Projects Serving Refugees & Persecuted Peoples

REFUGEES & PERSECUTED PEOPLE

GIFT #19 – ENCOURAGE GOD’S WORKERS IN DANGEROUS, OPPRESSIVE PLACES

Isaac Tang* calmly responded, “I know I don’t have much education as a school security guard, but I know Jesus changed my life from aimlessly drinking with friends every night to being a responsible, law-abiding citizen. I’m compelled to share my story and the truth because the Bible says, ‘Freely you have received, freely give’” (Matt. 10:8b). This answer infuriated the police officer and he struck the desk with his fist, yelling, “Don’t talk to me about heavenly things when you are a mere mortal here on earth. How dare you preach to me when you aren’t even a pastor! You have no right to pass out those sermon DVDs. It’s illegal!” Isaac responded, “I was not selling them, but giving them to my friends as gifts. I never coerce them to join my religion. I invite them with joy.” The officer’s anger rose, and he muttered, “I can’t talk to this

stupid guy anymore.” He thrust a paper of confession in Issacs’s face, demanding him to sign. Isaac refused. ASAP missionaries and believers like Isaac living in communist countries endure harassment and persecution daily. When you come alongside them through your prayers and financial support for the GWIDOP (God's Work in Dangerous, Oppressive Places) Fund, it brings salve to their wounded hearts. $100 suggested gift (any amount appreciated)

GIFT #20 – BREAK THE BONDS OF THE UNREACHED IN AMERICA

Of the 327,000 Hmong living in America, 11,000 live in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where church planter Pr. Chanchai lives and works. One of the least-reached language groups from Southeast Asia, the Hmong are traditionally animists who worship the spirits. Their religion involves complex shaman rituals deeply tied to Hmong culture. Many second-generation Hmong worry that their lack of knowledge about the spirit world will threaten their livelihood and health. Your donations support Pr. Chanchai and other church planters as they work to free these precious people from spiritual bondage through the truth and power of the Holy Spirit. $500-$2,000 per month to support one refugee/immigrant church planter in North America (any amount appreciated)

GIFT #21 – GIVE HOPE TO THE HMONG IN A CLOSED COUNTRY

Join ASAP in a new opportunity to provide stipends, training, resources, and aid to Hmong believers in a closed country. The Hmong in this country experience oppression and persecution from the government. Let’s come alongside them and give the spiritual and humanitarian support they desperately need. God opened the way for Hmong Seventh-day Adventist pastors in the U.S. and another country to spearhead this initiative, so join us and Jesus, “for He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help” (Ps. 22:24). $175 per month/$2,100 per year to provide a Hmong church planter’s stipend, sharing resources, and annual training expenses (12 needed) $15,000 to establish a humanitarian fund for the Hmong in this closed country

“The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow…” (Psalm 146:9, NKJV).

GIFT #22 – EDUCATE REFUGEES THROUGH THE ETERNITY ASAP E-SCHOOL

Anaya,* a Pakistani eighth grader, has benefited from Adventist education for the past five years, while living as a refugee in Southeast Asia. She gratefully wrote the following: “Thank you, ASAP! In school, I have been taught how I can be a true child of Jesus by following His guidance given to me in the Bible… I pray that Jesus blesses ASAP with funding needed to support not only me, but many other refugee children who need an education all over the world.” Jesus can use you to answer Anaya’s prayer and help support the Eternity ASAP eSchool, a new initiative providing online hybrid Adventist education to refugees. $335 per laptop computer for refugee students (30 needed) $750 per month/$9000 per year for one teacher’s salary (2 needed) $56,300 to fund the entire project for one school year (any amount appreciated)

GIFT #23 – REACH AFGHAN REFUGEES STARTING A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA

The U.S. will receive tens of thousands of Afghan refugees this year and Texas is expected to be one of the top states for resettlement. With your support, ASAP’s Reach the World Next Door (RWND) project in Houston will be ready to welcome, assist, and befriend them. Additionally, with the support of RWND’s all-new training course on cross-cultural ministry, Adventists everywhere can learn how to do the same for the refugees arriving in their communities. Refugees are never more open to the gospel than when they first arrive in a new country. Help transform the tragedy in Afghanistan into an opportunity for restoration and discipleship. $75 to sponsor a children’s program for refugees (20 needed) $1,500 to sponsor a health expo $3,560 to promote the training course and facilitate training groups across North America each month

GIFT #24 – LIGHT THE LAMP OF GOD’S WORD IN A DARK COUNTRY

In a closed country where discussing certain subjects openly can result in arrest, citizens are often afraid to talk to strangers. Covid-19 has brought further social isolation and fear. In answer to this dilemma, ASAP church planters use a simple method of entering a village and leaving small tracts behind, inviting people to learn more by tuning in to radio, TV, and online evangelism programs. The response to this method has been overwhelming as requests are pouring in for more literature and Bibles. Your donation will provide these resources, filling the spiritual need of hungry souls. $1 to print a My Bible First Sabbath School quarterly (2,500 needed) $0.50-$1.50 to print Spirit of Prophecy books and other sharing resources (31,500 needed) $10 for a Bible (1,000 needed)

“The response to this method has been overwhelming, as requests are pouring in for more literature and Bibles.”