“There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” Dear friends and co-laborers in Christ:
Pastor Richard Hack President Dr. Bob DeWitt Founder Executive Director Matthew Mayer Financial Secretary Representatives Lou DiFilippantonio Jim Reedy Missionaries Timothy and Athanasia Davis Tiffany McDonald Peter and Ruth Judson Associated National Preachers Saya Htein Win Ei Saya Thaung Lian Saya Mang Sar Saya A Lin Saya Joel Myint Aung Saya Necremia Saya Lal Ram Hngak Saya James Saya Bawi Ling Saya Jo Nah Saya Way Thang Saya Myo Min Tun and others
July 21, 2016
It is a wonderful thing to serve the Lord and even better when you are not doing it alone. We are grateful for every person who has caught the vision to reach Myanmar and the surrounding people groups in Southeast Asia. These are souls and many whole people groups who have never heard the Gospel of Christ before and many of them are hungry for spiritual truth. It is our vision and plan to train an army of preachers to proclaim that truth and carry Bibles to village after village with your help. One such pastor is Thaung Lian who started the Bethany Baptist Church in South Dagon, a large township across the river and just a short distance outside Myanmar’s largest city called Yangon (old Rangoon—pop. 7 million plus). The city’s inhabitants are largely Buddhist with a growing Muslim population. Thaung (pronounced “Tawng”), his family, and people have been greatly persecuted over the years, being stoned, beaten, and jailed many times for preaching the Gospel. And yet, after winning the township Chief of Police to Christ, they have been enjoying a growing liberty to evangelize their community. They were able to purchase property and build a church. Now they are building a four-story concrete structure to house Pastor Thaung’s family residence, an apartment for visiting preachers, a print shop, an orphanage, the Bible college and dormitories, graded Sunday School classrooms, and a large meeting hall. With gifts given through GLBM, Pastor Thaung was able to erect the basic skeletal structure but needed another $35,000 to complete the project. Pastor Thaung has been in the U.S. and traveling with me since April. Praise the Lord! Through the generosity and faith of churches and friends, Thaung has returned with virtually everything he needs to finish the building and furnish the inside. There are so many people we want to thank: Pastor Thaung and I stayed one week with my long-time friend, Dr. Tom Williams. We were able to spend much time praying with this great man of God. He helped us get a couple meetings and we were able to help him a little around his home. We were thankful to be with the great Shawnee Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky and Lonnie Mattingly’s new chur ch in Indiana. Dr. Jeff Fugate, one of the most gracious pastors I’ve ever met, was a great blessing while we visited the Clays Mill Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. He caught the vision of GLBM in an extraordinary way and gave us an entire Wednesday night service. In North Carolina we had a wonderful service with Pastor Tony Shirley and the New Manna Baptist Church of Mar ion as they got involved in Thaung’s building in a big way. I preached for Dr. Randy Hobbs and the New Hope Baptist Church, who are the hosts of the “Burlington Revival.” Pastor Thaung and I attended several nights of this genuine spiritual phenomenon that is now in its 11th week. At least 3,000 people gather under the old gospel tent each night and thousands are being saved. I want to send a special note of thanks to my friend, Dr. Bobby Roberson, who lodged us and allowed us to share our ministry once again in his church. Dr. Tim Luchon and the fine people at Hilltop Baptist Church in Hunker, Pennsylvania were a tremendous blessing to both Pastor Thaung and myself and have partnered with us in a big way to reach the Burmese people for Christ. A special thanks goes to the Seale Road Baptist Church and their pastor in Phenix City, Alabama for their graciousness and generosity. Dr. Dennis Higgins Sr. and the Harbor Baptist folks in Hainesport, New Jersey were also a big blessing and have a good ministry to the Burmese refugees in their area. Revival Fires’ Dr. Dennis Corle was also a big blessing to Thaung. Ther e ar e many other chur ches that have helped us along the way and we are very grateful. We are praying for all our partners in ministry. We will make two trips back to Myanmar within the next six months—in October and January: My wife and I will go there in October. This will be her first venture to the Golden Land and we are very excited about that. But this trip will also give us time to prepare for January’s open-air crusade in the city of Malawmyine with Pastor Peter Judson. So far, there are twenty people confirmed to go with us in January and we are deep in the planning stages of this trip. We plan to leave on January 8th or 9th and return on or before the 21st. Please pray for us as we plan and prepare for transportation, itinerary, food, accomodations. But above all, please pray for souls! Thank you for serving the Lord Jesus and for being our friends! Your servant for Christ’s sake,
“BaGyi Bob” Dr. Bob DeWitt
A ministry of Lighthouse Baptist Church, 209 Gardner Rd. Horseheads NY 14845 Office: 607—739—9062 ♦ On the web: www.lbchorseheads.org ♦ www.goldenlandbaptistmissions.com