A Call to Sacrifice
ATTENTION READERS! The ASAP board of directors was impressed to change our name from Adventist Southeast Asia Projects to ASAP Ministries. This decision was made because opportunities have opened up for ASAP to expand our mission and vision and include reaching people in countries outside of Southeast Asia. You will see multiple meanings of ASAP reflected in the new newsletter format and articles.
BY ISAH YOUNG*
“Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desired while we were lost. He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame …We are to follow in the path He trod.” —Desire of Ages, p. 147
I
n Mark 12:41-44, Jesus points out a poor widow who gave only two mites to the church treasury. How could He consider the woman's pitiful gift as more than the rest given? Surely a $1,000 gift would accomplish more than two pennies right? Jesus looks beyond the gift to the heart of the giver. Let me introduce you to my brother in Christ from Vietnam who reminds me of that sacrificing widow. Than Vinh* gives ALL to the service of Christ. His testimony reveals a heart of gold and a life of sacrifice. Than studied in a university far from home and in the process, he found out about the truth in God’s Word and joined an Adventist house church. Being the oldest in an influential Vietnamese family where his father is also the oldest, Than felt keenly responsible to succeed and work for the government someday but that was not God’s plan. Upon completion of his studies he received a strong impression from God to work in ministry. He told me, “I just want to serve God.” I listened and then asked, “Than, do you realize when you serve God you will not be prosperous in the world’s eyes?” He responded, “I accept that!” Then I asked, “Would you be willing to go wherever I send you?” He paused for a minute and I could see
him wrestling a bit inside, but then answered, “Yes.” Than was the first missionary I sent to a closed, unreached area of Vietnam where people’s religion is atheism/communism. He and his young wife innocently arrived at this cold city with only a few names and numbers of people who had listened to the radio broadcast and indicated they wanted Bible studies. Life was difficult! People viewed them with suspicion and other government churches carefully guarded their members in fear of losing them. In ten years of ministry there, Than has been hunted by the police*, interrogated, beaten, and fined. The trials never end for Than, but through each one we observe Than’s faithfulness and his true spirit of sacrifice. The active membership in this area grew from a handful to 3,800 and continues to grow. Eighteen formerly unreached cities in this part of Vietnam now have established house churches worshipping each Sabbath. Two years ago I was impressed to ask Than to become the evangelistic leader for the country. His additional duties have brought him from remote mountain villages in the highlands to busy modern streets in the South.
JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2013
Reaching Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar & Beyond