go with some people to pray in specific areas from where children are trafficked. It is also possible that children are traditionally given to spirits in some way. Pray for that to stop.
Some ministries who needed help in different areas are getting help from capable people
I have been visiting different people and organizations to find room for children from RL areas
Trying to shepherd people and pray with those who can work among the poor, in RL areas and among children. Pray for good godly people to arise
God is widening the prayer support, we need more. Please pray. Some four children were rescued last week, there are many more to be rescued. Pray.
Spiritual battles
We find more and more that there is high level of occult activities. Now and then there is serious flare up, spiritual attack, demon possession, evil spirits walking around in buildings where we work, vicious demonic attack on those who pray and work in RL areas. Sometimes it has been heavy and overwhelming
Rapes, murders, child trafficking for sex, torture, drugs, witchcraft, occult practices, covenant with spirits is the norm. Our sins are many.
Plead with God for forgiveness for all our sins especially in the RL areas
Pray in Jesus Name and through the Blood to bind this darkness
Some women who came out seem to be falling back to their old ways. Pray that we may be able preserve them
Personal
Some days I had found it difficult to manage the pressure. It is difficult for the body and the mind to cope with all the pressure. Too much of terrible ground reality here. Pray for grace.
Cephas is doing well and happy and busy, pray for him. Pudens will celebrate her Birthday next week. I am grateful that they both have let me go about my work far away. It is not easy for us do this, but we do it for God. Pray for the children and me, for protection ad His Presence
I wanted always to do something for people who cannot do anything in return for me, I have it now more than ever before. I am happy.
With much love and prayers,
S***
16 FEB 2009: MARANATHA UPDATE
Loving greetings from Bangalore.
Thank you for the support that we received. This is taking care of this work and is providing for us in the midst of financial troubles. We thank you and the Reaching Ministries supporters for making Maranatha Reaching Ministry possible.
As I told in one of the previous letters,we have been able to buy a burial Cell for the Churches in Kerala. They have been struggling without a burial ground and buying land for a cemetery is very hard. I think I explained the various reasons for it. Our eight churches in Kerala are all not very close to each other and so for some it will be quite a way to reach the bur rial place. They all are just thankful to have a burrial place.
Work is going on well in spite of sporadic incident of violence, beating and burning of churches the work of the Lord is till going on all over India. The enemy is furious as we see the dragon in the book of Revelation because his days are few.
I have sent the graduation announcements along with the new building dedication invitation recently. We have been so busy with teaching and Thesis correction, preparation for graduation etc. Thirty six students would graduate on March 19th God willing. This is our largest batch and includes five with Masters degrees.
The Lord bless you. This is a short note and will write later.
In Christ,
P.J.Mathai
31 JAN 2009: INDIA UPDATE
GOD HAS WORKED AMONG US
Thanks for all your prayers. Please do continue to intercede for us. God has been good to us here. The Gospel is being preached in the most unlikely of places, inside brothels. Prayer, Bible study, worship happens inside these places also. Women who are used and thrown away receive genuine love from those who know the Lord.
• Praise and thank God and also pray for the beautiful feet that take the Gospel to the rejected, oppressed women.
• Praise God for scores of women who have been rescued already, while we grieve for those who are yet to be rescued.
More people are willing to help the women and children in RL areas, as I have gone around asking His people to get involved. Of course still there is a lot of unfinished task ahead.
NEW ROAD AHEAD?
So far I have done many things, quietly. Normally I am to very visible. Most of the things I do is known only to a few close friends. I have continued to walk those areas which have been tough and interceded. I have been spending days crying out to God as never before for these women and children. I have been trying to do work for which there is no one else. I have been looking for work, where there are gaps that need to be filled. I have tried to plug those gaps in RL areas. That is satisfying work. .
There seem to be a high number of small girls trafficked and we seem to hit road blocks in getting them out. We need someone to knock on the doors of people in power and influence to get things moving. Those who are trying to accomplish rescue of trafficked children are increasingly frustrated, I do not want them to give up. I am in the process of seeking out politicians, police and administrative officers or anyone else who are willing to help. I may also have to travel looking for additional help.
PRAYER NEEDS.
1. Continue to pray for my protection and every provision.
2. Pray for me to be able to intercede and prevail. I have faced some of the heaviest days of intercession in the past few weeks. We need to break through.
3. I will be in Orissa at the end of Feb to meet and teach some affected Pastors .
4. Locally I have tried to get more people involved in the work in red light areas, that is happening.
5. Some of the things that need to be done are quite tough, which needs dedicated people .
6. Some days the going had been extremely tough in every way, pray for God’s grace to be given. Some weeks I have struggled a lot under the load, along with others. In a way this is also an understatement .
With much love and prayers,.
S***
12 JAN 2009: BETHEL UPDATE
We are so thankful to have you all praying for us as we start the new year! We could not have done it all without you this past year.
The Lord has helped us thus far and we are so thankful to God for His mercy, love and care for us.
The year 2008 was faced with many unexpected things. There was no record of such a mighty and strong cyclone in the history of Myanmar and particularly in the city of Yangon. That swept away not only the delta area but also the Yangon city.
Though the devastations was so largely expanded, there has been a great opportunity to do the humanitarian needs that were so huge. There had been some extensive help offered to the people who were in dire need and we were so privileged to help through the relief funds sent month to month by the Reaching Ministries which is the contribution of families and friends of Reaching Ministries.
I remember the words spoken by our Lord, you clothed me when I was naked, you gave me water when I was thirsty, and food when I was hungry.
During the past 8 months as the Lord provides and by the grace of God we could offered food, clothes, blankets and tarpaulin and utensils for kitchen to nearly 500 families in 12 villages. Partially we helped two church buildings to rebuild quickly.
The Lord has enabled us to print 8 new titles and 7 old titles reprint including the rearrangement of the Bible Dictionary in Burmese alphabet order. This literature Ministries has enabled many pastors, laymen and Bible students to equip them with better understanding of the Word of God. Some of our books are life changing and challenged their lives to live a better Christian.
During our recent visit to the effected Nagis area, that is Hlang Bong, there were a handful of Christians who are mostly government employees. Most of them were young but committed Christians. They don't have a pastor but don't want to neglect the gathering on Sunday. So there were two or three together and for the sermon message they read the Daily Devotional book published by us.
We thank the Lord that He has opened the door for us to plant churches during this year in Mawbi, Htaukkyant and Makway. The evangelism has been doing in Paletwa, Tarmwe and Hlawka.
We have seen several kids (about a dozen) accepted Jesus Christ as the result of our children ministry. And some are now preparing to take the baptism. Though we had planned a Christmas program for 300 kids there were 347 kids who joined the party and they really enjoyed the puppet show of our team from our church.
The Bible Institute has been a center for training the young people to do the evangelism, discipleship, church planting and Sunday school ministry. Bethel Baptist Bible Institute students are keeping well. Pray that the 18 deserving students will get the scholarship funds. At present we have 30 student body.
For the building project we have, during the past year collected from our church $1867. Including the $500 received from Reaching the total is $2367. We need much more to complete the project.
The Lord continually bless you for your faithful prayers and support.
Thanks and God's Blessings,
Jacob Mung, Bethel Ministries
O5 JAN 2009: LOVING GREETINGS FROM BANGALORE
I trust you are doing well. We have been on this Christmas break since 23rd Dec.. Tomorrow we start our classes again. I went down to Kerala to visit our Pastors. One of the things that I mentioned in a previous letter was about the need of a cemetery or a Grave Cell. On Friday we bought a cell in a place called P*** near K***. We also looked at the piece of land that was available for cemetery. This cell cost us Rs. 40,000 which is less than 1000 dollars (US).
Well, our churches are far from each other. For some this cell is close by but for others it is far. We had to buy one because of the situation that arose last time when one of their church members suddenly died and they had no place to bury her. Even though it is a bit far for some they still can take heart that there is a burial cell. We had to give the money from our Bible College Campus church account.
A*** and his fellow pastors were persistent in the request for a cell and the church is not able to buy. Praise the Lord they have a place to bury.
Prab*** and Prad*** had been conducting special meetings during Christmas, Paul P*** also did special meetings for the non-Christian crowd during Christmas.
Pra*** our newest pastor who works with Pra*** and Pra*** is doing well in AP.
The prosecution has subsided a little in Orissa and Karnataka. But there is tension in the air always.
Thank you again for making the Reaching ministry possible here in India.
We Love you.
P. M*** and Family
05 JAN 2009: MYANMAR UPDATE
Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar in the most blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Literature works: There has been a great need for Sunday school materials. We thank the Lord that He enabled us to begin publishing the OT Vol 1 and NT Vol 1. In this set of volumes we have four volumes each and we would be able to serve the churches with this need of teaching lessons. We are praying and looking forward to print the teaching aid materials so that the lessons in the books will have a greater impact to the children.
Church Ministries: Benjamin(age 15) one of the church members who suffered by polio by birth, his father was passed away before his birth by celebellum malaria as he went to the evangelism outreached trip, participated the national Disabled Olympic and won the second price. We thanks with him as he asked us to pray for his competitions for God's glory.
We are planning to have the Christmas party for 300 kids who have been attending our Children Bible Club.
Bethel Baptist Bible Institute students are keeping well. They are doing their exams in the first week of December. Pray that the deserving students that 18 of them might get the scholarships. At present we have 30 student body.
Nargis Cyclone Relief works has been a great blessing to many people in the effected area. We are happy to rebuild two churches that are in Thae Ein Sarphyusuh and Kadone Kani so far as they asked us more than the need to rebuild of their own houses.
Building Projects: We do believe that God can do to provide our needs. But looking at ourselves and our own strength it is not really possible. Any way we hope and pray that the Lord will do the best for the Church and her ministries.
We gratefully received $ 1000 from the Reaching Ministries for this we are so grateful.
We are so grateful to you for your prayers and supports in various ways to the extension of His Kingdom. The Lord bless you all.
Thanks and God's Blessings,
Jacob Mung, Bethel Ministries
31 DEC 2008: INDIA UPDATE
Wish you a Fruitful, Happy and Blessed New Year.
Thanks a lot for all your prayers. I am very grateful for the prayers and love of God’s people. I know pretty well that unless we have huge prayer support we would struggle too much here. Looking back, I returned to Cal in Jan 07 after 7 years in Chennai teaching and taking care of my children to cope with the loss of Rajive. These past two years were very tough, eventful and I had often wondered whether I had really heard God. Normally passage of time tests your assumptions.
MY DESIRES
I had always wanted to give 100% to God, His people and the poor. I did not want to be part of anything that would distract me from the principles I had followed even as a teenager. Wanted godly friends, people if integrity. Wanted to serve those who cannot give back anything in return—God has granted that.
Looking back I can see that God has fulfilled all the desires of my heart. Strangely, these also seem to give me a sense of immense fulfillment and joy which is difficult to find in this world. Now I know God has led me step by step into this work.
MY FEARS AND SELF-DOUBTS
We moved out of Cal after my wife died in 99, to bring up my children. I had visited Cal a few times, but to return again looked like an impossible mountain to climb. Till then I did not have the confidence to face the pressures of ministry here. Years of fasting has also made my body not so strong. I am no more young and was not sure I would be able to carry the burdens of Cal.
In some ways my self-doubts helped me to be cautious and careful. Humility helps you to cast yourself on God completely. Time and again when things appeared to be too much God supplied His grace and strength. It is good that my work demands that I lean on Him 100% all the time.
MY CALL TO RETURN
Aug 6 2006 night I had a dream and God seem to tell me to pack up from Chennai and get back to Cal. I had to wait for my Chikungunya pain to subside and returned in Jan 07. God seemed to tell me “walk the RL area and take care of My people and I will take care of you and your children”. I wondered what it meant. I walked the RL areas to find His people working, serving and I have found His people after some months of searching.
It looks as if God prepared me for 40 years to do the work I do. Now I am sure God led me back and gave me a work to do, I want to be faithful. Pray for me.
THE TESTS, LIFE ON THE LINE
Some friends did express reservations about my safety in the type of work I would do. At times it does look like, that my life is on the line. Risks need to be taken when God does give you a work to do.
Finance, work, housing and everything else was a huge challenge and God seemed to take me through a tough testing time. God has been faithful, as He is always. I have also grown a lot. It was good that I accepted to do a work that looked impossible. There were some job offers which seemed to offer security, financial and otherwise. I knew God had other things for me. I am glad I did not look for security.
HOUSING
Earlier house made many things difficult for me. I moved closer to my work. Slowly I have set up residence and space for work, it took some time.
WORK
I wanted challenging work that would also grow my faith. -- My work, initiatives, humanly impossible.
M***NETWORK PASTOR
I continue to help workers Pastorally for them to be effective. Trying to be a bridge between the MN and local Churches and believers. One by one people are coming into this ministry.
CARE OF WORKERS
The emotional, spiritual, physical and mental attrition rate is high among workers. Trying to keep workers healthy in every way.
WORSHIPING COMMUNITY
Some have been gathering women and children inside brothels for prayer, worship and singing and Bible study. Pray for this to see a breakthrough and people to meet God. We do see a lot of spiritual resistance, as expected. Pray for perseverance.
CHAPLAIN
I continue to teach and pray with field workers.
BOARD
Although I am hesitant to join boards, lest it distract me from my work, I have joined two to help forward the good work that is being done.
WEB
I have set up a Web page and posted some of my writings aimed at workers in difficult places. The blog itself has not been kept update. Often I am already over loaded, I will do what I can.
RL AREA CHILDREN
Working on various possibilities, meeting many leaders to make some room for these children.
RETREATS
I have been preaching at different retreats and meetings for workers.
Impossible but done by the grace and power of God. The work always seems to be beyond human ability, takes a lot out of you but there is grace and strength from Him and finally it is done.
PRAYER LETTER
When I returned one major need I felt was to widen the prayer support for the work in RL areas. 3-400 people receive my monthly prayer letter and pray for the work. Some have set up prayer groups and also devote specific time to pray for the needs, this has made a lot of difference.
From the past two years I have consistently sought to pray from 4 to 7 or 8 in the morning for the needs of the workers and the ministries in RL areas. Some days 3-4 hours of prayer seem to be 15 hours work and feel quite drained, especially at crises times when workers are falling like nine pins.
SORROWS, REVERSES, DISAPPOINTMENTS
Health. This year I was repeatedly falling sick. It looked like TB, but that was ruled out after X-ray and tests. Pollution must have triggered some of that and high pressure work.
Break down. Workers in one area have consistently broken down. It does look like that human blood given to spirits have brought in much curse and bondage. We shall deal with it and break it.
Worshiping communities inside brothels. We seem to face a lot of spiritual resistance and are finding it tough to sustain this. Pray for us to break through.
Mind. There is a huge battle for the mind, as usual. Often workers feel hopeless, then they tend to give up. Workers face all that the people of RL areas suffer from—disturbed mind, feeling lost and hopeless.
MY CHILDREN
Both C*** and P*** went through a tough transition this year and God has blessed them to find the right fit. C*** had to work and study for entrance exams and God helped him to get through at Vellore to do post graduate studies in Anesthesia. P*** is doing her Master’s in Public Relations at Chennai. Both are happy. Pray for God’s blessings, provisions and guidance in their lives
Although it is difficult for them, both have let me go to Cal for my work.
With much love and prayers,
S***
10 DEC 2008: MYANMAR UPDATE
Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar in the most blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Literature works: There has been a great need for Sunday school materials. We thank the Lord that He enabled us to begin publishing the OT Vol 1 and NT Vol 1. In this set of volumes we have four volumes each and we would be able to serve the churches with this need of teaching lessons. We are praying and looking forward to print the teaching aid materials so that the lessons in the books will have a greater impact to the children.
Church ministries. Benjamin(age 15) one of the church members who suffered by polio by birth, his father was passed away before his birth by celebellum malaria as he went to the evangelism outreached trip, participated the national disable olympic and won the second price. We thanks with him as he asked us to pray for his competitions for God's glory.
We are planning to have the Christmas party for 300 kids who have been attending our Children Bible Club.
Bethel Baptist Bible Institute students are keeping well. They are doing their exams in the first week of December. Pray that the deserving students that is 18 of them might get the scholarships. At present we have 30 student body.
Nargis Cyclone Relief works has been a great blessings to many people in the effected area. We are happy to rebuild two churches that is in Thae Ein Sarphyusuh and Kadone Kani so far as they aksed us more than the need to rebuild of their own houses.
Building Projects We do believe that God can do to provide our needs. But looking at ourselves and our own strength it is not really possible. Any way we hope and pray that the Lord will do the best for the Church and her ministries.
We gratefully received $ 1000 from the reaching ministries for this we are so grateful.
We are so grateful to you for your prayers and supports in various ways to the extension of His Kingdom. The Lord bless you all.
Thanks and God's Blessings,
Jacob Mung, Bethel Ministries
01 DEC 2008: INDIA MINISTRIES
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [Mat 7:7 NASB]
Thanks for all your prayers. It looks like more young women want to come out of the trade and opting for rehabilitation. Earlier mostly older women who opted out. Pray for more of women at an younger age to come out.
HOME. Thanks for all your prayers. I have been exploring and praying for some Home for the trafficked children. I have requested some friends to fill the need, they have agreed. Pray for a place to be found. We need two women to take care of the girls. Pray for other permissions to be obtained. God is working to bring out children as ever before and we need to do something for long term care. Pray that God would put an end to large scale sex trafficking in children, girls. Pray for blessings on all efforts to get them out.
HOSTELS. There is a crying need for care of children from RL areas who grow without schooling. Pray for wisdom to do things in the right way. Many women have been coming out of their trade. We need to help children. We will first document ad list the children who need care. We will find the right people to do it. I have been speaking to many who can do this. May want to. We will take the necessary steps to reach there. Pray for wisdom and guidance.
RECOVERY AND SURVIVAL. In one area the attrition level of workers has been very high. This area has posed a challenge that I know it for 20 years. Workers are drained and give up. Continue to pray for all the human bloodshed and the sins of that place. Much of my energy and attention has been given to pray and prevail for this place. There has been high level of occult activity for a long time. Pray that we will prevail in prayer and faith. Some of the good workers have shown signs of recovering, please do pray. Some others who are new seem to have no clue to the problems they face and do not listen to advice and break down and leave. I am not sure how to help them.
WHAT TO PRAY FOR WORKERS. Many seem to be wary of paying a price and are not able to make long term commitment to anything. Pray for workers to be humble to listen to others and get help. Pray for them to be willing for God to work in them, break, cleanse and mould them. Often workers take the wrong direction saying God was guiding them. Pray that they will get the right people to advice them. Pray for protection from spiritual deception. We are trying to learn how to cope ad build stable teams. Pray for stable teams. This place always had high attrition rates among workers and now it is true in this pocket.
BLESSINGS. In the midst of all the struggles we have see God at work in helping ministries. Pray for a center to take care of drug addicted children. New teams want to work and help in RL areas, we need people with vision with an ability to work long term. Pray for me, my health, my protection, emotional, physical and mental energy. Pray that I may really intercede and prevail in prayer from 4 AM or so.
With much love and prayers,
S, India
07 NOV 2008: BETHEL MINISTRIES UPDATE
Love and Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar.
I am so happy to send you the updates of Bethel Ministries.
Literature works: We thank the Lord that we could celebrate the 17th anniversary of Christian Literature Centre on Nov 1, 2008. There were about 700 leaders of ministries, denominations, pastors and friends from churches gathered together for thanksgiving. CLC have been doing publications and distributions of evangelical Christian literatures. The Lord enabled us to publish 127 titles so far. This vital work has been part of the church growth and evangelism in the this land.
Church ministries. One of our member at age 39 was called to heavenly home on the 28th of September. We met this lady, Ma Moe some 6 years ago and she was a traditional Christian because her father was a Christian. When we shared the gospel she got the assurance of salvation. And her husband from a catholic background. And then she had a burden to her widow mother who is a strong Buddhist and after a year turned to the Lord. There is concern that her two children, Noah(12 years) and Naomi(10 yrs). We ask the Holy Spirit's direction how best we can help.
And also there was little baby just 89 days old passed on the 26th of October. He is the only baby boy of one of our co worker. He has heart failure by birth and the doctors couldn't help. Soon after we came back from our church worship service a telephone call was received that this baby had no hope in the Hospital. Then according to the will of his parents we took him back to home. Soon he was breathless and peacefully went to be with the Lord. Their neighborhood is surrounded by other faith. The parents want to bury on the 28th of October. But it was about 4:00 pm we lately learned that the neighborhoods don't want to keep the deceased body in the area more than a day so we have to make the funeral service urgently. I preached the shortest message 5 minutes sermon on that day and by the time we reached the cemetery it was nearly 6:00 pm and the sun went down and the darkness was covered in the burial ground.
Church Planting Our church planters, Nam Kha(Makway), Khuppi(Inpha) and Win Aung(Paletwa) are keeping well and doing fine. Both of them are preparing for Christmas, which is a good time to share the gospel to the people who never heard about Jesus and His salvation. Pray that there will not be any hindrances and disturbances as they witness the birth of the Savior..
Bethel Baptist Bible Institute students are doing well in their studies. Many are not able to pay their tuition and messing fees. This cause us difficult to manage. We are in need of reference Books.
Nargis Cyclone Relief works We thank the Lord for His provisions through your generous gifts that enable us to help some of the needy. We are happy to serve these needy people as the Lord provides.
Building Projects We continue to pray and look to God for His intervention to this need The building is adequate to our ministries use. That is for the Church, Institute, literature works, children ministry as well as medical clinic for community.
We Love you and all the friends who are praying for us. We do pray for you from this corner of the world daily. The Lord bless you.
With love in Christ.
Jacob Mung
Bethel Ministries
Yangon, Myanmar
03 NOV 2008: URGENT PRAYER NEEDED FOR ORISSA, INDIA
This is a request for prayer for YWAM missionaries and their churches in Orissa, India. The request came Mable Hurst, an associate of HCJB Global. Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.
Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India.
We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage.... And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media ....
Let me explain.... A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend.
Immediately the Christians were blamed.. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.
Night and day I have been in touch with our _______________ Directors spread across 14 ___________ in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc.
They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer.
More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left.. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.
All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road.... even women and children.
At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen.
This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times.
Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.
What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations....Prayer works!
Blessings,
[undisclosed missionary name and organization]
Another account of the situation by Pastor Paul P. Akbar Khan:
Since August 2008, a nominal Christian position is very very shocking in INDIA and the political situation is not good. Everyday it is becoming worse. My neighboring states are Karnataka and Orissa. In this two states, Christians were burnt lively and more than 100 churches were burnt, Christian women and nuns were raped publicly in the market places and on the roads, pregnant ladies were torned the wombs by knifes, the featous were fallen from the womb. Christians were burnt in the churches while they are worshipping on Sundays-lively. The anti-christian groups like Bhajarang dal, VHP, other extremists holding weapons like lathis, axes, spades, crowbars, iron-rods, sickles etc. They cut the blouses, open sarees, cut the petticots and undergarments, and raped publicly and they shouted to rape 100 people on one women. The orissa government is in hopeless position. More than 1000 christian families left the villages and some escaped from their houses. Everything is gone, nothing is left. More than 199 churches were burnt-brutally.
And in Karnataka state too, the situation is the same. Churches were burnt, believers were killed, Christians running away. Horrible situation.
In my state, Andhra Pradesh, in Ananthapur district one of the pastor was beaten up when he was distributing our tracts. And in Hyderabad region four pastors were beaten up, when they are in street preaching.
. . .
01 NOV 2008: LATEST WORD FROM MARANATYA, INDIA
Love and Greetings from India.
We returned from Kerala yesterday. My Father was buried on Saturday. There had been so much rain all that week but the Lord heard our prayer and he stopped the rain from 8 am to about 1 pm. The sun was shining and there was not even the dark cloud. that is normal with the N E monsoon.
Appu and four other pastors who work in Kerala came for the Funeral. One of them spoke well representing the Reaching ministry in Kerala. Most who gathered for the funeral had not known about the Reaching Ministry in Kerala, of course it is far from them.
Appu and his fellow Pastors are facing a problem. The previous day(Friday) one of their church member had died. Earlier when somebody died they buried him in a Pentecostal cemetery (I think) but this time they had no place to Burry. Each denomination or church have their own cemeteries. We do not have one of our own in Kraal. To buy a small piece of cemetery it will cost about 10-15 thousand dollars. Reason is that very few people will sell their land for burial ground. second many neighbors will object to having a cemetery near them. Third we can get cemetery only adjacent to another cemetery. A few churches may help one time but strings attached to it. like the family come to that church. We did discuss these problem earlier and I told them to talk to another church that has the cemetery.
Many of Appu's believers are unhappy over the issue. All the churches are also either in rented houses or in a believers house. These days there is so much public pressure to have one's own place of worship. If Hindu neighbors do not like to having a worship place in a house next to them and in a residential area they can file a complaint. We can buy property and register it and have worship places. Some of Appu's groups have grown and have over forty members. Most houses are small and often believers are poor. The is blessing the Reaching ministry and it is growing. P_______, P________, A______ and P_______ are all asking for larger rented houses or some little land to build church buildings. At least if we can buy a small piece of land like 40 by 60 or so the churches could slowly raise the money and put up inexpensive structures for worship. I told Appu and Paul that their churches should start building projects and raise money to buy property and build. But I know all the practical difficulties and the their poverty. ____________ put up a little thatch hut in a field where they are worshiping. Often new believers do not realize (and it takes time to teach them about giving tithing etc.) that it is their responsibility to have their own place of worship.
So, this a very practical difficulty and I do not know what to do. Would appreciate your prayers. One immediate remedy App suggested was that they could buy burial cells. I told him to find out the details.
But these are good problems that we should pray. It is because the churches are growing. It is because people want to do right things. These are Organizational issues. If our churches have grown to be 17 then we know that we have to do more organizational work. There are other charismatic and coltish groups trying to lure away our people.
You remember one of our first person (churches) that we supported was Philip. He had needed a place of worship as the church grew so fast and somebody else offered a place and support etc. At that time he said that he is self supported and that he will not take our support. So we had then stopped supporting him and started a new missionary-P_________ or someone else.
How we thank the Lord for a wonderful work that that the Lord is enabling us to do.
It is His grace and mercy.
We Love you and are praying for you daily. The Lord bless you.
Lovingly,
PJ M______
M________ Baptist Bible College
India
31 OCT 2008: REPORT FROM INDIA
"For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom 8:26
Need for help from capable people:
I have been traveling to meet asking for help here. Probably I need to do more of that. I am also going around local Churches asking for help with regard to personnel, prayer and support for the work in RL areas. Pray for me as I continue to work as bridge between RL ministries and local Churches and others. Spoke and taught at two retreat for workers, pray that I may be given grace to build workers. I have continued to intercede at 4 AM or earlier, pray for me to survive and be fruitful. Pray for my protection even as I continue to walk some of these hard areas to intercede and help workers. At times I do feel as if everything has gone out of me. I seem to be OK now after some serious bronchial problems triggered by pollution. I also need physical and mental strength and grace to cope with very intense work. It is all consuming, sometimes.
Need for Care:
There has been more little girls released from trafficking than ever before, more need to be brought out. Praise God for all the recent answers to prayer in bringing out many. There is a great need for them to be rehabilitated, we need secure Homes. We need some who are willing to face all the problems for running a Home, men and women of sacrifice and love. I have been looking around for help and for those who are willing to do it. I have been traveling to meet people for Homes and also for Hostel for children from RL areas. I have been meeting people in leadership to decide to take children from RL areas into their hostel. We need this help especially for women with children, who have come out of their former profession. Slowly but steadily I have been finding a great willingness to help those in need. Pray for things to work out on the ground.
Attrition:
Continue to pray for God’s forgiveness of past sins in some of these areas. There seems to be a huge curse and we are not really able to break through it. . Rape, murder, cruelty, human sacrifices, trafficking in little girls—pray for the Lord to forgive our sins here. There has been a huge drain on workers and many may not survive emotionally to continue. There has been a huge depletion of team members, please pray, this is not new though . There has been a huge spiritual resistance in starting and maintaining steady prayer, finding office space and place of prayer, and keeping godly workers from breaking down.
What we need:
We need much more prayer support to really breakthrough in some areas. We need more people with relevant experience to pitch in and help us. Pray for spiritual resistance to be broken. There are high levels of occult in some areas. Pray that I may be able to focus and prevail in prayer in all the areas of difficulty. We need special wisdom and humility to keep learning.
With much love and prayers,
S, India
27 SEP 2008: REPORT OF VIOLENCE IN INDIA
One person has been killed and several others injured in fresh violence in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, a police official has said. This comes days after Hindu mobs vandalised a church and dozens of houses in Kandhamal district. Two group of villagers fought pitched battles in the area on Thursday. Orissa has seen anti-Christian violence for several weeks. At least 20 people, mostly Christians, were killed after a Hindu religious leader was shot dead.
Hindus groups have long accused Christian priests of bribing poor tribes and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity. Christians say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape the Hindu caste system. Correspondents say Thursday's violence was caused by ethnic tensions rather than religious reasons. The majority Kandha tribespeople of the area attacked the minority Hindu untouchable Pana community. A large number of Hindu untouchables in the district have converted to Christianity in the district in the past few decades. In the latest violence on Thursday, the man killed by the mob of tribespeople was a Hindu untouchable man.
Surge in violence
There has been a fresh surge in violence in Kandhamal district since Tuesday when one person was killed and two others injured when police opened fire on a mob that attacked a police station in Raikia area. The mob was demanding the immediate release of two persons arrested in connection with the month-long anti-Christian violence in the district.
Kandhamal police chief S Praveen Kumar said at least 60 houses and four Christian prayer houses were burnt or demolished in the violence that followed the police firing. He said round the clock curfew had been imposed in some "highly sensitive areas" in the district.
Violence broke out last month after Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was shot along with four others in an attack in the Kandhamal district. A senior Maoist leader claimed responsibility for the killing, but Hindu groups accused Christians. Hindu mobs burnt down monasteries, churches and an orphanage.
There has also been anti-Christian violence in the southern state of Karnataka. More than 20 churches and prayer halls have been vandalised by Hindu hard-line groups in the state.
From John Bushey
26 SEP 2008: INDIA NEWSLETTER
"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand." [Revelation 8:4]
Thanks again for all your prayers. I am sending this early as I will be traveling and I do not want this letter to be delayed. We do need much more prayers for the areas we work in, thanks. Please do continue to pray for the workers, worshiping communities to be formed, the work to be stable. Pray that God may give us all wisdom to do the work and that we may not make any major mistakes. We need good workers with dedication. Pray for workers to develop to be men and women of integrity. We also need people who are willing to sacrifice and suffer in order to serve.
Homes, Hostels: I am working at Homes for women, speaking to many about this need. We need hostels to take children from RL areas; many are hesitant to take these children. I am speaking to many to help. I am traveling to meet some and get help and advice. Pray that I find favor with those I talk to. When women choose to come out of their old profession children also may need to be taken out to a better environment. Pray for office space and other property needs also. This has been a bottle neck for some time. Pray for God to break down every barrier.
Recovery: Some of the workers seem to have broken down and cannot continue in difficult corners. It is a very tough work in some corners, but we will persevere. Pray that those in leadership may not give up. We need worshiping communities within those difficult corners. Pray for God’s forgiveness on all the sins, the bloodshed in those places. Pray for curses to be broken.
Website and Blog: I had fever on and off for over 6 weeks. I am not fully normal yet. Trying to be more balanced, not easy to learn. I have had mild to severe headache for many weeks now. It is the stress here. Pray for my health. I have been waking up early 4 or even earlier. Pray for good sessions of intercession.. Pray for God’s provision in every way. I have just started a blog, you can visit. It will be to feed people spiritually.
The address is given below. There is also a new website where I have some material posted, mainly to cater to those who work in extreme places. There are documents that can be downloaded. Please introduce to others also. There will be more documents as time passes.. There is a document I have prepared on Sabbath if you want I can send it to you. Please write and ask
With much love and prayers,
S, India
SEP 2008: FLAME MINISTRIES NEWSLETTER
You will probably be hearing about an event called "Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed: Implications for Christians and Muslims" so . . . read on . . .
In October 2007, 138 Muslim religious authorities and organizational leaders, representing 41 nations, issued a letter addressed to Christian scholars and clerics of every denominational stripe. It is called A Common Word Between Us and You. In response, a document was produced by the Yale Divinity School entitled, "Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to a Common Word between Us and You," published on Nov. 13, 2007. A number of so-called "Evangelical leaders" – which has become a pretty much useless tag – signed this document, including such individuals as Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals; Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, Samford University; Duane Litfin, President of Wheaton College; David Neff, Editor in Chief of Christianity Today; John R. Stott, Rector Emeritus of All Souls Church, London; Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church; Bill Hybels, Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church; Robert Schuller, Founder of Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power; Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent Village; Brian D. McLaren, Emergent author and speaker; Jim Wallis, President of Sojourners; and Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary.
Duane Litfin later withdrew his endorsement, as did some others. Litfin said he originally endorsed the Christian response in the interest of peacemaking but changed his mind after critics prompted a rethinking. However, with typical contemporary non-judgmental style, he said, "I do not criticize others who do not share these qualms."
Some conservative Protestants have expressed vigorous objections to the substance of both statements.
R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was not a signatory. He remarked that he would not apologize for the Crusades because there was sin on both sides, and he was thankful Muslims failed to conquer Europe. He also rejected the apology for the "war on terror" because such a statement wrongly identified Christianity with U.S. foreign policy. John Piper of Desiring God Ministries commented that the Christian Response involved an approach that was "to deceive, to be unclear at best" because it provided no "clear statement about what Christianity really is" and ignored that "the love of God is uniquely expressed through Jesus Christ." A Focus on the Family article indicated that the Response "appeared to leave the fundamentals of Christianity – especially the deity of Christ – open for discussion."
As a part of the continuing effort by the Yale Divinity School’s "Reconciliation Program," the university hosted an event called "Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed: Implications for Christians and Muslims." This four-day event was held in July. It was organized by Yale Divinity School’s Center for Faith & Culture under the leadership of its founder and Director, Miroslav Volk, together with the director of the Center’s Reconciliation Program, Joseph Cumming. The keynote speaker for the event was Senator John Kerry. His remarks could be best described as typical "comparative religion liberalism" (the kind of thinking taught in most colleges and universities by men who know nothing of genuine biblical faith.)
Over 140 conference participants unanimously approved a cooperative statement. This statement supposedly signaled a "new beginning of collaboration between Christians and Muslims." It began by affirming the "unity and absoluteness of God" and God’s merciful love as central to both religions. Participants of both faiths – Christianity and Islam – pledged to spend one week a year sharing the good aspects about the other’s faith. (The implication of this is that both Christianity and Islam are "good" religions and basically worship the same God.) This four-day July event was to be the first in a series of conferences slated for this year in the U.S, Britain and at the Vatican in Rome.
What is wrong with this approach? A number of things:
First, it gives people a false impression about God. A sentence in the Yale Center statement claims, "In the Muslim tradition, God, ‘the Lord of the worlds,’ is ‘The infinitely Good and All-Merciful.’" A reading of the Preamble of the document could lead one to think the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ were also the god of Muhammad and Muslims. I have often encountered people who say with great assurance, "Muslims worship the same God Christians do, but in a different way." Such a view is being reinforced by these joint events and their pronouncements. This notion is a logical absurdity in that the god of Muslims is strictly singular, with the passionate rejection of the idea that God has a Son; and the God of Christianity is a Trinity existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself said, ". . all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23, NKJV). He was not talking about honoring Him as a prophet or a good religious leader, but as the Unique Son of God. Without Christ as Savior and Lord, a person does not worship the true God. This truth is reinforced in the Epistle of 2 John, with a warning about making accommodation for those who reject it: "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11, NKJV).
Second, it betrays a defective and one-sided idea of confession. The framers and endorsers of "A Christian Response" act as though they have the authority to take upon themselves the alleged wrongs and sins committed by so-called Christians "in the past (e.g. in the Crusades,") confessing not only to that but to alleged offenses committed against Muslims by "many Christians" in more recent times. And they are doing this in the name of the Muslim god, asking "forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world." What Scriptural authority is there for us to confess the alleged sins and offenses of others – let alone doing it to a god of another religion? Old Testament examples like Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel have to do with the Old Covenant arrangement of the nation of Israel, but it can be argued that such procedures today for various classes of professing "Christians" are a distortion of the covenantal relationship under Christ. This actually represents a non-biblical idea of "apologizing."
Does it not strike one as peculiar that there is no confession on the part of the Muslims of the 400 years of atrocities against "Christians" before the Crusades, and the terrible injustices and crimes committed through centuries and in recent times by Muslim authorities and adherents to non-Muslims in lands under Sharia law?
Third, it is a movement capitulating to a Muslim idea of peace. The underlying motivation of this effort is that we must learn to live in peace. The claim is Christians and Muslims make up over half the world’s population and there can be no meaningful peace without peace and justice between these two religions and the very survival of the world depends on this. People say, "Oh, we must have peace. That is the most important thing." So they see this as a noble attempt in that direction. Some are willing to do almost anything if they think it will result in peace. But peace is not the most important thing. The Bible indicates that people who think this way will be led astray. The prophets warned about those who say "Peace! When there is no peace."
The most important thing is the Lordship of Christ and obedience to the teachings of God’s Word. Jesus once said, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division" (Luke 12:51). Funny, isn’t it, how we select the biblical truths that seem compatible with our cultural and personal preferences and overlook those that do not fit our preconceptions? In a sinful world and among false religions, the truth of Christ will always be a trouble-causing factor. In an effort to find peace, men will deny, distort or minimize the truth of Christ.
Of course, Jesus Christ does provide peace for His people, but it is a different kind of peace. He said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27, NKJV).
Muslims have a concept of peace based on the world becoming submissive to Sharia law. Sharia law treats Muslims as essentially "first class" citizens and other groups which are allowed to live –particularly Jews and Christians – as "second class" citizens. The official name for this is dhimmitude. Dhimmis have had to pay special taxes which Muslims claim was money paid for their protection by the Muslims (even though they were in more danger from the Muslims than anyone else!) These people are always to conduct themselves in a submissive way to Muslims and never say anything against Islam. Attempts to witness about Christ to a Muslim are punishable by death. Muslim imams and leaders passionately believe such a society is the way of peace.
"Creeping Sharia" is a term used regarding how Western societies are complying with Muslim ideas and giving in to their assertions (e.g. removing all pork products from school menus and allowing Muslim taxi drivers to refuse rides to blind persons with seeing-eye dogs because of their belief that dogs are unclean). Islam is a very aggressive religion and historically has pressed by any means possible, including deception, to achieve its purposes. Under Sharia, Islam is always to be spoken of positively and never criticized. Could not this Muslim initiative actually be a way devised to subtly help advance Sharia?
Fourth, it is using a method that will not be productive in the advancement of the gospel. Enough attempts have been made with group dialogue in the past to cause perceptive people to realize that such efforts do not result in conversions. In fact, the whole purpose is contrary to the idea of conversion. Rather it stresses acceptance of the others’ position as valid. While some knowledge of the other side’s ideas may result from such efforts, people in each group also support each other in reinforcing their own ideas. So while Christians may proclaim the truth of Christ and salvation through Him in such a context, this is heard in an insulated way. Indeed, many contemporary knowledgeable Muslims know the fundamental Christian beliefs and have been well indoctrinated in how to reject them.
Actually while Christian participants may believe and argue that they are using these events as a forum for proclaiming the Christian message – and I believe many of them sincerely want to do that – they are actually using a method that does not have biblical precedent. Dialogue on a one-on-one individual level is another matter and has a different set of dynamics.
Fifth, it will have detrimental effects for Christians living in Muslim lands. Christian believers living in lands dominated by Muslims have a difficult time of it. Muslims are always trying to get them to come over to their religion. Some time ago, when a Bishop in the Anglican Church in England denied Christ’s resurrection, Muslim leaders in other parts of the world used this on simple Christian believers saying, "Look, one of your own leaders now is saying what Muslims have been saying all along. What is to keep you from coming and worshipping with us?"
The supposed cooperation between Muslim and Christian leaders, which many in the Western world may view in a positive way, can have an entirely different impact in Muslim lands. Muslim leaders may say, "See, Christian leaders are agreeing with us. You too need to realize that our religion is right and you have been wrong." Indeed, Patrick Sookhdeo, himself a convert from Islam, has reported that in the months subsequent to the Yale Center letter, church leaders and Christians across the Muslim-majority world have conveyed their bitter disappointment and sense of betrayal over the Yale Center response. One church leader in a largely Muslim country told him, "Now armed with apologies of Christian leaders of crusade (sic), our pressure has increased . . . We have now been lumped with all the West is doing . . . What we now have is Western Christian Christians leading in apology implicating many others . . . This situation plays perfectly into their hands to put us on the guilt trail that we cannot offer Christ for who He is to them."
Much more could be said but we are limited in what we can put in this newsletter.
One of the most troubling things about this movement is that it shows the continuing spiritual disintegration and disarray of what was once modern evangelical Christianity. Leith Anderson may claim that he represents the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) which covers 61 denominations and hundreds of evangelical organizations. But the day will come when, with the shift toward the left in the leaders of the NAE, Christians committed to biblical truth above cultural notions will want to disassociate themselves from the organization as not speaking for them. I suspect that just as the National Council of Churches (NCC) has been unacceptable for people of convinced historic biblical doctrine in the past, with present trends the time will come when they will feel the same way about the NAE.
I realize that in writing these things, some may accuse me of too much "black and white" thinking. They pride themselves in knowing the shades of gray, taking a so-called "nuanced" approach. When people have been unable or unwilling to analyze what they consider wrong with my reasoning, they have sometimes thrown up this objection thinking it discounts what I have said. However such a response is a dodge and does nothing toward the truth. Besides, many things ultimately are either-or, black-or-white.
We live in troubled times and, if the Lord tarries, will continue to live in troubled times.
I have special concern in these matters. I have been in Muslim-affected cultures. I have interacted with a number of Muslims. I have seen some Muslims come to faith in Christ. I have done many seminars on Understanding Islam. I have led multi-session studies on the Muslim Challenge and what it is like for Muslim-background Christian believers in lands of Sharia culture. Some missionaries to Muslims have intimated that I knew more about the religion then they did.
My heart rejoices that many Muslims today are coming to deliverance and new life through faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Savior. Much of this is taking place "below the radar," so to speak.
I am also aware that too much exposure of what is happening may stir Satan’s wrath and hatred with much more suffering and death for these precious people.
For information about your church having a Presentation of Understanding Islam or for special Meetings contact us by mail, e-mail, or telephone (be sure to talk to the answering machine). FLAME MINISTRIES PO BOX 3333, EVERETT, WA 98213-8333 E-mail: FlameMin@earthlink.net Telephone (425) 347-3216
Thanks again to all you who read our newsletters, and especially to all you who pray for us and maybe even contribute to help with our ministry. We continue to pray regularly for all those who partner with us by their financial assistance.
John Hoeldtke
04 SEP 2008: MYANMAR UPDATE
Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar.
We want to thank you very much for your fervent prayer and financial support. The Lord has blessed the efforts as we join hand in hand in the ministries of the Lord. Thousands of peoples lives were touched with the aids delivered to them and the message of the gospel gave them hope.
I am so sorry that I could not send you the ministries reports in May, June and July except for the relief works. I am now putting altogether in this report.
Church ministries I would say that after the Nargis cyclone the Lord has made it good to our Church members. Attendance increased. Before that the regular attendance was about 80-90 and now 100-120. Some of the members who occasionally attended the church service are now awaked by the disaster. On the 8th of June 2 new believers took baptism. We have regularly held house meetings in the week days and the Lord also opened to held among the medical crops and their hearts are opened to the Lord. Many more are listening to the gospel we preach and share to them. We ask the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and change them.
Church Planting One of our church planter, Nam Kha is having been here for the past two years serving the Lord faithfully among the Shan Bhuddhist in Makway village, the northern part of the country. This village has no transportation nor communications. Its located in a remote area. The whole village has about 380 populations out of this only a dozen are Christians. In early May my self and Sandar visited there and held a discipleship training for three days(this is how we escaped from the Nargis cyclone). There were 14 attended. And in the month of August Nam Kha has a Bible study time with the non Christians, five attended. They wanted to have Shan Bible which is not available. Win Aung is now begin to reach among the unreached people group in Paletwa, western part of the country. There is no Christians in the area. They are in need of our prayers and financial support.
The Children Bible Club is conducting regularly. As this has been a way of reaching the unreach people the Lord has helped us to get contact with some families. From this year we are beginning to assist some of the needy children could not afford to their tuitions and text books so we are helping at present 17 children. This is a way of showing God’s love to them.
Bethel Baptist Bible Institute is doing well with 29 students. This time all are keeping well. The extension works of the kitchen is going on and we are still in need of finishing the walls. Benches for dinning hall is still needed. We have to pull the chairs in the class rooms when having meals and this has to be done three times a day. Many students are not able to pay their messing fees. We would like to add the volume of books for our library. At present we have about 1000 books that are essential and this is not enough. There are four places where the students went for outreach where the gospel is being shared to the friends and families of the contact people.
Nargis Cyclone Relief works Praise the Lord with us that we have concluded the first phase of relief works. By the provisions of God through your generous gifts and from our church together we successfully delivered 6610 kg of rice, 830 packets of which contain each of the followings: cookies(600gm), biscuits(500gm), Glucose powder(450 gm), medicines(vitamins, pain killers and balms), candles(20 pieces per packet) and gas light. There were also three kinds of books (655 copies of each) given to help the people to lookup above. 320 Holy Bibles and thousands of tracts were distributed. 1080 pieces of T Shirt and a hundred pieces of second hand clothes were given to those who don’t have more than a piece of cloth. 100 houses were covered with Taupolin. All together to the total of 18 villages just over 1000 families have been blessed one way or the other.
The Lord opened doors to share the gospel because of Nargis cyclone. We have shared to several places and people the churches. We are going back to some places in December to preach the gospel during the Christmas Season.
We are looking forward to help rebuild over 300 houses and 6 churches in the days to come as the Lord provide.
Building Projects As mentioned in my April report the Presbyterian Church building of which we have rented for the past 6 years is on sale. And there are coming up now competitor buyers. In fact as we are in good relationship with the landlord he wants our church to take over as he could not handle any longer. So at this point of selling this has been our prayer to use not only for our church, but very adequate to the need of our Bible Institute. This building (four storey building 50' x 150' ft) can accommodate up to 300 congregations in the chapel and 100 students for boarding, class rooms and library. This is a great challenge to our church of whom we are like David facing the GIANT GOLIATH to meet the need for this building.
If we can have this building this is good not only for the church but also for the Institute and other church related ministries such as children and literature ministries altogether. We can use this building without any trouble because this is a licensed church building while the authorities do not allow new church building for the past three decades.
We would like to make the following request
1. God’s protections as we are in the fore fronts of the ministries.
2. Pray for the need of the church building project.
3. Pray that over 300 houses and 6 churches to rebuild
Lets continue to pray that God will supply all the needs.
Thanks and Blessings
Jacob Mung
Bethel Ministries
Yangon, Myanmar
02 SEP 2008: INDIA UPDATE
Thanks for all your prayers. The events of this month show that we need much more prayer. Please feel free to ask friends and family to pray for the needs mentioned here. Please continue to pray for us.
THE STORM:
It has been a difficult month; it is difficult to understand or explained what really happened. That is a futile exercise. There has been sickness, discouragement, hopelessness and bewilderment (as many events cannot be explained). There is all the more the need to walk by faith and not by sight. When someone hears the Truth and you know that person and she is murdered it is difficult for the workers. There are also instances of teenage girls dying of AIDS, normally some other reason is given. Many teenage girls are trafficked and what they face is unimaginable. Often the work carefully done seems to fall apart. Those who work with you seem to break down and give up. When workers are afraid that if they speak or do something they could be killed and it is real, we need to work through. We have faced all of this through the month. I had fever on and off for a month which made me weak, looked serious. I have recovered. This time my sickness was severe and my mind seemed to go blank. I was unable to pray. This h
appened the night before I was supposed to return from Chennai. I returned with my sickness on a hunch that workers might be in trouble and I was right. I am yet to return to the level of intercession I like to be at. I think I get too much of bad news all the time and may be my body and mind struggle too much. Pray for me. Now that I am alone if I am too sick it is a problem. Pray.
AFTER THE STORM:
We need to just keep going, after picking up the pieces. I wrote a document called "Counting the Cost" just to help the workers focus on the job in progress. We need to be willing and be prepared mentally to be willing to suffer and sacrifice in order to do the work given by God. Workers need to learn to persevere and not give up when things look too dark. The fact that I have gone through a lot and have seen God at work has helped to stand firm and not be shaken. The work is beyond human skills and ability. The level of faith among workers needs to go up--.
THE NEED:
Pray that God may continue to bless us with more faith and His grace. Pray that all those who work in RL area may not be overcome by fear or hopelessness. Pray for godly, stable people and orgs to get involved. Pray for ethics and integrity among workers, orgs and believers. We get into a lot of mess because we lack integrity, and we tend to be a low trust society, including Christians. Not good.
THE INITIATIVES:
Continue to pray for Homes, Hostels, Schools which will accommodate those form RL areas. We have been taking multiple initiatives to bring new people to do their bit. In spite of all this the Lord is working and bringing others to work. I need to go to various places to meet people face to face to raise more prayer and also to get help for the work here. People who have succeeded elsewhere need to help and teach us here.
With much love and prayers,
S, India
[I work in red light areas and Pastor teams. On the whole in many areas where we never had much work God’s people are doing great work. In some areas though, we have had extraordinary battles. I personally feel that these are areas of much occult activity and probable animal and human sacrifices to covenant with spirits. There are upfront demonic demonstrations to overwhelm us get us frightened. We go in His Name and are not in any way frightened. But the battle sometimes is intense. Continue to pray for us. Sometimes the workers on the field are traumatized and I care for them. Pray.]