ASAP Newsletter, 3rd Quarter 2007

Third Quarter, 2007

Cover: Pastor Isah Young, leader of the underground house-church movement in Vietnam, prays with one of the lay-pastors.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

2007 Third Quarter Newsletter Executive Editor/Director Judy Aitken Editor/Assistant Director Julia O’Carey

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Director’s Update

by Judy Aitken

From “No Thanks” to “No Way!”

by Martin Kim

Sda Center Opens Its Doors

by Julia O’Carey

“ASAP Family” Connections Sales for Southeast Asia

In Honor and Loving Memory Wanted: Heroes

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ASAP Volunteers Blessed by Thai Students

by Khamsay Phetchareun

Strength through the Storms

by Pastor Isah Young

The Holy Spirit’s Power to Transform

by Thien Huong

Prayer Knows No Bounds

by Sou Vanny Patsadary

Power through Training

by Judy Aitken

God’s Oft-repeated Command and Promise

by Martin Kim

Pray for Southeast Asia

Copy Editors Linda Bauer Adrienne Redding Jolene Roosenberg Design/Layout Margie Mitchell, Son Praises Photography Frank Spangler, WorldViewImages.com Contact Us: ASAP publishes this newsletter quarterly. Please contact the office to receive your complimentary subscription or additional copies.

PO Box 84 Berrien Springs, MI 49103 269-471-3026 1-866-365-3541 269-471-3034 (fax) office@asapministries.org (email) www.ASAPministries.org ASAP Board of Directors Bruce Bauer, Chair Judy Aitken, ASAP Director Mary Ann McNeilus Ralph & Beatrice Neall Byron & Carol Reynolds Robin Riches Trudi Starlin Kenneth Straw Max & Linnea Torkelsen ASI Member ASAP has been a member of ASI (Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries) since 1996 and is grateful to be an ASI grant recipient.

ASAP is a registered 501(c3), nonprofit organization and is fueled by faith in God and His provision through individuals’ financial support. Please note that 100% of your gifts go directly to the projects specified. All donations are taxdeductible.

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e are living in the most

solemn period of this world’s history. The destiny of earth’s teeming multitudes is about to be decided… We need to be guided by the Spirit of truth. Every follower of Christ should earnestly inquire: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, with fasting and prayer... We should now seek a deep and living experience in the things of God. We have not a moment to lose,” (Great Controversy 601).

Do you hunger for revival, yearn to receive the awesome outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Do you wish for this power to flood your life and your church, for it to dramatically affect your family and community?

What are the results when this happens?

The disciples’ experiences after they fasted and prayed at Pentecost, as well as the stories from Southeast Asian lay-workers in this newsletter help answer this question. I believe if we follow their examples, we too will experience the results of revival that is greatly desired by all.

E.G. White writes of when the despairing disciples’ hearts were stirred after hearing Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit’s power.

They immediately went to the upper room to ASAP

pray. “The disciples did not ask for blessings for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day . . . So it may be now.” Testimonies, vol. 8, pp. 20, 21. As you read this newsletter you will discover the results of revival happening in Southeast Asia today.

During my spring trip to Southeast Asia, the lay workers and I met daily for prayer sessions, pouring our hearts out to the Lord for the lost souls around us. These sessions brought powerful results. Amazing healings and conversions resulted when the workers returned to their churches with a zeal and strong burden to win souls for Christ, and through the Holy Spirit’s power working in them. Thien and Dai Huong, a Vietnamese lay-pastor couple on fire for Christ have an amazing story to tell (page 14) of the Holy Spirit’s transforming power.

As we continue to join the lay workers in Southeast Asia through unified prayer, fasting, and commitment by seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we will see even greater results as Christ coming rapidly approaches! ASAP

From “No Thanks” to “No Way!”

by Martin Kim as told in an interview with Tep Sony Mary, the mother of Jesus, hid things in her heart, Mrs. Tep Sony, a 42-year old wife and mother in Cambodia, hid a secret wish in her heart for her husband’s salvation. She kept quiet about it except for the times every day when she knelt in prayer, disclosing to the Lord her inner-most desire for her husband to know and follow God. She was thankful that he had never opposed her involvement in the church, but also understood that following Christ was a personal decision he could only make on his own. She could, however, continue to pray and have faith that one day the Lord would answer her heart-felt prayers.

Every Sabbath she and her two daughters would ready themselves and head to church.

“Would you like to join us?” she always asked her husband. Every week for several years Tep Sony heard the same answer, “No thanks.” Undaunted, she kept praying.

Though as a church planter, she was very successful in witnessing to many people

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ust as

in the surrounding area of Above: Tep Sony her section of Phnom Penh, points out verses she was determined to keep on the Sabbath to giving her husband to the her husband, Chet.

Lord, praying earnestly that he would accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. Tep Sony could only imagine the witnessing potential if Chet Kemara, a respected police officer, were to invite Christ

Did You Know?

If your church commits to supporting a Cambodian church planter (only $100/month), ASAP will send you a picture of the church planter and their testimony so you can pray specifically. God never fails to bless churches when they partner with foreign missions!

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

into his life. She knew him well; she knew his influence. She knew his heart, but most importantly, she knew he needed God. And then, one Sabbath morning, it happened. While she was busy getting ready, to her amazement, she heard her husband ask, “Can I come to church with you?” “Of course,” she replied with a radiant smile.

Tep Sony and her daughters could hardly believe their ears, but sure enough, he changed his clothes and in minutes was waiting by the door. Tep Sony’s heart sang for joy as she whispered thanksgiving prayers throughout the entire service. After church, her husband said nothing about the experience and she knew it was best not to push him. She continued to pray, however, and the following week Chet Kemara asked to go again. This happened for two more weeks.

The best part is that Tep Sony witnessed the most amazing transformation in her husband. It reached even beyond the dreams she had hidden in her heart. And as she expected, the community paid attention. His co-workers noticed the change and rumor had it that Chet Kemara was even kinder when dealing with the drug dealers he arrested.

About a month after he began attending church, Chet Kemara approached her with a

Bible question. “What exactly does it mean to keep the Sabbath Holy?” he asked. For several days the words, “remember to keep the Sabbath day holy” kept playing over and over in his mind. “Are these words in the Bible?” he asked. “Yes, they are,” Tep Sony enthusiastically responded. “No way!” Chet Kemara said in amazement. Together, they read the creation story in Genesis where it speaks of the Sabbath as the day when God rested after making the world. After reading these words, Tep Sony and her husband knelt in prayer.

He said, “I am not going to ever work again on God’s holy day.” Each Friday Tep Sony’s husband makes a point of turning in his pistol at work.

In the short time since Chet Kemara’s conversion, he has already seized opportunities to share the gospel with those in his social circle. As a result, his boss at the police station has become a Christian.

Tep Sony rejoices over the influence he continues to have in winning people to the Lord. She said to me, “My husband has opportunities to witness to officers and other high-ranking officials that I would never have.” The church is growing rapidly, thanks to one woman who knew a powerful secret to revival; persistence in prayer. ASAP

“Are these words in the Bible?” he asked.

“Yes, they are,” Tep Sony enthusiastically responded.

About the Author: Tep Sony, mother of two boys, works as a church planter in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Through God’s power, she established one church and is also church planting in two other areas of the city. Please pray for her safety when entering Pong Ror, a dangerous area to work in because of the poverty and crime.

She praises God for recently providing funds through ASAP for a sewing school to be started as a means of empowering poor widows and young women in her churches who are at-risk of being sold into prostitution.

ASAP

Sda Center Opens Its Doors

by Julia O’Carey C ambodian Adventists suffering from the HIV AIDS virus now have a refuge, a safe place to go for help and a place they can call home if need be. Because of generous gifts from the Parkview Adventist Medical Center in conjunction with other donors, ASAP and the Cambodia Adventist Mission opened the doors of this new center in February of this year. It is situated in a poor section in the southern part of Phnom Penh.

“We chose the name Sda Center (pronounced sadah) because this word means to restore, a fitting name, which reflects the SDA philosophy of healing,” says Elder Anthony, President of the Cambodia Adventist Mission.

Currently, 11 families comprising 48 people (including 16 children) are housed in a spacious residence. Despite close quarters, the occupants are grateful to have a clean place to lay their heads (one room per family), safe water to drink, food (even when they are not in a position to work) and good medical care. The cooking is shared in common areas. “We are all one big happy family in Jesus,” says Seng Sopheak, the care giver/church planter/literacy teacher of the Sda Center.

Seng Sopheak leads out in joint morning and evening worships which provide fellowship and a time for praising the Lord and

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or the first time ,

studying His Word. Other members from the community come in for Sabbath worship.

The way the community members embrace the families with AIDS with acceptance is a beautiful testimony to Jesus’ love working in their lives. These residents, most of whom had been reduced to living on the streets near the marketplace as outcasts from their families and communities, now have acceptance, support and new hope for life.

Pastor Horng Sophal, the district pastor who supervises the team at the center says, “The Sda Center is an answer to my prayers.

My heart went out to all the suffering church members in my district. I told Mother Judy, we need to do something to help them. She shared my vision and now we praise God for His provisions.”

Family members who are strong enough to work have started to find ways to earn an income by picking greens along the river and selling them in the nearby market. The Cambodia Adventist Mission is making efforts to provide bicycles with trailers, carts and other means by which members can sell produce and goods in the community on a daily basis. Children attend the literacy school right on the premises. Plans are in the making to extend this school into a full elementary program. Please pray for these children, their parents and the dedicated servants who care for them. ASAP Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

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1. Sda (pronounced Sadah) residents praising God during their daily worship.

2. The older children help their parents collect vegetables in the river to sell at the market when they are not in school.

3. Chea Serey (left), ASAP medical missionary, studies the Bible after giving medical care to one of the Sda residents. 4. Seng Sopheak, ASAP church planter/care-taker/literacy teacher of the Sda Center, has two years experience working with AIDS children.

Be a member of the loving team that keeps this vital center operating! Your gift to the AIDS Hospice (Sda Center) nurtures the minds, bodies and spirits of those who have been cast aside. Please see the Priceless Gift Catalog, items 026, 027, 028 or contact the ASAP office for more information.

ASAP

Success Amidst Obstacles St. Joseph Seventh-day Adventist Church “Everything that could go wrong went wrong!” said Kim Hakeem, the main coordinator of the St. Joseph SDA Church Missions’ Rummage Sale. “I got sick, the newspaper made a mistake and did not print any of the right garage sale ads that week, and it rained the day of the sale. Despite all that, with much prayer, God blessed tremendously!

We received a great turnout and raised much more money than we expected to. I now know that God worked it out so no obstacle, no matter how big it seemed at the time, would get in the way of us helping to support the important work of Soum Sovanny, an ASAP Cambodian church planter.

Youth Empowered!

Fresno Seventh-day Adventist Church (Earliteen Sabbath School) Julie Jeske, assistant Earliteen Sabbath School leader, felt overwhelmed by the many appeals for missions she received in the mail. She buried her face in them and cried, “God, I need to inspire the youth in the church to do something, but what and how? Help us, Lord!” The following Sabbath morning she gathered all the appeals and filled the chalkboard with lists of projects. Ten children joined her in prayer for these projects and then the children chose which project they would like to adopt during the quarter.

They picked the ASAP Cambodian Literacy Schools! Under Julie’s direction, they had a big garage sale and raised over $1,200 for the poor, at-risk children in Cambodia so these children would be able to attend the ASAP literacy schools and receive one hot meal a day.

From Left to Right: Members of the Fresno SDA Church and Earliteen Sabbath School (back) Thomas Melton, David Giangrande, Ted Jeske, Nathan Crister, (front) Eliza Hakobyan, Vicky Donaldson, Julie Jeske and Garreth Knnablian. Not pictured but part of the project: Nundo and David Chanda, Luke Melton, Sean Armstrong, Maivnkauj Yang, and Joel Schlund.

Are Your closets and garages filled with items you don’t really need?

“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need,” (Acts 2:45).

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

We thank each of you who have given in honor and memory of the following individuals.

“The God of love and peace shall be with you.”

II Corinthians 13:11 KJV In honor of Evelyn Caldwell’s daughter, Master of Divinity graduate.

In honor of the 68th wedding anniversary celebration of Emil & Marguerite Knauft.

In honor of Wayne Cherrier, the dear brother of Doris Wareham.

Also, in memory of her husband Omar B. Wareham.

In memory of Milton Kesler, by his loving wife Yvonne Kesler.

In memory of Boyd and Elizabeth Olson, by Charles and Pearl Martin.

“A hero is a man who does what he can.”

--French Writer Romain Rolland

Every 3 seconds a child dies as a result of extreme poverty.

One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand … yes, another child has just died.

Today, you can help change the life of a family.

Over 40 percent of Cambodians live below the poverty line.

Entire families go hungry each day because they cannot afford to purchase food. Children dig through trash cans looking for something to eat. Babies die because their mothers are unable to feed them. Twenty dollars can provide a sack of rice for an entire family for a month. You can save these families!

Be a hero today!

ASAP Commit to giving $20 every month!

ASAP Volunteers Blessed by Thai Students

by Khamsay Phetchareun

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n ASAP team of six missionary volun-

teers, led by Piamporn Tantrarungroj, arrived June 6 in Korat, Thailand’s northeastern city of five million. They immediately began with a full schedule of teaching English for seven hours each day to the 650 students attending Banhuathale Elementary School. They also led out in a special afterschool English program where over seventy children attended. Grace Koss, one of the mission trip attendees said, “According to one of the teachers, since our group started this program, the students have shown a greater interest in learning and speaking English. This was a very positive and joyful experience for us.” They graciously endured the intense heat and new culture, not because they were passionate about teaching. They were not trained teachers. They taught English in the language of love and care with the primary purpose of connecting Thai children to Christ and to the Korat SDA Church.

On Sabbath, June 16, 2007, about fifty non-Adventist local school children energetically filled the Korat Seventh-day Adventist Church with their beautiful songs of praise to God. The ASAP missionary team planned a special youth vespers the night before and provided a wonderful program in the afternoon where the students watched a movie in Thai on the life of Jesus and enjoyed a program (specifically designed for them) led by Dr. Ron and Lynn Thomas. The students would never have come to church if not for the efforts of these dedicated volunteers organized 10

by ASAP. Because they made friends with the children, the young people eagerly responded to the invitation to come and worship. It was the first time ever for all of these children to set foot in a Christian church, yet we pray it will not be the last.

The ASAP mission team left a permanent seal of God on the hearts and minds of the students and teachers at this public institution, and inspired the Korat church members to reach out to the community in a much larger way. The bond of love they established and the bridge to the church they helped build are seeds of the gospel that need to be nurtured and cared for. Please pray for the challenge to keep these children connected through follow-up programs. Also, pray for each of the teachers, students and church members these volunteers reached out to, especially pray for each person who received one of the 1,000 copies of Steps to Christ they lovingly gave. ASAP

ASAP Mission Trip Attendees (left to right) Natalie Thomas, Grace and Tim Koss, Lynn Thomas, (not pictured) Ron Thomas and Piamporn Tantrarungroj.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Far left: Piamporn Tantrarungroj, ASAP Thai mission trip coordinator, teaches English to a group of eager students.

Left: Students of the Banhuathale Elementary School begged the ASAP volunteers to come back again.

“Going to Thailand was such a life changing experience. I loved teaching the kids the most. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I actually made a difference in their lives. They made a big impact on my life too and have inspired me to continue with the Lord’s ministry. I hope I have more opportunities to be a missionary and to be a working tool for God.” Natalie Thomas, youngest attendee of the ASAP mission trip

About the Author: Khamsay Phetchareun is a professor of religion at Mission College in Muak Lek, Thailand. Khamsay and his wife Daranee have two children, Jesua and Jesperin. Their passion is outreach and he involves the ministerial students at Mission College in the some of the ASAP evangelism projects in Thailand. If you feel impressed to become involved with the Korat project in the future, please contact him through ASAP. ASAP

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Strength through the Storms

by Pastor Isah Young yphoons are not uncommon to many coastal villages of Vietnam, a country with over 2,100 miles of coastline. Recently, a small inland town was taken by surprise by a tropical storm. Most of the people in this town were unprepared, having never encountered a storm of this magnitude before. Yet, Yen Thien, an SDA lady living in a one-room shack with a makeshift roof built from cardboard boxes, faced the storm in perfect peace. She felt prepared because she had fasted and prayed the morning she heard the warnings on the radio. As the storm raged around her little house/noodle shop, she continued to pray.

After the storm, Yen Thien joined her neighbors outside to assess the damage. Her eyes scanned the chaos all around her.

Broken branches from trees and pieces of homes were strewn across the streets.

The large gate to the school entrance across the street had been torn away by the powerful wind. A brick home was completely destroyed. Her neighbors came up to her and curiously asked, “How come your little home remains intact?” Yen eagerly shared how she believed in God and He miraculously held her house together. Her neighbors asked if they could take refuge in her home next time a storm comes.

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ASAP supported lay pastors, youth evangelists and Bible workers encounter storms of a different nature as they work for the Lord. At this moment, the police in Vietnam have either interrogated or arrested most of the ASAP supported workers. Under torrents of criticism, malice, threats, imprisonment, torture, and road-blocks of all kinds, they carry forward with fierce determination. A few have betrayed the ranks and a few have left the cause, but the vast majority remains firmly grounded in the truth and in their unwavering dedication to spreading the gospel. What has caused this revival in Vietnam to be possible? How have most survived all the storms until this moment, the attacks that come at every turn; within and without, from the top and from below, left and right, front and back, in the US and in Vietnam?

I firmly believe the answer is PRAYER! I know I would not be here today if it were not for the power of prayer. He sustains me and the work. I get goosebumps as I reflect on the way this ministry has grown in the last fifteen years during which I have been intimately involved in reaching out to the Vietnamese in the US and Vietnam. It has grown from a simple dream to a small radio broadcast, to a large underground house-church movement where hundreds of thousands worship each Sabbath. I can only praise the Lord. He sus-

I know I would not be here today if it were not for the power of prayer.

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Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Pastor Isah Young invites you to join in fasting, praying and sacrificing your all, without giving up. Pray until you can see something happen. Just as God strengthens the laborers in Vietnam through the storms, you are sure to see the powerful rays of His sunlight bring revival to your life as well. Also, join in supporting the work of these Vietnamese lay pastors. For only $50 per month, you can keep one pastor in the field. tains us. He protects us. He works through us in ways beyond our expectations.

Prayer is not only my personal necessity (more important to me than eating). It is the main thrust of the evangelistic work in Vietnam this year. Every ASAP worker in Vietnam is asked to spend time, individually and on a daily basis, persevering in prayer over lost souls. At the same time every night, each worker throughout the country unites

through prayer for the work in Vietnam, their voices rising to heaven as one beautiful chorus. Each week all the leaders in each district gather (if possible) to fast and pray for one whole day. Each month every congregation does the same. It is through this means that miracles like the one Yen Thien experienced happen. Doors open, roadblocks lift, mountains move! ASAP

About the Author Pastor Isah Young is the leader of the underground housechurch movement in Vietnam and voice of Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. He and his wife Mai, give their all in service to the Lord for the Vietnamese people in Vietnam and southern California. Through God’s power, they are able to accomplish much for Christ.

ASAP

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The Holy Spirit’s Power to Transform

by Thien Huong as told to Judy Aitken s one of many daughters, I was born and raised as a Catholic in Vietnam. I was comfortable in my faith though it was just a form of religion.

One day I noticed two men who begun attending mass. One, named Dai, was in a wheel chair; the other, named Tuan, served as Dai’s helper and friend. Both of these men impressed our congregation with their sincere prayers and knowledge of the Bible. I noticed a spiritual maturity that drew me to them. When they invited me to join their Bible class I immediately accepted.

Through the months that followed, I not only fell in love with Christ for the first time, but my eyes were opened to so many deeply meaningful truths in scripture. One of the greatest blessings I experienced was when I learned to fast and pray.

As my relationship with Dai grew closer, I learned that he and his friend had actually been sent to town as secret missionaries. It is illegal to witness in Vietnam without government permission which is almost impossible to obtain! This was such exciting news! During the many times we prayed and studied the Bible together, the spiritual bond between us grew stronger. When Dai asked me to marry him, I pledged to join him in service to Christ.

Not long after we married, my husband and I moved to plant churches in an unreached area.

When we settled in our first home I knew it would not be long before we would be sharing it with

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a new under-ground house church. Dai and his friend had begun twelve house-church groups prior to our marriage, so we began this new adventure with faithful expectancy. Daily, we spent time with God, fasting and praying, pleading for Him to lead us to people and to lead people who had been listening to Peace and Happiness radio broadcasts to us. As anticipated, God answered our prayers and our new home quickly filled with worshippers. In the last year, He answered our prayers in bigger ways than we imagined.

Recently, Dai had been walking our groups through the book of Acts. We were inspired when we read how God sent down His power and worked miracles through the apostles. We embraced the words in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” and believed this could happen in our churches in a greater way. Some of the members in one of our groups said, “We can do this. We can pray earnestly like those in the upper room and wait until God pours His spirit on us in a bigger way.” We knelt right down and prayed for the Hoy Spirit.

As we were in the midst of our prayer session, we were interrupted by loud cursing. A big man burst into the worship room. Tattooed snakes and dragons decorated his body. The smell of alcohol permeated every inch of him. Holding a

A big man burst into the worship room. Tattooed snakes and dragons decorated his body.

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Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

wine bottle in one hand and shaking his finger at us with the other, he continued hurling profanity at each of the members around the group. I silently prayed for God’s help. Before Dai or I could do anything, the church member whose home we were worshipping in, walked up to the man, looked straight into his twisted, angry face and said, “I am so thankful that the Lord brought you here. Would you like to hear the Word of God? If so, go outside and throw away your bottle of wine, come back and listen to the Word of God.” The man stared blankly for a moment, then turned and fled.

The woman explained to the group that the man lived next door and that he had been in prison for a significant amount of time, drank heavily and generally led a lifestyle that most people thought hopeless. Moments later there was a knock on the door and in walked the very same man we were discussing! He had changed to clean clothes, combed his hair, and actually appeared quite pulled-together. He told us that his name was Vo. We made a spot for him to sit down and join us. He did, and he intently listened to Dai as he started to preach about a God who loves and cares. I continued to silently pray as my husband spoke. I knew that others in the room were praying as well. We could feel the power of Christ working. Things took a dark turn at one point, though, when a woman read a Bible passage in Romans. A change came over Vo. He became angry every time the Bible was read. In one outburst he pulled up his pant leg to display prison tattoos. “Do you see this? I’ve killed people. There is no hope for me.” We felt the struggle between Christ and Satan. We knew that Christ was stronger, so together, we surrounded

Vo and each took turns praying for him. We poured out our hearts on his behalf, asking God to enter his life, and rebuking Satan in the name of Jesus Christ. Dai prayed that the Lord would forgive Vo for his past and claimed the power of Christ’s blood that was shed for Vo, a power that could transform his life into one that would be a profound witness for good. When we opened our eyes, tears were streaming down the cheeks of this very tough man. My husband asked him, “Do you want to receive Jesus?” Vo humbly said, “Yes, I want to receive Him into my life.”

You would have to see this man to believe the change. He has become a new person. He has truly fallen in love with Jesus. Vo is an eager student of the Bible, a faithful member of the housechurch, and a testimony of the power of prayer.

Later we discovered because his house was next door to the house-church, he often heard the songs we sang. The words pierced his heart, however at the same time, made him furious. He knew that if that much emotion came from those simple songs, it was a powerful belief that he wanted in his life.

He also knew that it would be stronger than the demons he carried. He was right.

Recently, Vo’s family expressed an interest in our church group. They approached my husband and said, “Pastor Dai, we want to know about the God that can make such changes in a person. We want to study with you.”

This is only one of the many miracle stories that happened after Dai and I, along with the rest of our team, spent time in fasting and prayer. We will continue to pray, seeking the only power that can truly free people from the bonds of Satan.

ASAP

About the Author Thien Huong serves God alongside Dai in Vietnam. She said, “This is the most rewarding, fulfilling life I could possibly ask for.” This couple is passionate about sharing Jesus at every opportunity.

Currently, Thien and Dai, along with a small team, supervise many additional house-churches in their district. Locations and real names are not printed for their safety.

ASAP

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Prayer Knows No Bounds

by Sou Vanny Patsadary

Sabbath last year when our worship group received some unwelcome visitors. As we were singing praises to God, three government officials knocked on our door. One of the policemen asked abruptly, “Who is the leader of this group?” I quietly raised my hand and said, “I am.” After asking me many questions, in a loud voice he said, “We order that you stop this worship. If you continue to be Christians and worship God, you will regret it. You not only will be outcasts in this community and not be able to bury your dead in the local cemetery, but you will be going against our laws. Evclearly remember the

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eryone must sign this document that states you will stop being Christians.”

Because of all the serious threats that came with this demand, my members felt afraid and intimidated. Yet only one man, as head of the family, signed that they would stop.

The other six families politely refused to sign the document and expressed their allegiance to Jesus Christ their Savior.

After the police left our group, we knelt in prayer, thanking the Lord for being with us and asking Him to help us continue to be strong in faith. We prayed for freedom to worship God. In the days and months that followed we quietly continued to pray and worship God, changing the homes in which we worshipped every Sabbath.

Everyone must sign this document that states you will stop being Christians.

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Become part of the revival in Laos and support a church planter like Sou Vanny for only $70 per month.

About a month after the encounter with the police, I was invited by Pastor Phamor to attend a three-month health training session at the health center north of Chiangmai, Thailand. I was interested in learning how to use natural ways of healing to reach people for Christ. I acquired valuable information about helping people through hydrotherapy, the use of charcoal, the eight laws of health, and herbs. Most importantly, I learned effective ways to spread the gospel through these natural remedies, such as how important it is to start with prayer whenever helping someone with their physical health.

When I returned to my village I immediately began putting what I learned into practice. One of my first “patients” was an elderly man with chronic pain throughout his body. This man had been to many doctors but no one could help him. I prayed for him and treated him with hydrotherapy. After God healed the elderly man, he excitedly

spread the news that he was pain-free for the first time in years to everyone he knew and met. This miracle brought many more people knocking at my door who were in need of healing. I praise the Lord that many of my patients showed an interest in the Bible and some are studying the Bible with me now. It was not long before the people in my village, as well as the local officials and police, began to understand that Christians are good people.

Today, one year after our group’s difficult encounter with the police, these government officials have a completely changed attitude towards Christians. Because they witnessed God’s power and love through us, they now allow our house-church to worship freely.

ASAP

About the Author Sou Vanny’s worship group is growing as those he teaches accept Christ as their Savior. He is one church planter who needs a larger worship room built as soon as possible to help accommodate all the new members. If you feel impressed to help generate the necessary $2000, please mark Laos Churches on the response envelope.

ASAP

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Power through Training

by Judy Aitken

Thursday, May 17, 2007, a stream of God’s servants began to arrive at the Village Vocational Training Center at Nong Khai, Thailand, for the first ever combined Lao-Thai-Cambodian Leadership training.

Eighty-seven current and future church leaders spent three solid days in prayer and intense study.

The training covered a wide range of topics from how to witness for Christ to leadership in God’s church. Dr. Khamsay

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n the afternoon of

Phetchareun was the main speaker and coordinator of this event. Elder Joshua Mok, the executive secretary of the Southeast Asia Union Mission and Pastor Mun Lansri, who was a pioneer missionary to Laos in the 1960s, also presented timely topics.

Throughout the training, the youth from Mission College and from Laos took turns leading out in singing. The theme song, “Do You Hear God’s Calling?” that was composed using a traditional Lao melody, blessed everyone as it cultivated a sense of God’s

Help unleash God’s power among his dedicated, scattered servants by supporting ASAP’s Leadership Trainings! Only $6,500 to go!!

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Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Rice bags donated by ASAP trainees to their starving brothers and sisters at Thong Namee, Laos, being delivered by Pastor Houmphanh and trainee. calling and a commitment to His call.

On Sunday, May 20, 2007, members departed with tears mixed with joy and longing for the next time they are able to freely unite with other Christian leaders. Among the many positive comments regarding the training, one lay worker said, “God has given us a great gift by bringing us to this wonderful training. I think it is important that we are now trained to work for God in various areas of church ministries.�

Others thatAuthor they were Aboutsaidthe blessed immensely by the content of the training, Dr. Phetchareun’s talks and the spirit of unity displayed by members who previously, because of the internal conflicts, would not come together.

Before embarking on the return journey

to their places of service, the trainees united in response to an appeal for assistance to starving members at Thong Namee village.

These humble servants of God raised 4,200 baht (US $120) to help several Adventist families who would have been without food or means to survive until the next rice season because of the locust plague that had destroyed their crops. We praise God for this training opportunity and thank the ASAP donors for making it possible! ASAP

Members departed with

tears mixed with joy and longing for the next time they are able to freely unite with other Christian leaders.

ASAP

Opposite page: Group of eightyseven current and future church leaders that attended the Lao-ThaiCambodian Leadership Training sponsored by ASAP. 19

God’s Oft-repeated Command and Promise

by Martin Kim

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matt. 21:22

A

few months ago I received an email from the ASAP office with an urgent prayer request. The life of one of our faithful laborers in Southeast Asia who had expressed his willingness and readiness to lay down His life for the Lord seemed to be in jeopardy. I quickly forwarded the email to a number of friends that I believed were praying individuals. I was tremendously blessed and moved when I received the following reply: Dear Martin and faithful prayer warriors,

We need to fast and pray right now for Pastor Danh Nguyen! I stopped doing what I was doing just as soon as I got this email. Let us fast and pray together, brothers and sisters! The time is short and the devil is busy. Here are some promises we can claim as we go before God’s throne of grace for help in time of need. (See opposite page.)

Loving Heavenly Father,

We come before Your throne of grace, pleading our need for Your divine intervention in this distressing time. Grant us access

by Your Son Jesus, with whom You have promised all things. Lord, we pray for Pastor Danh Nguyen, one of your faithful pastors.

Lord, send Your holy angels that excel in strength to guard and protect Pastor Danh Nguyen. Keep him safe from the police who are trying to arrest and harm him. Lord, rise up and protect him from the designs of the enemy. O, Lord, hearken and do. Defer not for Thine own sake, O my God; for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy Name.

Father, guide and protect all of the pastors working through Adventist

The ASAP team highly values their prayer partners. Would you be interested in supporting this ministry through your prayers? If so, please join the ASAP Prayer Team.

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Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:15

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 14:13-14 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

Southeast Asia Projects. Keep them faithful and free to do your work. Help us to be faithful, fast and pray. We claim these promises, believing that we have received them, and trusting in Your divine wis-

“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’” Isaiah 58:9 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.” Psalm 145:18-19 “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22

dom, providence, and mercy. All these things we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sincerely, Chan

As I finished reading this e-mail my mouth was filled with praise to God as I thought about His oft-repeated command to PRAY and His oft-repeated promise to ANSWER! My heart was also filled with much gratitude at the thought of our many praying brothers and sisters who were lifting up Pastor Danh Nguyen in prayer. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow to emphasize the importance of persevering in prayer. He ends the parable in verse eight with this question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” After reading an email like the one above, I can respond with a resounding YES! We thank God for the way He has heard and answered the prayers of Chan and other ASAP prayer partners for Pastor Danh Nguyen. ASAP Left: Chan Hwang persisting in prayer for ASAP.

About the Author Martin Kim, ASAP’s West coast representative, along with his wife, Liana, have dedicated their time and energy to sharing the mission of ASAP. They live in Auburn Washington but their hearts are with the people in Southeast Asia.

ASAP

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Pray for Sou Christ is Coming ASAP . . . Reach Asia Now! This is the ASAP motto and we believe the only way hearts can be reached is through the Holy Spirit’s power that comes when we pray! Join us in praying for the lost in Southeast Asia and praising God for what He is already doing through the ASAP lay workers.

Praise the Lord for…

• Revival in Southeast Asia! Many areas have experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the lay pastors, church planters, medical missionaries, and literacy teachers celebrate in growth in their churches.

• Thirty-five former Evangelical Vietnamese pastors who have accepted the truth of the Sabbath and led their congregations to becoming SDAs. • Donors who provided funds for all the ASAP wells currently needed and respond to needs in Southeast Asia.

• Healing of Cambodian Church Planter Sao Saruth’s wife and son from Dengue Fever.

• Protection of Vietnamese lay-pastor Danh Nguyen during police interrogation.

• ASAP Ambassadors who are sharing missions with their churches and campmeetings.

• A successful ASAP Mission trip to Thailand.

• New projects in Southeast Asia such as the Sda Center and the two literacy/feeding programs in Phnom Penh.

• Pastor Sophat Sorn’s expansion of the Voice of Love Cambodian radio broadcast.

• Evangelistic tools such as the website and DVDs that help spread the gospel in Vietnam.

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Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

utheast Asia!

Pray for…

• Wisdom for the leaders ASAP partners with.

• Continued strength and protection on the lay pastors in Vietnam and Laos and that the political leaders in these countries to lift the restrictions on religious freedom.

• Suei King-Anong, Lao pastor of a district of churches in the highlands and lay pastors who work under him who currently face persecution.

• Ability to help meet the needs in a greater way for the poorest of the poor SDA church members in some of the worst areas of Southeast Asia.

• God to provide the financial support still needed for the Vietnamese pastors, Thai lay-pastors, Cambodian Church planters, Cambodian literacy teachers, training, and other projects not yet funded to completion.

• Healing for the pastors and church planters facing serious health conditions: Khut Chhoeun, Pen Chenda, Men Mara (retired), Choub Phoeun and his wife, Oun, the wife of Van Saran and Ung Chantha.

• God’s continued blessing on Isah Young, his wife Mai, the team of assistants who produce the Vietnamese Peace & Happiness radio broadcasts.

• Breakthroughs in reaching specific tribal groups in Thailand.

• Khamsay Phetchareun and the Mission College students as they spread the gospel in Thaiand and Laos.

• Phamor Phoopichitprai, director of the health center and medical missionary program.

ASAP

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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

P.O. Box 84, Berrien Springs, MI 49103 www.asapministries.org 1 (866) 365-3541

Reach Asia Now!

Christ is Coming ASAP . . .

For $110 per month, you can support one young Thai medical missionary and put hope in the lives of the sick and the lost. Gift Catalog #055

because a Thai medical missionary helped bring God’s healing of her body and heart.

but now she offers gifts of praise to her Master Healer,

She used to visit the local witch doctor and sacrifice chickens to be cured,

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