NEWS FROM ASAP MINISTRIES—ADVOCATES FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS AND THE PERSECUTED
FOURTH QUARTER 2019
REACH THE
WORLD
ASAP
A Summer Full of Blessings
FEATURE STORY
Talent for God BY JULIA O'CAREY
Y
ou could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium at Camp Wagner, in Cassopolis, Michigan. The second Karen Seventh-day Adventist Youth Camp, themed “Talent for God,” took place July 17-20, 2019, and drew 450+ young Karen refugees from all over the United States. They listened intently as Doh Htoo, an 18-year-old student at Sunnydale Adventist Academy, courageously shared his testimony. “At the beginning of the year I asked God what I should do this summer. He impressed me to join a canvassing team. I wanted to grow in faith, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy. On the very first day of canvassing I didn’t sell any books but I was still hopeful and happy to be there. Other days I managed to sell some books, and even in bad weather, I willingly went out with the team. “One dark Friday morning, while canvassing in Des Moines, Iowa, every door I knocked on was answered by unfriendly people. Though they cursed and yelled at me, I prayed for them and kept going. But after a while all the rejections took a toll. Tears started running down my cheeks. ‘Lord, I can’t do this by myself,’ I prayed. ‘Please give me the strength to get through the day.’ “I knocked on another door and a big, six-foot-two-inch man answered. The moment he saw me, he started yelling and swearing. He got so angry, he swung his fist and hit me in the chest and shoulder. I tried to shield myself with the books, but they came back and hit my face. A lady across the street saw us and yelled, ‘Hey, what are you doing? He’s just a kid!’ She called out, ‘Come here, sweetheart. Are you
2
okay?’ She invited me into her home but it turned out that she was a staunch atheist. When she learned that I am a Christian, she angrily kicked me out. As I rushed out, I cried, ‘Lord, I don’t understand! I need a break.’ “I started walking straight ahead with my eyes closed but when I opened them, I was in someone’s driveway. I hadn’t made any turns, so I knew God had led me there. I mustered the courage to climb the long staircase to the house, which had a ‘No soliciting’ sign. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell. No one answered. This happened over and over, but I could hear someone inside. The ninth time, a gray-haired lady opened the door and asked, ‘What are you doing here? It’s not a good time. I don’t want to buy anything from you.’ As I introduced myself and started the canvass she became angry and told me to leave. Her face was stern but there were tears in her eyes. I calmly turned to leave, but when I looked back she was crying. “‘Lord what do you want me to do?’ I asked. ‘Go back,’ He said. “To make a long story short, God used me to reach this 65-year-old widow who had isolated herself for 15 years since her husband’s death. I was her first visitor. She needed God’s love and she found it that day. I gave her some books and after that I ended up selling all the books in my bag. These experiences grew my faith and my love for serving Jesus. After I graduate from academy, I plan to study theology.” During the week, other Karen youth also related their powerful testimonies of how Jesus called them to be
missionaries. Fourteen Karen young people told of their recent mission trip to Thailand led by Pr. Jimmy Shwe and his wife Jiap, where they shared the love of Jesus with students at the ASAP-supported Naung Bo Den School. Jasmine Moo, a recent graduate of Hartland College, passionately shared her call to Mae Ra Moe Refugee Camp in Thailand as ASAP’s first Karen student missionary. She is eager to use her training as a teacher to benefit her people. Throughout the event, the presentations, testimonies, united prayer sessions, and seminars on trauma, relationships, health, ministry, social media, faith and prayer communicated a powerful, unified message to these young refugees: they are loved, redeemed, called, and gifted with talents to be used in service to God. He has called them to be lights in their broken communities. Yet they face myriad challenges. Some feel pressured to work to support their families instead of getting an education. Others deal with social pressures and the temptations of materialism and media. Please pray for them, especially the large group that stood during guest speaker Kyle Allen’s appeal to get baptized, rebaptized, or become a missionary. Special thanks to Trudi Starlin, ASAP board member, for the many tireless hours she invested in coordinating this event. Thanks also to Adventist Refugee & Immigrant Ministries and ASAP donors for joining with the sacrificial efforts of the young people to financially support this event. And we praise God for how He is using Pr. Jimmy Shwe to mentor and lead Karen youth in the right direction.
“… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.“ Hebrews 10:25
Top to bottom: More than 450 young people attended this year’s Karen Youth Camp; ASAP board member Trudi Starlin (second from right) and a team of dedicated volunteers gave sacrificially of their time and energy to make the event a success; ASAP refugee coordinator Bill Wells met with and encouraged the young people and their leaders. On the cover: Professor Ingrid Slikkers of Andrews University interacts with young Eritrean refugees during ASAP’s recent mission trip to Ethiopia (story on p. 8).
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FEATURE STORY
Talent for God BY JULIA O'CAREY
Y
ou could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium at Camp Wagner, in Cassopolis, Michigan. The second Karen Seventh-day Adventist Youth Camp, themed “Talent for God,” took place July 17-20, 2019, and drew 450+ young Karen refugees from all over the United States. They listened intently as Doh Htoo, an 18-year-old student at Sunnydale Adventist Academy, courageously shared his testimony. “At the beginning of the year I asked God what I should do this summer. He impressed me to join a canvassing team. I wanted to grow in faith, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy. On the very first day of canvassing I didn’t sell any books but I was still hopeful and happy to be there. Other days I managed to sell some books, and even in bad weather, I willingly went out with the team. “One dark Friday morning, while canvassing in Des Moines, Iowa, every door I knocked on was answered by unfriendly people. Though they cursed and yelled at me, I prayed for them and kept going. But after a while all the rejections took a toll. Tears started running down my cheeks. ‘Lord, I can’t do this by myself,’ I prayed. ‘Please give me the strength to get through the day.’ “I knocked on another door and a big, six-foot-two-inch man answered. The moment he saw me, he started yelling and swearing. He got so angry, he swung his fist and hit me in the chest and shoulder. I tried to shield myself with the books, but they came back and hit my face. A lady across the street saw us and yelled, ‘Hey, what are you doing? He’s just a kid!’ She called out, ‘Come here, sweetheart. Are you
2
okay?’ She invited me into her home but it turned out that she was a staunch atheist. When she learned that I am a Christian, she angrily kicked me out. As I rushed out, I cried, ‘Lord, I don’t understand! I need a break.’ “I started walking straight ahead with my eyes closed but when I opened them, I was in someone’s driveway. I hadn’t made any turns, so I knew God had led me there. I mustered the courage to climb the long staircase to the house, which had a ‘No soliciting’ sign. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell. No one answered. This happened over and over, but I could hear someone inside. The ninth time, a gray-haired lady opened the door and asked, ‘What are you doing here? It’s not a good time. I don’t want to buy anything from you.’ As I introduced myself and started the canvass she became angry and told me to leave. Her face was stern but there were tears in her eyes. I calmly turned to leave, but when I looked back she was crying. “‘Lord what do you want me to do?’ I asked. ‘Go back,’ He said. “To make a long story short, God used me to reach this 65-year-old widow who had isolated herself for 15 years since her husband’s death. I was her first visitor. She needed God’s love and she found it that day. I gave her some books and after that I ended up selling all the books in my bag. These experiences grew my faith and my love for serving Jesus. After I graduate from academy, I plan to study theology.” During the week, other Karen youth also related their powerful testimonies of how Jesus called them to be
missionaries. Fourteen Karen young people told of their recent mission trip to Thailand led by Pr. Jimmy Shwe and his wife Jiap, where they shared the love of Jesus with students at the ASAP-supported Naung Bo Den School. Jasmine Moo, a recent graduate of Hartland College, passionately shared her call to Mae Ra Moe Refugee Camp in Thailand as ASAP’s first Karen student missionary. She is eager to use her training as a teacher to benefit her people. Throughout the event, the presentations, testimonies, united prayer sessions, and seminars on trauma, relationships, health, ministry, social media, faith and prayer communicated a powerful, unified message to these young refugees: they are loved, redeemed, called, and gifted with talents to be used in service to God. He has called them to be lights in their broken communities. Yet they face myriad challenges. Some feel pressured to work to support their families instead of getting an education. Others deal with social pressures and the temptations of materialism and media. Please pray for them, especially the large group that stood during guest speaker Kyle Allen’s appeal to get baptized, rebaptized, or become a missionary. Special thanks to Trudi Starlin, ASAP board member, for the many tireless hours she invested in coordinating this event. Thanks also to Adventist Refugee & Immigrant Ministries and ASAP donors for joining with the sacrificial efforts of the young people to financially support this event. And we praise God for how He is using Pr. Jimmy Shwe to mentor and lead Karen youth in the right direction.
“… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.“ Hebrews 10:25
Top to bottom: More than 450 young people attended this year’s Karen Youth Camp; ASAP board member Trudi Starlin (second from right) and a team of dedicated volunteers gave sacrificially of their time and energy to make the event a success; ASAP refugee coordinator Bill Wells met with and encouraged the young people and their leaders. On the cover: Professor Ingrid Slikkers of Andrews University interacts with young Eritrean refugees during ASAP’s recent mission trip to Ethiopia (story on p. 8).
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ahlin Medical Missionary Training Center Opens its Doors
Blessings for Bow BY BRENDA KIŠ
T
here it was again! A terrible commotion awoke Bow in the night. Her hair stood on end and fear gripped her heart. What could it be? Bow was a widow in Thailand, a sick woman with many children. Her problems seemed to multiply each day. With no husband to discover the source of the noise, she went to the local shaman and asked him to come find out what was happening. And so the shaman came. Producing an egg, he cracked it into a glass of water. There he “read” the reason for all her troubles, telling her that this was very common. According to his findings, Bow’s deceased grandmother was requesting that a pig be offered to her, and not just any old pig. It must be roasted, and the shaman knew just how it should be prepared! Often such ceremonies, including the pig offering, can cost 10,000 baht, a fortune for a poor widow. But Bow found the money somehow, prepared the pig, and paid for her consultation. Now she was poorer than ever! And still her problems remained.
BY JULIA O’CAREY
A
s dawn broke across the sky on March 19, 2019, a large group of missionaries, church leaders, and friends gathered in Myaungmya, Myanmar, for the dedication of the Ahlin (“Light” in Burmese) Medical Missionary Training Center. This simple yet functional center was built on the campus of Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary (MUAS). Dr. Htwe Lay Thein, ASAP medical missionary trainer and supervisor, envisioned it as a place to teach MUAS students, laypeople, and ASAP missionaries the medical missionary skills needed to effectively reach their communities. After devoting so much time and energy to the building project and curriculum development, the opening of the center was in some ways like the birth of a child for Dr. Htwe Lay.
The five Seventh-day Adventist missions in Myanmar, along with the Myanmar Union Mission, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and ASAP Ministries all recognized the need for this center and combined their resources to make it a reality. This unity of purpose and effort made the opening celebration extra special. The event touched my heart personally because ASAP contributed funds given in memory of my mother, ASAP founder Judy Aitken. A nurse by trade, Judy invested time and resources in growing medical missionary
About this time a church member told ASAP church planter Niphon Phongkheereephaibun about widow Bow, and he began to visit her and help her in any way he could. His kindness prompted her to ask about God, and he began Bible studies with her. Bow happily accepted each new doctrine, soaking in the hope that only God can give. Imagine her joy when one year later she was baptized and the spirits ceased to haunt her! But the devil wasn’t satisfied to lose his victim. After her baptism, another issue arose. She began having Sabbath problems at the resort where she worked. Even though Niphon wrote a letter and talked to her boss, still he did not give her Sabbaths free. So she courageously stood up for God and quit her job! A few days later Niphon found another resort that hired her and gave her Sabbaths free. What a blessing! Bow has become a faithful church member and today leads the music each Sabbath. A few of her adult children have seen the change in their mother and joined her in worship. The surprising part of the story is that Niphon discovered that Bow is his cousin! And the new resort where she works is close to his house. Now they can study together and see each other often. With her new God came new family! ASAP church planter Niphon Phongkheereephaibun’s Bible studies with a widow named Bow led to a surprising discovery
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projects throughout Southeast Asia, and she would have loved to see this center completed and in use. Following the dedication ceremony, Dr. Htwe Lay and team began a two-month training program at the beginning of April. Classes included healthy cooking, massage, hydrotherapy, herbs, understanding how to reach Buddhists, how to give Bible studies, and practical classes like sewing, exercise, and many more. Ruth Htar,* a new ASAP medical missionary, completed the program and now feels equipped to work alongside Dr. Htwe Lay for the next training program. Ruth grew up in a staunchly Buddhist Burmese family and community. At the age of 14, she was excommunicated from her village for choosing to be baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist. But since then, because of her faithful witness, her mother, father, and brother have also become Seventh-day Adventists. Please pray for Ruth, Dr. Htwe Lay, and the rest of the staff as they serve at the Ahlin Medical Missionary Training Center, treating physical sickness and disease and helping people find spiritual healing. Left to right: Dr. Htwe Lay Thein speaks during the training center dedication ceremony; ASAP director Julia O’Carey attended the opening of the center; newly trained ASAP medical missionary Ruth Htar
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32 5
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PROJECT UPDATE
Ahlin Medical Missionary Training Center Opens its Doors
Blessings for Bow BY BRENDA KIŠ
T
here it was again! A terrible commotion awoke Bow in the night. Her hair stood on end and fear gripped her heart. What could it be? Bow was a widow in Thailand, a sick woman with many children. Her problems seemed to multiply each day. With no husband to discover the source of the noise, she went to the local shaman and asked him to come find out what was happening. And so the shaman came. Producing an egg, he cracked it into a glass of water. There he “read” the reason for all her troubles, telling her that this was very common. According to his findings, Bow’s deceased grandmother was requesting that a pig be offered to her, and not just any old pig. It must be roasted, and the shaman knew just how it should be prepared! Often such ceremonies, including the pig offering, can cost 10,000 baht, a fortune for a poor widow. But Bow found the money somehow, prepared the pig, and paid for her consultation. Now she was poorer than ever! And still her problems remained.
BY JULIA O’CAREY
A
s dawn broke across the sky on March 19, 2019, a large group of missionaries, church leaders, and friends gathered in Myaungmya, Myanmar, for the dedication of the Ahlin (“Light” in Burmese) Medical Missionary Training Center. This simple yet functional center was built on the campus of Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary (MUAS). Dr. Htwe Lay Thein, ASAP medical missionary trainer and supervisor, envisioned it as a place to teach MUAS students, laypeople, and ASAP missionaries the medical missionary skills needed to effectively reach their communities. After devoting so much time and energy to the building project and curriculum development, the opening of the center was in some ways like the birth of a child for Dr. Htwe Lay.
The five Seventh-day Adventist missions in Myanmar, along with the Myanmar Union Mission, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and ASAP Ministries all recognized the need for this center and combined their resources to make it a reality. This unity of purpose and effort made the opening celebration extra special. The event touched my heart personally because ASAP contributed funds given in memory of my mother, ASAP founder Judy Aitken. A nurse by trade, Judy invested time and resources in growing medical missionary
About this time a church member told ASAP church planter Niphon Phongkheereephaibun about widow Bow, and he began to visit her and help her in any way he could. His kindness prompted her to ask about God, and he began Bible studies with her. Bow happily accepted each new doctrine, soaking in the hope that only God can give. Imagine her joy when one year later she was baptized and the spirits ceased to haunt her! But the devil wasn’t satisfied to lose his victim. After her baptism, another issue arose. She began having Sabbath problems at the resort where she worked. Even though Niphon wrote a letter and talked to her boss, still he did not give her Sabbaths free. So she courageously stood up for God and quit her job! A few days later Niphon found another resort that hired her and gave her Sabbaths free. What a blessing! Bow has become a faithful church member and today leads the music each Sabbath. A few of her adult children have seen the change in their mother and joined her in worship. The surprising part of the story is that Niphon discovered that Bow is his cousin! And the new resort where she works is close to his house. Now they can study together and see each other often. With her new God came new family! ASAP church planter Niphon Phongkheereephaibun’s Bible studies with a widow named Bow led to a surprising discovery
4
projects throughout Southeast Asia, and she would have loved to see this center completed and in use. Following the dedication ceremony, Dr. Htwe Lay and team began a two-month training program at the beginning of April. Classes included healthy cooking, massage, hydrotherapy, herbs, understanding how to reach Buddhists, how to give Bible studies, and practical classes like sewing, exercise, and many more. Ruth Htar,* a new ASAP medical missionary, completed the program and now feels equipped to work alongside Dr. Htwe Lay for the next training program. Ruth grew up in a staunchly Buddhist Burmese family and community. At the age of 14, she was excommunicated from her village for choosing to be baptized as a Seventh-day Adventist. But since then, because of her faithful witness, her mother, father, and brother have also become Seventh-day Adventists. Please pray for Ruth, Dr. Htwe Lay, and the rest of the staff as they serve at the Ahlin Medical Missionary Training Center, treating physical sickness and disease and helping people find spiritual healing. Left to right: Dr. Htwe Lay Thein speaks during the training center dedication ceremony; ASAP director Julia O’Carey attended the opening of the center; newly trained ASAP medical missionary Ruth Htar
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32 5
EXCITING EVANGELISM/REACH THE WORLD NEXT DOOR
Summer Day Camp Builds Bridges With Refugees BY PR. SCOTT GRISWOLD
“T
hey’re here! They’re here!” the children cried. They had been waiting all summer for the Rise High day camp. In August, three college students and a newly married couple traveled to Houston, Texas, to help the Reach the World Next Door staff and local church members present a threehour program for six days at an apartment complex full of refugees. Many refugee children wore traditional clothes from Afghanistan. “I started to feel like I was in a different country,” laughed Andrea from Washington. When a little girl took her to use the bathroom she found cushions lining the living room instead of couches. Another volunteer, who had made many Middle Eastern friends elsewhere, started the program each day with a story of a Bible prophet. His prayer in Arabic brought a seriousness to the energetic children that helped them sit still and listen. When the story was over they jumped up excitedly to make a craft with glue, glitter, scissors, and paints. Six young people worked hard to help the 30 children produce little masterpieces. “I think that I learned more patience as I worked with the children during the summer camp,” reported Emilio Diaz. “It helped me be a better leader.” “I had fun making butterflies and little bottlebrush animals with the children,” said Jade, Emilio’s sister. “It was hot, so it was fun getting wet as we tried to fill a bucket with water using sponges.”
Brother Benjamin said, “I had fun when my dad showed the children how to build a bench, and taught them to work together to finish the project.” Pastor Bernabe Diaz, explained, “I purposefully brought uglylooking wood and a scraper so that children could see that something ugly can be beautiful when it is cleaned, even if it is painful. The children need to allow correction and scraping away of the bad in order to be beautiful and useful for God.” Josiah Griswold noticed that the children looked to him and his friends for guidance. Often, when it was time for a new part of the program, he called them to follow him and ran ahead to show interest. He used a green snake puppet as he told how God had protected him in Thailand.
ASAP Introduces Pathfinders to Refugee Ministry at Oshkosh BY JOHN PRESS
Michael from North Carolina said, “My favorite memories were the times I spent working with one little four-year-old boy. I entertained him between activities by playing rockpaper-scissors.”
As more than 55,000 people from around the world gathered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the International Pathfinder Camporee, ASAP Ministries was there! From August 12-17, 2019, thousands of visitors passed through the ASAP exhibit, which included a refugee tent, literature, and giveaways. But the highlight was the Refugee Assistance Honor taught by ASAP staff and volunteers in both English and Spanish.
Joella Meyer, who led out in the Rise High program bi-monthly last year, was thrilled to witness the long-term impact of this outreach. “I remember when we started Rise High. Some of the children didn’t want to sit and listen to stories, but this last week, they listened and enjoyed learning. The older ones are now more willing to help the younger ones. ”
More than 1,100 Pathfinders completed the honor, repeatedly filling the makeshift classrooms to overflowing. Through Biblically-based, interactive presentations they learned about the unprecedented magnitude of the current refugee crisis and the experiences and needs of the world’s 70.8 million displaced people.
Joella was especially pleased to see the children come every day from a family that had arrived from Afghanistan only
A loss simulation exercise deeply touched many participants as they grasped the reality behind the statistics. “I lost all
“This honor was the most profound and impactful honor I’ve done,” another participant told Bill Wells, ASAP refugee coordinator. Please join us in praying that the seeds planted at Oshkosh will bear much fruit as Pathfinders and their parents return home and reach out to the refugees in their communities!
Pr. Bernabe Diaz used a simple carpentry project to teach the children an important lesson (left); craft time was a big hit with the kids at the Rise High summer day camp (right)
two months previously. She had brought a bunk bed to their house and helped set it up. The parents and the children eagerly asked questions, even about spiritual matters. Marleny Diaz also noticed how the children remembered. “Many of them can retell stories almost word-for-word,” she shared. “Rise High has been a powerful outreach tool in the Muslim refugee community. It breaks stereotypes that Christians are hypocrites who do not follow their own Bible as they realize that we follow the Bible’s teachings about food, modesty, respectful family relationships, and honor God above all else.” Andrea’s husband Solomon, a mechanic who took the week off to help, visited one of the fathers in his apartment. He was moved to hear the father express his gratitude for the good things his children were learning. 6
my family,” said one woman with tears streaming down her face following the activity. Another participant “lost” her young daughter, who was standing next to her at the time. “The mom was crying, despite the fact that her little girl was right there, touching her face and comforting her,” said ASAP interim development director Lisa Isensee. “It was precious and heart-rending at the same time. Because parents really do lose their children as they flee for their lives.”
Michael stated, “The Muslims that I was spending time with had no idea about many of the beliefs that we Adventists generally take for granted. I began to question how well I would actually be able to explain my beliefs to them if given the chance. I’m inspired to dig deeper now.” Cindy from North Carolina shared, “I did not realize how much work still needs to be done in the United States. During the week, God reminded me that He laid down his life for these children. It was our privilege to show them the love that Christ showed us.” It was a joy to participate in the Rise High program. We hope that many churches will be inspired to do something similar in their cities.
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EXCITING EVANGELISM/REACH THE WORLD NEXT DOOR
Summer Day Camp Builds Bridges With Refugees BY PR. SCOTT GRISWOLD
“T
hey’re here! They’re here!” the children cried. They had been waiting all summer for the Rise High day camp. In August, three college students and a newly married couple traveled to Houston, Texas, to help the Reach the World Next Door staff and local church members present a threehour program for six days at an apartment complex full of refugees. Many refugee children wore traditional clothes from Afghanistan. “I started to feel like I was in a different country,” laughed Andrea from Washington. When a little girl took her to use the bathroom she found cushions lining the living room instead of couches. Another volunteer, who had made many Middle Eastern friends elsewhere, started the program each day with a story of a Bible prophet. His prayer in Arabic brought a seriousness to the energetic children that helped them sit still and listen. When the story was over they jumped up excitedly to make a craft with glue, glitter, scissors, and paints. Six young people worked hard to help the 30 children produce little masterpieces. “I think that I learned more patience as I worked with the children during the summer camp,” reported Emilio Diaz. “It helped me be a better leader.” “I had fun making butterflies and little bottlebrush animals with the children,” said Jade, Emilio’s sister. “It was hot, so it was fun getting wet as we tried to fill a bucket with water using sponges.”
Brother Benjamin said, “I had fun when my dad showed the children how to build a bench, and taught them to work together to finish the project.” Pastor Bernabe Diaz, explained, “I purposefully brought uglylooking wood and a scraper so that children could see that something ugly can be beautiful when it is cleaned, even if it is painful. The children need to allow correction and scraping away of the bad in order to be beautiful and useful for God.” Josiah Griswold noticed that the children looked to him and his friends for guidance. Often, when it was time for a new part of the program, he called them to follow him and ran ahead to show interest. He used a green snake puppet as he told how God had protected him in Thailand.
ASAP Introduces Pathfinders to Refugee Ministry at Oshkosh BY JOHN PRESS
Michael from North Carolina said, “My favorite memories were the times I spent working with one little four-year-old boy. I entertained him between activities by playing rockpaper-scissors.”
As more than 55,000 people from around the world gathered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the International Pathfinder Camporee, ASAP Ministries was there! From August 12-17, 2019, thousands of visitors passed through the ASAP exhibit, which included a refugee tent, literature, and giveaways. But the highlight was the Refugee Assistance Honor taught by ASAP staff and volunteers in both English and Spanish.
Joella Meyer, who led out in the Rise High program bi-monthly last year, was thrilled to witness the long-term impact of this outreach. “I remember when we started Rise High. Some of the children didn’t want to sit and listen to stories, but this last week, they listened and enjoyed learning. The older ones are now more willing to help the younger ones. ”
More than 1,100 Pathfinders completed the honor, repeatedly filling the makeshift classrooms to overflowing. Through Biblically-based, interactive presentations they learned about the unprecedented magnitude of the current refugee crisis and the experiences and needs of the world’s 70.8 million displaced people.
Joella was especially pleased to see the children come every day from a family that had arrived from Afghanistan only
A loss simulation exercise deeply touched many participants as they grasped the reality behind the statistics. “I lost all
“This honor was the most profound and impactful honor I’ve done,” another participant told Bill Wells, ASAP refugee coordinator. Please join us in praying that the seeds planted at Oshkosh will bear much fruit as Pathfinders and their parents return home and reach out to the refugees in their communities!
Pr. Bernabe Diaz used a simple carpentry project to teach the children an important lesson (left); craft time was a big hit with the kids at the Rise High summer day camp (right)
two months previously. She had brought a bunk bed to their house and helped set it up. The parents and the children eagerly asked questions, even about spiritual matters. Marleny Diaz also noticed how the children remembered. “Many of them can retell stories almost word-for-word,” she shared. “Rise High has been a powerful outreach tool in the Muslim refugee community. It breaks stereotypes that Christians are hypocrites who do not follow their own Bible as they realize that we follow the Bible’s teachings about food, modesty, respectful family relationships, and honor God above all else.” Andrea’s husband Solomon, a mechanic who took the week off to help, visited one of the fathers in his apartment. He was moved to hear the father express his gratitude for the good things his children were learning. 6
my family,” said one woman with tears streaming down her face following the activity. Another participant “lost” her young daughter, who was standing next to her at the time. “The mom was crying, despite the fact that her little girl was right there, touching her face and comforting her,” said ASAP interim development director Lisa Isensee. “It was precious and heart-rending at the same time. Because parents really do lose their children as they flee for their lives.”
Michael stated, “The Muslims that I was spending time with had no idea about many of the beliefs that we Adventists generally take for granted. I began to question how well I would actually be able to explain my beliefs to them if given the chance. I’m inspired to dig deeper now.” Cindy from North Carolina shared, “I did not realize how much work still needs to be done in the United States. During the week, God reminded me that He laid down his life for these children. It was our privilege to show them the love that Christ showed us.” It was a joy to participate in the Rise High program. We hope that many churches will be inspired to do something similar in their cities.
7
MEET OUR WORKERS
HELPING HANDS
God’s Plan Unfolds in Ethiopia
Joys and Challenges
BY JASMIN WILSON, MSW, CCTS-I
BY BRENDA KIŠ
Above: Jasmin Wilson shares a light moment with some new friends; Right: more than 900,000 Eritrean refugees live in Ethiopia
I
t was evening when 19-year-old Yusef* met his friend at the Eritrean border and said goodbye to his home forever. He did not risk telling his family that he was leaving. He knew that they would try to make him stay, for this was not a safe journey. Even with their knowledge of the border, it took Yusef and his friend three days to cross into Ethiopia where he was finally safe from his persecutors. With no money, no food, and nowhere to live, Yusef entered a refugee camp. Unfortunately, stories like Yusef’s are not uncommon. There are currently over 900,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers living in Ethiopia. These brave individuals have fled their homeland to escape forced military inscription, persecution, and torture. Recently, ASAP Ministries partnered with a trauma team from the Andrews University School of Social Work to bring the message of God’s healing power to a refugee camp in Shire, Ethiopia. Through the passionate and persistent ministry of Dr. Bemnet Meried, the team arrived in Shire on August 11, 2019, with the intention to teach refugees about trauma’s effect
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on the brain and share tools to lower stress and live healthier lifestyles. The team consisted of ASAP director Julia O’Carey, two Andrews University faculty members, Ingrid Slikkers and Alina Baltazar, two recent Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates, A.J. O’Carey and Jasmin Wilson, and a current dualdegree MDiv and MSW student, Katelyn Campbell.
ung Piseth is an ASAP church planter for four villages in Cambodia. All combined he has a congregation of 58 adults and 79 children, and 11 more people are taking Bible studies from him. A snapshot of his life shows that like all of us, he has joys and challenges.
Their time in the refugee camp was not without its low points. First, they spent several hours under the hot Ethiopian sun awaiting permission to enter the camp. Then, the entire team, including their local counterparts, fell sick after exposure to foodborne bacteria. With all things seemingly going wrong, it would have been easy to yield to frustration and discouragement. However, with prayer and faith, God left the group in awe at the display of His power and His plan.
A woman delivered her baby in Kaomoney Village and asked her friend to care for the little girl while she was gone, with the promise that she would send money for the child. But after she left, no one ever heard from her again and she didn’t respond to the phone number she had left. Soon the baby became ill. Tung Piseth’s family took her to a clinic which then referred her to a larger hospital. While waiting for the right time to go to the hospital, they prayed, and soon the baby got better. At last check the local government was trying to locate the mother. If she cannot be found, baby Mary will be given to the Tung Piseth family.
After a paperwork issue left the team unable to enter the refugee camp, the Lord blessed them with an idea. Vans were sent into the camp to bring willing participants to a hotel within the city. If the training couldn’t be brought to the people, the people would be brought to the training! The Lord blessed this training with over 100 participants. Local team members estimated that this was more than the number of individuals that would have participated had the training been held inside the camp. After experiencing such a rich blessing, it was abundantly clear that though we may have our own thoughts and agendas, God’s plan will always reign supreme!
When asked about some of the other challenges he faces, Tung Piseth shared that local officials and Sunday churches intentionally distribute rice on the Sabbath. This tempts Adventist church members to go get their free food that day instead of coming to church. Other churches also attack the Adventist church through gossip. They tell others not to go to the Adventists because they will lose their freedom through false worship. Or they do things to distract from the worship services once they’ve begun. But here’s a challenge that has turned into a joy. Sixty-eightyear-old Pan Thai was a very hot tempered and violent alcoholic. He was so harsh with his neighbors and his children that he became an outcast in his own community. Tung Piseth began to visit him. Year after year he poured love into the angry man, teaching him about forgiveness. This was difficult for Pan Thai to understand. He struggled to accept the fact that he was a sinner. So Tung Piseth spent even more time with him, eating and praying with him. Recently, Tung Piseth saw a dramatic change in Pan Thai. So did the neighbors! Now he shares Christ with them, telling about the Jesus he has found. He started bringing people to church, people who were amazed at his transformation. The difference is so pronounced that the community has asked him to do some volunteer work and become an overseer for all of them! Tung Piseth is overjoyed.
Multiply disciples in the 10/40 Window. Sponsor an ASAP church planter! In spite of difficulties, Tung Piseth carries on with courage. Thank you for praying for him, his four church plants, and the challenges in his work. 9
MEET OUR WORKERS
HELPING HANDS
God’s Plan Unfolds in Ethiopia
Joys and Challenges
BY JASMIN WILSON, MSW, CCTS-I
BY BRENDA KIŠ
Above: Jasmin Wilson shares a light moment with some new friends; Right: more than 900,000 Eritrean refugees live in Ethiopia
I
t was evening when 19-year-old Yusef* met his friend at the Eritrean border and said goodbye to his home forever. He did not risk telling his family that he was leaving. He knew that they would try to make him stay, for this was not a safe journey. Even with their knowledge of the border, it took Yusef and his friend three days to cross into Ethiopia where he was finally safe from his persecutors. With no money, no food, and nowhere to live, Yusef entered a refugee camp. Unfortunately, stories like Yusef’s are not uncommon. There are currently over 900,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers living in Ethiopia. These brave individuals have fled their homeland to escape forced military inscription, persecution, and torture. Recently, ASAP Ministries partnered with a trauma team from the Andrews University School of Social Work to bring the message of God’s healing power to a refugee camp in Shire, Ethiopia. Through the passionate and persistent ministry of Dr. Bemnet Meried, the team arrived in Shire on August 11, 2019, with the intention to teach refugees about trauma’s effect
8
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on the brain and share tools to lower stress and live healthier lifestyles. The team consisted of ASAP director Julia O’Carey, two Andrews University faculty members, Ingrid Slikkers and Alina Baltazar, two recent Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates, A.J. O’Carey and Jasmin Wilson, and a current dualdegree MDiv and MSW student, Katelyn Campbell.
ung Piseth is an ASAP church planter for four villages in Cambodia. All combined he has a congregation of 58 adults and 79 children, and 11 more people are taking Bible studies from him. A snapshot of his life shows that like all of us, he has joys and challenges.
Their time in the refugee camp was not without its low points. First, they spent several hours under the hot Ethiopian sun awaiting permission to enter the camp. Then, the entire team, including their local counterparts, fell sick after exposure to foodborne bacteria. With all things seemingly going wrong, it would have been easy to yield to frustration and discouragement. However, with prayer and faith, God left the group in awe at the display of His power and His plan.
A woman delivered her baby in Kaomoney Village and asked her friend to care for the little girl while she was gone, with the promise that she would send money for the child. But after she left, no one ever heard from her again and she didn’t respond to the phone number she had left. Soon the baby became ill. Tung Piseth’s family took her to a clinic which then referred her to a larger hospital. While waiting for the right time to go to the hospital, they prayed, and soon the baby got better. At last check the local government was trying to locate the mother. If she cannot be found, baby Mary will be given to the Tung Piseth family.
After a paperwork issue left the team unable to enter the refugee camp, the Lord blessed them with an idea. Vans were sent into the camp to bring willing participants to a hotel within the city. If the training couldn’t be brought to the people, the people would be brought to the training! The Lord blessed this training with over 100 participants. Local team members estimated that this was more than the number of individuals that would have participated had the training been held inside the camp. After experiencing such a rich blessing, it was abundantly clear that though we may have our own thoughts and agendas, God’s plan will always reign supreme!
When asked about some of the other challenges he faces, Tung Piseth shared that local officials and Sunday churches intentionally distribute rice on the Sabbath. This tempts Adventist church members to go get their free food that day instead of coming to church. Other churches also attack the Adventist church through gossip. They tell others not to go to the Adventists because they will lose their freedom through false worship. Or they do things to distract from the worship services once they’ve begun. But here’s a challenge that has turned into a joy. Sixty-eightyear-old Pan Thai was a very hot tempered and violent alcoholic. He was so harsh with his neighbors and his children that he became an outcast in his own community. Tung Piseth began to visit him. Year after year he poured love into the angry man, teaching him about forgiveness. This was difficult for Pan Thai to understand. He struggled to accept the fact that he was a sinner. So Tung Piseth spent even more time with him, eating and praying with him. Recently, Tung Piseth saw a dramatic change in Pan Thai. So did the neighbors! Now he shares Christ with them, telling about the Jesus he has found. He started bringing people to church, people who were amazed at his transformation. The difference is so pronounced that the community has asked him to do some volunteer work and become an overseer for all of them! Tung Piseth is overjoyed.
Multiply disciples in the 10/40 Window. Sponsor an ASAP church planter! In spite of difficulties, Tung Piseth carries on with courage. Thank you for praying for him, his four church plants, and the challenges in his work. 9
IN GRATITUDE IN HONOR OF A.H. BOS, by his wife, Harriet Bos • DWAYNE WILSON, by Antonnette Thomas • JOHN 5:23, by Wyman Kingsley • NORMAN TREMPER, by Norman and Dolores Tremper • RUTHIE REEVES, by Joseph and Ruthie Reeves
IN MEMORY OF DAVID BREMMER, by Dianne Bremmer • E. JENICKE AND J. KRAVIG, by Sandy Monette • ELOISE ROBINSON, by Noah Peoples • JAY YOON, MD, by Laura Yoon • JERRY AITKEN, by Marnelle & Mary Ann McNeilus • JUDY AITKEN, by Michael Constantine • JULIE HENDERSON AND STEWART CROOK, by James & Judith Culpepper • LINDA, CINDY, AND WHITNEY WATSON, by Paul & Ruth Watson • LISA DEBOOY, by David & Ruth DeBooy • MABLE BINGHAM, by Sydonnie Doctor • MAIA PRESS, by John & Ashley Press • MICHELLE CUMBERLEDGE, by Matt Cumberledge • MY FATHER-IN-LAW, RIM PHAN, by Michael Vuthy Sarunn • STEPHANIE ANNE JUSTINE MARSH, by Don & Vickie Marsh • TOM WATSON, by Mary Watson
IN THANKFULNESS FOR DR. P.W. & YVONNE DYSINGER, by Kyle & Sherri Neuroh • ELLEN’S 64TH
NURTURE YOUNG DISCIPLES IN LAOS
GIVE HOPE TO THE DISPLACED KAREN IN NO-MAN’S LAND
Church leaders in Laos have launched a small-groups program to provide nurture, discipleship, and outreach opportunities for Adventist young people. Help provide the transportation, training, and evangelistic materials they need to raise up a generation to reach Laos for Jesus!
Decades of violence have displaced hundreds of thousands of the Karen people from Myanmar. ASAP is sending Bible workers into the particularly volatile region known as No-Man’s Land to provide spiritual care to students at ASAP-supported schools, as well as church members in the surrounding communities.
$3,520 NEEDED (ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
$100/MONTH PER BIBLE WORKER ($1,200/ YEAR, BUT ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
BIRTHDAY, by Donald & Ellen Amador • FAMILY, FOOD, SHELTER, LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE ABOUT JESUS, by Dale & Leuanna Matheson • GOD, by Dessislava Gueorguieva and Rosa Miller • GOD’S BLESSING, by Minelva Fleming • GOD’S MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM MANY DEMONIC ASSAULTS AGAINST LIFE AND HEALTH AND PROPERTY, by Antonnette Thomas • GREAT FAMILY, by Kevin & Teresa Jepson • JESUS, by Beni Gutierrez • JUDY AITKEN, by Joseph & Elizabeth Caruana • KHAMPHO OHNO, by Anna Ursales • LIFE, by Bart Kuhlmann • ROBERT MCCOY, by Ericka Quesada • SCOTT GRISWOLD, by Dillon Flannery-Valadez • SOMPONG IN THAILAND, by Hannah Schulte• THE GOODNESS OF GOD, by John & Joyce Marter • WILLIAM AND RACHEL, by Songxia Liu
GO ONLINE TO VIEW MORE PROJECTS
ARE YOU THIRSTING FOR A DEEPER EXPERIENCE WITH GOD? “Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little!” (Steps to Christ, p. 94).
ASAP ambassador and prayer coordinator Gem Castor travels the world speaking on prayer and revival. He has led united prayer at the General Conference Session and coordinates the prayer meetings at ASI, GYC, and various youth conferences in Asia. His vibrant friendliness reflects the all-encompassing love of Christ towards His children. If you would like to schedule Gem to speak at your church, school, or other event, contact ASAP at 269-471-3026. 10
STRENGTHEN ASAP MISSIONARIES IN MYANMAR
EQUIP PROMISING STUDENTS FOR SERVICE
The work of church planters and medical missionaries in Myanmar is quite demanding. Annual refresher trainings give them an opportunity to “come rest a while” (Mark 6:31) while enjoying fellowship and continuing education in topics relevant to their work. Help them return to the field with new tools and fresh inspiration to win souls for Christ!
Many disadvantaged young people in Laos dream of attending college. However, most will never have the opportunity due to lack of funds. Through your generosity, ASAP will provide support to seven promising young Adventists as they continue their studies so they can serve God and society.
$6,575 NEEDED (ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
$150/YEAR PER STUDENT
11
IN GRATITUDE IN HONOR OF A.H. BOS, by his wife, Harriet Bos • DWAYNE WILSON, by Antonnette Thomas • JOHN 5:23, by Wyman Kingsley • NORMAN TREMPER, by Norman and Dolores Tremper • RUTHIE REEVES, by Joseph and Ruthie Reeves
IN MEMORY OF DAVID BREMMER, by Dianne Bremmer • E. JENICKE AND J. KRAVIG, by Sandy Monette • ELOISE ROBINSON, by Noah Peoples • JAY YOON, MD, by Laura Yoon • JERRY AITKEN, by Marnelle & Mary Ann McNeilus • JUDY AITKEN, by Michael Constantine • JULIE HENDERSON AND STEWART CROOK, by James & Judith Culpepper • LINDA, CINDY, AND WHITNEY WATSON, by Paul & Ruth Watson • LISA DEBOOY, by David & Ruth DeBooy • MABLE BINGHAM, by Sydonnie Doctor • MAIA PRESS, by John & Ashley Press • MICHELLE CUMBERLEDGE, by Matt Cumberledge • MY FATHER-IN-LAW, RIM PHAN, by Michael Vuthy Sarunn • STEPHANIE ANNE JUSTINE MARSH, by Don & Vickie Marsh • TOM WATSON, by Mary Watson
IN THANKFULNESS FOR DR. P.W. & YVONNE DYSINGER, by Kyle & Sherri Neuroh • ELLEN’S 64TH
NURTURE YOUNG DISCIPLES IN LAOS
GIVE HOPE TO THE DISPLACED KAREN IN NO-MAN’S LAND
Church leaders in Laos have launched a small-groups program to provide nurture, discipleship, and outreach opportunities for Adventist young people. Help provide the transportation, training, and evangelistic materials they need to raise up a generation to reach Laos for Jesus!
Decades of violence have displaced hundreds of thousands of the Karen people from Myanmar. ASAP is sending Bible workers into the particularly volatile region known as No-Man’s Land to provide spiritual care to students at ASAP-supported schools, as well as church members in the surrounding communities.
$3,520 NEEDED (ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
$100/MONTH PER BIBLE WORKER ($1,200/ YEAR, BUT ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
BIRTHDAY, by Donald & Ellen Amador • FAMILY, FOOD, SHELTER, LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE ABOUT JESUS, by Dale & Leuanna Matheson • GOD, by Dessislava Gueorguieva and Rosa Miller • GOD’S BLESSING, by Minelva Fleming • GOD’S MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM MANY DEMONIC ASSAULTS AGAINST LIFE AND HEALTH AND PROPERTY, by Antonnette Thomas • GREAT FAMILY, by Kevin & Teresa Jepson • JESUS, by Beni Gutierrez • JUDY AITKEN, by Joseph & Elizabeth Caruana • KHAMPHO OHNO, by Anna Ursales • LIFE, by Bart Kuhlmann • ROBERT MCCOY, by Ericka Quesada • SCOTT GRISWOLD, by Dillon Flannery-Valadez • SOMPONG IN THAILAND, by Hannah Schulte• THE GOODNESS OF GOD, by John & Joyce Marter • WILLIAM AND RACHEL, by Songxia Liu
GO ONLINE TO VIEW MORE PROJECTS
ARE YOU THIRSTING FOR A DEEPER EXPERIENCE WITH GOD? “Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little!” (Steps to Christ, p. 94).
ASAP ambassador and prayer coordinator Gem Castor travels the world speaking on prayer and revival. He has led united prayer at the General Conference Session and coordinates the prayer meetings at ASI, GYC, and various youth conferences in Asia. His vibrant friendliness reflects the all-encompassing love of Christ towards His children. If you would like to schedule Gem to speak at your church, school, or other event, contact ASAP at 269-471-3026. 10
STRENGTHEN ASAP MISSIONARIES IN MYANMAR
EQUIP PROMISING STUDENTS FOR SERVICE
The work of church planters and medical missionaries in Myanmar is quite demanding. Annual refresher trainings give them an opportunity to “come rest a while” (Mark 6:31) while enjoying fellowship and continuing education in topics relevant to their work. Help them return to the field with new tools and fresh inspiration to win souls for Christ!
Many disadvantaged young people in Laos dream of attending college. However, most will never have the opportunity due to lack of funds. Through your generosity, ASAP will provide support to seven promising young Adventists as they continue their studies so they can serve God and society.
$6,575 NEEDED (ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED)
$150/YEAR PER STUDENT
11
ASAP Ministries is fueled by mission-minded, faith-filled individuals whom God impresses. Be assured that 100% of your gift goes directly to the projects you specify. However, in the blessed event that the project you chose is fully funded, ASAP will use your gift for a similar project or where most needed to help spread the gospel and ease suffering where ASAP operates. Because ASAP is a §501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donations are tax-deductible in the USA. ASI MEMBER ASAP Ministries 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/COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR John Press ASSOCIATE EDITOR/DIRECTOR Julia O’Carey COPY EDITOR Brenda Kiš DESIGN Robert Mason PHOTOS Lisye Fernandez, Anthony Isensee, Amy Montevilla, Julia O’Carey, Ashley Press, Reach the World Next Door, Jeffrey Saelee, Saeng Saengthip, Bill Wells, Jasmin Wilson BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Dean Coridan, Christopher Carmen, Steve Chang, Shirley Freed, Darryl Hosford, Chan and Esther Hwang, Curtis Letniak, Denzil McNeilus, Mary Ann McNeilus, Carmelo Mercado, Amy Montevilla, Julia O’Carey, Byron and Carol Reynolds, Saeng Saengthip, Trudi Starlin
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PHONE 269-471-3026 FAX 269-471-3034 EMAIL office@asapministries.org WEB www.asapministries.org
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version® copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
ASAP serves people from the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Beyond! *At times, photos are blurred and names changed to protect the safety of God's workers.
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more at asapministries.org/GivingTuesday the war-torn Thai-Myanmar border. Learn hands of every student in ASAP schools on On Giving Tuesday, help us put one in the in the heart language of these children. stories, songs, memory verses, and more powered audio players containing Bible are stuffed animals equipped with solarchildren. MegaVoice© Wildlife Storytellers™ Share the comfort of God’s Word with at-risk
SAVE THE DATE: #GIVINGTUESDAY – DECEMBER 3, 2019