DON’T EVER GIVE UP

Ever been so discouraged that you felt like giving up? Well, I sure have! And you know reaching out to help sometimes is like opening Pandora’s Box. I never know what’s going to come out of that relationship. But you know, I would rather work off of HOPE than live in a HOPELESS environment.

I do believe that God is real, and there are so many stories that I could share that reflect his miracles and his power, but I couldn’t begin to write them all down. However, here’s a couple of them for you.

We were praying for a family to come to Christ. Did they have an interest? NO! However, their family really desired this and was praying for a breakthrough. We prayed for some time, but the people were not even interested in becoming friends much less hear about the Gospel. HOWEVER, their elementary school aged grandson worried so much about their salvation, that he went and openly talked to his grandfather. —– that’s all it took. That grandfather was so touched, that he and his wife both prayed to receive Christ.

More recently some young friends of ours filed for divorce. We and others did all we could to turn that around, but to no avail. Did we stop praying? Well, of course not! But when divorces are finalized, it sure does seem final doesn’t it. BUT you know, they are back together!!!  Pretty awesome, huh! Pray for this young couple as they seek to turn their lives around in this challenging world in which we live,

The point is, as long as their is life . . . NEVER give up. We cannot fix people. As one preacher put it . . . “There ain’t nobody who can talk to people like God can.” Our hope is in Christ. Pray like everything depends on Christ, and do all HE calls you to do!

AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE DON’T EVER GIVE UP . . .

NEEDS FROM SE ASIA

We receive daily prayer requests from SE Asia. So many people, so many partners, so may needs . . . thank you for praying with us.

A spiritual medium in a trance

Sometimes we in the West don’t realize how circumstances overseas often parallel the New Testament in many ways. Some people live in cultures and circumstances that we know little about and have a difficult time understanding. Many of you have prayed for a mother who has been suffering with cancer for some time now. Poh Sim passed away this week. Please pray for their family. None of her family members are Christian. Her husband is a spiritual medium who chants and goes into trances communicating with the spirit world. Please pray for God to speak into his life. Her children are also not believers. Pray that in the middle of this painful time, they will see God at work. Their mother was a relatively new believer and a beautiful vibrant person. Their different spiritual journeys brought about great conflict in their home especially during this illness. Pray for peace and for miracles for this family. Funeral ceremonies will be held Saturday, March 23 through Monday March 25.

We have also asked you to pray for one of our dear friends business partner, GKK. He has struggled with cancer for some time and now it has spread to his back. His wife is a devout idol worshiper, but this week she gave her blessing to her husband to accept Christ. Pray for this entire family to come to know the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As is common in any church, many physical and spiritual needs exist among these friends. This particular church not only ministers in their community but travels far and wide on a weekly basis to continue new church ministry as well as to begin additional new work. Pray for A & J and their team as they seek to follow the Lord’s call in their lives. As we often say, thank you so much for traveling with us on this journey of ministry among Hokkien people. With more than 57,000,000 people in this people group, only about 1% are Christian, and many have no religious faith. Pray for a spiritual awakening among these precious people.

PEOPLE CONNECTIONS

We as Christians all know that Jesus said to GO … TEACH … BAPTIZE … TEACH THEM TO FOLLOW GOD. HOWEVER, we get even more excited when we see it in action. Yesterday, was one of those special opportunities that we have along the way to see God at work. Robert filled in for one of our pastor friends on Sunday, and following the service, an 84 year old gentleman took us on a tour of their FOOD BANK.

Now, we are familiar with the location because we go there every week for their CELEBRATE RECOVERY ministry. They are not a large church in numbers, but they have a huge heart. Man, this FOOD BANK was unbelievable and they are connecting with so many different kinds of people.

We were really blessed and it reminded us of some of our Hokkien churches that are also on mission with CONNECTING PEOPLE. It sure is difficult to get the Gospel out to others and love on people if we never connect. That’s where the GO comes in. Connecting with people is hard work — and it does take time. Both in East and SE Asia we have Hokkien ministries that are doing a great job reaching out. Feeding stations, Dialysis Center, Senior Adult Day Care ministry, after school  classes for children, prison ministry, orphanages, foster care, delivery of food items to people in need, ministry to people with special needs, drug rehab work, help for gambling addicts as well as alcoholics and Celebrate Recovery (even in Asia).

How will we ever make a difference if we don’t find ways to connect with people. Today we celebrate these churches who are reaching out in so many ways.They are showing us how to BE THE DIFFERENCE.

♥ Pray for a church in southern Taiwan as they connect in their very needy community. Workers are needed in the HARVEST. They especially work with hurting families torn apart by dysfunction and divorce.

♥ Pray for a church in SE Asia involved in MANY different kinds of ministry. Pray for additional resources and workers as well. They also have started additional churches. God is at work.

♥ Pray for a church that has invested much time in reaching out to gambling addicts and their families both in their community and beyond. Pray for Pastor L’s health and the staff as they boldly lead the way.

♥ Pray for a church that travels to many different locations doing whatever it takes to meet local needs. They go whether they have the resources or not. Pray for God to meet their every need. Pray for their team as they weekly travel by car and ferry to different locations in their nation.

PLAY BALL!

Sports is definitely a subject we can discuss just about anywhere in the world. Without a doubt, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has led the way in making a difference in the lives of people worldwide. Stories from all the world really get us excited as we see the many different ways that God uses people to impact HIS world. God changes people, one at a time. AND people make up communities, nations and the world.

We are so happy to say that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes also impacts our Hokkien Harvest ministry as well. We have such a creative God. Pray for our friends and partners as they endeavor to reach out into families and communities to love and care for these young people. Pray for open hearts, dysfunctional families, hurting people who are looking for HOPE. Pray that through this channel of caring for people many students will be encouraged to take a healthy road in life and also come to know the loving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for CKS as this precious friend directs FCA ministry in communities in SE Asia. Pray for partners as they share leadership. Pray too for these students as they have fun but come to understand more about how to live their lives. Pray for miracles in these very difficult ministry places. God is alive and well and VERY creative. Once again, thanks for taking this journey with us. Priceless!

SET FREE

In the Bible John 3:36 shares that If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

We are so glad that God is in the business of radically transforming lives. We know people who have murdered, joined gangs, operated houses of ill repute, sold drugs, worked as professional gamblers . . . well, you get the idea. HOWEVER, these same people mentioned here have also been in prison, served time and been reformed and transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Today they are all serving in ministry to share this precious gospel with others who are also in bondage. It is true that sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we are willing to ask for help. AND if we are looking to see miracles and God at work in big ways, we know that Resurrection Power works best in graveyards.

In SE Asia, one of our newer Hokkien churches is filled with families who have prison records, and God is at work in a mighty way. You know sometimes we are unwilling to listen to God or receive anyone’s help until we’re desperate. BUT God is in the business of changing us. Repent doesn’t mean we turn ourselves around. The Greek word for REPENT is metanoia which actually means a change of mind. We come to God as we are with a desire to be different BUT God does the transforming. Working in this arena of life is TOUGH. BUT when God has transformed your life and led you to work with this segment of society, he or she  is so much better equipped to relate to these people. God has a WAY.

Our Taiwanese/Hokkien ministry in SE Asia as well as East Asia involves prison ministry to reach out to both men and women —— fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. These are broken people in chains, but the message of the GOSPEL is that there is hope in Christ. He is in the life changing business and gives HOPE where there was no HOPE. RADICAL CHANGE. Some Christian workers make regular trips into the prisons. Some churches actually have prison half-way houses to help newly released prisoners acclimate back into society. And some churches also provide housing for families of prisoners in order to assist them during these difficult times. We are so grateful for these wonderful efforts.

In southern Taiwan, each year a large gathering is held at a local restaurant owned by a Christian to highlight these needs and gather offerings. God is at work. Like a popular Christian songs says, “He’s a chain-breaker”! 

 

♥ Pray for Christian workers ministering in these prison settings to have wisdom and needed resources.

♥ Pray for those in prison to have open hearts and a desire to see their lives changes and restore families.