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Disciples are Storytellers BY SCOTT GRISWOLD
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ou are called to be a storyteller. Have you thought of that before? No matter your “ungiftedness,” or your introverted personality, as a disciple of Jesus, you have been chosen to tell His story. After a day of storytelling on the beach, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matthew 13:52 NIV). These treasures are stories. Do you feel like you have a storeroom full? Jesus mentioned old treasures. Old stories about King David, Daniel, and Esther. Old stories that now include Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Old parables that never grow old. What a wealth we have to share! Jesus spoke of new stories. Your stories are brand new things that have never been told in the history of the universe because your experience with God is entirely unique. These treasures must be brought out and heard! Do you need more convincing? “Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls” (The Desire of Ages, 347). Our national missionaries have learned that storytelling is one of their most important roles. Chheav Srey works near the largest temple complex in the world, Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Together, the temples have more stones than the Egyptian pyramids and much of it is carved. But Chheav is building something more important—the kingdom of God. He is using stories as one of his building blocks. Recently Chheav met a mother of two children. “My life is so miserable,” she complained. “My husband’s always drinking and we’re constantly fighting. If he doesn’t quit wasting all our money on booze, I’m going to leave him!”
THIRD QUARTER 2014
Reaching Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar & Beyond
Thoughts From: TOM L. EVANS ASAP Ministries Board Member
My passion is church planting! I have found it to be the most effective evangelistic method for reaching people with the gospel. Jesus’ last words on earth are recorded in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is a church planting strategy. For many years, I served as the church planting director in the Texas Conference. We planned large rallies to promote the vision for planting churches in our territory. As I reflected on Acts 1:8, it was clear that we were planting churches in Jerusalem (right where we lived), in Judea (nearby and culturally similar), and Samaria (nearby, but culturally different). But, what were we doing to take the gospel and plant churches to “the ends of the earth?” The Holy Spirit convicted me that we must do something more in order to respond faithfully to Jesus’ final words. Regardless of where we live, there must be a holistic approach that also includes “the ends of the earth.” This motivated us to begin a partnership with ASAP Ministries. The vision of ASAP to empower national workers matched the emphasis that we promoted at our rallies of lay-led church planting.
Chheav wanted to help the husband, but he was off drinking somewhere. Instead he told the wife about what God had done to help him. He told her stories about Jesus. He urged her to love her husband in the same way God loves us. Then he prayed with her for her husband. “Come to church,” he urged. “God is going to do something for your family!” As Chheav visited the neighbors, he realized the whole village was disturbed by the loudness and frequency of this couple’s quarrels. Finally he was able to meet with the husband. Once again he told his story and God’s story. The alcoholic was touched enough that he agreed to study the Bible. For two weeks Chheav’s church members earnestly prayed that God would work a miracle. Within one month the man stopped drinking and the couple stopped fighting. Now they have a story to tell too. The village is amazed at what God can do! Like Chheav, every follower of Jesus is a story-teller. Have you made story-telling a priority in your life? The Bible even says Jesus never spoke without using a story. The book of Acts shows the disciples using stories in almost every chance they had to share the gospel. How about your conversations? Are they overflowing with the joy of God’s story? You don’t have to tell your entire testimony of becoming a Christian every time. Many times people just need a bite-sized story that matches their present challenge. Tell them how God helped you forgive someone who hurt you. Tell them how God protected you in an accident. Tell them how God helped your troubled marriage. Even when you want to share a specific truth with someone, you can do it with a story. It could be a simple telling about the Sabbath joy your family had last week through an adventure in nature. It might be a story about a woman who lost her job because she wouldn’t work on the Sabbath and then found a better job closer to home. When you tell your stories, at the appropriate time, offer to pray for the person you are talking with. God is eager to make a new story in his or her life too.
Let’s make disciples A.S.A.P.!
Today, I organize 12 SEEDS churchplanting conferences every year throughout the North American Division. At every event, we make a card appeal for individuals to sponsor a lay-church planter in Southeast Asia. Our goal for this year is to support 100 lay-church planters through ASAP. We are well on our way to reaching it! We praise God for the partnership and the opportunity to see the gospel go forward here and around the world. Tom L. Evans is the Associate Director for North American Divistion Evangelism Institute (NADEI)
PHOTO: (Cover) Sharing a story. (Inside L-R) A smile without alcohol. Chheav Srey
Adventist Southeast Asia Projects FEATURED PROJECT: EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS
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came. The church planters were friend of mine opened her not discouraged for they felt God heart to a homeless lady. leading them. The attendance They became close. She rose to fifty per night. The even had the opportunity to lead her to Christ before the homeless attendees were fascinated by the messages from Daniel and lady passed away. The lady’s Revelation. They appreciated the parents contacted my friend with information on health. The church an amount of money that they planters visited the people in their wanted to give in appreciation for what she had done for their homes and businesses. daughter. Instead of using the money for her own needs, in a step One evening, a strong storm with heavy rains blew through the of faith, she donated the funds to Baptisms with Pastor Kem Thang Ngala ASAP to make an evangelistic series possible in Myanmar. town. The meetings went on anyway. At the end, thirteen people made the decision for baptism. In another city, Matupi, over 200 came out every night for the ten-day evangelistic What resulted from that special gift? 36 ministerial students campaign. Nine ended up getting baptized. Surely all of went out in three groups and conducted evangelistic and heaven rejoiced! Please keep each of these new believers health meetings, along with children’s programs. Six people in prayer and also pray that ASAP national missionaries can in two villages on the West-Yoma coast were baptized. 150 conduct many more evangelistic meetings. Real discipleattended the meetings in the Myaungmya district where making is happening as the gospel is shared. In all these eight made decisions for baptism. Revival meetings were held locations, the people are being followed up with visits and by ministerial students in four churches in the Maubin district more Bible studies. and many made recommitments to God. Seven ASAP church planters joined together to pray and lay the groundwork for evangelistic meetings in a city that has been difficult to reach. Many townspeople were invited and many politely agreed to come. However, only about thirty
All of this evangelistic activity was connected in a real way to kindness shown a homeless woman. May God use each of us to extend His kingdom of love.
www.asapministries.org Visit our website to see more special projects.
Notes from our ASAP Family Volunteers, Staff, National Missionaries, ASAP Ambassadors, Prayer Partners, Donors, Board Members and Gift Recipients We’d like to share a note from Ukiah Junior Academy’s secretary after the recent week of prayer by Pastor Scott Griswold Thank you so much for connecting and inspiring our students in such a special way while you were here at UJA! I believe you made an eternal difference in their lives! Thank you too for sending the special prayer poster. I had one printed for every student and one for each classroom. They are going home with them today along with the Friday Grapevine. It makes it so real for the students to be able to see actual students who will benefit from their change! May God's richest blessings shower your ministry!— DONNA FAYE If you are planning a week of prayer at your school you could also include a mission emphasis with a special project from our Priceless Gift Catalog at asapministries.org
Always Say A Prayer TURNING THE HEARTS OF FATHERS TO SONS
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ave you ever tried to share the gospel or a specific truth with someone and received a blank stare, or worse yet, outright resistance? Sometimes it is the hardest with family. Prayer can make the difference. A young man in southern Vietnam, who we will call Van, heard the special truths for the end of time through the website and DVD ministry of Peace and Happiness, a Seventh-day Adventist ministry that ASAP supports.
home and other people he witnesses to. One whole year passed. Then Van had an opportunity to return home. To his great surprise his father was happy to see him and eager to study the Bible. You can imagine Van's joy when his father started worshipping the Creator on the Sabbath. He praised the Lord when he saw his father passing out DVDs to tell other people the truth. "Won't you please move back home," Van's father asked him, "and help me share the truth with my friends?"
Van eagerly shared his excitement A Vietnamese man and his father. about the new truths with his family. They did not like it. The Van has not stopped witnessing with just his family. Others are conflict was so bad he moved to another city. There he studied coming to Christ too. He is finding that people who would not the Bible further through the internet with Pastor Isaiah listen are opening their hearts when he prays. We can all learn who produces the DVDs and radio programs from Southern from Van's example. We too can pray for our families and then California. He taught Van to earnestly pray for his family back witness confidentally with love. nSCOTT GRISWOLD
Intercede for Asia BY MARTIN KIM ASAP PRAYER AMBASSADOR
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he apostle Paul understood that prayer makes the preaching of God's word powerful and effective. He wrote, "Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1). The praying preachers understand that the prayers of saints make a difference. Consider the words of E.M. Bounds: "Men in the pew given to praying for the preacher, are like the poles which hold up the wires along which the electric current runs. They are not the power, neither are they the specific agents in making the divine power runs to the hearts of men. They give liberty to the preacher, exemption from being straitened, and keep him from 'getting in the brush.' They make conditions favorable for the preaching of the Gospel. Preachers, not a few, who know God, have had large experience and are aware of the truth of these statements" (The Weapon of Prayer, p. 140). Please join us in praying that God would outpour His Spirit on our workers in Southeast Asia as they boldly proclaim the Word of God.
Do you find it hard to pray for people you do not know? Purchase Prayers for the World Next Door at AdventSource. com or read it online at ReachTheWorldNextDoor.com under the prayer section. You will find descriptions of unreached people from around the world who have moved next door. At the same website you will learn how to make friends with internationals so they can know God's love. This will help you pray with power! www.asapministries.org
AdvocatesSupporting&AssistingthePersecuted PEOPLE CALL ME A MISSIONARY One of ASAP’s special projects is called GWIDOP (God’s Workers In Dangerous and Oppressive Places). God has really led in this new project. The following was written by a friend of ours who works in a country that restricts religious freedom. Feel his heart and pray with him.
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ne day, a woman I had studied the Bible with came to say good-bye to me.
“I’m leaving today.” “I know,” I responded, emotion in my voice. “There is a Bible in my backpack.” I am quiet. What can I say to someone who is willing to share about God even if it might take her life? When my words come they are quiet, like I’m not supposed to say this. “You know what will happen to you if you are caught.” Inside I say to myself, “I am the one who taught her about God. I am the one who encouraged her to trust in Him no matter what. Now I am the one who is afraid of what will happen to myself if she is caught. How can I say that I’m a missionary?” “I know,” she says.
10 Favorite Mission Stories! So you can't get enough of inspiring MISSION STORIES? That's good because we have a new volume for you! CALL: 1-866-365-3541 OR EMAIL: office@asapministries.org FOR A FREE COPY! We printed enough for you and for you to give these special gifts to your friends and relatives!
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Once again, I can’t find anything to say to her. A stream of tears comes down on both of our cheeks. We begin to pray. My mind is confused. There is only one thing I know for sure at the moment. This may be the last time I ever see her. We both know, but we don’t talk about it. “Please keep me in your prayers.” I promise I will. And then she leaves. Not very long had passed and word of her came to me. She had indeed been caught with her Bible. They persecuted her severely. What all they did I do not know. I do know that they told her she would be released if she revealed who gave the Bible to her. Now she was the one who didn’t say anything. She suffered in silence until she paid with her life. People call me a missionary. People called her an illegal resident. The police called her a traitor. But I believe that she was the one who is worthy to be called a missionary.
GWIDOP needs your continual prayers for those who are presecuted and in danger of suffering and dealth for their faith.
Reaching the World Next Door—A.S.A.P.! YOUR VIETNAMESE NEIGHBORS
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n the part of California, so full of Vietnamese that they call it “Little Saigon,” there lives an 84-year-old grandmother, whose son owns a tour bus company. Every evening she asks her son and other children and grandchildren to stop everything and watch the Peace and Happiness TV Program. This is Pastor Isah Young’s program. The grandmother is so excited about it that every evening she walks down the street calling the shopkeepers to stop their business and watch the TV program too. Many others in California and other states are listening to these new TV broadcasts. Pastor Isah receives many phone calls and email messages from people who are asking questions about God. They want to study God’s Word. His Church is being flooded with interests. Some are even moving nearby so they can attend church. As a result of God’s blessings on his sermons through the TV broadcast, Pastor Isah now has a Bible study class of 30 people locally. He gives Bible studies to others through the telephone. He fasts and prays that God will give every Vietnamese in America and beyond a chance to hear and respond to the gospel. Is there anything you and I can do? We also can watch for opportunities to share the gospel with the Vietnamese near our homes. The Vietnamese started migrating to outside countries in large numbers at the end of the war in 1975. They are the fourth largest Asian group in the United States with more than a million speaking Vietnamese at home. One third of them live in California and there are large numbers in many major cities. Recently, more are moving to places like Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Likely, you have some living close by you. What are they like? Vietnamese in America have a great diversity of jobs, but the majority are involved in small businesses. You may have visited a Vietnamese restaurant or a beauty-salon. There are many also working in hi-tech computer industries. The young people are typically welleducated and upwardly mobile. It is fascinating to note that while only 6% of the population in Vietnam is considered Christian, in America it is 23%. Wikipedia says that “the majority practice a fusion of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and native animist practices, including ancestor veneration that have been influenced by Chinese folk religion.” It looks like they are more open to becoming a Christian in a western environment and there are many who need us to share our faith. But what would you say to a Vietnamese and how would you witness to them? Our cross-cultural training kit Reach the World Next Door will solidly prepare you. You can order it at our website or by calling ASAP. But right here I want to share one simple thing that you can easily do—connect them with resources in their own language.
One of the easiest ways is to go online to our website MyLanguageMyLife.com. Click on the Asian region and choose Vietnamese. You will find the Discover Bible studies, Adventist World Radio (AWR) broadcasts, the Jesus video, Peace and Happiness TV shows, an audio Bible and more—all in Vietnamese. If you are having a difficult time sharing the gospel with a Vietnamese or someone else of another culture, pray and God will show you what to do. You can also contact us so we can link you with an English-speaking Vietnamese to answer your questions or talk directly to the person you are trying to help. There is more to learn, but why should we wait any longer? Let’s befriend the Vietnamese and others! Let’s Reach the World Next Door—A.S.A.P.!
Your Gifts at Work Burmese and Karen Bibles Changing Lives Some of our staff recently carried Burmese and Karen Bibles back from Thailand. These were bought with your donations. They have been passed on to leaders of growing ethnic churches made up primarily of refugees resettling in America. Pastor Sam Ngala, who is working in Indianapolis among ethnic groups from Myanmar, said he recently met a Karen Buddhist who had become a Christian, but was slipping away from God during the pain of her marriage problems. When he gave her a Bible in her language, she began to study it and is rapidly growing in her faith. He also mentioned one of his church members, Muang, who is a university student in Indiana. Her English is quite good, but when she saw the Burmese Bibles she was so eager that she donated $40 of her hard-earned money and walked away with two. Why? First, because she wanted God’s word in her “heart language” to “touch the very core.” Second, because she had a non-Christian friend who needed to know God. Your gifts are making a vital difference. Thank you for buying Bibles.
During a week of prayer at Ukiah Junior Academy the students heard stories of thirsty people, dusty villages, and street orphans. The students decided to gather coins from their spending money and by asking their friends and family members to donate their coins too. They hauled in jarfuls and cheered wildly when they found they had collected $1,093, enough to sponsor three Feed & Read Students for a year and to dig a well to transform a village. Watch the podcast Change the World with Change at asapministries.org to hear the full story, under previous podcasts.
UKIAH UKIAH JUNIOR JUNIOR ACADEMY ACADEMY
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In In Loving Loving Memory Memory & & Honor Honor
KIDS WITH A MISSION! KIDS WITH A MISSION!
IN MEMORY OF: ALICE DUFFIE FAHRBACH by Donald Fahrbach • DENA KAY BOWES & MARGARET RUSTAD by James & Judith Culpepper • DRIGGS SAMARZA by Jon Olson & Cheryl Glenn • E. JENICKE & J. KRAVIG by Sandy Monette • GAY HIPPLER & HER WONDERFUL LIFE OF SERVICE ON MISSION TRIPS by Betty Weakley • HAZEL ALKIRE, RON SQUIER, & JERRY AITKEN by Carol Squier • IVAN HAMMOND, MY HUSBAND by Alice Hammond • JOSEPH (ROM) DUMOUCHEL by Terry R Haynes • MRS. LOLA ORTIZ, DR. IVAN REEVE, MR. DEAN PEARSON by Warren & Louise Reeve • NATHAN STOLL by Cherilyn Typaldos • PAUL ESSIG by Karen Bowen • PEARSON & PEARL VAN METER, MY PARENTS by Betty Hunsaker • RALPH WADDELL by Ellen Waddell Nelson • REGINA VERDUZCO PEÑA by Alfredo Peña • STEVE CHRISTIANSON by Mark Wasemiller • THOMAS OSBORN by Douglas & Heidi Ray • VIC & LEE ISH by Thomas & Jennifer Ish • DR. ARTHUR M. OWENS by Luthea Owens IN HONOR & THANKFULNESS OF: JESUS CHRIST by Phyllis Geiman, Benjamin Hadley, Aily Kraulins, Josephine Paulson • BYRON & CAROL REYNOLDS by Johanna Rita Vital • DEE DEE'S MEGAVOICE PROJECT by Barbara Miller • DELILAH CONSULTA by Anothony & Daisy Manez • ESTHER ZIMMERMAN'S 88TH BIRTHDAY by Donald & Ellen Amador • IVAN PEACOCK'S 97TH BIRTHDAY by James & Judith Culpepper • RUTHIE MILLS & JOE REEVES' WEDDING by Phil & Sherry Mills, Jay & Pamela Anders, James & Sarah Dietrich, Michelle Doucoumes, Alistair & Deborah Huong, Thomas & Shelley Kanomata, Ron & Kimberly Kyle, Kari Montague, Frances Sargent, Julia & A.J. O'Carey, Judy Aitken, Wayne & Sherrie Labins, Jeanette Yeboah-Amoako, Jay & Panyia Lo • NAW MOLLY MYAING'S 80TH BIRTHDAY by William & Michelle Berned, Gary & Ellen Eldridge, Willard & Wanda Hackett, Julia Lobotsky, William & Jean Mitchell, John & Carol Pack, Valerie French Samuel, Richard Shwe & Khin Khin Sein, Marc & Elaine Skurow, Charlene Starlin, Glenn Andrews & Beatrice Tapia, Shirley Thein, V.J. & Jill Charles • STEPHANIE & JESUS by James 'Micah' Guster • ZOBEEDA MOHAMMED, MOTHER by Aphzal & Vashti Mohammed
Meet Mome Sophal PASSION FOR TEACHING Reading, writing and the Redeemer. These are the three R's that Mome teaches his students. They learn to read and write the Khmer language and the truths of the Bible. Mome feels blessed to be able to share the gifts of literacy and God's love with his small class of 18, ages 6-12. PRAYER WARRIOR At one point, all but two of Mome's students stopped attending his class because their parents found out that he was teaching them about God. Mome prayed persistently for them to return. He even visited their homes to speak with their parents. God answered and they returned to class. Mome also teaches Sabbath School classes for adults and children at his local church. He prays for each of his members and gives additional Bible studies to those who want to be baptized. He prays for everyone God puts in his path to teach and reach.
POSITION Literacy Teacher LOCATION Samraong, Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia PRAYER REQUEST For 5 of my 8 children to become believers
ASAP Ministries is fueled by mission-minded, faith-filled individuals whom God impresses. Be assured that 100% of your gift will go directly to the projects you specify. However, in the blessed event that the project you chose is fully funded, ASAP will use your gift for a similar project or where most needed to help spread the gospel and ease suffering in the countries ASAP operates. Because ASAP is a §501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your donations are tax-deductible. ASI MEMBER ASAP Ministries has been a member of ASI (Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries) since 1996 and is grateful to be an ASI grant recipient.
JOIN THE ACTION Mome gave his life to Christ in 1986 while living in a refugee camp. Twenty years later he became a Seventh-day Adventist. Mome is determined to spread this good news to as many people as he can. Would you like to help him or another literacy teacher do this? It takes $40 per month to support a literacy teacher in Cambodia. You may donate monthly or give a one-time gift of $480 to cover an entire year. Please call us today if you would like to help. PRAYER REQUESTS Join Mome in praying for his students and their parents who mostly do not believe in God. Pray that these parents will come to know and understand God's love and that they would continue to allow their children to attend Mome's class. Pray for his eight children - three are believers but the other five are not. Pray for God to help him call back members who have stopped attending church.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/DIRECTOR Julia O’Carey EDITOR/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Scott Griswold COPY EDITOR Linda Bauer, Wayne Labins DESIGN/LAYOUT Hannah Smoot BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Bruce Bauer, Judy Aitken, Peter Van Bemmelen, Christopher Carmen, Steve Chang, Chan Sun and Esther Hwang, Denzil McNeilus, Mary Ann McNeilus, Byron and Carol Reynolds, Tom Evans, and Trudi Starlin.
TOLL FREE 1-866-365-3541 PHONE 269-471-3026 FAX 269-471-3034 EMAIL office@asapministries.org WEB www.asapministries.org All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version® copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
ASAP serves people from the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Beyond! *At times, photos are blurred and names changed to protect the safety of God's workers.
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