2023 Spring/Summer Newsletter

Closing the Circle of Marginalized to Missionary

Closing the Circle of Marginalized to Missionary

BY MIRNA ORTIZ (As told from the perspective of the

My name is Poe Moe Thay.* I am a teacher in one of the ASAP schools and have seen students come and go. Many of them are Buddhists, and though some parents choose to keep their children in our school despite the differences in religion, some withdraw their children, often leaving them to be forgotten by the community or even to become beggars if they become Christian. I remember one specific boy who was always getting into trouble, and no matter how patiently I repeated the lessons in class, he continued to cause a commotion.

“Eyu,* please sit down and pay attention,” I told him one day in math class. He persisted with his disruption, trying to snatch a pencil out of his classmate’s hand, “Eyu, if you continue this behavior, I will have to talk with your parents.” This was my last warning to him.

“My parents don’t care if I misbehave, teacher!” he yelled at me and abruptly sat down. The classroom was suddenly quiet.

Many of the students didn’t have both parents or simply lived with their grandparents or other relatives. For this reason, the school staff decided to make a dorm available. As soon as we made this decision, the trials really began. Because Eyu was a new student, I didn’t know much about him, but

what I later learned brought tears to my eyes.

“Teacher, Teacher!” A frantic knock on my door woke me one night. “What is it, Lei Oo?”* I asked, half asleep.

“It’s Eyu, teacher.” Lei Oo paused. “He snuck out, and when he returned, he was acting very strange, his eyes were huge and red, and his loud talking and laughter woke everyone in the dorm. Please do something,” Lei Oo sobbed. “All the boys are getting frustrated with him, and they might even beat him up to teach him a lesson!”

My heart sank as I began to realize that Eyu had fallen prey to the coping mechanisms of this world to suppress his pain. Lei Oo quickly guided me through the dark to find Eyu. As we got closer to the dorm, I could smell something peculiar. At first, I wasn’t able to recognize it, but then realized it was the smell of marijuana. He had mixed this with other substances and was experiencing the effects.

“Where is Eyu?” I asked the boys.

“He went outside, teacher. He’s gone mad!” the boys answered as they stepped out of the hut and into the moonlight.

I calmly walked outside, silently praying for God’s help. I remembered the countless stories of Jesus

He will never change,” my students complained. “There is no way to stop his bad behavior, Teacher. Please make him leave.”

teacher)

and His disciples encountering people who needed healing. As Jesus’ love brought peace to their hearts, so it was my desire to bring peace to this young man. I soon saw a figure in the jungle brush.

“Eyu, is that you?” I whispered earnestly.

“Teacher, you don’t want me. I’m a mess, no matter how much I try to be good. Are you going to punish me?” he complained as he laughed and cried simultaneously, “Are you going to punish me?” he repeated loudly.

“Come, Eyu,” I replied softly. “Come here, and let us pray to Jesus.” By this time, other teachers and students had gathered with me outside. We all knelt and with tears in our eyes uplifted prayers to God for deliverance from his destructive path. The days following this night seemed no different. Eyu still acted dysregulated and I could perceive a battle going on inside him. I knew the Holy Spirit was working in his heart. As we continued praying for him, we were giving the Restorer, the Searcher of Hearts, permission to cast the darkness out of our dear Eyu.

Before we knew it, he calmed down and change became visible, not only that night but permanently. Eyu began attending the morning and evening worships at the dorm. He was no longer loud and disruptive but was calm and attentive to the messages being shared. This young man was learning about Jesus, and he couldn’t resist His love. He decided to get baptized as he felt the Holy Spirit’s touch. Though he had begun a journey with his Redeemer, other struggles arose when he returned home to visit his non-Adventist parents.

One particular afternoon, I received an unexpected call from Eyu. “Teacher, my parents don’t love me! Really, they don’t! They have disowned me!” he cried.

“Eyu, do you remember the promise in Psalms 27:10 that we learned last month in class?” I asked him tenderly. Through sniffles and sobs he answered, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”

After we prayed together, he felt peace in his heart and was confident that in every trial, his Heavenly Father would be with him. I felt so blessed and honored to witness such a miracle, to see a life transformed!

Eyu is now a teacher at our school. He plans to join a Bible school and wants to become a missionary to his friends involved in harmful lifestyle choices like the ones he made in the past. He has a burden to share his story with them and to see their lives transformed by the Miracle Healer. Please pray that God’s power may continue restoring the marginalized to becoming missionaries for their kindred. The cycle is surely contagious!

Top: Eyu* teaching a class. Cover and bottom: Poe Moe Thay,* teacher in one of our ASAP schools in a closed country.

Exciting Evangelism Facts

‘Upon us is laid a sacred charge. “Go then,” Christ says to them. “Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”’ (20LtMs, Ms 78, 1905, par. 11)

The Powerful Word of God

Distributed: 1,029

GOD IS WORKING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Seekers of Truth Studying for Baptism: 500+

Tracts Going out like the Leaves of Autumn: 11,931

Precious Souls

Baptized: 700+

Charcoal and a Prayer

BY CLARISSA FIEDLER

Please help! Come fast!”

A man came running to Deborah’s* home one morning in early May. “Sayuma, Sayuma, Sayuma! (Respected Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!) Simeon* has drunk poison and is dying! Please help! Come fast!”

“Dear God, please show me what to do,” prayed Deborah, an ASAP medical missionary in Myanmar. She remembered that her friend had sent her five packets of charcoal powder to detox the body from poisoning and to use for other treatments. Quickly she grabbed one of the packets and ran to Simeon’s house. He had vomited and was lying there, unable to move.

As she entered, Deborah acknowledged, “I have no power to help this person recover. It is God, the Creator of the man and woman and everything on this earth, who has power. If he is healed, it will be the power of God and His will.” She bowed her head and prayed. Then she mixed two tablespoons of charcoal powder with water and poured it into Simeon’s mouth. She waited ten minutes and repeated the process. She continued to do this until she had used up all the powder in the little packet. Simeon vomited again and again until it seemed there was no more poison in his system. After a couple of hours, he could talk, and the family was very surprised to see him getting better!

Despite the joy inside the house, there was a great commotion outside. Some of the family members thought Simeon should go to the hospital. Others disagreed because it was a five-hour drive and Simeon could die along the way. Some said he shouldn’t go because he was already getting better,

and they believed that God, the Great Healer, had already cured him.

However, the family who thought he should go to the hospital had already hired a car to take him there. One of Simeon’s sisters thought Deborah should follow them to the hospital. But because she had two patients still at her house, she couldn’t go. Finally, the car left with Simeon. Upon arriving at the hospital, to everyone’s surprise, the doctor said there was no need to give him any treatment. Simeon remained there for two days for observation. This was a testimony of the power of prayer and the use of simple means to bring about supernatural results. Praise God for His greatness and goodness! His mercy endureth forever. The Almighty God, the Great Physician was with this faithful medical missionary, Deborah. He continues to work through her as she helps many mothers deliver their babies each month and as she cares for people’s medical needs through water treatments, massage therapy, and prayer. In all her work, she is spreading the news that Jesus, the Balm of Gilead, is in their midst.

Streams of Light in 180+ Languages

BY SCOTT GRISWOLD

God is constantly working to get His message out in every language. A few years ago, He sent an energetic man to an ASAP booth in Southern California where he met me and took some MyLanguageMyLife cards.

As that man worked as a literature evangelist, he encountered many people who spoke other languages besides English. He loved to pull out those cards and have them listen to a radio or TV program in Arabic, Thai, or Spanish on their phones.

Years later, I got a call from someone named Oleg Lotca. “I’m with Streams of Light,” he said. “We want to place a copy of The Great Controversy in every home in North America by 2026. Every chapter has QR codes to link to audio and video resources.”

It struck me as a very ambitious and important project, but what about those who do not understand English?

Oleg continued, “We’d like you to make an advertisement for MyLanguageMyLife.com to put in the back of the book.”

“How did you know about our website?” I excitedly asked.

“I’ve been using it all over North America,” he said. He was that literature evangelist who had taken some of my cards all those years ago and now God had called him to a huge mission. Several hundred thousand books had already been distributed house-to-house across America and MyLanguageMyLife.com had been right there with them.

Recently Oleg brought his Streams of Light team to Texas to partner with churches across the conference to distribute Great Controversy books. The Reach the World Next Door (RWND) team joined them in Houston and then in Rosharon with our church plant. More than 24,000 books were passed out and over 300 Bible study interests were secured.

Afterwards, their team came to our home for strategic planning. Johnny Henderson, Streams of Light Director of Evangelism and Outreach, said, “MLML has broken down the barrier of being unable to meet with people because we don’t have physical material in their languages. Now the door is wide open, whether they are Hindu or Spanish.”

“For church members,” he continued, “It overcomes their feeling that we can’t reach people of other languages and cultures.”

Warren, their Director of Logistics & Spiritual Affairs, excitedly told me, “At the Pine Forest Garden Restaurant I was able to open my phone and show MyLanguageMyLife.com to three Chinese ladies and the bus boy! Then along came a man from Persia, and, just like that, five people got to see the Jesus story and all these other great links!”

Oleg added, “I met a man from Iran who couldn’t understand what I was saying. I opened the book, scanned the QR code on the MLML.org page and started playing Adventist World Radio in Farsi. His wife excitedly came over as soon as she heard her language and when I started to shut it off, she said, ‘No, wait a minute. I want to listen longer!’ She even signed up for Bible studies.”

We are excited to see MyLanguageMyLife.org and streamsoflight.net being used together to reach the unreached. I hope you will visit streamsoflight.net to learn how you can get your church involved in getting this excellent book out to your communities. Take a moment also to look at MyLanguageMyLife.org and watch for those people who can be blessed by

Help seekers find truth in their heart language by ordering MLML.org cards and sharing them wherever you go. MLML. org can get over 2,000 hits per day. Scan to view it!

RWND Muslim Ministry Update

BY SCOTT GRISWOLD

For the last five years, the Reach The World Next Door (RWND) team has been reaching out to Afghan Muslims, primarily at a specific apartment complex we’ll call Eastern Circle, where people from many countries mingle on the porches, and children play in the parking lots!

Over the last year, volunteer church members have helped us provide a vibrant Pathfinder and Adventurer program. Every other week, Afghan children and their parents come out to the nearby park for activities, crafts, stories, and lots of love.

Throughout this time, Julie and I earnestly prayed for someone who could speak their language to join

us. God guided Pastor Shahbaz and his family here a year ago. He was such a blessing, connecting quickly with the refugees during the eight months they served before returning to Washington. When they moved on, we prayed all the harder for someone who could speak Dari, the language of many of our friends.

“I don’t know of a single Seventh-day Adventist Afghan in all of America,” I told Julie. “It would take a miracle.” But God was working years before with two individuals in Afghanistan whom we’ll call Jahnbee and Bazgigi. Jahnbee’s father became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian while visiting another country. He taught his family that Jesus is coming soon and the importance of honoring the Creator by keeping the Sabbath. His son Jahnbee, especially soaked up the new truths about Jesus and how He died on the cross for his sins.

A growing group of worshipers began to meet in their home secretly, since in Afghanistan, extremist Muslims have killed people for such things. One young lady named Bazgigi saw in Jahnbee’s family a kindness she’d never known. Though her entire family was Muslim, she decided to follow Jesus. Eventually, she married Jahnbee.

Soon two boys were born to the couple, and one day Jahnbee decided it was too dangerous to stay in Afghanistan any longer. His 19-year-old brother

Experiencing the joy of God’s miracle.

Abi joined them as they managed to escape and get a visa to a country in South America. They traveled through jungles, often carrying their children for hours on end. Finally, they crossed into the United States and pled for asylum. They were given a court date on which the government will decide if they can stay.

Meanwhile, our audacious prayer for just such a person kept going up. On the day before leaving for a mission trip to Thailand, a friend called to tell me Jahnbee’s story. The person on the phone said, “Now they are somewhere in Houston, Texas.”

“But where are they living?” I wanted to know. “Houston is huge, and there are over seven million people here.”

“Look at the next text!” Julie and I shouted. “They are right in Eastern Circle!”

We were astounded. Truly, God brought them all the way around the world and placed them in the exact place where we were pleading for someone who could share the gospel in the language of our Afghan friends.

We have enjoyed getting to know them over the last few weeks. Together we are navigating the details of life in America for them as asylum seekers who are not allowed to work, yet have to find a way to rent an apartment and live. Church members across Houston are rising up to help them.

My greatest joy has been taking Jahnbee with me to visit friends and interests that we know. Jahnbee is very friendly, and he loves to tell stories. I know God is going to work mightily to see His work advance among the Afghan people. Please keep this family and ministry in your prayers.

IN TRIBUTE

IN HONOR OF

The Cline and Hebert Families, by William Cline

IN MEMORY OF

Alfredo & Rachel Alavanza, by Bellie Hinkhouse | Altona Louise Bruton, by Shemeka Bruton | Catrina Hebert, by William Cline | E. Jenicke and J. Kravig, by Sandra Monette | Edna McClinton, by Sylvester & Rosalind Morton | Humberto & Mary Lou Meier, by John Meier | Jerry Aitken, by Marnelle McNeilus | John Hebert, by William Cline | Ken Straw, by Anonymous | Mattie Pugh, by Sylvester & Rosalind

Morton | My father-in-law, Rim Phan, by Michael Sarunn | William & Ethelyne Cline, by William Cline

IN THANKFULNESS FOR

Charlotte Park, by Jake Park | Great family, by Kevin Jepson | Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ, who died for all of us; the Lord Jesus, the risen Savior, by Adoracion Aranas, Kahn Ellmers, Michael Lutter, and Ellen Martijn | My 95th birthday, by Ona Greve | Robert McCoy, by Ericka Quesada | The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit for their loving guidance to my son, Doug, Jr., by Doug Kittleson

INTRODUCING NEW OFFICE MISSIONARIES

Trevor Louw - Development/PR Director

Colleen Louw - Development/PR Coordinator

When you are open to God’s leading, He takes you places you would never have imagined. Born and raised in South Africa, little did we anticipate that God would take us out of the business world and send us to be missionaries serving him in America rather than Africa. What a privilege it is to now be part of the ASAP Ministries team.

Life-Changing Giving Opportunities

BY COLLEEN LOUW

Not everyone is able to leave home to be a missionary, but everyone can become a 24/7 missionary, through prayer, active service where you are and giving to mission projects on the other side of the world that will help win souls while you sleep. You can help make the mission possible! We invite you to partner with us on these four special projects through your gifts, large or small.

FUND THE ZOMI MY BIBLE FIRST TRANSLATION

The Zomi tribe from Myanmar is scattered around the globe. Their young people need to learn more about Jesus and truth through the Bible stories written simply with the Spirit of Prophecy in their heart language. You can help fund the translations of 104 lessons of My Bible First for children in primary, junior, and teen classes. We find that many adults enjoy reading these lessons too. God provided a gifted translator and we hope to put him to work soon!

ASAP Project Cost: $14,000

MUAS PRESCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT

Located on the campus of the Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, MUAS Preschool is a shining light, introducing Adventist Education in the Myaungmya community. Parents are eager to enroll their children to learn English, as well as social and character-building skills. Not having their own building, MUAS preschool has needed to move three times. The new MUAS preschool will accommodate 50 students, and will be linked with the Lighthouse English Center, Music Center and Lighthouse Café to become a center of influence in the community.

ASAP Project Cost: $15,323

A Powerful Partnership

A Powerful Partnership

BY JULIA O’CAREY

BY JULIA O’CAREY

I love it because this special connection, since ASAP’s inception (1995), has helped ASAP flourish and blessed me personally! How? Through multiple avenues, such as their generous financial support and the great networking opportunities with other ministries and donors during their local chapter meetings and annual international conventions.

I love it this special connection, since ASAP’s (1995), helped ASAP flourish and me personally! How? Through multiple avenues, such as their generous financial support and the great networking opportunities with other ministries and donors during their local chapter meetings and annual international conventions.

For those of you not familiar with the ASI organization, it is part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its mission is to provide challenge, nurture and experience in sharing Christ in the marketplace as well as support the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through lay members. This year, we thank ASI for funding ASAP’s grant request for supporting two classrooms and a Bible worker to reach Syrian refugees in a closed country.

The children attending would not have a chance for quality education if it wasn’t for this school. The General Conference supports other classrooms in this center, making it a beautiful three-way partnership.

For those of you not familiar with the ASI organizais part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its mission is to provide challenge, nurture and experience sharing Christ in the marketplace as well support the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through lay members. This year, we ASI for funding ASAP’s grant request for supporting two classrooms and a Bible worker to reach Syrian refugees in a closed country. The children attending would not have a chance for quality education if it wasn’t for this school. The General Conference supports other classrooms in this center, it a beautiful three-way partnership

Now that COVID restrictions are lifted, our ASAP Bible Worker, Sarah* and her husband, a Global Misare able to visit the refugee families of the students every day. In the Muslim culture, it more comfortable for Sarah* to visit with while her husband talks with the men. With each visit she asks them to pull out the special journal she gave them and to talk together about the Bible verse that they have been memorizing during the week and share how it has been meanGod’s precious promises with our united prayers are transforming lives.

Now that COVID restrictions are lifted, our ASAP Bible Worker, Sarah* and her husband, a Global Mission pioneer, are able to visit the refugee families of the students every day. In the Muslim culture, it is much more comfortable for Sarah* to visit with the women while her husband talks with the men. With each visit she asks them to pull out the special journal she gave them and to talk together about the Bible verse that they have been memorizing during the week and share how it has been meaningful. God’s precious promises with our united prayers are transforming lives.

ASAP highly values the close partnership with Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI). I love ASI, not only because of all the good things my grandpa, James J. Aitken, one of the first ASI presidents shared with me.

Top: Julia O’Carey, CEO, with a new donor visiting the ASAP booth at ASI.

Bottom: Pr. Scott Griswold, RWND Director, praying with brothers in Christ visiting the

values the close partnership with Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI). I love ASI, not only because of all the good things my grandpa, James J. Aitken, one of the first ASI presidents shared with me.

Julia CEO, with a booth at ASI. Pr. Scott Griswold, RWND in Christ booth.

For instance, Sarah shared the story of Ruth to a mother struggling in her marriage. Later, this lady shared how this simple visit touched her and helped her save her marriage.

Sarah has a good problem. She has so many people asking for personal Bible studies that she cannot keep up with them. She also intentionally visits those who are not in Bible studies because she wants to show them God’s love too.

In addition to the home visits and personal Bible studies, each week Sarah and her husband lead two large groups - one Kurdish and one Arabic. Together they also run a teen group where 25-30 young people study the Bible each Friday and a Sabbath House of Prayer meeting that serves as a church.

Recently, they were able to take some of the students and families on a four-day retreat with the theme “Keeping our Eyes on God” (2 Chron. 20:12). We praise the Lord as two Muslim teenagers got baptized at the conclusion of the event. Sarah has also befriended Kurdish Christian small-group leaders who have asked to study with her and her hus-

band. They have gained so much biblical knowledge from them in comparison to only learning from the four Gospels at their Evangelical churches. This is a great opportunity!

These leaders are taking truth back to their groups and in turn they are sharing with many more. We ask for your continued prayers for this special project. Due to inflation, prices for rent, food, and living increased by 70%. The director of the program wrote, “It feels like everyone is on the edge of survival and it impacts the kids emotionally and physically. Pray for relief and fair treatment.”

Please pray for the wonderful organization of ASI. Visit their website asiministries.org to find out if you are eligible to become a member.

Join Two Exciting Mission Events at ASI!

Missions Celebration Luncheon

For Supporters or Future Supporters of ASAP Ministries & Angel One

During the ASI International Convention Bartle Room #2015

August 3, 2023, 12:00-2:00 PM

Scan here to RSVP by July 29, 2023.

on ASAP Student

Update on ASAP Refugee Student

Missionaries

Missionaries

BY JULIA O’CAREY

BY JULIA O’CAREY

Many of you intently followed Soe Soe and Jasmine in the ASAP Refugee Student Missionary Vlog, JOURNEYS, from their initial launching challenges to their amazing front-line mission work on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Thank you for your support and prayers for them!

any of you followed Soe Soe and Jasmine in the ASAP Refugee Student Missionary Vlog, JOURNEYS, from their initial launching challenges to their amazing front-line mission work on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Thank you for your support and prayers for them!

UPDATE ON JASMINE MOO

MOO

Jasmine successfully completed the school year serving as ASAP’s student missionary teacher for age students in one of our mission schools. As a strong spiritual model for the students who lack Christian parents, she was a ectionately called “Mo” which means “Mommy” in the Karen language. She led out in a select choir and brought music and life to the campus. Jasmine

Jasmine successfully completed the school year serving as ASAP’s refugee student missionary teacher for high school age students in one of our bigger mission schools. As a strong spiritual model for the students who lack Christian parents, she was affectionately called “Mo” which means “Mommy” in the Karen language. She led out in a select choir and brought music and life to the campus. Jasmine

reflects on her and says, “I learned that the students are very dependable because even when were running from aircraft bombings, they studying for their final exams.” Keep in prayer as she seeks God’s will in whether she should continue her studies or gain more experience teaching in America before she heads back as a career missionary. Her heart is there with her

reflects on her experience and says, “I learned that the students are very dependable because even when they were running from aircraft bombings, they continued studying for their final exams.” Keep Jasmine in prayer as she seeks God’s will in whether she should continue her studies or gain more experience teaching in America before she heads back as a career missionary. Her heart is there with her people.

“I learned that the students are very dependable because even when they were running from aircraft bombings, they continued studying for their final exams.”

“I learned that the students

UPDATE ON PR. SOE SOE

Pr. Soe Soe dove right into ministry from day one. He endured an extremely hot summer, fought off mosquitoes, avoided bullets and soldiers, traversed rough terrains, and more, all with a courageous heart and a smile on his face. He conducted Week of Prayer programs at many ASAP mission schools. Many young people responded by asking for Bible studies and baptism. He encouraged the church planters and lay pastors who felt like giving up and he strengthened their professional training course. On December 7, 2022, Soe Soe married the love of his life, Theysa Yee, who is serving alongside him in ministry, as ASAP main accountant for ASAP projects serving displaced people in the border region. He has recently been

Pr Soe Soe dove right into ministry from day one He endured an hot summer, fought o avoided bullets and soldiers, traversed rough terrains, and more, all with a courageous heart and a smile on his face. He conducted Week of Prayer programs at many ASAP mission schools. Many young people responded by asking for Bible studies and baptism. He the church planters and lay pastors who felt like giving up and he strengthened their professional training course On December 7, 2022, Soe Soe married the love of his life, Theysa Yee, who is him in ministry, as ASAP main accountant for ASAP projects serving displaced in the border region. He has recently been

Join ASAP’s Mission Trip

appointed by the Southeast Asia Union Mission to be the Ministerial Secretary of the new attached field and will continue serving the Lord with ASAP Ministries.

the Southeast Asia Union Mission to be the Ministerial Secretary of the new attached field and will continue serving the Lord with ASAP Ministries.

A refugee is a “person that has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.” It is to such people that the children of God have been especially called to serve (see Matt 25:40, cf. Matt 2:13).

Join us this October in ministering to the refugee, poor and unreached communities of Thailand. We are inviting mission minded individuals and medical professionals to join our team.

What You Need to Know about Sponsorship

BY FENO RAVAOHARISOA NEW SPONSORSHIP AND DONOR REPORT COORDINATOR

No matter where we were born and raised, all of us were thrown into this world marred by sin, at least until Jesus comes back. For me, growing up in poverty in Madagascar, inequity and inequality were manifestations of it all. In the midst of these challenges, I know God used education for me to know who He is.

Miraculously, I was able to continue my education as far as He allowed me to, receiving a masters degree from Andrews University in Community and International Development. God used some generous people and big institutions to help me and I am so thankful for that and for the chance to give back by serving here at ASAP. I always have a soft spot in my heart for students who are being sponsored. When starting to work at ASAP Ministries, I once again realized that God has more than one way to bring salvation to His people. We work hand-inhand with the teachers for the salvation of little children in the 10/40 Window. I have learned that here at ASAP, the local medical missionaries, church planters, and literacy teachers wholisitically work

to reach out to their communities, including these little ones. They faithfully surrender their lives to partner with God to save souls.

When we choose to sponsor a child, it is God calling us to partner with Him so that the marginalized know about Him. When we choose to contribute to Evangelism Funds, it is also a partnership with Him to advance the coming of our Jesus. I love Ellen White’s statement that says, “God could have proclaimed His truth through sinless angels, but this is not His plan. He chooses human beings, men compassed with infirmity, as instruments in the working out of His designs,” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 330). Partnering with God through prayers and donations brings us joy and fulfillment.

When we choose to sponsor a child, it is God calling us to partner with Him so that the marginalized know about Him.

Sponsorship at a Glance

During the first few months of taking this role as Sponsorship Coordinator, I wanted to know how many missionaries and students ASAP donors are currently sponsoring/supporting versus the actual number in the field.

It came as a surprise to me that only 3% of the students/ workers are sponsored/ specifically supported by donors. (Though God has miraculously provided for the students and schools through general funds given in the past, in faith, we constantly open new schools for the marginalized and the needs increasingly grow.)

This creates an amazing opportunity to increase our partnership with you, our donors. Whether you are an individual donor, a church, a school, and/or a Sabbath School group that is feeling impressed to work with God, consider this beautiful opportunity to specifically pray for and financially support a missionary or student.

SPONSOR AN ASAP STUDENT

When you sponsor a student, your prayers and financial support change the trajectory of their lives. You can select a student from one of the six main schools listed on the previous page and you will never regret it. Some of these students grow up to become teachers and missionaries for ASAP!

SPONSOR AN ASAP MISSION SCHOOL

Now, you can sponsor a whole school in a war zone. Many of these schools are the children’s only chance for education, let alone Christian education. Imagine your child’s school in North America sponsoring a “jungle mission school” in Southeast Myanmar or on the border of Thailand. The living conditions at these schools are precarious, and though they live in survival mode, they highly value education. Thanks

Overall Sponsorship of Students and Workers

to your sponsorship, these children will not only have the opportunity to go to school, but they will also learn the truth about God, that He loves them and does not want to see anyone perish.

ADOPT AN ASAP MISSIONARY

When you adopt a missionary you commit to helping support a church planter or medical missionary for at least one year. Because of an increase in costs due to inflation and other factors, ASAP needed to increase the amounts for each worker, as you can see p. 19. (Note: Those who are currently sponsors, may continue giving at the same rate if needed and we trust God will provide through general gifts.)

In actuality, the costs to fully support a missionary are higher than the amount for adopting a missionary, when you factor in the materials, trainings, medical insurance and other support given to the missionaries. So, if you team up with your friends and family to adopt a missionary and have the capacity to support at a greater level, please contact me to find out what else your missionary may need. Those of you who choose not to adopt a missionary can give any amount to the general missionary or evangelism funds. Every penny counts!

WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE?

Working among poor, transient, war-torn communities creates unstable situations for children who are at-risk of trafficking and having to drop out of school. They drop out when their family is forced to move for work-related reasons due to financial hardship or they themselves, even at a young age, are pressured to work to help put food on the table. It is heartbreaking when this happens, but the truth is that for the children, a seed was planted and we believe that the Holy Spirit will work to grow that seed even if they are no longer in an ASAP school. Sometimes missionaries get discouraged due to working in harsh conditions and they decide to leave because of discouragement or for other various reasons. They also may be called to move to another place or to start a new work, but we believe that the Lord is with them. Please be open to sponsoring new students and adopting new missionaries when this happens and don’t stop praying for your former students and missionaries.

FINAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Remember, when you give to the education and evangelism/missionary general funds, you help cre-

ate a safety net for the students and missionaries so even if sponsors are no longer able to give, ASAP can continue supporting the schools and missionaries. We encourage you to become a sponsor and adopt a missionary, but these general gifts are super important too! Lives depend on it and we take these commitments very seriously.

HOW SPONSORSHIP/ADOPT A MISSIONARY WORKS

 Choose an ASAP missionary, student, or a jungle mission school. You do this online, or give me a call for the schools.

 Our finance team will process your donation. Within two to three weeks, you will receive a Prayer Card which contains basic information about the missionary, student, or school for you to put in your Bible or on your fridge and pray over.

6 About six months later, we will send you an update to keep you informed about how the worker, student, or school is doing.

 Every year, if you have not recommitted already, we will send you a renewal letter, asking you if you would like to continue supporting for another year.

Whether you are an individual donor, a church, a school, and/or a Sabbath School group that is feeling impressed to work with God, consider this beautiful opportunity to specifically pray for and financially support a missionary or student.

I am so excited to see the jungle mission school sponsorship starting! We have already had a viewer of our Mission Matters video who was inspired by it and decided to sponsor a school located on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. If you are associated with a school that wants to fundraise for these schools, if you are a church that would love to adopt a missionary or sponsor a school for a year (we have some of them doing that now), if you are a donor who would like to sponsor a student or school or adopt a missionary, remember that this is a partnership with God. He could have chosen angels, but He wants us to work with Him so that we can partake in that joy that can only come from partnering with Him.

“A Meaningful, Memorable Missions Birthday Party”

BY FENO RAVAOHARISOA

Have you or someone you know ever celebrated your birthday with many friends and family members, where gifts were given?

Micaiah and Genavive’s birthday was celebrated in a special way, and we would like to share their story with you.

A few years ago, Micaiah and Genavive’s parents arranged for a unique birthday party because they wanted their children to think of other people’s needs and not just their wants. In lieu of gifts, friends could give to missions in honor of them and their birthday. Their friends really enjoyed this, so this year their father suggested it again. They asked the parents of the other children to not bring any toys or gifts to the party.  Instead, they told them they would be fundraising for an ASAP Ministries’ mission project. Micaiah and Genavive looked through the ASAP Gift Catalog online, and each chose a project that they would like to fundraise for. They chose to provide basic supplies for schools serving displaced children on the border between Myanmar and Thailand, as well as a project to mobilize a medical missionary.

A few days after the birthday party, Micaiah and Genavive, with their mother, Andrea, made a special

trip to our office here in Berrien Springs to drop off the donation themselves. They were able to raise $400 for the two projects. Their bright smiles and happiness when handing us the donation warmed my heart. I could see the excitement on their faces and the joy it generated in their hearts.

Andrea said, “We have been blessed and were able to contribute additional funds to their selected projects. We got excited hearing about what this money will go towards and we hope to visit some of these places one day.” There are plenty of other ways to have children partner with God, but we would like to encourage you to do something like this if you have the opportunity. As the Bible tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

ASAP Ministries empowers local missionaries to restore and disciple the marginalized with the wholistic gospel. 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.

Canadian Donors: You can now give tax-deductible gifts to ASAP Ministries through Charitable Impact. Scan the QR code or visit asapministries.org/give/ canada to learn more.

Apply to Be an ASAP Ambassador

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Julia O’Carey

COPY EDITORS Mirna Ortiz, Colleen Louw, Valerie Anderson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Robert Mason

PHOTO CREDITS Josiah Adams, Julia O’Carey, and Daniel Hosford

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Dean Coridan, Christopher Carmen, Shirley Freed, Chan and Esther Hwang, Curtis Letniak, Denzil McNeilus, Richard Chadwick, Julia O’Carey, Byron and Carol Reynolds, Trudi Starlin, Lilya Wagner

PHONE 269-471-3026

FAX 269-471-3034

EMAIL office@asapministries.org

WEB www.asapministries.org

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.

*At times, photos are blurred and names changed to protect the safety of God's workers.

If you wish to opt out of receiving ASAP newsletters, please notify us by phone or email.

Do you love the mission of ASAP?

Do you enjoy meeting new people?

ASAP Ministries empowers local missionaries to restore and disciple the marginalized with the wholistic gospel. 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.

Do you feel called to speak for Jesus?

Canadian Donors: You can now give tax-deductible gifts to ASAP Ministries through Charitable Impact. Scan the QR code or visit asapministries.org/give/ canada to learn more.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Julia O’Carey

COPY EDITORS Mirna Ortiz, Colleen Louw, Valerie Anderson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Robert Mason

PHOTO CREDITS Josiah Adams, Julia O’Carey, and Daniel Hosford

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Dean Coridan, Christopher Carmen, Shirley Freed, Chan and Esther Hwang, Curtis Letniak, Denzil McNeilus, Richard Chadwick, Julia O’Carey, Byron and Carol Reynolds, Trudi Starlin, Lilya Wagner

Apply to become an ASAP Ambassador Today!

Scan to learn more!

Apply to Be an ASAP Ambassador

PHONE 269-471-3026

FAX 269-471-3034

EMAIL office@asapministries.org

WEB www.asapministries.org

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.

*At times, photos are blurred and names changed to protect the safety of God's workers.

If you wish to opt out of receiving ASAP newsletters, please notify us by phone or email.