ASAP Newsletter, 3rd Quarter 2010 by ASAP Ministries

THIRD QUARTER, 2010

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

healingâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;of body, mind and soul

IN THIS ISSUE

“As you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7,8).

OUR WORKERS Meet Ko Ba MEDICAL MISSIONARY—MYANMAR

Meet Ratiung Rati MEDICAL MISSIONARY—THAILAND

SPECIAL REPORT: CAMBODIA CHURCH PLANTER PHALLY IN’S DAY

IN EVERY ISSUE

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: VIETNAM

3 DIRECTOR’S UPDATE BY JUDY AITKEN 8 THE INNER VIEW BY JULIA O’CAREY 16 INTERSEED FOR ASIA BY MARTIN KIM

Faith and Healing BY ISAH YOUNG*

17 SNAPSHOT OF ASAP’S FINANCES BY KAREN WADE, CPA

Healed and a Channel for Healing BY CONG DONG THANH*

18 IN LOVING MEMORY & HONOR BY WAYNE LABINS 19 P.S. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! * Names have been changed for the saftety of God’s servants

Healing—Of Body, Mind and Soul third quarter 2010  Adventist Southeast Asia Projects ASAP is a registered §501(c)(3), 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 complimentary 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 ASAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Bruce Bauer, Judy Aitken, Max & Linnea Torkelsen, Mary Ann McNeilus, Ralph & Beatrice Neall, Byron & Carol Reynolds, Trudi Starlin, Kenneth Straw and Steve Chang All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version® copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by persmission. All rights reserved.

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

ON THE COVER ASAP church planter, Phally In, once healed emotionally from a devastating divorce, now gives back to the Lord by bringing other hurting women to the Master Healer. Discover one day in her life on page 4.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:35, 36). Christ’s deep love for humankind can be seen through His healing ministry. “During His ministry Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching. His miracles testified to the truth of His words, that He came not to destroy but to save. . . . His voice was the first sound that many had ever heard, His name the first word they had ever spoken, His face the first they had ever looked upon. Why should they not love Jesus, and sound His praise? As He passed through the towns and cities He was like a vital current, diffusing life and joy wherever He went” (Desire of Ages, page 350). Jesus sent out the twelve disciples on their first missionary tour to do the same works of mercy that He had done, He bade them, “As you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7, 8). Christ’s mission is our mission. ASAP’S vision statement clearly defines this purpose, which is to follow Christ’s call to reach the persecuted and vulnerable NOW because He is coming very soon. Our mission is to spread the gospel using Christ’s compassionate methods. As you too partner with ASAP, you are laboring as Christ did. Your donations make it possible for church planters like Phally In to compassionately work for the salvation of the lost. See what one day in her life is like on page 4. The testimony from lay pastor Cong Dong Thanh on page 11 also illustrates the powerful, healing love of Christ that is still at work today. “The giving of the gospel to the world is the work that God has committed to those who bear His name. For earth’s sin and misery the gospel is the only antidote. To make known to all mankind the message of the grace of God is the first work of those who know its healing power” (Ministry of Healing, page 141). The ASAP staff join me in praising the Lord for each of you, our newsletter readers who partner with us to bring healing to the wounded in Southeast Asia. Truly, as we continue to unite together, to pray for healing in His name, many thousands more will be saved in His kingdom.

Sincerely,

Judy Aitken, ASAP Director

P Church Planter Phally ln’s Day BY JULIA O’CAREY

hat is life like for a church planter in Cambodia? Granted, each missionary encounters unique joys, challenges and varying activities in their ministry; however, we thought you would be blessed to catch a glimpse into a day in one missionary’s life.

5:00 AM

I wake up and have my time with God, singing hymns, reading the Bible and praying. This is my favorite time of the day. I love praising God for all His goodness.

6:00 AM

I have a routine of stretches and exercises I do to get my blood circulating well. Then I take a dip bath and get dressed for the day.

6:30 AM

My son, Sopheab, and I have morning worship and prayer together. We eat a breakfast of rice, topping and some fruit. We do not have much, but we are happy. When I think of the simple food we eat, I think of the verse in Proverbs 17:1 that says, “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.”

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7:00 AM

My son carries my bicycle down the three flights of stairs and I head out to spread God’s Word. This morning as I was entering the busy main road, God impressed me to hand a tract about Jesus to a motorcycle taxi driver. When he saw the picture of Jesus on the cover, he smiled. I was surprised to hear him say he already knew about Jesus because he learned about Him when he was in the refugee camp many years ago. He even knew Mother Judy Aitken. He said, “I am one of God’s lost sheep.” I invited him back to church.

8:00 AM

I have two Bible studies scheduled for the morning. I am very happy doing this work because I love to help people understand the Bible better.

1:00 PM

I received a desperate call from one of my church members, Im Vandy. “My mom is acting very strangely. She is eating everything in the house and talking strangely. When I put her in the bed after lunch as I usually do, she got angry and will not let me leave for work. Can you come right away?” I call Pr. Horng Sophal and two other church planters in my district, asking them to meet me there to help pray. Suddenly the sky grew very dark and it started to rain. I thought, “Satan is angry and causing problems with God’s people. He knows we are coming to cast out an evil spirit.” After singing, praying and claiming God’s Word and the mighty name of Jesus, Chhun Chan returned to her normal condition. When she became conscious, she asked, “Why are all these people in our house?” Im Vandy told her the entire story about Jesus’ power to heal her from the evil spirit.

Ratri demonstrating water treatments to the ill man’s daughter.

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

3:00 PM

I visit Grandma Gee and her five grandchildren living with her. She is a church member and is in need of my prayers and support. Because my husband left me for another woman when my boys were young, I have a special place in my heart for widows and women who have suffered through rejection and divorce. I understand that life is hard for Grandma Gee. Coming to bring her some rice and fruit and studying the Bible with her lifts her spirits and strengthens her faith. I encourage her granddaughter, Angel, to come to church next week. She has been focused on embroidering for an organization called Tabitha. It’s good she is busy and staying out of trouble, but I know Grandma Gee wants all her family to know and love Jesus and be in heaven some day.

4:30 PM

On my way back home, I stop at a couple’s house because I see they are renovating. They tell me they are moving back to the province and will rent that building. I pray silently for them. They have not accepted the Gospel yet so I am sad they are leaving.

5:00 PM

If you would like to share Phally’s day in PowerPoint format to your

I lead out in a small group in the room where my son and I stay. The neighbors in our building like to come. We start by praising God, studying His Word and discussing what God has done in our lives throughout the week. Today I told them about Chhun Chan and the way God brought healing to her mind and heart.

church or study group, contact ASAP by calling: 1-866-365-3541.

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6:30 PM

My son and I eat supper together. It was a busy day serving God. We thank the Lord for taking care of us today. We also pray for my son’s missing money.* He remembers setting it on the ledge in the bathroom but now it is gone.

7:30 PM

I wash my clothes and tidy up the room.

8:30 PM

I start preparing for the message I will share at the church on Sabbath and also for the other small group I conduct at the church tomorrow. I ask God what message the people need to hear.

*Would you like to find out what happened to the money?

9:30 PM

Visit: www.asapministries.org. You will find his testimony in the About Us section, called: The Mystery of the Missing Money

I take out my mat, pillow and blanket and get ready for bed. I lay my head on my pillow and fall asleep.

pPpPpP

ARE YOU POSSESSED?

“Ghosts!” the man screamed. His startled wife awoke trembling. It was the middle of the night. Terrified she questioned her husband. “What’s happening?” Read the rest of this healing story from Cambodia:

Visit www.asapministries.org and click on Are You Possessed? by Glesni Mason.

web: www.asapministries.org

phone: 1-866-365-3541

THE INNER VIEW

P Lao Project Manager: Bounta Khamtandy BY JULIA O’CAREY

oin ASAP in praising the Lord for Bounta, whom He has called to serve as an ASAP project manager. As you meet him through this interview, you will see how God has prepared him for ministry.

JULIA: What is your family background? BOUNTA: I come from a farming family that lives in the Southern part of Laos. I come from the Ta Oi tribe. I have seven brothers and sisters and I am the second oldest. JULIA: When did you first accept Christ as your Savior? BOUNTA: When I was just graduating from high school, my father and mother accepted the SDA faith. My brothers and sisters and I also got baptized at that time, but deep down in my heart I did not believe in God or Buddha. I believed only in myself. JULIA: Did anyone know what you truly believed? BOUNTA: No, I wanted to honor my parents’ decision and wishes for the family. I went through the motions and kept my questions and doubts to myself. JULIA: How and when did God finally reach into your heart and change you? BOUNTA: It was when my father got very sick. When we took him to the hospital, the doctor could not find the reasons for his poor breathing and body pain. He stayed at my uncle’s house near the hospital, tried many kinds of medicine and remedies, but his health got worse.

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It touched my heart when I heard my father say, “Enough! Do not spend any more money. Take me home.” He knew if it was his time to go, he had peace. His next words were, “Bounta, listen carefully. You are the oldest living at home now. It is your responsibility to take care of our family.” With those words, I panicked. I was just a teenager and was so scared of my father dying. Darkness and fear surrounded me. I suddenly thought of Pastor Souy, the one who led my parents to Christ. I decided I must call him. He came to our home the next day. We held hands and circled around my father. While the pastor was praying, I prayed from my whole heart for the first time. “If you are really God of the universe . . . if you really exist, please heal my father. Then I will believe in you!” A few days later, my father’s health improved. A week later, he was much better. A month later, he was completely healed. JULIA: When you saw God’s power at work, it changed you, didn’t it? BOUNTA: Yes! I started believing then and I have never turned back. JULIA: By the way, when did you learn to speak such good English? BOUNTA: I learned when I went to Asia Pacific International University [Editor’s Note: APIU, was formally known as Mission College in Muak Lek, Thailand]

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JULIA: I thought students had to know English before APIU accepted them. BOUNTA: I tried to learn English for six months in Laos before I applied to APIU, but my English was still very poor. It was a miracle I was accepted. I experienced MANY miracles during my time studying at APIU. JULIA: Please share one of these experiences with me. BOUNTA: When I first stepped into my dorm room, I discovered my Burmese roommate and I could not talk to each other. I did not know English and he could not speak Thai or Lao. After thirty minutes of trying to talk, he got frustrated and left. For one week I hid in my room because I was afraid I could not talk to anyone. Homesickness overcame me and I almost gave up and went back home, but then I prayed, “God, please send someone to help me.” After that I was allowed to move in with a friend from Laos, and God sent a Khmer student, Si Tim Sor, to room with us. He used to be an English teacher and was willing to teach us. Even with my friend’s help, I failed English composition the first quarter. The difficulties taught me to be strong. I started speaking English to everyone, not caring if I made mistakes.

When I took English Composition II, I saw God work another miracle. I had to write a paper on the subject “What does God mean to you?” I prayed about this and was amazed that the words went down on the paper easily and clearly. It only took me one hour to write this. When I turned the paper in, I could hardly believe the teacher’s comments. She wrote, “Bounta, how long have you studied English? How come it is so good? 30/30!” I knew it was not me that wrote that paper. This confirmed in my heart that God had a plan for my life and from that time on, my English greatly improved. Another miracle was that God told someone (I don’t know who until this day) to help pay for my tuition. God worked it all out. He is amazing! JULIA: How do you feel about your new position working with the Lao Adventist Field and ASAP? BOUNTA: I think it will be a good experience for me. Right now I am still single and it is easy for me to travel. I know I will learn a lot from ministering to the people with Pastor Boonpranee. It is God’s plan for me to grow more. I know spreading the gospel in Laos is not easy, but I know the purpose of my receiving an education is so that I can serve my people.

PHOTO CAPTIONS TOP: (left to right) Prayer is a big part of Bounta’s life. Typical village in Southern Laos where Bounta comes from. Without Pastor Souy coming to pray, Bounta may not have given his heart to the Lord. Bounta Khamtandy, ASAP Project Manager for Laos.

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT:

VIETNAM

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“Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8)

Faith and Healing BY ISAH YOUNG*

esterners, whose lives are greatly impacted by continuous modern advancements of science and technology, tend to limit faith to the realm of the theology of salvation. We often confine faith to a mental debate. But faith is much more than that. Faith can affect all aspects of human life, even physical health. I believe that through faith, the Holy Spirit can fill our beings and supply our bodies with supernatural power. Romans 8:11 confirms this belief. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” This power can compensate for human limitation or weakness. Personally, I experience this kind of healing power every day and know I would not be here today nor be able to minister in the capacity I do, without the miracle of His healing. The Bible gives us many examples of physical, spiritual and mental healings when individuals possess the necessary faith in God. For example, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Your faith has healed

you. And the woman who experienced bleeding for twelve years was healed in a moment” (Matthew 9:22). In another incident found in Matthew 9:28, 29, the Bible records that when He had gone indoors, the blind men came to Him, and He asked them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be to you,’ and their sight was restored.” If we really believe that “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), then the miracles which happened during His time on earth can also happen today, right? It is by this faith that the house church movement in Vietnam operates. Many of the people in Vietnam do not have the luxury of modern medicine as you and I do. All they can do is to cling in desperation to the Word of God in faith for healing, and it works. The following testimonies from ASAP lay pastor Cong Dong Thanh illustrates this simple yet powerful faith in God’s power that I often see among the missionaries in Vietnam. May his story be a catalyst in God’s hands for boosting your faith to higher dimensions than you have ever experienced before.

Healed and a Channel for Healing BY CONG DONG THANH*

od can heal any disease. How do I know that? I not only read it in His Word, I have personally experienced His healing in my own life and have witnessed it in the lives of many I pray for. While in the army, training to drive a T54 tank, I grew very sick with a high fever, uncontrollable bleeding and diarrhea. At that time I was a new Christian believer. I went to the military hospital and asked to be treated. The hospital personnel said there was no medicine for my illness. I curled up in a ball in my unit and waited to die. I knew that no one would help me because the Communist philosophy is to use you, and when you die, use your body to fertilize the land. Throughout that first night, blood constantly flowed out of my body. The next day, I was skin and bones and very dehydrated. When I placed my hands behind my head as a pillow, my fingers touched my backpack. At that moment, Someone reminded me about the New Testament Bible laying inside and I immediately began thinking about Jesus, my Lord. Beautiful stories about how the Lord healed many people when He was on this Earth came to my mind. I was too weak to read the Bible, but I prayed earnestly to the Lord, my lips only silently mouthing the words. I used whatever strength I could muster up to pray and did this continuously for three days and three nights. I told the Lord, you created me and you have allowed me to live until this moment. Would you let me die this young and useless? I have web: www.asapministries.org

phone: 1-866-365-3541

“DO YOU HEAR WHAT IS COMING FROM HER MOUTH? NOTHING LIES IN THIS BOOK. YOU SHOULD READ AND FIND OUT WHAT THIS BOOK SAYS. IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIVES.” not done anything for you or others. Please do not abandon me. Please save me. I promise that I will follow you with all my heart the rest of my life. Thankfully, the Lord heard my prayer. I felt a wave of energy start in my heart and spread out to every part of my body. God began to heal the diarrhea and flow of blood from taking place continuously to once an hour. I regained my strength and sat up. This shocked the others in my unit. They told me that I almost died! I told everyone, “God saved me and gave my life back.” I asked them, “Do you have any food for me to eat?” They shared some with me and it was the best meal I have ever eaten. I slept peacefully that night. If I talk about God, I only have one thing to say, God is Good! One day when I went to give Bible studies to a young man named Thao, he happened to mention that his sister Nga had a strange illness. I asked him questions about her illness. He explained that she had confined herself to a darkened room day and night and was thrashing around like a wild animal. She could not recognize her parents, husband nor children. The family was at a loss in how to care for her. Because the physicians at the hospital could not find any physical problem, her mother took her to a shaman, suspecting she may be demon possessed. The shaman came and tied charms all over her body. He started to perform his rituals to cast the devil out of her but Nga viciously attacked him. He grabbed up his things and fled from the house. When he was telling me about her, I remembered the Bible passages about the demon possessed. The mother, knowing I was a lay pastor, asked if there was something I could do. I told her, “I worship Jesus Christ, God, only Him. Only God can heal if it is His will. The mother’s eyes filled with hope when she heard my words. “Oh, there is a solution for us? Please help us!” she begged. I agreed to go and pray for Nga. As I rode the moped to her home, I was afraid this situation was too powerful for my level of faith. I prayed, “Lord, please cover me with your power and use me as an instrument in your hands.” When I walked into the house it was strangely quiet. The husband and two children were asleep because Nga caused so much commotion and noise at night, they could not sleep. Nga’s mother-in-law

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was also sleeping in another room. They all woke up and I gathered everyone together. Relatives from both sides of the family had come to try and help if they could and were called in. I told them, I cannot do anything, but I worship the One who is the Lord of everything on this earth. Only he can help your family have peace again. I suggest that you cooperate with Him. We had to force the door open. I looked into total darkness. Nga had covered every crack so that no light could enter the room. Even dark curtains covered the bed where Nga lay in a heap. When Nga’s mother pulled the curtains up I suddenly locked eyes with Nga. We stared at each other and I didn’t drop my gaze. I had already given the situation to God and at that time felt no fear. After a long minute or two, she lowered her gaze and stared at the floor. I said a silent prayer of relief, “Thank you Lord, you heard my prayer. Your Spirit in me is greater than the spirit in her.” To show respect for the elder in the home, I asked the mother to tell the sick lady to come out of the room. Nga refused to budge. She said, “I don’t know him, (she pointed to me), but I have seen him two or three times somewhere before. No coaxing would get her out of the room. As a group of people picked her up and carried her out, I could tell she was very afraid. I immediately closed the door of the darkened room and stood in front of it so she could not go back in. I asked Nga, “Where do you come from?” She looked at me and said, “I roam around the earth, here and there. I came here and saw this lady [Nga] I noticed she was working at night. She washes her clothes at around 10 pm. I saw that she was very weak, so I entered into her body went to her home. Then I could request the family to give me food to eat.” I told him, “You know Jesus Christ.” The first mention of Jesus’ name, there was no reaction or comment. I repeated my question louder. “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Then I noticed Nga’s fingers start to curl up and tighten. She started shaking violently. Her eyes changed color from green to blue to red to white. They were rolling around in her head. Her face was very tense. I asked again, “Do you know the name of Jesus Christ?” Finally she stuttered, “Yyyyeeeessssss.” I opened my Bible and asked, “Is this the Word of

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God?” She looked at the Bible, turned away and said, “Yes, that’s the Word of God.” Then I flipped from Genesis to Revelation and asked, “Does God ever lie in this Book?” She bowed her head down and said, “The Word of God does not have any lies in it.” At that point I turned to all the relatives. “Do you hear what is coming from her mouth? Nothing lies in this Book. You should read and find out what this Book says. It can change your lives.” Then the spirit in her pleaded, “Do not cast me out! If you cast me out, it’s cold and I do not have any food to eat out there. If you cast me out, I will take her spirit with me and she will die.” I declared, “In the name of Jesus you have to leave this woman because you entered this family and destroyed their happiness.” The spirit replied, “If I go out, I will take her spirit with me.” I repeated, “In the name of Jesus, I forbid you to do that and you must leave. You do not have the authority to touch her soul. Do you hear me?” With that the spirit bowed its head and said timidly, “Yes, I hear you.” Then the spirit asked me, “How can I get out?” I answered, “You need to leave by whatever way and through whatever power you entered.” Then Nga turned around and her eyes searched desperately around the room. Her eyes settled on a pair of new sandals sitting on the steps right outside the door. The evil spirit asked, “Would you take the two sandals, and throw them across the pond, on the other side of the house and I will leave that way? I replied, “Okay, if you promise to do as you say, all in the name of Jesus.” The family members and I observed Nga become very stiff and sit straight up. Then she started slithering like a snake towards the door and down the three steps. I walked to the door, down the steps,

Pastor Cong Dong Thanh.

picked up the two sandals and threw them with all my might across the pond. When they dropped on the ground, Nga yelled out and fell into a heap on the floor. Her husband and I went and picked her up and brought her back into the house. I laid hands on her and prayed. Everyone thought that she was dead at that time. I turned to them and said, “No she did not die. Jesus already forbade the devil to take the life of this woman. I told them she would be conscious in five minutes and I prayed and that is exactly what happened. When Nga opened her eyes, I asked her, Is this your mom? Is this your husband, and are these your children? She said, “Yes.” Her mother asked her how come she did not recognize or receive them before. She said, “I don’t know.” I turned to the relatives and explained that the devil possessed this lady. He was her master, controlling her life; she did not know anything. With these words, fear gripped the people’s hearts. Then I told everyone to be careful and not to worship idols. The devil can use that to enter your life and destroy your happiness. I explained that the Bible is the Word of God and God is the One who brings healing, love and peace to our lives. The whole family became believers, but the relatives and neighbors, while recognizing the power of the Lord, felt that the Bible truths were still too foreign and new to them. The oldest relative of the family, a devout Buddhist, has forbidden the family to become followers of Christ. But two families made a stand and became believers. I praise the Lord for being a powerful God who can heal and restore. There is not any power in me, it’s all God’s work. *Names have been changed for the safety of God’s workers.

Pastor Cong Dong Thanh giving a Bible to Thao and his sister Nga.

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

workers M yanmar Meet Ko Ba* “I began to see that I needed to change, but how?” position Medical Missionary location Southeast Myanmar main goal To help reach out to more

than fifty million people in Myanmar with the message of Christ so they can worship our Father in Heaven in spirit and in truth. how you can help Pray for a mighty downpour of the Holy Spirit. There are dedicated individuals who are willing to serve but lack funds and resources for support.

I NEEDED CHANGE Growing up as

‘‘

From that point on, I wanted to serve only God.”

a young man, I did not care what my family and community said about my drinking habits nor was I interested at all in God. One day, I read a book titled, “Mother’s Love.” The book explained about Christ, His love, and Saturday as the true Sabbath day as found in the Bible. I began to see that I needed to change, but how?

SELF CANNOT CHANGE ITSELF Discovering and knowing what the words in the Bible said did

not change me. I still drank and smoke and my heart was far from God. When I shared the truth I discovered in the Bible with my family, they simply rebuked me knowing full well the lifestyle that I was living did not match that of a Christian. I needed God to heal me first if I was to become a messenger of transformation.

SICKNESS AS A BLESSING At that time, my father was suffering from tuberculosis and diabetes.

He received treatment at the local hospital for six months yet with no improvement. In the past, he lived a life of service to others, caring for the sick as a nurse does. But when HE got sick, he became very discouraged and stopped eating.

FASTING AND PRAYING One night as I was drinking, I thought to myself how terrible it would be

for my family if my father would die. I did not want him to die. I realized at once that only God could heal him. I then fasted and prayed for seven days. Slowly, my father began to recover from his sickness. I then decided to fast and pray again for another three days. Not only did my father receive healing from God, but all of my bad habits disappeared as well. From that point on, I wanted to serve only God.

GOD’S GRACE Who would have thought that a person like me who had not even finished middle

school, a prodigal son, would one day become a pastor and later a medical missionary? God used me first to reach out to my family and now to those that are in my community and country. My father now attends church every Sabbath and faithfully returns tithe. Recently he bought a microphone and a speaker so that my other family members in the neighborhood can hear me preach. Pray with me that more will follow in my father’s footsteps. *Name has been changed for the safety of God’s worker.

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workers Thailand Meet Ratiung Rati “I am praying for the Lord to lead me to people whom I can share Jesus’ love through medical missionary work.” position Medical Missionary location Thailand main goal To share Jesus via prayer and

health evangelism

how you can help You can partner

with ASAP to support a medical missionary by giving $150 per month. Missionaries like Rati can reach people that a pastor or teacher would never have the opportunity to reach. prayer request Please pray for me as I conduct medical missionary work in Bangkok and the surrounding areas this summer.

‘‘

I believe in the power of the Lord.”

HOW GOD REACHED ME Five years ago when I was a Buddhist I was invited to attend a health

training course at the Chiang Rai SDA Church. I was very interested in health and natural ways of healing. The friendly, kind teachers from Wildwood Health Center explained everything very well. I felt God’s peace fill my heart when they shared the story of Jesus. At that moment I decided to become a Christian. After the teachers returned home I began to read the Bible for myself. As I learned in greater detail Christ’s love and sacrifice for me, my decision for baptism became stronger. I also read more about health and decided to become a vegetarian. I studied with Pastor Phamor and his team of health workers at the training center in Chiang Mai for three months.

MISSION FOR CHRIST I knew I could best serve God as a medical missionary. I now work with

Pastor Phamor to teach and train other medical missionaries. I also travel from city to city to share Jesus’ love through the health message and bring souls to the Lord. My mission is to also guide church members to pray and trust in the Lord as they use natural remedies to bring physical and spiritual healing. Before I go anywhere I always pray first and believe that God will show me where I should go to serve Him.

THE POWER OF NATURAL REMEDIES I know that He led me to go to the city of Chantabori to

work with Wannaluk who is a Bible worker supported by ASAP. During the week I was there I was asked to treat Pranee, a business woman who had a tumor in her ovaries. I prayed for her before each poultice treatment and steam bath. I gave her raw foods to eat and shared the eight laws of health with her. She experienced Christ’s love pour down on her when He completely healed her body. This miracle caused her to fully open her heart to receive Jesus Christ as her Savior. The Lord impressed her to give one of the buildings that she owned to Wannaluk to use as a health center to help other sick people. This was also a big answer to Wannaluk’s prayers. Praise God! web: www.asapministries.org

phone: 1-866-365-3541

INTERSEED FOR ASIA

Wanted: lntercessors BY MARTIN KIM

ave you ever heard people talk about the “ministry” or “gift” of intercession? It was at a spiritual gifts seminar that I attended many years ago that I first heard about this gift. I was told that people with this gift can pray for long hours and gain specific answers to prayers at a much greater degree than with most Christians. I walked away from the seminar relieved that it was a spiritual gift for a select group, concluding that God must not have given me this gift because praying was plain boring to me. With a sigh of relief, I felt very comfortable going through my Christian experience with short little prayers and absolutely zero answers.

WHEN MAN WORKS, MAN WORKS. BUT WHEN MAN PRAYS, GOD WORKS! Several years later, after a number of painful, but precious (in hindsight) experiences that brought me down to my knees, I find myself not being able to do anything but by prayer. In fact, my life and ministry motto is best summed up by the following quote: “When man works, man works. But when man prays, GOD WORKS!” Did you know that intercession is not identified in the New Testament as a spiritual gift? Surprise, surprise! Why is it not a spiritual gift? The answer is simple. We are ALL called to be intercessors. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, when Paul wrote, “pray without ceasing,” he was writing to all Christians. And in Ephesians chapter 6, he was again writing

to all Christians when writing about the armor of God. In verse 17 he mentions the “helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” The very next words in verse 18 are: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” The armor of God is for all Christians and so is prayer. The Bible tells of many great intercessors such as Abraham, Moses, and Esther, but none are as significant as Jesus, the greatest intercessor of all time who “always lives to make intercession” (Heb 7:25). I like what Dick Eastman says in his book Love on Its Knees (p. 21): “An intercessor is a man or woman—or child—who fights on behalf of others. As such, intercession is the activity that identifies us most with Christ. To be an intercessor is to be like Jesus because that is what Jesus is like. He ever lives to intercede.” Is it your desire to be more like Jesus? To bring God’s healing balm to those around you? Will you be an intercessor? God has called ASAP to reach Southeast Asia. This is obviously a God-sized task. There are Buddhists, Muslims, animists and many others in Southeast Asia who are wallowing in the shadows of death and in great need of healing. In order to accomplish this task that is set before us, we need more people who will “interseed for Asia.” You can bring God’s healing touch through intercessory prayer.

Please visit our website today and join the ASAP Prayer Team: www.asapministries.org/pray-join

third quarter 2010

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

ln Loving Memory & Honor BY WAYNE LABINS

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). IN MEMORY OF: Dick Mills

by lawrence collins

• Paul Eldridge

by evelyn eldridge

• John O. Ford

by elora ford

•

Eugene Hildebrand by jean hildebrand • My Mom, Pearl Van Meter by betty hunsaker • Jeremiah Israel by jannah israel • Wendell Horning by helen w. lee • My Aunt Jeane Krovig and my Father Eldon Jenicke by sandy monette • Cebert and Mary Jane Allen by network for good • Alice Penner by bernard penner

• Kunigunde Schulz by the schulz family and karen a. wade • James and Dorothy

Aitken by louis and ruth schutter • John Sisson by donald and marilyn sisson • Bob and Barbara Tremper by norman tremper • Pauline Woodard by warren woodard • Brutus, Bandit and Ping— Animal friends who loved and were loved by wayne and sherri labins

IN HONOR OF: Jesus Christ by joseph and elizabeth caruana • Peter Dorrington by erana m. forbes • Happy Birthday to Amantha Flottman (1), Hannah Bartell (6) and Julie Orellana (9) Andrew Eaton mastera

by huiling lee

by carolyn hartman

• Happy 55 Birthday to Debra L. Mastera th

•

by robert and debra

• Congratulations to Michael Rhoby for Graduating from Michigan State University

by bonnie rhoby

• Niakivia Thompson-Ferguson by delrose thompson • Bonnie Westcott by jeremy

and elishebu westcott

Remembering Truong Dai Nguyen* We would like to extend our deep condolences to the family of Truong Dai Nguyen, an ASAP lay pastor, faithful unto death. Pastor Nguyen worked tirelessly within Vietnam to spread the gospel and show Christ’s compassion to His people. This past year, when the believers in his district were suffering from a natural disaster, he was the first to respond by administering kind aid in the form of temporary shelters and rice from ASAP. When the authorities discovered what he and other church members were doing, they “invited” him to the police station for interrogation. This request was not unusual since this lay pastor was active in evangelism and had been interrogated frequently in the past. After a full day of intense questioning, an officer in the police unit was assigned to purchase food for the pastor, who ate the food and was later released. That night, the pastor, who was in good health that morning, passed away in his sleep (food poisoning is suspected). Our eyes are set on the glories of heaven that Pastor Nguyen, along with all the other martyrs and saints throughout history, will experience soon. We look forward to the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23). *Name changed for the privacy and safety of the deceased’ family.

Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

A SNAPSHOT OF ASAP’S FINANCES

The Blessing of Giving—Your Healing Balm BY KAREN WADE, CPA

id you know that God promises restoration and healing to take place to those who join in his work of assisting the needy? Isaiah 61 details the blessings in store for those who follow God’s call to spread the gospel and reach out to the spiritually, physically and emotionally poor; blessings such as receiving double honor and eating the riches of the Gentiles (v.7). Join ASAP in praying for and giving generously to help fulfill God’s promises in Isaiah 61. Your donations will assist ASAP in funding the budgeted projects through the last half of our fiscal year (ending September 30). CAMBODIA Church Planters SDA Center (HIV/AIDS hospice) Takong School Vietnam SDA School CAM Feed and Read School Waungmuang School Takong School Construction Literacy Bible Teachers Training of ASAP Missionaries LAOS AND THAILAND Lay Workers’ Stipends Medical Missionaries General Evangelism/Bibles Health Evangelism

$32,635 $5,400 $7,600 $4,800

VIETNAM District Leaders’ Stipends Transportation General Evangelism Youth Evangelism, Scholarships Peace and Happiness Ministry Bibles DVD Evangelism MYANMAR Church Planters/Medical Missionaries Evangelism Specific Humanitarian Projects in various countries Church-planting Support among Southeast Asian groups in the USA Building and Repair of Churches and Schools

third quarter 2010

$111,960 $10,850 $4,286 $10,000 $9,000 $3,376 $15,000 $42,510 $20,000

$140,000 $6,000 $20,000 $12,500 $50,000 $20,000 $55,000 $16,000 $25,000 $50,000 $42,100 $125,000

 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

P P.S. We Love Hearing from You! VIETNAM LAOS

MYANMAR

THAILAND CAMBODIA

One of our donors felt impressed to contact ASAP about the possibility of helping to get hearing aides for Chheng Lay, a Sda Center (AIDS hospice) resident after hearing in a receipt letter that she was deaf. God answered his prayers and another non-profit working in Cambodia was contacted and provided them. This has opened a new world up to her. Chheng Lay says, “Thank you, God!”

We are going to share with our Sabbath school class about your ministry, and hope to raise money as a class. We would like some brochures to pass out. EMERALD & DUBLIN FROM TN

Thank you for your prayers for our rental! Because you prayed, we have the funds to continue sharing. God is so good—we are warm, dry and well-fed. His blessings never cease to amaze us. We continue to pray for your work and thank you for it. Resting in God’s Unfailing Love., IVAN AND ALICE FROM WA

I cook for students in the school in my village. This is a good way to make friends with the students. I have asked and received permission from the teachers to give Bible studies to them. Every week I meet with a group of students. Some of them come to worship with us every Sabbath. Please join me in praying that these eleven students will be baptized in the near future. CHURCH PLANTER KONGSRI PATEE FROM THAILAND

Thank you for your timely newsletter. I was always sold out for the sake of Christ until I encountered severe testing of my faith and started looking for ways to help myself. I knew the Lord did not forget me but I was tired of living the way I was living and wanted more in order to be able to help his people and His work. Your e-mail touched my heart and YES I am sold out for Him and for His cause forever. No more turning back. I pray that God forgives all my sins and misunderstandings and past mistakes. How can I contribute to this ministry? Well, let me know ASAP. May the Lord’s richest blessings be yours. In service for the Master, SYBIL FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

It touches my heart to see how you folks sacrifice for others . . . I am 82 years of age. I was knocked down in the parking lot at the grocery store when an old car hit my shopping cart. The Lord took care of me with only a knot on my head. I am still able to mow the yard at the house where I was born in February of 1928. MARY LOU FROM TN

web: www.asapministries.org

phone: 1-866-365-3541

P.O. Box 84, Berrien Springs, MI 49103

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

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Read Beng Korn’s testimony of how God healed Mrs. Sok Ran! Visit: www.asapministries.org

. . . then scientists should stop producing expensive medicine.” This constant mockery and teasing from fellow villagers discourages ASAP medical missionary Beng Korn (pictured second from the left), yet she keeps on serving the Lord. Your support and prayers also help boost the spirits of medical missionaries like Beng Korn.

“IF GOD’S HEALING WAY IS SO POWERFUL . . .