ASAP Newsletter, July/August 2006

July/August, 2006

Cover: Ung Sreng, Cambodia Church Planter, builds a worship room onto the front of his small house.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

3 4 6 8 5 10 12 14 16 18

Director’s Update

20

Christ’s Temples

2

What comes to mind when you think of building God’s kingdom?

Judy Aitken shares highlights that are happening today in Southeast Asia.

In Loving Memory Building God’s Kingdom in Laos Read Khamsay Phetchareun’s enlightening report to find out why Laos needs churches.

Experiencing Extreme Results Join Judy Aitken as she visits with a friend, Vietnamese Pastor Bui Te Tuan. The progress of his ministry will have you praising the Lord!

ASAP Family Connections Hear what the Hwang family, ASAP family members, have to say about giving.

Building God’s Kingdom in Cambodia Garth Anthony, president of the Cambodia Adventist Mission shares information on the progress in Cambodia.

Taxi Driver Turned Builder Read the inspiring story of how Cambodian church planter Ung Sreng finds the Lord. Be inspired!

Did You Know?

Some interesting facts about churches and the building process in Southeast Asia.

Help Build God’s Kingdom!

Find out how you can join Christ’s building crew through your prayers and support.

Five Principles - Church Planting Among Southeast Asian Buddhists Through research and years of experience, Scott Griswold shares the keys to winning Buddhist’s hearts.

Pastor Phamor shares what Newlife Farm has to do with Christ’s temple in Thailand . . . it’s life changing!

Director/Editor Judy Aitken Assistant Editor Julia O’Carey Copy Editors Jolene Roosenberg Shari Pottinger Hayli Davis Design/Layout Son Praises/ Margie Mitchell Adventist Southeast Asia Project's purpose is to support the preaching of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ through church planting and evangelism endeavors for Southeast Asian people throughout the world. As a privately funded, nonprofit organization we work as a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As an unaffiliated, independent ministry, we are dependent upon God to move people to support this work.

Please contact us: ASAP PO Box 84 Berrien Springs, MI 49103 Phone: 269-471-3026 Fax: 269-471-3034 Email: office@asapministries.org Web address: http://www.ASAPministries.org We would love to hear from you.

(Tax-deductible contributions may be sent with the enclosed envelope.)

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

“Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain” Psalms 127:1.

T

here are two annual events that I eagerly look forward to. One, called SEEDS, takes place in my home town of Berrien Springs, MI. The other, takes place in Asia. The focus of both these events is church planting. Though in different venues, those in attendance are clear in their purpose and mission: to build God’s Kingdom.

What comes to mind when you think of building God’s Kingdom? No doubt you think of the pastors and Bible workers who work tirelessly for this end. I would hope, also, that you think of yourself and recognize the role you play in increasing heaven’s population through your prayers and support. Together, each of us is making a difference and having a direct impact in building God’s Kingdom.

I recall a SEEDS conference where I was one of the presenters some years ago where the emphasis of my seminar was on keys to successful church planting. Before beginning, I brainstormed with the attendees as to what it is that they saw as keys needed to plant churches and give people Jesus. The responses were varied. I remember looking into the eyes of the sincere, dedicated individuals sitting in our air-conditioned comfort. It was this same sincerity, eagerness and dedication that answered the same questions last month in Cambodia (only this time I felt the sweat running down my back) The Lord has His ASAP

warriors on all sides of the globe, all working toward the same purpose. We are His public relations messengers, all driven to build and expand the Kingdom of God. ASAP is passionate in our commitment to building God’s Kingdom among Southeast Asians in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos and to those who have immigrated to North America. For the past seventeen years (seven as Refugee Projects with Adventist Frontier Mission and ten years as Adventist Southeast Asia Projects) we have worked in partnership and support of the Southeast Asia Union and local missions as they enter regions unreached by the gospel message. National pastors and workers are sent to these areas and work with outstanding success in reaching their people for Christ and building up churches.

Hundreds of house churches have been raised up in Vietnam, this all happening in just the past decade. Confirmed reports tell of more than 50,000 Adventist members who worship in house churches and unconfirmed reports of more than 300,000. In Cambodia there are now six churches, 32 companies and 163 worship groups whereas there was only one small church when ASAP first began it’s work 17 years ago. The total number of church members are 5,390. There are also many churches and house churches in Laos 3

and Thailand, some of which are results of ASAP-funded and supported pastors and Bible workers. All these churches, in these countries have been built/established as a result of the power of the Holy Spirit in answer to the prayers of God’s people. Truly, ASAP donors are the supporting foundation to the success for Christ that we have seen.

Truly, God’s Kingdom is being built–person by person, church by church.

As I have the privilege of associating with church-planters in both Asia and the US, I am continually impressed with their creative, personalized approaches to witnessing. Three of these fascinating approaches are highlighted in this edition of the newsletter. One approach is shared with you in the form of five principles by Scott Griswold on page 18.

These principles have been put into practice throughout Southeast Asia by the national pastors and workers. On page 20 Pastor Phamor talks about his approach to building

the Kingdom as he effectively prepares medical missionaries in Thailand. You will also love reading about Bui Te Tuan in the highlands of Vietnam and his creative approach to building God’s Kingdom (page 8).

Get a glimpse of how all this “building” is organized as you read the report from Garth Anthony, the president of the Cambodia Adventist Mission (p. 10 ). Also rejoice with us as Laos enters a new phase of church growth with opportunities to finally build churches.

Read all the exciting details on page 7.

Be inspired and rejoice in the Lord’s blessing on all our efforts to build His Kingdom.

ASAP readers, donors, prayer partners and supporters are all key to the successful efforts to build His Kingdom. Thank you for investing in eternity and partnering with us to accomplish great things through God’s Spirit.

“Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord of host.” (Zechariah 4:6). ASAP

We extend our sincere condolences to our ASAP family that lost their loved ones. Please know that we want to support you and will be praying for you during this time. We send our deep sympathy and appreciation to…

Dorraine Schermerborn & Don and Jim Edelman for their gift given in memory of Virginia Edelman.

Lois Ritchie for her gift given in memory of her husband Norton Ritter Ritchie.

Daniel Morikone for his gift given in memory of Orlyn Hamel in recognition of his service during the Vietnam War.

4

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Chan and Esther Hwang and their Family —-Members of the Central Korean SDA Church in Auburn, Washington

S

“

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, MY wife and I began to think more and more about how we could best glorify God with His possessions which He entrusted to our family. We laid our all on the altar in prayer, asking God to show us how to order our lives, possessions, time, talent and finances in a way to glorify Him. One of the first things God showed us was that we should down-size and become debtfree. At that time, our mortgage and second mortgage payments were enslaving us to work long and hard. We decided to sell our 5,000 square foot home and move our family of six into a smaller but reasonably satisfactory home in a quiet, secluded area.

After our move, the church that we were attending was blessed with the arrival of Pastor Martin Kim. One of the many excellent and memorable sermons he preached was on stewardship. It touched my wife and me in a special way. We decided to give more than we were giving, and true to His promise in Malachi 3:10, God began blessing us more and more abundantly. We found out that we HORTLY AFTER

really can not out-give the Lord!

God showed us that we could stop working sixty (plus) hour weeks and instead spend more time with Him in personal devotions and in nurturing our four children. He showed us that we needed to divest from “investments” which really were not making us any significant amounts of money and first invest in our debt. We have found it such a blessing that while working fewer hours we can actually save quite a bit more. We will soon become entirely (including our mortgage) debtfree by His grace.

We have decided that we would use what we would pay in our current mortgage for God’s work and to bless others while there is yet time for the salvation of souls. We are praying this month that the Lord will bless us as we help support the church planters in Phnom Penh, through ASAP. We are so grateful for what ASAP is doing to hasten the coming of the Lord. We pray that He will use ASAP in a mighty way to save many, many precious souls for the Kingdom of God.” ASAP

Thank you for being a vital member of the ASAP family! If you have been blessed by giving to missions through ASAP, we would love to hear about it.

ASAP

5

by Khamsay Phetchareun

A

LAO people by Dick and Jean Hall in 1957 when they worked among the Lao people of Luang Namtha, northern Laos. Regrettably, after a short period of time their work was interrupted by the Indochinese War and the Halls had to leave the country.

During these years the Adventists, who were still young in faith, continued to keep their faith alive without spiritual leaders or church DVENTISM WAS INTRODUCED TO THE

Photo by Frank Spangler

Laos, a landlocked country, is situated in Southeast Asia and surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Myanmar. Out of 6,368, 481 million people, 60 percent are Buddhists and the rest adhere to Animism, mystical religions, and Communist ideology. Christianity makes up 1.5 percent of the total population, with around 1,000 Adventists and ten times as many Evangelicals.

support. During the 1990s the new government of Laos began to give limited freedom to practice religion. The very few Lao Adventists, less than fifty in number at that time, were able to reconnect with their brothers and sisters from the outside world again.

6

Since then, despite restrictions and severe persecution at times, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Laos has been growing steadily.

Of the 1,000 Adventists in Laos, 700 are in the south, 200 in central Laos, and 100 in the north. Surprisingly, in all of Laos, the Adventists only have two church buildings, one in Vientiane and the other in the northern province of Bokeo. It is by God’s provision that the Lao government recognizes these

churches alongside the Evangelical and Catholic churches. Under extreme conditions, house churches have served Christians in Laos well. However, the time has come where Christians in Laos need to worship in church buildings. There are several reasons for this.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

First of all, worshipping in homes raises suspicion and runs the risk of being branded as anti-government meetings. Christians are legally recognized by the government if they have a proper place of worship. Unfortunately, our church members in Luang Namtha, the birth place of Adventism in Laos, do not receive such recognition because their church building was destroyed during the war. The local government there believes that if there is no church building there are no Christians.

Secondly, the Adventists in Laos need to construct places which focus on all aspects of cultural and religious life. In a Buddhist context, a Buddhist temple is not only a place of worship, but it is also a community hall which serves the people’s social, as well as religious needs. Temples serve as a school, a meeting place, a refuge, a hostel and an emergency center. Even sports and other activities are conducted on the temple grounds.

People often wonder why there are so many temples in Laos, often right next to each other. For instance, in a small picturesque city of Luang Prabang, the world heritage city, there are well over one hundred temples. The fact is that each community must have at least one temple. Each Adventist community needs to have its own ‘temple’ as well.

Finally, because building temples is a priority for Buddhists, they do not understand why Christians do not have churches. In this sense, a Christian village without a church is a disgrace to the Lord in the eyes of Lao nonbelievers. People often think that if Christians do not have a church it is either because their God is not powerful enough to help them build one or they are not fully committed to their religion.

As a general principle, the Lao government does not give permission for building churches. However, where relations between Christians and the local government are good, approval is usually obtained, sometimes even (Continued on page 23)

Churches built in Laos range from $3,000 to $30,000, depending on seating capacity, materials, location, etc. If you feel impressed to help build in Laos, don’t wait another minute.

Contact ASAP today!

Church being built in Pakse, Laos

ASAP

7

Experiencing Extreme Results

by Judy Aitken, ASAP Director

I

t is always such a thrill when I am in the field and get to see the pastors and Bible workers in action. I love to witness their ability to make the Bible come alive with applications from daily Asian life. I am always impressed with how the Holy Spirit works through these courageous workers who will stop at nothing to tell others of Jesus. The fact that I have been intimately involved in missions to Southeast Asia for over twentyfive years, has given me opportunity to see our Asian family of God grow. I have watched young boys who sat listening to their fathers preach grow up to be outstanding pastors themselves. I have witnessed the transformation of children who sang in refugee camp choirs grow up to become strong church leaders, and teenagers who accepted Christ grow up to get married and have families who are devoted Seventh-day Adventists.

Even in a shorter span of time, I have seen outstanding change. One such instance took 8

place with Bui Te Tuan. Five years ago, Bui was a new convert who attended a training session. Like the others, he was on fire for Christ, eager to do all he could to tell others of the Jesus he had learned of while listening to his short-wave radio. Immediately after accepting Christ, he began to witness to his friends and neighbors. Bui was a natural leader and captivating speaker. He absolutely glowed as he told me that he now had several worship groups, totaling 360 people in all, who had accepted Christ. These groups met out of different members’ homes. His parents also opened up their home for Bui to conduct Bible studies and prayer groups. I affirmed Bui and praised the Lord for the success He had given him. We prayed for a number of concerns, in particular, the number of arrests he had suffered at the hands of the local police. Because witnessing is illegal in Vietnam, Bui had been labeled a criminal and arrested at every chance. Undaunted, Bui continued his witnessing with more fervor than ever. I’ll never forget his words, “I’m just beginning. God has lots for me to do.”

Fast forward five years. I found myself again sitting in conversation with Bui, now a little older, a few smile wrinkles around his sharp eyes. I had been kept abreast of Bui’s work and had seen him a few times, however this was our first opportunity to really talk since that meeting five years previous. I knew that the during those five years, Bui had endured repeated arrests, interrogations and extended jail time. I could not help but think Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

to myself that I was sitting in front of a reallive Paul - the same courage and the same determination to spread God’s Word. After some initial greetings, I asked, “How are things going? I’m eager to hear an update.”

It was with a bright smile that seemed to fill the bamboo room where we sat that Bui told me, “God has had lots for me to do.” Bui continued to tell of how God poured out His blessings upon his efforts as well as those of the team of lay-pastors whom he worked with.

“Every day we pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to witness and spread the hope that people can have when they believe in Jesus.

Our groups of house churches meet together for fasting and prayer once a week. The more we suffer, the faster God’s work grows.”

As is his nature, Bui was too modest to voluntarily tell me the statistics of his efforts, however when asked, he did confirm that, through God’s blessings, he is now a leader of ten districts of house churches as well as twenty lay pastors. And the most exciting news is that the membership of 360 from five years ago has now grown to 2,056 people in about 170 house churches.

“You are a strong worker for God,” I told Bui. Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “I am not afraid to die for Christ.” He also added, “Our members are strong believers and are also willing to take the risks involved in worshipping on Sabbath. We claim God’s promises, especially one of my favorites, Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”

As Bui and I bowed in prayer to end our time together, I wish to share with you. In a quiet, urgent plea, he had four desperate petitions for God. The first was that God would impress the kind people in America to give more Bibles and Bible lessons for the work in Vietnam. Only about 10 percent of the members in his district own a Bible. The second was for food and water for his members who where severely affected by a drought that came to the province where he lives and also to five of the surrounding provinces. Bui also prayed earnestly for rain to grow the rice crops. In closing, Bui thanked the Lord for the Peace and Happiness SDA radio broadcast that brought him the words of God and continues to fortify the faith he and his members have in God. The next time you find yourself in prayer, please remember Bui and his requests. Please also add your own words of appreciation to Christ for how He continues to bless the prayers and support given by caring ASAP readers such as yourself. ASAP

You Can Partner With a Vietnamese Pastor in Achieving Extreme Results for Christ by Sending $50/Month for Support.

ASAP

9

by Garth Anthony

T

HANKS TO A RELATIVELY YOUNG CHURCH

in Cambodia we have been able to experiment freely with different ways to train and witness. The Cambodia Adventist Mission partners with ASAP to not only keep the work organized, but to train and support every national worker serving the Lord under our care.

The country has been divided into provinces and we have endeavored to plant a provincial center in the main city of each province as a way to organize our efforts. District pastors care for their members and nurture the church planters who work with them.

We have approximately eighty church plant-

ers, (thirty eight in Phnom Penh) who are trained to enter new areas and plant new congregations. Most of the pastor’s time is spent training church planters and helping them organize their groups to witness and meet the needs of their communities.

This training, led by the administration and pastors, requires intense preparation, prayer and increasing costs. Yet, ASAP and we know how important it is to keep all national workers trained so they can be most effective in their ministry. Most of the church planters have recently come from Buddhist and animist backgrounds and their Bible knowledge is limited.

This is why the administration and the district

Church planter, Pal Sopheap, witnessing in the slums of Phnom Penh.

10

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

pastors give ample training to the church planters. At these training sessions, emphasis is placed on Bible study or doctrines. A recent series concentrated on the first six chapters of Genesis where topics such as Creation, Sabbath, Marriage, Origin of Sin, Great Controversy, Salvation, etc. were covered. The training also helps ensure that teaching materials are constantly passed from the administration down to the grassroots level.

As the Holy Spirit moves, congregations grow and the mission organizes them as companies and then churches. When they are large enough, they divide and create more small groups. Through God’s blessing, many groups are multiplying and meeting together for Sabbath services. The structure is kept flexible so that groups can grow at their own pace according to the Holy Spirit’s leading. As the members share Christ naturally as a way of life and show Christ’s love, many people are seen drawn to the churches.

For the last two years there has been more emphasis on Phnom Penh than other parts of the country, and it has paid off! Five years ago, we had one church and about five small groups in the capital city. Today, we thank

God for five churches and sixty-one groups around the city. We feel God is leading us towards having each existing group plant one more group over the next two years. God willing, each of these groups will plant one other group by December 2010. It would be such a blessing to have three hundred groups worshipping God by the end of 2010! Please join us in praying for this!

To accomplish this we need a dedicated group of workers and laity and the supplies and materials to support them in their efforts. Bibles have doubled in price over the last few months and now cost $10.00 each. Availability has also become a problem due to restrictions on how many Bibles can enter the country. We have 1,000 on order, but will have to wait for them to come little by little.

We are most grateful for the way that supporters have helped Christ’s work in Cambodia in the past through ASAP and we hope that the support will continue. Thanks to your partnership with us and God, many people are being won to the Kingdom. As we work together let us take courage in the blessed hope of Christ’s soon return. ASAP

Bibles have doubled in price over the last few months and now cost $10.00 each.

About the Author

Garth Anthony, President of the Cambodia Adventist Mission has served with his wife, Sylvia, for the past five years. They come from Great Britain and were missionaires in Pakistan before coming to Cambodia.

ASAP appreciates their orgaized effort in Cambodia.

ASAP

11

Taxi Driver Turned Builder

by Judy Aitken

U

ng Sreng is a builder for the Lord. A year ago, ASAP sponsored Ung Sreng who immediately went to work telling others of Jesus. Today, he’s building in two different, but related ways: He’s building souls for Christ’s Kingdom which has necessitated building a room onto his home to accommodate the worship groups who come to him for Sabbath worship and Bible study.

The Lord certainly has blessed Ung Sreng’s building efforts in Rokorkos Village. We believe the same thing will happen in two other nearby villages, where he is conducting Bible studies with groups of people who are eager

12

to know Jesus and the hope He gives.

Ung Sreng smiles at the memory of the gentle lady who sparked his interest in the “building business” for Christ. She had waved down his motorbike taxi one day while he was out looking for passengers. Prom Sareth was chatty, he remembered, talking all the way to the marketplace where she asked to be taken. She asked many questions. Are you happy? Do you have a faith? Before he realized it, Ung had opened up to her and told her that he felt discouraged because he worked from early morning until late at night trying to earn enough to live. He remembered telling her despondently, “No matter how hard I work, I never seem to have enough money.” Though he tried to save money, he was currently in debt. This discouraged him along with the fact that his second job had him selling hogs. The kind woman told him that Jesus Christ, the Savior

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Opposite page: Cambodian church planter, Ung Sreng, in Rokorkos Village, with his wife, Thida.

Right: Ung Sreng and his father build a worship room onto the front of his small house. Twenty new believers are ready for baptism and will be joining his church.

Help a Cambodian Church Planter Like Ung Sreng Build God’s Kingdom by Partnering as a Sponsor for $100 per month. of the world had the answer for him. Ung recalls feeling a warmth and peace from her gracious words. Was there really a God who cared and loved him? Before hopping off his motorbike, the woman invited Ung to church the following Sabbath.

“Why not?” thought Ung. So together with his wife and kids, Ung entered the humble church in the inner city of Phnom Penh. As he heard the words from the Bible, he felt a desire to learn more about Christ.

After the service Prom Sareth offered him a Bible and suggested he read the first two chapters in Genesis that told how God created the world in six days. In the days to follow he not only read the chapters in Genesis, but he continued to read many other chapters in the Bible. The Holy Spirit spoke to his heart through the Bible and he believed that God was true.

Ung and his wife were so excited to know about Jesus and the amazing words they read in the Bible that they asked to be taught the meaning behind these words. Every week they studied with the lady who took a ride on his taxi. In March 2004 Ung made the decision to be baptized (about six months after he had begun to study the Bible). However, Thida, his wife, was not ready to give ASAP

up her factory job where she was required to work on Sabbath. Ung Sreng prayed that his wife would see the truth and be willing to stop working on God’s holy day. It was about a year later that the factory laid her off because of a discrepancy with her I.D. card.

She took this as a sign that God was leading her and that His will was most important.

Today, Thida and Ung happily work together as a dynamic team in spreading the news of salvation. They are effective church builders, committed to sharing their new faith with others and learning as they go. Their passion is to work in the western districts of Phnom Penh. The main tool in their business of Christian construction is God’s love. His love in their hearts becomes cemented into the impressionable lives of the people He died to save. God’s love is the foundation of their church and is seen by the kind actions they do for others. What is their job description like? Besides daily home visitations and sharing Jesus with those eager to learn, they also conduct Bible studies in two other villages, as well as their own.

“Do you miss driving your taxi?” I asked.

Without missing a beat, Ung replied, “I still take people places, only now I give them directions to heaven.” ASAP 13

14

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

ASAP

ASAP

15

Support an ASAP national worker who is a missionary in his or her own country.

On-going support for 2006: Vietnamese pastors each @ $50 per month.

Total Needed: $75,000 Cambodian church planters each @ $100 per month. Total Needed: $32,400 Cambodian Bible workers each @ $20 per month. Total Needed: $6,000 Thai lay pastors each @ $75 per month.

Total Needed: $4,500 Lao pastors each @ $100-$200 per month.

Total Needed: $4,800 Lay Bible workers each @ $30 per month.

Total Needed: $4,500

Build a bamboo and thatch church in Cambodia for $550 each.

Current total need of 20 churches: $11,000

Build a wooden church in Cambodia.

A wooden church costs from $2,000 to $4,000 and lasts about ten years before it needs to be replaced. Total Immediate Need for Five Churches:$20,000

Help construct a concrete and brick church in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.

Prices vary between $15,000-$20,000 for each church. The current requests are to help build two churches in Cambodia, two in Laos and one in Thailand. Approximate Need: $85,000 16

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Assist in purchasing land for churches to be built on.

Prices range from $10,000-$15,000, depending on the area. Approximate Need: $75,000

Build a worship room or help with repairs for a house church in Vietnam.

The amount needed is from $600-$800 for twenty house churches for a total of $14,000.

Provide a motorbike so a national missionary can bring the gospel to neighboring villages.

Total Needed: $18,000 (40 @ $450 each)

Purchase 140 bicycles for Bible workers to use in spreading the gospel.

One bicycle costs $60. Total Needed: $8,400

Fund the training of national workers to increase their effectiveness.

On-going training for lay pastors and workers by district pastors in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Total Needed: $25,000

Give radios, DVD players and/or sermon sets ($50 each) throughout Vietnam.

Total needed: $50,000

Present Bibles to new believers in Vietnam and Laos ($5 each) and Cambodia ($10 each). Total Needed: $25,000 Provide Bible lessons, hymnbooks and religious books ($5 each).

Total Needed: $20,000 ASAP

17

Church Planting Among Southeast Asian Buddhists

by Scott Griswold

Rely on the Holy Spirit for Miracles Most Buddhists do not believe in an ultimate God who is present in the everyday lives of His people. Instead, they turn to magic and spiritualism to find help from the supernatural. Many new converts testify that they came to Christ because of some supernatural miracle in their lives. They later fall in love with the very personal God we serve, who is eager to hear prayers and help His people. We should be asking God for miracles

Focus on the Family as a Whole Southeast Asians have strong family ties, which is why families can deter one of their members from becoming a Christian. Our outreach should focus on helping families with their problems. Loving Christian families can work to reach out to Buddhist families, they will be touched by a God who embraces them as part of His heavenly family; We should try to reach each family member instead of only one.

18

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Serve God by Serving Others Millions of Buddhists have never encountered God in a real, personable way. They of ten associate Christianity with the immorality and politics of the west. Christian neighbors can show them true Christianity through daily acts of kindness. Through friendship ministry and having the character of Christ, our actions will help them discover a God of peace, joy and salvation.

Minister in a Holistic Way The Bible gives us insight for dealing with every aspect of our lives. It talks about health, about relationships, about finances, and so much more. When reaching out to Buddhists it is imperative that we reach out in every area of their lives, not just spiritually. We can provide programs dealing with health, family and relationship problems, financial budgeting and so much more.

Let the Glory of God Shine Through Buddhists view Christianity as a foreign religion, and by becoming Christians they feel like they are betraying their culture. Their Christian neighbors must show them that Christianity can be practiced without denying one’s cultural background. They need to see Christians who still respect their country leaders and culture. They need to hear the good news in ways that value their local beliefs, while gently challenging beliefs that are contrary to the Bible. ASAP

About the Author Scott Griswold has worked with Southeast Asian Buddhists in Thailand and Cambodia for the past 10 years. Through his personal experiences with church planting and his research at the Center for Ministry among Buddhists in Thailand, he has discovered the most effective ways to reach these precious children of God. He has been involved with training ASAP’s national pastors and church planters on many occasions Please pray for Scott Griswold and his family as they continue their ministry to the Southeast Asians.

ASAP

19

Christ’s Temples

by Phamor Phoopichitprai

T

EN YEARS AGO THE LORD OPENED MY EYES

to see the benefits of eating a vegetarian, low-fat diet and following the eight laws of health. I experienced great improvement in the condition of my heart when I followed what I learned. Two years ago, I felt impressed by God that I should share my testimony with others. At first I began training my members in the Karen churches about a healthy lifestyle. It was not long until members of other churches in northern Thailand heard about the blessings of health reform.

They also asked for training. Through the Lord’s guidance I was able to rent a facility to hold medical missionary or health evangelism training. Students came for training from the hill-tribe and mountain areas of northern Thailand.

Last year, through the help of many friends, we were able to build a medical missionary training center called Newlife Farm on a beautiful three-acre piece of land near Chiangmai Academy in northern Thailand.

Ultimately, the purpose of the center is two-

Phamor Phoopichitprai stands with two health assistants in front of the Newlife Farm, a medical missionary training center located near Maetang, Thailand.

20

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

fold. First and foremost is to help workers achieve healthier lives, equipping them for better service to God. Secondly, teaching workers the importance of sharing the health message with the compassion of Christ so as to win them over for God’s Kingdom. Those who complete the training leave the center with practical tools to share with others. Now students, pastors, lay pastors, Bible workers and Christian church members come from all over Thailand, Myanmar and Laos to become medical missionaries.

Among the many subjects taught are healthful nutrition and vegetarian food preparation. We have already begun planting fruit trees on the property. Guests learn how to grow vegetable gardens and cultivate fruit orchards. They are taught the use of natural remedies such as charcoal, hydrotherapy and massage, as well as how to combine these natural ways of healing with prayer to cure many diseases. During the month of May, I led a team of health professionals in two week-long sessions of health seminars, health screenings and counseling for Thailand Adventist Mission pastors and workers in

Chiangmai and Ubon.

Guests appreciated the variety and quality of the information they received at the trainings. I conducted a session on biblical lessons from the book of Esther, which contains messages of health reform, Sabbath truth and the three angels’ messages. One of the subjects that Dr. Mary Ann McNeilus taught was how to prepare for a pandemic of avian bird flu and how to use hydrotherapy for treatment. Judy Aitken’s presentations emphasized the importance of following Christ’s example of compassion and prayer as this is the foundation of the health message. Waifong Chan taught food preparation and a vegetarian cooking class. Sabestien, a Chinese pain specialist, taught massage techniques and the use of food as medicine.

I thank God for the way He blessed pastors and their wives who attended the medical missionary training. Pastor Apisith, who attended the seminars, shared how he put the health message into practice. He said, “After several months of having a low-fat diet of mostly vegetables and fruits I lost weight and (Continued on page 22)

Students work in the garden at the Newlife Farm, Maetang, Thailand.

ASAP

21

Pastor Phamor (left) with students at the training center in Maetang, Thailand.

Building Christ’s Temples In Thailand Continued from page 21 lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure.

I am so happy to God for the good health I have now and the longer life I will live. I taught my church members how to use charcoal to heal indigestion. They used it to help their neighbors.”

Mrs. Sompong, a pastor’s wife at Lampang Church, shared that as she worked as a colporteur, she met people who had headaches and pain in their muscles. She prayed for them and used massage therapy.

Ten people experienced Christ’s healing. Five joined God’s church family in baptism and the other five are studying the Bible.

The medical missionary training that I do with others is a work that Ellen G. White encouraged God’s people to do in the book Medical Ministry. “We must educate, educate, educate, pleasantly and intelligently. We must preach the truth, pray the truth, and live the truth bringing it with its gracious, healthgiving influences within the reach of those who know it not. As the sick are brought into touch with the Life-giver their faculties of mind and body will be renewed. But in order for this to be, they must practice self-denial, and be temperate in all things. Thus only can 22

they be saved from physical and spiritual death and restored to health” (MM 262). I praise the Lord for providing this training center where God’s workers can learn how to treat their bodies as Christ’s temple and help build Christ’s Kingdom by meeting people’s needs for healthier lives. ASAP

About the Author

Pastor Phamor Phoopichitprai is Christ’s “general contractor” for thirty churches in Thailand, ten companies and two churches in the Karen villages. He is also the director of Spirit of Prophecy for the Thailand Adventist Mission. As the coordinator of the Newlife Farm, he helps train workers to become medical missionaries.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Building God’s Kingdom In Laos Continued from page 7 in writing. Taking the initiative of good relations, in early 2005 ASAP embarked on a project of building a church in Pakse, the regional major city of southern Laos.

This is the first Adventist church built in this area of the country. The provincial government gave approval of this project and a church in another location. It is a miracle that they have placed our church representatives at their provincial government level on religious, social and community advisory panels. Up to this day the church building in Pakse still needs funding to reach completion. Since the roof was put on late in 2005, our members have been worshipping in it. English classes are also being conducted regularly in it for our youth and local residents as an evangelistic means. There is a need for $10,000 more to complete the church, $5,000 to refurbish the inside and $5,000 to build a school on the second floor.

An additional $10,000 is needed later for building our regional offices on the same piece of land.

We praise the Lord that church planting in Laos has entered a new phase. Because the government forbids public gatherings of over six people without permission, our members successfully focused their witnessing efforts on reaching immediate and extended family members first. Paiwan Sayalat (left), leader of the Pakse group and builder of that church, is living evidence of the “kindship”

evangelism method. Mr. Paiwan and family were won over by their family members, Mr. Bouasone and Souksavath Volachit, who are core leaders of the southern Adventists.

Many new church groups are still being added regularly. One of the areas where there is a pressing need for building a church is in the Sarawan province, where more than one hundred members meet each week. How can they possibly meet under the roof of a house? ASAP is supporting many of these groups who pray daily for an opportunity to have a church to call their own. ASAP

In Laos, worshipping in homes raises suspicion and runs the risk of being branded as anti-government meetings. Christians are legally recognized by the government if they have a proper place of worship.

ASAP

About the Author

Khamsay Phetchareun is a Professor of Religion and his wife, Daranee, is the administrative secretary for the Vice President, college nurse and teacher at Mission College in Muak Lek, Thailand. They have two children, Jeshua and Jesperin.

Khamsay serves as the coordinator of the ASAP projects in Laos and Lao projects in Cambodia. His passion is outreach and he desires for all of Laos and Thailand to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

23

P.O. Box 84, Berrien Springs, 49103

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Bibles in Vietnam and Laos cost $5.00 each.

Bibles in Cambodia now cost $10.00 each.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI PERMIT NO. 42