ASAP Newsletter, 1st Quarter 2009 by ASAP Ministries

FIRST Quarter, 2009

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

liberated livesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; true freedom for southeast asians

IN THIS ISSUE

Liberated Lives in Vietnam by JUDY AITKEN

Meet Triet

Liberated Lives in Thailand By Somchai Chuenjit

LAY PASTOR

Liberated Lives in Cambodia By Ing Nang

Meet Yem Dalai

Church planter

Meet Kongsri Pathee

lay pastor

Liberated Lives in Laos by JULIA O’CAREY

Tai Chanleusay

CHURCH PLANTER

Liberated Lives in North America by JULIA O’CAREY

Meet Minh Pham Bible worker

IN EVERY ISSUE

Liberated Lives in Myanmar By Samuel Ngala

7 Snapshot of ASAP’s Finances by Karen Wade

Meet Naw Paw Htoo

Church planter

12 the inner view BY bRUCE BAUER 14 ASAP Family Connections By Beatrice Neall 15 In Loving Memory & honor By sara de la vega

Meet Aboy

Church planter

3 Director’s Update BY Judy Aitken

Meet Tin Thanda Tun

22 A Giver’s Heart by Martin Kim 23 P.S. we love hearing from you!

Church planter

first quarter 2009  Adventist Southeast Asia Projects ASAP is a registered 501(c3), non-profit 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 tax-deductible.

ASAP publishes this newsletter quarterly. Please contact the office to receive your complementary subscription, or for additional copies to give to family and friends.

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ASI MEMBER ASAP has been a member of ASI (Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries) since 1996 and is grateful to be an ASI grant recipient. EXECUTIVE EDITOR/DIRECTOR Judy Aitken EDITOR/ASSociate DIRECTOR Julia O’Carey COPY EDITOR Linda Bauer DESIGN/LAYOUT Sarah Lee | whyambient.com PHOTOGRAPHY Frank Spangler | worldviewimages.com ASAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Bruce Bauer, Judy Aitken, Max & Linnea Torkelsen, Mary Ann McNeilus, Ralph & Beatrice Neall, Byron & Carol Reynolds, Robin Riches, Trudi Starlin, Kenneth Straw

1-866-365-3541 269-471-3026 269-471-3034 office@asapministries.org http://www.asapministries.org

ON THE COVER Two Vietnamese girls, living in a country run by a communist government that claims to offer religious freedom, but still resists the spread of Christianity. Read pg. 4 for a clearer understanding of religious freedom in Vietnam.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV The Apostle Paul admonished believers in the churches of Galatia to “stand firm” in continuing in the freedom Christ has given them by setting them free from the slavery of sin. In verse 13 of Galatians, he also writes, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.” In verse 16 of the same chapter he goes on to encourage the believers to live by the Spirit, and when doing so, they will not gratify their sinful desires. We can see throughout Paul’s life that he not only preached liberation through Christ, he personally experienced what it is to walk in freedom. He wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” The close relationship that he had with Christ is summed up in his words in Gal. 2:20, “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” I take great joy in informing you that the army of ASAP missionaries that labor for Christ as pastors, church planters, literacy/Bible teachers, youth evangelists and lay members stand firm for Christ in Southeast Asia. Through the examples of their Spirit led, liberated lives and active evangelism they help advance God’s work in powerful ways in preparation for the soon coming of Jesus Christ. The freedom they experience surpasses any external problems they daily face such as persecution (in some provinces of Vietnam and Laos), oppression from unsaved relatives and friends, hunger, disease, accidents and other attacks from the enemy. There is nothing that can separate God’s people from the love of Christ because this is what is promised in Rom. 8:37-38. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” My prayer for you is that as you read the stories in this newsletter, God will help you understand and experience freedom in a new way. I pray that in 2009 and after, we all can live a more liberated life through the victory that is ours because of the cross of Christ.

Sincerely,

Judy Aitken, ASAP Director

Liberated Lives in Vietnam By JUDY AITKEN

Are the Vietnam lay pastors still harassed and persecuted? Does the underground movement still exist? These questions are being asked by ASAP donors who heard recently that the Vietnam Government is now open to religious freedom.

government has been able to implement in Ho Chi Minh City has not yet trickled down to local levels of government throughout the country steeped in a communist mentality. Because of this, the underground movement remains essential.

ASAP has no doubt that the government is beginning to implement aspects of religious freedom in some areas of Vietnam. For example, the official SDA Mission based in Ho Chi Minh City has been granted permission from the government to build a training center. We join our brothers and sisters in praising God for this. In order to give you an accurate, balanced perspective on the situation of religious liberty in Vietnam, I must bring your attention to a couple key points.

Second, the stories of persecution from faithful ASAP lay pastors and youth evangelists continue to come out of many areas of Vietnam. As this change in the government will take much time, it is imperative that ASAP and the Adventist church continue supporting the important underground work as well as the radio broadcast that is winning thousands for Christ. Time is short! Christ is coming very soon. We must focus our energy on liberating souls through active evangelism which is strictly forbidden even today in Vietnam.

We must focus our energy on liberating souls through active evangelism which is strictly forbidden even today in Vietnam

Two Vietnamese girls, living in a country run by a communist government that claims to offer religious freedom, but still resists the spread of Christianity

First, please know that communism and government in Vietnam remain synonymous. Communism is an atheistic belief system. While the government may be telling the world that they are open to religious freedom in order to achieve their economic goals, we continue to receive first hand accounts that show what the

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I recently talked with Elder Bill Townend, President of the Southeast Asia Union Mission. He expressed his complete support of not only the official Adventist Church but also of Pastor *Isah Young, the Peace & Happiness radio ministry, and the underground Adventist Church in Vietnam. He said how glad he is for the increased freedom that the Vietnamese government is giving to the Vietnam SDA Mission. He also said that he is taking a “wait and see approach” to see how the communist definition of religious freedom plays out. He confirmed how much he values each avenue used in Vietnam to spread the gospel, whether it is under the control of the government or whether it is accomplished by groups that are not registered. He also has been witness to the persecution and harassment that the government has implemented towards God’s people who actively spread the gospel and he anticipates that this persecution will increase in the future. ASAP and the Seventh-day Adventist denomination leaders seek to support both entities through whatever means possible. We pray for the day when the official and underground SDA entities can work together in peace and unity. In the meantime, we will continue to focus our energy, time and resources on the mission to win as many Vietnamese to Christ before His soon return.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

“Live Godly...Suffer Persecution”

2 timothy 3:12

Art by Penny Matthews

PHOTO: Cong Be handcuffed in prison. *Names changed for the safety of God’s faithful servants.

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Order your FREE DVD today! Be inspired by the rare faith and courage of ASAP lay pastors and youth evangelists, willing to sacrifice all for God.

 Toll Free: 1-866-365-3541 : office@asapministries.org  www.asapministries.org



 (269) 471-3026

DID YOU KNOW?

$5 provides a new believer with their own Bible $40 supports a youth evangelist for a month $70 covers the monthly stipend of a lay pastor

The country of Vietnam is still emerging from dark decades of communism that severely restricted people’s lives. The government’s definition of religious freedom varies greatly from city to city, village to village, and Christians throughout the country still do not have complete freedom to share their faith and are often restricted from assembly and worship. Active evangelism has been the key to the growth of the underground church movement. ASAP invites you to partner with us in supporting the underground movement so the gospel can continue to go Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now! to all in Vietnam. 5

workers

Vietnam

Meet Triet* “I see the power of God in me.” Lay Pastor Vietnam main goal To give everyone knowledge of the Creator God in his communist country position

location

how to help

Pray that the Holy Spirit will move upon the hearts of people so they will be open to hearing Bible truths. And pray that God will give them courage to stand for their beliefs.

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You should rely on the government, not the God of the Bible!”

*Name has been changed and picture blurred for the safety of the individual.

SEEING THE HAND OF GOD I used to be very hot tempered. I got angry easily. Now I see the power of God in me and the patience He has given me. I see the hand of God in my life. I have to face many difficulties and injustice but God always recompenses me. In the end, I know that everything will work out for the good. I can see that in my life. AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE I used to have sixty members and now I have thirty in my house

church. The number dwindled because people are afraid that they will be arrested and lose the benefit of getting an education. I thank the Lord that my wife and children stay faithful. My children are sad at times, but this does not alter their belief in God. Though my son passed the college entrance examination, the government kept the information from me. They said because we are Christian, they will not allow him to attend college. My son stays home and helps the family. When I travel far away, he helps with the churches. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

THE LORD IS WITH ME A policeman angrily asked, “What do you do?” I told them I study the Bible, the Word of God. He yelled, “You should rely on the government, not the God of the Bible!” The police try to follow me everywhere I go and try to intimidate people to stay away from me and the messages I share with them. I am so thankful that I have the Lord who is with me wherever I go and I will remain faithful to Him. I know that He will increase my church as He has done in other areas of Vietnam. It will happen in His time.

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 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

A SNAPSHOT OF ASAP’S FINANCES

Support Our Missionaries By Karen Wade CPA, ASAP Treasurer

We thank God for your continuing support of the mission of ASAP. The needs in Southeast Asia are great, and thanks to you and the blessing of God, we will be able to continue to meet them. As we prayerfully made our budget for this New Year, we realize that our biggest responsibility in Southeast Asia is to the many church planters, lay pastors and literacy/Bible teachers that we support. Over $680,000 will need to be raised to support these workers and their families. We have had to raise their stipends this year due to the sharp increase in cost of rice and other necessities; but they still work at a sacrifice to share God’s love with those in their own countries, and they are happy to do so. The Southeast Asian missionaries we plan to provide stipends for are as follows.*

cambodia

54 Church Planters ($150/month) 178 Literacy/Bible Teachers ($40/month) 26 Medical Missionaries ($30/month) 1 Chaplain for the Healthland project ($120/month) 20 Healthland Employees’ Training ($100/month)

44 Church Planters ($70/month)

laos

thailand

vietnam

myanmar

12 Lay Pastors ($115/month) 6 Medical Missionaries ($150/month) 300 District Lay Pastors ($70/month) 40 Youth Evangelists ($40/month) 10 Village Evangelists ($60/month) 5 Medical Missionaries ($150/month)

*Each amount is indicative of one worker’s stipend. Other costs, such as transportation and materials they need are not included.

Our Workers need your help!

Would you like to partner with ASAP in supporting a faithful missionary? Log on to www.asapministries.org or indicate your commitment on the response card in this newsletter. Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

Liberated Lives in Cambodia By Ing Nang

I thank God for allowing me to work for Him in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A big part of my work is to encourage the ASAP church planters under my supervision. When I meet, pray and talk with them, I often feel that I am so blessed and strengthened in faith because of the stories that they tell me. I can see God working in a mighty way to free people from the bonds of Satan. One example is from the story Church Planter Houng Phan recently shared with me.

put her in the middle of the room so that they could all be around her. She was stronger than any women because of the evil spirit and she did not want to sit at first. Her eyes were red and bigger than normal. The church workers knelt down and prayed asking God to cast the evil spirits out in the name of Jesus. They sang three songs of praise to the Lord. Right away the evil spirit threw her on the ground and she became unconscious. They started praying again until

They all had to keep their distance because she would try to hit anyone in arms length One day, a demon came into a twenty-two year old girl named Soeun Vang in the Kok Plang village of Phnom Penh. When that happened, Soeun could not breathe and her body suddenly became numb from her head to her feet. Her tongue was stiff and she could not express herself. She laughed and cried at the same time and in the next breath was biting herself or yelling at one of her family members. They all had to keep their distance because she would try to hit anyone in arms length. Her brothers

Soeun Vang is in her normal health now

she was okay. After a while, she totally calmed down and came back to herself. She quietly asked for water and said that she was hungry and tired. She ate some rice and peacefully went to sleep. Since that time, no spirits have bothered Soeun again. She comes to church every Sabbath and has a strong faith in Christ because of the experience of Him rescuing her from the evil spirit. Let us all pray that God will rescue us each day from the evil habits that try to control our lives. May God bless you. —————————————————————— about the author

Houng Phan and some of the church members praying for Soeun Vang

and sisters thought she went crazy and that maybe modern medicine would help. They were just about to take her to the hospital, when her mother-in-law called church planter Houng Phan. Houng Phan invited a group of church workers to come with him to pray for her. They tried to

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Ing Nang has been a dedicated pastor for Cambodia Adventist Mission for the past 13 years. He currently supervises seven church planters supported by ASAP who lead church groups in Phnom Penh North District. Not only has he taught believers to be good Christians, he has also taught them to be missionaries and spread the news of the gospel to others who have never heard about Christ.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

workers

Cambodia

Meet Yem Dalai “He chose ME” position

Church Planter Phnom Penh, Cambodia

location

main goal

To be used by God and to spread the news about God and His powerful Word how you can help

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Photo by AJ O'Carey

1. Pray for Yem Dalai and the other church planters in Cambodia. 2. Join the ASAP mission trip to Cambodia, February 4-18, so you can personally encourage the missionaries. 3. Give generously so that the work can go on.

I believed in fortune-tellers, monks, and magicians.”

OLD LIFE Before I believed in God, I was a very proud man. I believed in fortune-tellers, monks, and magicians. I believed that animal fangs and magic strings could protect me from dangers. Then one day, I got into a traffic accident. I lost all faith in the fangs and strings and stopped believing in magicians and fortune-tellers. I wondered if there was anything that could help me. NEW LIFE One day, I met an ASAP church planter named Suom Sovanny and he told me about Jesus. I was interested to learn about this God that seems so powerful. Mr. Sovanny visited me quite often, and after studying with him for a month and attending Tim Maddock’s training for a month, I decided to be baptized. I was delighted to know that God worked in changing my heart. After finishing the study, I returned home, but I didn’t know what I could do for God with my little education and talents, so I prayed and asked God to use me however He wanted in His service. He blessed me with the task of becoming a volunteer literacy teacher. I was able to share the Good News with people and teach them about His Word. Besides working as a teacher, I got another job so I could earn money to support my mother, a widow. God blessed me with a hardworking spirit so I could take care of my family’s needs and bring people closer to Him. A CHOSEN CHURCH PLANTER I am thankful that God came into my heart. I don’t have much education, but He chose me to be a church planter. Now I can read and write so I can minister to my village about God’s love. There are currently twenty members in my group every Sabbath. Now that I serve God, I am not interested in any other work in this world. I am delighted to serve Him with my whole life because He has given me freedom that I never knew before. I am blessed because He has chosen me.

web:

www.asapministries.org |

phone:

1-866-365-3541

Liberated Lives in North America By Saengthong Saengthip “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

Yesterday’s dream has become today’s reality. The year 2008 has been very successful for LAMP (Lao Adventist Mission Projects). The Lord opened many doors and expanded our outreach territory way beyond our expectations. One of the greatest accomplishments this year was the Lao Media Bible Project. Our Lao Online Bible was completed in its entirety and is available for free download at our website, www. LaoChristian.org . We have also completed the NT Audio Bible in Lao. It is also available on our website.

Hundreds have contacted us through our website requesting materials and resources

Hundreds have contacted us through our website requesting materials and resources. A lady named Oy wrote, “Thank you for your prompt response. I came across your website on YouTube while I was browsing for Lao related videos. I’m still very young in my Christian walk as I have converted only about three years ago. Your website is wonderful and resourceful and I’d like to express a heartfelt thank you for taking the time in creating it. I will sure use it to the fullest and pass on the word…” We have had several contacts with former Adventists who became Adventists in the refugee camp in Thailand but joined other Christian denominations when they came to the United States due to lack of Adventists among Laotians at that time. I believe it is God’s will that we reclaim His scattered children and lead them back into the fold. Many of them expressed an interest to come visit our SDA Lao group here in Holland, Michigan. This fall, we completed a DVD consisting of sermons and re-enactments of the parables of Jesus, done in a context that the Lao people can understand and relate to. The church members in our Lao SDA Holland group blanketed the Lao community with these DVDs.

Jackie, one of the Holland SDA Lao Church members, enjoyed passing out the new DVD

Our sermon videos on YouTube have had amazing feedback from Lao people from around the world. It has been a great channel to share the gospel as well as lead people to the valuable resources on the website. Although this is only the initial stage of our web/media evangelism and resources are still limited, I feel that God is truly in charge of this project.

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We are currently working on a DVD featuring final events. Our main focus in 2009 is to produce videos of the New Beginnings series in the Lao language and culture. As we work on each and every project at LAMP, we pray that many souls will be transformed and that the Lao people find true freedom through Jesus Christ our Lord. —————————————————————— about the author

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Saengthong Saengthip, one of two Lao Adventist pastors in North America, graduated from Andrews University Theological Seminary in 2005. He served as a pastor in California before he came to Holland, Michigan to lead the SDA Lao group and volunteer as ASAP’s Evangelism Coordinator for the Lao work in North America. He is married to Mileicy and they are expecting their first baby in June.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

workers

N orth A merica

Meet Minh Pham “We had a precious time together.” Bible Worker Vietnamese SDA Church in Orlando, Florida

position

location

main goal

The Lord will use us to proclaim the Three Angels’ Message to the church and the Vietnamese community. how you can help

Pray that the year 2009 will be a winning year for the Lord and His Kingdom among Vietnamese people in Florida and the East Coast. Consider giving to ASAP Priceless Gift Catalog #124 to support workers like Minh Pham in North America. favorite bible text

“Oh, that God would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

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I praise the Lord for His goodness!”

A LIBERATED LIFE Mrs. Ba Tran, 64 years old, was born in Vietnam to a Buddist family. She

never heard about God until she came to the United States to live with her daughter. My husband and I had an opportunity to visit Ba Tran and her family many times and help them with things like translating their mail from English to Vietnamese, making phone calls for them, taking them to doctors’ appointments, and preparing them for the citizenship test. We studied the Bible with her every week for a year. She was a good student. She copied many important texts (such as ones on the Ten Commandments, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, etc.) and pasted them on her headboard so she could read them mornings and nights. Last year, we also had prayer meetings every Sunday afternoon at her home along with some of her neighbors. We had a precious time together and she cherishes the memory of that time when she first fell in love with Jesus. She got baptized in November together with seven other people. Not wanting to keep her new faith in God a secret, she witnessed to her other children in Vietnam. She sent them Bibles and asked the pastor from the SDA church to help them. As a result, two of her children and her four grandchildren have been keeping the Sabbath. They also invited the pastor to have a Branch Sabbath School at their home so that their neighbors can hear God’s Word too. Praise the Lord for His goodness and his power to change lives!

GOOD NEWS We just finished training where we learned how to plan and conduct a CHIP

Health seminar. We are thankful for the helpful information. Lord willing, we plan to take this project to many Vietnamese churches in the United States and Vietnam. We plan to train church members on how to conduct this seminar in order to help people prevent and reverse diseases. Through this health message, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to lead many more people to Christ. We praise God that starting in January 2009, Pastor Thien Pham has asked us to present health topics on a half hour monthly radio program.

web:

www.asapministries.org |

phone:

1-866-365-3541

THE INNER VIEW

P Ross McKenzie By BRUCE BAUER

Bruce Bauer talks with Ross McKenzie about Healthland, a soul winning project!

BB: Ross, I remember when I was president of the Cambodia Adventist Mission you arrived to begin working as a volunteer with plans to only stay one year. RM: Right! Little did I know that Cambodia would become such a big part of my life. BB: Ten years later you are still in Cambodia, have a beautiful Cambodian wife and soon will have your second child. In addition God has used you to establish a food industry called Healthland. Tell the ASAP donors how this came about. RM: Well, I was burdened by the great need among the destitute people in Phnom Penh. So many people, especially women, have no means of making a living to support themselves or their children. I prayed about this and God led me to start Healthland. We began with 2 employees, making peanut butter out of our little training center and selling it to friends and church members. Peanut butter is not a main staple for the Khmer people, so as God led and provided the funds and equipment, we started branching out and produced more traditional food products, such as a vegetarian version of traditional Khmer curry. BB: Describe what Healthland looks like today. RM: Healthland now employees 30 people and has 12 different lines of products (28 products in total). We have the equipment and capacity in the factory to expand as the Lord leads. BB: Producing vegetarian food and encouraging people to live healthfully is important. Is that the main focus of Healthland? RM: Our main goal is to build people. We exist to lift church members and women in the community out of poverty. Through our short training courses Healthland employees not only learn food production, they learn and practice a good work ethic, study the Bible, English and other topics that relate to self-improvement, and learn about spiritual development. If they are already Adventist, they do not have to worry about working on the Sabbath.

PHOTO CAPTIONS TOP: Healthland employees, busy at work

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ď&#x201A;&#x2DC; Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

BB: I can see that this long-term, sustainable project liberates people. Can you tell me about one of your employees and how Healthland changed that person’s life? RM: About ten years ago when Healthland was just starting there was a poor lady, Sokea, living with her husband in a small shack over a swamp near Healthland. She came every day to ask for a job but at that stage we were in the process of developing our first product, so we couldn’t really offer her a job. However, she kept coming daily to ask for work so eventually I decided to give her some small bags of peanut butter to sell in the market, expecting that she would quit within a few hours and stop asking for a job. To my surprise she stuck it out for the whole day and then came back to work bright and early the next morning, and then the next, and ten years later she is still with us. Today she is a dedicated Seventh-day Adventist and supervisor of a production room. to read the rest of sokea’s amazing story, log on to www. asapministries . org

BB: What are Healthland’s specific goals for the future? RM: We pray that God will send Healthland a couple of dedicated missionaries to help. Someone to be a training coordinator and someone to be a management or business advisor. We hope to increase Healthland to 80 employees, establish a more structured training program and build a center for students that will provide a facility to assist with their study, health, and spiritual nurture. BB: For 2009, the ASAP board voted to help raise funds to support 20 employees and to also provide a chaplain to minister to the employees and their families, as well as conduct the spiritual classes. RM: ASAP donors can make a tremendous difference by sponsoring one of our workers. They will not only have a job that puts food on their table, but their lives will be transformed from living as hopeless women and youth into stable, happy citizens of Cambodia and heaven.

web:

www.asapministries.org |

phone:

1-866-365-3541

ASAP FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Reflections From an ASAP Board Member By Beatrice Neall

Ralph and I have been interested in Southeast Asia since we served in Cambodia and Vietnam in the years before Vietnam fell to the Communists in 1975. When thousands of Cambodians fled to Thailand in 1980, we noticed how a quiet young nurse named Judy Aitken entered the camps and organized the work of teaching the refugees about Jesus.

To be a part of this praying, faith ministry…has deepened our love for God and commitment to serve Him Great numbers were baptized and became leaders of camp churches. When the refugees returned to Cambodia or were resettled in other countries, Judy’s support for these companies of new believers all over the world developed into Adventist Southeast Asia Projects (ASAP), the organization we love and serve today. Gradually the ministry spread to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma. Naturally Ralph and I were happy to serve on the board of ASAP. Through the years I have served on a number of General Conference committees, many of which were stimulating and enlightening. But working on the ASAP Board has been a unique experience. It has been inspiring to hear of God’s miracle-working power in the countries where we served in the past. In our most recent meeting we saw how God worked through decisions we made. A year ago, Carol Reynolds, a fellow board member, recommended that ASAP help the persecuted Karen people of Burma. As a result, funds were set aside for aid to these people. When the terrible storm called Nargis devastated the coast of Burma where many Karens live (and the Burmese government refused aid from the outside world!), the crisis,

first quarter 2009

the funding, and the ASAP representative, came together in a remarkable way. ASAP was able to work with the Adventist Myanmar Mission to distribute food, water and provide shelter and other supplies to the desperate people. At this year’s meeting we found that stipends for over 500 ASAP missionaries (lay pastors, Bible/literacy teachers, etc.) needed to be augmented because of increases in the cost of living. Remarkably, in spite of financial turmoil, contributions to ASAP increased to over two million dollars this year. This act of God gave me and other board members the faith we need to trust that He will continue supplying for His workers. The work of ASAP is bathed in prayer. To be a part of this praying, faith ministry, to help match the need with the funds you contribute, and then to receive reports of the growth of the Lord’s work in Southeast Asia, is a soulstirring experience. It has deepened our love for God and commitment to serve Him. —————————————————————— A bout the Author ——————————————————————

Beatrice Neall served with her husband, Ralph, as a missionary in Cambodia and Vietnam in the early seventies. During that time she wrote books and Bible courses for the national people and taught Bible in the nursing and pastoral training schools. On furloughs the Nealls studied for their advanced degrees at Andrews University, after which they taught religion classes at Southeast Asia Union College in Singapore and Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. After their retirement, they had the joy of returning to Cambodia to help train the pastors and Bible workers there. As ASAP board members, they actively share the mission of ASAP with others, such as to their Sabbath School class in Collegedale SDA Church, and support the work of ASAP any way they can.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

In Loving Memory & Honor By sara de la vega

God is great! Praise Him for the breath of life He gives us every day, and the lives He sends our direction. For every life we encounter is His own special greeting to each one of His children here on earth. One day, soon, all will be revealed and we shall see our families once again, by His side.

“When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4 In Memory of:

Marky Nogowski, by Douglas and Marie Burgess Elder Boyd and Elizabeth Olson, by Robert and Gloria “Joy” Doerffel Lloyd Ahlers, by Roger and Margaret Dudley Dr. Ken Falconer, by Eugene and Jean Hildebrand Milton Kesler, by Yvonne Kesler Wesley Steele, my brother, by Yvonne Kesler Esther Krause, by Eugene Krause Eldon Jemicke, uncle of Tim Scott and my brother-in-law, by Paul Kravig Pastor Suthee Khejornson, by Lance Lemos Howard Wheeler, my brother, by Grace Morris Justina Peshka, by David Peshka Helen Poulton, wife, by Robert Poulton Betty Buckley, by Ellie Schroeder Bob Sackett, by George and Nancy Suelzle Albert Whiting, by Carol Whiting Donovan Kott, by Laurie Zavitz Linda Watson, daughter of Paul and Ruth Watson, by Judy Aitken Mark Hall, son of Richard and Jean Hall, by Judy Aitken Thad Franklin, son-in-law of Steve and Karyl Fisher, by Judy Aitken

In Honor of:

J. Gene and Esther Zimmerman, 60th Anniversary, by Donald & Ellen Amador Mike Bernard, by Lori Constantine Mason Cowan, by Lacey Cowan John and Barbara deCosier, by Richard and Geneva Kelps OJay and Leona Honrback, by Jon and Nadine Yarlott

web:

www.asapministries.org |

phone:

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Liberated Lives in Myanmar By Samuel Ngala

How would you reach a Buddhist with the message of eternal life? How would you explain to a Hindu that the life cycle does not go on forever? How would you share with a Muslim that all of the prophets in the Quran are equal? How would you relate to an animist that there is an answer to fear of reprisal from the evil forces? If you can answer the above questions, you could almost qualify to go as a missionary to the 50 million people of Myanmar. The only problem is, today, foreigners are not allowed to preach in Myanmar. It is against the law. The Adventist mission work in Myanmar enjoyed a wide range of freedom and growth during the time of the British rule. Freedom once enjoyed by Christians began to erode slowly after Independence was gained from Britain in 1948. A socialist government came to power in 1962 under General Ne Win, who forcefully took over ownership and operation of all the private businesses and institutions ranging from church operated schools, printing presses, hospitals, and hospices to NGOs. By 1968, almost all of the foreign missionaries that worked in Myanmar were kicked out of the country by the government. How can we then reach out to the people of Myanmar that do not know Christ at all? While studying at Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary (College), I got my evangelistic feet wet by visiting Maung Maung every Sabbath afternoon. He is a well educated business owner in his late thirties who was a strict Buddhist by birth and practice. I was captivated by the amount of time he had invested and enthusiasm shown in the study of the Bible. He was studying the different world religions and comparing them to the teachings of Buddha. I was wondering and praying how to best reach out to him. I shared some of the teachings found in the Bible, such as John 3:16, which can be paraphrased as Jesus saying, I love you and I care about your life so much that I am willing to die just for you so that you will be free from sin and its awful results. If you accept

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me as your personal Savior, you will be free from sin and its treacherous fruits. The Enlightened One or Buddha cared about his followers but fell short of saying, “I love you” through dying for the world so as to save them. He simply taught that, “You must save yourself and no one else.” I explained this and other key concepts, such as Creation, to my friend. Maung Maung is one example of the millions in Myanmar seeking authentic spiritual food. The devil also offers different forms of spiritual nourishment leading to false hope and destruction. Do we, as Christ’s followers, dare to willingly take part in reaching out to those who have never heard of “the bread of life”? ASAP would like to send out ten church planters under the supervision of Central Myanmar SDA Mission into different unreached parts of the Shan State, which is home to one of the largest ethnic groups (5 million) in Myanmar. This state is located in the golden triangle and it was well known for poppy cultivation and exportation of heroine to different parts of the world. Today, as the result of poverty, the state has a large number of illiterate adults, drug addicts, drug as well as human-traffickers, and current or former prostitutes. Christianity has failed to make any inroad into this area within the past century. Would you like to help by joining ASAP in reaching these marginalized precious people as soon as possible with the message of hope and restoration in the name of Jesus? —————————————————————— about the author

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Samuel Ngala is the son of Pastor Kem Thang, secretary of Central Myanmar Mission. After attending college he served the Lord in Micronesia for five years and now is attending Andrews University Theological Seminary to receive his Master of Divinity. Samuel brings a passion for mission and much talent to ASAP. We feel blessed to have him as a vital member our team.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

workers position

Myanmar

Church Planters Shan State in Myanmar

location

main goal

By using a holistic approach within unreached villages, these church planters will equip villagers with keys to a healthier lifestyle, provide quality education for the children, and train new disciples. Slowly, they will bring these villagers to the feet of Christ. how you can help

Each of these workers (and more) are trained and ready to launch into action once financial support is secured for them. It takes $60 per month to support one.

Meet Naw Paw Htoo

When I heard the need for church planters for the Shan State I felt the Holy Spirit calling me to work in that ministry. I would love to teach and help the children. I want to help them to accept Christ as their Savior and become believers too.

Meet Aboy

I accept the call to work in the Southern Shan State. After college I planned to start a big business, but God had another plan. I now dedicate my life to ministry, to teaching Bible and witnessing the love of God and sharing the truth that I found.

Meet Tin Thanda Tun

I come from an SDA family. Now I work as a preschool teacher in Myogaing. I graduated with a religion major last year. When I was asked to serve as a church planter in the Shan State, I was really excited. I hope I can serve Him in a new way in an unentered area where people do not know about God and His love. I love teaching children songs and Bible stories. I am interested in visiting and personally witnessing in the homes of the villagers. Christ is Coming ASAP â&#x20AC;Ś Reach Asia Now!

Liberated Lives in Thailand By Somchai Chuenjit

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27). Greetings from the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Thailand, the land of smiles. What a privilege it is to be associated with Adventist Southeast Asia Projects. For the past several years ASAP has assisted Thailand Adventist Mission in various areas, such as providing stipends for twelve lay pastors and supporting the medical missionary work of Pastor Phamor Phoopichitprai We appreciate what ASAP is doing for God’s work. What a joy it is to hear of the individuals who accepted Christ as their personal Savior as a result of much effort. Ms. Karncha Anant was born into a Buddhist family and, like the majority of the people in Thailand, professed to be Buddhist because it is such a big part of her environment and culture and that of her ancestors. Karncha liked how Buddhism taught that people should be good, but the concept of reincarnation and other Buddhist beliefs troubled her. “Could it really be possible for people to come back in different forms, such as a lizard? Could heaven and hell be true?” she pondered. Because of a lack of knowledge she felt much fear in her life, the fear of going to hell and suffering because of her sins. Then, there was karma. Karncha feared that because she did evil in this life, the bad karma would follow her into the next life. She reasoned that maybe the cause of her problems in this life was because of old karma from a past life. When Karncha faced conflict and disappointment at work or in her relationships, she did not have a way to solve them. “Letting go” as Buddha teaches, never seemed to work for her. She longed for a way out, a meaningful life with happiness. When her husband left her alone with their child, she plunged into a deep depression. One day, she found the light of life. A Christian friend of hers, shared her personal story of how she had found God’s love which led her to find peace. She told her about praying to God and how she received blessings from believing

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in Him. As she listened to her friend, she felt that deep inside she longed to know God and be able to tell Him of her predicament but she did not know how to find Him. She did not know which Christian church she should go to. Then a thought came to mind, “Why don’t I try praying?” “If there is a God, please lead me to your church,” she quietly prayed. Later she met Pat, a member of the Seventhday Adventist Church in Chantaburi Province, whom she had never met before. Pat invited her to attend church, so she tried it. Pastor Samart was the church pastor. While there, she felt comfortable relating her distressing situation to Pastor Samart. He introduced to her the Bible and asked her to reflect on certain verses. He told her how much God loved her. Somehow there was this peace that she had never experienced before. It was like she was liberated from the suffering and fear. Also, her questions about life and death which had lingered in her mind for a long time were finally answered. As a result, she opened her heart to the Bible and studied it seriously and attentively. Indeed, the Holy Spirit was leading. After one year of study, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized. Since then she has felt that she is a child of God. She believes that He is with her in every breath she takes. Now, whether she is happy or in distress she chooses to follow the path of life that He has prepared for her. Praise the Lord. —————————————————————— about the author

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Somchai Chuenjit has a passion for training lay members and future leaders of the church. Before coming to Thailand Adventist Mission to serve as president, he worked for four years as the chief operating officer of the Adventist Mission Hospital in Phuket Thailand. Before working in Phuket he served as vice president of the Bangkok Adventist Hospital. He is married to Krissana, vice president of marketing at Bangkok Adventist Hospital. If you know Pastor Chuenjit, you will know that he lives a life of true servant leadership.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

workers

Thailand

Meet Kongsri Pathee “I know that I don’t have any life other than in Him.” position

Lay Pastor Gudetow, Udon Province

location

main goal

To strengthen the faith of the believers how you can help

Pray that members would get involved in ministry and be faithful in giving tithe. Pray for Kongsri’s health.

‘‘

Photo by AJ O'Carey

ENDURING FOR CHRIST Satan

puts thoughts in my head, “Stay home today! You don’t need to go! Your pain is too great.” But after praying 20-30 minutes, God strengthens me. I know that I don’t have any life other than in Him. He gives me the strength to get up and go out because I have a burden for lost people in Thailand. I am so thankful for Him and his LOVE. I see the good that comes out of bad situations. God allows some things to test us and purify us. I will keep enduring for Christ!

I have a burden for lost people in Thailand.”

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THROUGH PRAYER It’s very challenging to meet people who

don’t know God and don’t care to listen. I began writing down the names of people that I wanted to be saved and began praying for them morning and evening and throughout the day. I prayed for Sombat Chiaporn and his family for two years. Sombat is the retired principal of a school in the area that I used to attend. I thank the Lord that he has now accepted God and has become an elder in the church. He and his family members are enthusiastic students of God’s Word.

PRAYER IS THE ANSWER I teach the Bible to the members because I think that God’s Word is

very important. If we compare it to our bodies, humans need rice to grow. When birds eat, they can grow and fly. In the spiritual life, it is the same. If my members understand the Word of God, they can grow in faith and have a good relationship with Jesus. My strategy to help the members grow stronger in their faith is to get them in the Word of God.

TRUE GOD OF MERCY I met a lady who believed strongly in the goddess of mercy, Kuan Im.

She wanted me to tell her about Jesus Christ whom I believe. I understand that this lady believed that Kuan Im hears the cries of those in need. The name actually means “who contemplates the supplicating sound of the world). I explained to her that God is the Creator of humankind and the world and explained the fall of Adam and Eve and what God’s merciful plan was to save the world. I told her that there is no one, no other god that has the power to help people get out of their sin. She listened intently. At present, I go to her house every Friday night. She invites her five friends to come to listen to me. These five people have finally committed their lives to Jesus Christ. They will be baptized in the next quarter. Please remember them in your prayers so that Satan will not make any barrier that would prevent them from getting baptized.

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

Liberated Lives in Laos By julia o’carey

I planned to give a talk to a group of about 45 believers in a small community in rural America. Before I went up to speak, the pastor pulled me aside and in a hushed voice seriously said, “I’m sorry, Julia, you will not be able to preach today. We have government informants visiting us. We are afraid they are trying to find any excuse they can to seize our beautiful church and use it for a community center.” As absurd as this scenario sounds, that IS reality in the country of Laos. This is exactly what I experienced last year when visiting one of the Adventist churches in this communist country.

heard them. I sat in awe as I witnessed the Holy Spirit in action through those children as they boldly shared messages the government officials would never allow if spoken through a sermon from the pulpit.

I realize no government or earthly entity has any power or say over our freedom. That was made clear to me through those children’s testimony.

After the pastor informed me that none of the ASAP team would be able to say a word to the believers on that Sabbath morning, a wave of disappointment swept over me. I silently prayed, “Lord, why would you bring us all the way here for us not to be able to share and encourage these people in their faith?” The local pastor preached a sermon catered to what would sound good to the ears of the Lao government officials, a message based on Hebrews 13:1, which states how every soul should be subject to the governing authorities. Yet, Christ’s message did go out that day. Instead of a verbal testimony time where adults took the opportunity to share, children from ages four to twenty four walked confidently up to the front and sang the most beautiful songs I ever heard. They were more than songs. They literally sang sermons and stories about salvation, creation, and other Biblical topics. I wish each of you could have

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The music that day resonated through my being throughout the rest of my time in Laos. The courage and raw faith of these young people was just the example my soul needed as I experienced a small taste of what communist suspicion and oppression looks and feels like. As to not put our Adventist brothers and sisters in jeopardy, the ASAP team was advised to be as discreet as we could when meeting the ASAP church planters and assessing projects in that area. For instance, in order to ensure no unwanted ears were listening, we decided to “capture” our workers from their villages and interview, pray and encourage them within the safety of the van all under the guise of a touristy excursion. On another day, in order to not cause attention to our actual mission, we surveyed the proposed land for a bold new church site while peering over pails of lung fish and frog legs, fresh greens and twenty kilogram bags of rice in the nearby market.

From reflecting on this experience, I now understand a clearer definition of freedom. I realize no government or earthly entity has any power or say over our freedom. That was made clear to me through those children’s testimony. True freedom comes from knowing that self died on the cross with Jesus and now we live in victorious freedom through Him.

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

workers

L aos

Meet Tai Chanleusay “God continually blesses those who faithfully serve Him.” position

Church Planter Laos

location

main goal

Bring the good news of salvation to the people in his village how you can help

Pray for the villagers of Laos and send a special donation to ASAP to help with training and equipping the workers

‘‘

I have a burden for lost people in Thailand.”

PEACE AND SECURITY My family has believed in the Lord since 2002, when my wife’s aunt encouraged us to serve the Lord. Now peace has come into our family. My family used to quarrel and fight and my wife was hot-tempered. But God came into our lives and took away our anger. Now, I am happiest when serving Him. I work as a part-time rice farmer and a part-time church planter, but I also raise cows. When I first became Adventist, I only had one cow. Now God has blessed me with eleven. One day while I was feeding the cows, I noticed that one was missing. I searched for the cow for three days but could not find it, so I knelt down and prayed. Then I took my moped along the road and found the cow right near my house! God answered my prayer! MINISTRY AND FAITH God has given me the courage to talk to people and share the good

news of salvation with them. Every day, I visit members of my church. I read the Bible with them and pray for them. Each Sabbath, twenty-two people come and worship at my house. Nine of them are baptized. My wife is the song leader at our church. God has blessed and helped me and my members through everything. One family had a son who was extremely sick. We laid hands on him and prayed for God’s healing. After praying, he was given charcoal mixed with water. After ten minutes, the boy was well again.

PRAYER REQUESTS I would like to construct a building that would serve as a meeting place for church and as an English school. I have property that I can donate, but to build a simple building will cost $700. Also to teach English, I need a teacher. I would like to offer English classes free of charge to people in my village. It will attract more people to come and they will learn about God. Also, a new believer in my village has Tuberculosis. Please pray for him.

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A GIVVER’S HEART

Discovering Financial Freedom By MARTIN KIM

In Romans 8:32 we are given an incredible promise: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Charles H. Spurgeon, the popular British preacher from the turn of the century, commenting on this verse, wrote the following: “What can the Lord deny us after giving us Jesus? Whoever gives a

We can find great freedom in the promises of God’s Word. In Christ we not only find freedom from worry, guilt and fear, but also freedom from financial stress. jewel will surely give the box that holds it. If we need all things in heaven and earth, He will grant them to us; for if there had been a limit anywhere, He would have kept back His own Son.” I love that that last line. What a strong argument: “If there had been a limit anywhere…” The God who “so loved the world that He gave us His own begotten Son” will surely give us all we need to accomplish the task of bringing the gospel to those in darkness, to those whom Christ shed His blood to redeem.

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We at ASAP have been amazed to see how God has been “freely giving” to us that we may be a blessing to those in need. In the previous fiscal year we saw funds pouring into the office during a time when unemployment, home foreclosures, gas and food prices were steadily rising. In fact, we saw more funds come in during 2008 than in any previous fiscal year in the history of ASAP at a time when news headlines were saying that we were headed for an economic crisis of historic proportions. We know that only the Lord could have worked that out. And He surely could because He owns all the silver and the gold (Hag. 2:8). We are encouraged to continue moving forward in this fiscal year expecting great things even in the face of more bad economic news because we serve a mighty God. We can find great freedom in the promises of God’s Word. In Christ we not only find freedom from worry, guilt and fear, but also freedom from financial stress. Jesus tells us that we don’t need to be worried about food and clothing, stuff that money can buy. We are told that God would provide for us all things that are needed if we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Every day we are confronted with a choice. We can build up our own kingdom here on earth or build up the kingdom of God. Which kingdom are you building up? A good way to know which kingdom you are working for is to see where your treasures are being laid up. Where is most of your time, energy and money going? My prayer is that you would begin to experience financial freedom in Christ during these difficult times in which we live as you “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 7:20).

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

P P.S. We Love Hearing from You! myanmar

vietnam LAOS

THailand cambodia

You can read more inspiring stories of how God has influenced people’s lives by visiting our website: www.asapministries.org/about-testimonials

I received your letter about the SDAs in Myanmar and my heart goes out to them. In nine years I have had three older computers given to me, so learned to do word processing and e-mail, with some difficulty at times. Last week I went into Walmart to get the converter box for my $25 TV and while there, I saw a new Dell Computer with flat screen monitor and was tempted to buy it, but resisted. Since it was $498 plus tax, your letter convinced me that I saved $500 for Myanmar. Paul from Arizona

I had an opportunity to teach the village people how to use clean water, have a hygienic lifestyle, and about God’s Word. People in the community who received hand pumps and clean well water are very happy. They thank ASAP and God for helping them in this matter. They are surprised about Christianity, and say the people of God are very kind, loving and caring. Giving clean water helps make the way easy for all of us to reach the non-Christian and spread His word to them. Thanks ASAP for all you efforts in Cambodia. God bless you all. Pastor Van Saran from Cambodia

Dear Friends, Keep up your work. The Lord is coming soon and we want others to know of our Father’s Love. He is so good to us. How I wish I could go out to [help] our friends overseas. I will pray for you. Enid from California

Thank you, ASAP, for providing DVD players, mopeds, bicycles, chairs for house churches, scholarships for students, humanitarian aid and rice for flood victims and, most importantly, Bibles. The recipients have been very happy to receive these gifts for the people in this area are very poor and hungry for God. My wish for the upcoming year is that our team will be able to distribute 15,000 DVDs to people in our area of Vietnam. We pray that we will have enough DVDs for this. Please join us in praying that we will have enough Bibles, too. Also, please pray that I learn all three ethnic languages in my area. So far God helped me to learn eighty percent of one of the languages. ASAP Lay Pastor Triet from Vietnam

Our prayer is that the Lord will somehow expand our small amount to do far more than we could ever hope for in His work to evangelize and teach the Vietnamese, a people that our Lord Jesus gave His life for. Tommy & Sarah from Missouri

Would you like to receive current news from Southeast Asia? Send us an email at: office@asapministries.org

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

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