Adventist Southeast Asia Projects
GOD’S COMMAND: GO! Go
into all the world and preach the Good News.
(Mark 16:15, NLT)
Then
said I, “Here am I, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
Our Marching Orders BY JULIA O’CAREY
“The Duke of Wellington was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in missionary effort among the heathen.They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such
DID YOU KNOW? Kong Meng is one of 42 lay pastors ASAP supports in Laos. He cares for four groups with 107 total members. Pray that the 14
efforts were likely to prove a success commensurate to the cost. The old
people he is preparing for baptism
soldier replied: “Gentlemen, what are your marching orders? Success is
will be able to have a church
not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders aright, they run
building soon. Please consider
thus, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’
sponsoring him or another ASAP
Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.” Gospel Workers, page 115
L
ay Pastor Kong Meng lives in a primitive Hmong farming village in Laos. Each morning he wakes up early when the roosters start to crow. He opens the Word of God, his sword, and checks in with Jesus, the Commander in Chief, because he has full knowledge that he is in the midst of a war, a battle between the forces of good and evil. He understands that as a soldier for Christ he needs to be in the best health physically, mentally and spiritually. (Three years ago he became vegetarian because of a fast growing cancerous tumor on his neck. Praise the Lord, through herbs, a plantbased diet and much prayer, the tumor disappeared!) In the past three years, Pastor Meng experienced many spiritual victories in his walk with God and much growth in his church groups. The stories he shared with me in an interview show his willingness to drop everything and GO at God’s command.
lay pastor for $80 per month.
Kong Meng shared the story of Mr. Ciea, who fought battles every night in the form of horrific nightmares. His family members often struggled with frequent illnesses. Kong Meng became acquainted with them because they live in the same village. He told Daniel Reynolds in another interview, “I hear God say, ‘GO visit this family,’ and I go many times and each time I pray for them they get better. But as soon as I leave their house, they seem to get worse than before.” One day Mr. Ciea said, “Kong Meng, I wish you would stay with us all the time because you bring peace to my mind and health to my family.” Kong Meng always prays that they will not look to him for spiritual strength, but will learn that God is the source of strength that fights every battle. Sometimes Kong Meng travels with Mr. Ciea and his three sons to the rice fields. Because it is far away from their home, they
MAY/JUNE 2012
If the followers of Christ were awake to duty, there would be thousands where there is one today, proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands. And all who could not personally engage in the work would yet sustain it with their means, their sympathy, and their prayers. Steps to Christ, p.81