LINKS IN THE CHAIN

Many years ago, a missionary’s kindness to a refugee family sparked a chain reaction that continues today, spanning two continents and more than three decades!

In the early 1980s, the Sihavong family made the difficult decision to flee their homeland of Laos and seek asylum in the Napho refugee camp in Thailand. The Laotian government had been taken over by a communist regime that brutally oppressed its citizens. The Sihavong’s possessions were seized, and they were forced to labor in a rice field; Mrs. Sihavong’s uncle was killed, and she and her family were afraid they might be next. So, despite having four young children and a fifth on the way, the Sihavongs chose to flee their homeland and seek asylum in Thailand.

Life in the camp was better than it had been in Laos, but not by much. The Sihavongs lived in a single room packed with ten people, and necessities like clothing, blankets, and even food were scarce. But it was there that they crossed paths with Judy Aitken, founder of ASAP Min istries. Judy was serving the Lord in the refugee camps in Thailand, ministering to spiritual as well as physical needs. One of the things she provided for the refugees was Bible lessons in their own language.

At Christmas, there was a celebration in the camp; Mrs. Sihavong was seated in the back row, and as she listened to “Mother Judy” tell about how Christ came to Earth to die for our sins, she burst into tears. The idea that the Creator of the earth loved her so much that He chose to die for her touched her heart, and she became eager to learn more about God. Even tually, she and her husband accepted Jesus Christ into their lives, and they and their children were baptized. This was an answer to Judy’s persistent prayers.

After nine years in the refugee camp sharing their faith with their fellow refugees, the Siha vongs resettled in Sacramento, California. They soon began reaching out to other Lao refugees

“He who becomes a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world, one with Christ in His plan of mercy, going forth with Him to seek and save the lost.” The Ministry of Healing, p. 105

in the area, and eventually planted a church. However, in 1994 God impressed them to move to Holland, Michigan. There they reconnected with Mother Judy and began visiting and minister ing to other members of the Lao community, some of whom were eventually baptized. It wasn’t long before a small group of Lao Adventist believers were meeting for Sabbath School in a small classroom of the local Adventist church.

The Sihavongs didn’t limit their ministry to those within the Holland community. In 1998 Mrs. Sihavong went back to Laos to visit her relatives. They noticed the difference Christ had made in her life and were amazed. She told them about Jesus, and since they wanted to know more, the pastors and Bible workers from the Vientiane church came to give them Bible studies. As a result of this outreach, two house churches were planted on the outskirts of Vientiane, and an additional ten families have since joined the group.

By 2014 the Lao Adventist community in Holland had grown large enough to require its own place of worship. By God’s grace and through the support of ASAP Ministries and Lao Adven tists around the world, funds were raised to purchase a small building. Today the group continues to minister to people both in Michigan as well as in Laos. So much fruit has come from that small, simple seed planted in a refugee camp more than thirty years ago!

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

ASAP Ministries is fueled by mission-minded, faith-filled prayer warriors all over the world.

Watch “Always Say a Prayer” to learn why we’re so passionate about prayer. Then, visit our website to submit a prayer request or sign up to join the ASAP prayer team!

ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU A DIFFERENCE MAKER! Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for working through us to make a difference in the lives of others. Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and lead us as we do the work that You have called us to do. Please help us to connect with others and form a chain that spreads Your Word throughout the world. Amen.