Introduction
After our graduation from the Far Eastern Bible College in Singapore in the year 2000, we headed for the mission field. We are very sure that our Lord has called us to serve Him full-time, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that He die for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, KJV). Our missions is to preach the gospel to the unbelievers in this part of the world, as well as to build up the believers in the most holy faith (Matthew 28:19-20).
Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church
Since our arrival in Chiang Mai in July 2000, we started a home-church to gather our friends and relatives together for worship every Lord’s day without ceasing (Hebrews 10:25). By God’s enablement, our home-church was registered in the year 2002, which is called the Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church. Thank God for graciously giving us the increase of souls every year. We worship in Den Luang village, using the premises of the Christian Home of Love. We are preparing and equipping the local believers to reach out to their own people, praying also that God will raise up more god-fearing leaders to serve Him in the church.
The Christian Home of Love
We are stationed at Den Luang village, a Red Lahu village located near Fang town, about 150 k.m. away from Chiang Mai city. There are about 600 villagers living here and the main occupation is farming. However, many have fallen into the clutches of drugs and prostitutions among many other immoral activities. The Word of God warns that “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:9-10, KJV). The people here desperately need “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4) to shine into their lives, to set them free from the bondage of sins, as Jesus says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32 ,36, KJV).
In obedience to God’s Word that says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27, KJV), in year 2002, God enabled us to set up the Christian Home of Love in the village to house the neglected children. Now, we have also taken in some adults. The objective of the Home is to provide a place of shelter for the weary souls where they could call their home. There are currently about 24 souls staying with us in the Home (age ranges from 7 to 40). They sleep, work, eat, play and study with us. They do not have to pay a single cent for their admission and accommodation. We took them in with the purpose of helping them, showing them God’s love and sharing God’s blessings with them, and at the same time, praying that they may all come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who alone could give them real hope and everlasting life, as it is written, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5, KJV). Thank God that through the preaching of His Word, many in the Home has come to embrace faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Daily personal devotion and family worship of the living and true God are the most essential parts of our lives. We are called to teach each and every individual soul His infallible and inerrant Word, for “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV).
Conclusion
We thank God for the privilege of serving Him in this part of the world. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38, KJV). There are so much work to be done for our Lord Jesus Christ, but so few workers desired to go. Let us therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up more willing labourers to do His work. Brethren, pray with us!
Mission Statement of Truth Bible- Presbyterian Church, Thailand
Our mission statement consist of 12 biblical aspects, asserting where the directions and priorities of our church should be, both now and in the future, should the Lord tarries. We believe that they are what the Lord wants us to achieve, for His glory.
(1) We seek to be A GOD-HONOURING, GOD-CENTERED CHURCH.
God says in His Word, “for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30, KJV). For this reason, we will endeavour to earnestly seek to glorify God and to enjoy Him in every part of our church-life. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV), “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-7, KJV). Therefore, we will put God first in all our church pursuits (Matthew 6:33), seeking to please Him in all that we do .
(2) We seek to be A WORSHIPPING CHURCH.
We endeavour to faithfully create an environment for biblical and reverential worship (see Exodus 20:3-8) of “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV) “in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23, KJV). As more and more churches have given in to the Charismatic styles of worship, we strife to remain true to God and His Word, conducting our worship services in an organised and orderly manner, as prescribed in His revealed Word, for it is written, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV). Therefore, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV).
(3) We seek to be A PRAYING CHURCH.
Prayer meeting is the power-house of the church, where we gather together for a time of cooperate prayer and intercession, to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, KJV). We acknowledge that we can do nothing by ourselves, as Jesus says, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5, KJV). We are but unworthy servants. We should never do God’s work without seeking His will and guidance in prayer as the Bible teaches to “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3, KJV). Prayer reflects our dependability upon God, and to do God’s work with God’s help and blessings, we must purposefully set aside time to pray and that without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), though it is hard work (see Colossians 4:12 and Romans 15:30). Hence, we seek to be a “House of Prayer” (Isaiah 56:7, KJV), “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18, KJV).
(4) We seek to be A FELLOWSHIPPING CHURCH.
We endeavour to creatively provide an atmosphere suitable for fellowship among the believers, for a time of interaction and mutual encouragement. In any fellowship meeting, we should “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24, KJV). Hence, we must enthusiastically seek not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as [we] see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25, KJV). In the near future, we hope to have more fellowship groups, to cater to the individual needs of all our members, both old and young.
(5) We seek to be A MINISTERING CHURCH.
Each believer is entrusted with at least one spiritual gift from the Lord to serve Him in the church (1 Corinthians 12:11), “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, KJV). We seek to help believer to identify and develop their God-given gifts for service in the church, praying that, at the same time, God would raise up some, with a holy desire, for the various offices of the church (1 Timothy 3:1). As our Lord Jesus Christ “came not to be ministered unto but to minister” (Mark 10:45, KJV), we as His followers should do no less (see John 13:14-16), “serving the Lord with all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19, KJV). We acknowledge that we are saved to serve, as the Apostle Paul says to the Thessalonians, “how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV). It is our desire to see our members stepping forward and serve their Master. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV).
(6) We seek to be A KNOWLEDGEABLE CHURCH.
We endeavour, by God’s enablement, to deliberately “feed the church of God” “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27-28, KJV), through the preaching of God’s Word over the pulpit every Lord’s Day. Sunday School is another essential part of our church-life, where believers are instructed systematically in their “most holy faith” (Jude 20, KJV). We also plan to implement home Bible study into our church-life in the near future, according to His perfect timing, that the members of the church might be benefited thereby. It is our desire to see every believers “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13, KJV), that they might “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, KJV), maturing in their spiritual lives (see Colossians 2:28), becoming “faithful men (and women, cf. Titus 2:3-4), who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, KJV). Church camp is also a good occasion for believers and ministers to be recharged in the Word of God, and be challenged to rededicate their lives to the Lord. For this purpose, we plan to organise church camp at least once a year, if the Lord be willing.
(7) We seek to be AN OBEDIENT CHURCH.
We endeavour to live by the Word, for “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV). It is no point telling people that we love God, if our lives don’t show it (see 1 John 4:20-21). It is often quoted that our actions speak louder than our words. As such, the Bible challenges us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [our] own selves” (James 1:22, KJV).
(8) We seek to be A LOVING AND CARING CHURCH.
Jesus says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35, KJV). This the Apostle Paul has displayed in his life, when he said to the Thessalonians, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, KJV). Hence, we endeavour to genuinely love and care for people, to the extent of willingly going the extra mile for them whenever necessary (Matthew 5:41).
(9) We seek to be A WITNESSING CHURCH.
Though there are many missionaries in Thailand, less than 2 percents of the entire Thai population of 62 millions are believers. There are still lots of works to be done, to bring the good news of salvation to the lost. Jesus says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end comes” (Matthew 24:14, KJV). Hence, it is our responsibility to equip our members as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20, KJV), training and getting them ready to preach the gospel, “in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV), that God peradventure, might add “to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47, KJV).
(10) We seek to be A MISSION-MINDED CHURCH.
Having established a local church in a foreign land, there is a base for us to launch out to other territories, as the Lord so enables. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15, KJV). By God’s higher hand, He has opened many doors for us to reach out to the Red Lahu hill-tribe in the mountainous region of northern Thailand. And by His appointment, we have recently started a Christian Nursery in a Red Lahu village (Den Luang village), praying that the children might come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even in their young age. Hence, wherever He leads, whether up on the steep mountain, or down in the deep valley, we will go (compare Acts 21:13).
(11) We seek to be A VIGILANT CHURCH.
As more and more false teachers have crept into the church (compare Jude 4), as well as more and more erroneous teaching is spreading from one church to another (compare 2 Timothy 4:3-4) as the Apostle Paul puts it, “grievous wolves entering in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30, KJV), we endeavour to be watchful (Acts 20:31), and faithful to the course of Christ (2 Timothy 4:7), “holding forth the Word of life” (Philippians 2:16a, KJV), and fearlessly defend “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3, KJV). We also seek not only to be separated from all unbelief and theological deceptions (2 Corinthians 6:14a), but also to expose them, as it is written, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11), like a devoted watchman, sounding the trumpet loudly, warning of the spiritual dangers ahead when he sees the enemies of the cross approaching (see Ezekiel 3:17). Nevertheless, we do also earnestly seek to promote and strengthen Christian unity among Bible-believing churches of similar stand, “which are for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9, KJV).
(12) We seek to be AN ANTICIPATING CHURCH.
As we are awaiting and “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, KJV), we seek to be ready and prepared for that great day. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, KJV). Should not these words impact our lives on how we should live each day counts for Jesus (compare Ephesians 5:15-16)! “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40, KJV).
These 12 statements are what we have set down in writing. We endeavour, by the grace of God, with much prayer, to conscientiously seek to translate them into reality, in our mission work in Thailand, for both the present and future, for God’s glory, should the Lord tarries.
(1) We seek to be A GOD-HONOURING, GOD-CENTERED CHURCH.
God says in His Word, “for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30, KJV). For this reason, we will endeavour to earnestly seek to glorify God and to enjoy Him in every part of our church-life. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV), “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-7, KJV). Therefore, we will put God first in all our church pursuits (Matthew 6:33), seeking to please Him in all that we do .
(2) We seek to be A WORSHIPPING CHURCH.
We endeavour to faithfully create an environment for biblical and reverential worship (see Exodus 20:3-8) of “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV) “in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23, KJV). As more and more churches have given in to the Charismatic styles of worship, we strife to remain true to God and His Word, conducting our worship services in an organised and orderly manner, as prescribed in His revealed Word, for it is written, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV). Therefore, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV).
(3) We seek to be A PRAYING CHURCH.
Prayer meeting is the power-house of the church, where we gather together for a time of cooperate prayer and intercession, to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, KJV). We acknowledge that we can do nothing by ourselves, as Jesus says, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5, KJV). We are but unworthy servants. We should never do God’s work without seeking His will and guidance in prayer as the Bible teaches to “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3, KJV). Prayer reflects our dependability upon God, and to do God’s work with God’s help and blessings, we must purposefully set aside time to pray and that without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), though it is hard work (see Colossians 4:12 and Romans 15:30). Hence, we seek to be a “House of Prayer” (Isaiah 56:7, KJV), “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18, KJV).
(4) We seek to be A FELLOWSHIPPING CHURCH.
We endeavour to creatively provide an atmosphere suitable for fellowship among the believers, for a time of interaction and mutual encouragement. In any fellowship meeting, we should “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24, KJV). Hence, we must enthusiastically seek not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as [we] see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25, KJV). In the near future, we hope to have more fellowship groups, to cater to the individual needs of all our members, both old and young.
(5) We seek to be A MINISTERING CHURCH.
Each believer is entrusted with at least one spiritual gift from the Lord to serve Him in the church (1 Corinthians 12:11), “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, KJV). We seek to help believer to identify and develop their God-given gifts for service in the church, praying that, at the same time, God would raise up some, with a holy desire, for the various offices of the church (1 Timothy 3:1). As our Lord Jesus Christ “came not to be ministered unto but to minister” (Mark 10:45, KJV), we as His followers should do no less (see John 13:14-16), “serving the Lord with all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19, KJV). We acknowledge that we are saved to serve, as the Apostle Paul says to the Thessalonians, “how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV). It is our desire to see our members stepping forward and serve their Master. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV).
(6) We seek to be A KNOWLEDGEABLE CHURCH.
We endeavour, by God’s enablement, to deliberately “feed the church of God” “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27-28, KJV), through the preaching of God’s Word over the pulpit every Lord’s Day. Sunday School is another essential part of our church-life, where believers are instructed systematically in their “most holy faith” (Jude 20, KJV). We also plan to implement home Bible study into our church-life in the near future, according to His perfect timing, that the members of the church might be benefited thereby. It is our desire to see every believers “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13, KJV), that they might “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, KJV), maturing in their spiritual lives (see Colossians 2:28), becoming “faithful men (and women, cf. Titus 2:3-4), who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, KJV). Church camp is also a good occasion for believers and ministers to be recharged in the Word of God, and be challenged to rededicate their lives to the Lord. For this purpose, we plan to organise church camp at least once a year, if the Lord be willing.
(7) We seek to be AN OBEDIENT CHURCH.
We endeavour to live by the Word, for “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV). It is no point telling people that we love God, if our lives don’t show it (see 1 John 4:20-21). It is often quoted that our actions speak louder than our words. As such, the Bible challenges us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [our] own selves” (James 1:22, KJV).
(8) We seek to be A LOVING AND CARING CHURCH.
Jesus says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35, KJV). This the Apostle Paul has displayed in his life, when he said to the Thessalonians, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, KJV). Hence, we endeavour to genuinely love and care for people, to the extent of willingly going the extra mile for them whenever necessary (Matthew 5:41).
(9) We seek to be A WITNESSING CHURCH.
Though there are many missionaries in Thailand, less than 2 percents of the entire Thai population of 62 millions are believers. There are still lots of works to be done, to bring the good news of salvation to the lost. Jesus says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end comes” (Matthew 24:14, KJV). Hence, it is our responsibility to equip our members as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20, KJV), training and getting them ready to preach the gospel, “in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV), that God peradventure, might add “to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47, KJV).
(10) We seek to be A MISSION-MINDED CHURCH.
Having established a local church in a foreign land, there is a base for us to launch out to other territories, as the Lord so enables. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15, KJV). By God’s higher hand, He has opened many doors for us to reach out to the Red Lahu hill-tribe in the mountainous region of northern Thailand. And by His appointment, we have recently started a Christian Nursery in a Red Lahu village (Den Luang village), praying that the children might come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even in their young age. Hence, wherever He leads, whether up on the steep mountain, or down in the deep valley, we will go (compare Acts 21:13).
(11) We seek to be A VIGILANT CHURCH.
As more and more false teachers have crept into the church (compare Jude 4), as well as more and more erroneous teaching is spreading from one church to another (compare 2 Timothy 4:3-4) as the Apostle Paul puts it, “grievous wolves entering in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30, KJV), we endeavour to be watchful (Acts 20:31), and faithful to the course of Christ (2 Timothy 4:7), “holding forth the Word of life” (Philippians 2:16a, KJV), and fearlessly defend “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3, KJV). We also seek not only to be separated from all unbelief and theological deceptions (2 Corinthians 6:14a), but also to expose them, as it is written, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11), like a devoted watchman, sounding the trumpet loudly, warning of the spiritual dangers ahead when he sees the enemies of the cross approaching (see Ezekiel 3:17). Nevertheless, we do also earnestly seek to promote and strengthen Christian unity among Bible-believing churches of similar stand, “which are for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9, KJV).
(12) We seek to be AN ANTICIPATING CHURCH.
As we are awaiting and “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, KJV), we seek to be ready and prepared for that great day. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, KJV). Should not these words impact our lives on how we should live each day counts for Jesus (compare Ephesians 5:15-16)! “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40, KJV).
These 12 statements are what we have set down in writing. We endeavour, by the grace of God, with much prayer, to conscientiously seek to translate them into reality, in our mission work in Thailand, for both the present and future, for God’s glory, should the Lord tarries.
How Can We Be Involved In Christian Missions?
** by Robert & Dara Peh **
Many Christians think that mission work has nothing to do with them, simply because they are not called to be Missionaries. Some of the common misconception are: I am not mission-minded; I don’t know much about missions; I am too young; I am too busy to be involved in any church activity, much less in missions; I am not called to be a missionary; etc. However, are these excuses justifiable? Is it true that only those Christians whom God has specially chosen to be Missionaries can contribute to missions? How about the others who do not receive such a calling? Can they also play a part in the work of foreign missions? The answer is obviously YES. Let me therefore, suggest three ways in which we can all be involved in foreign Christian missions, which is expressed in this saying, “All can pray, most can give, some can go.”
All Can Pray
Like what was said above, you may not have a special missionary call like the apostle Paul (Acts 13:2-4), but you still can play a part in Missions and that is to pray. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
It is encouraging to know that the harvest of souls is plentiful, but the problem is that the labourers are few. So, what should we do? Should we ask the church to send out more missionaries to do the work? What did Jesus say, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Hence, this is what we should do. We should pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out workers into His harvest fields. When God sends His labourers, He always sends the right person for the right job. Therefore, let us be committed to pray for missions.
Missionaries need very much the prayer support of the church. It can be said that the successfulness of the missionaries depends very much on God’s working in and through them and not on their own efforts to get the work done. So, how should we pray for missionaries? Let me propose three aspects, that derived from the apostle Paul’s request of prayers for himself.
Firstly, we can pray that the Lord will remove all obstructions that will hinder the work of the Gospel and that the Word of the Lord would spread rapidly in the mission fields, and that it will be received and obeyed by the people. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul says, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.”
Secondly, we can pray that the Missionaries will be empowered by God to declare His Word fearlessly. In Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul says, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Thirdly, we can pray that God will provide many opportunities for the Missionaries to preach the Gospel, and that God will grant them the ability to proclaim the message clearly as they should. In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul says, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
The above are just three biblical examples of how we can pray for the propagation of the Gospel in the mission fields. Besides these, we can also pray for the needs and safety of the Missionaries, which can be known through their prayer letters. We can therefore contribute to missions by giving as much prayer support for missions as possible. Will you then pray?
Most Can Give
Besides prayer support, most of us may have the means to give to missions, as the Philippians who gave and supported the apostle Paul in his gospel work (Philippians 4:15-16). There are a variety of ways in which we can give to missions. It can be financial support, moral support or other material support.
As for the giving of money to support missions, we need to understand that the biblical injunction of giving is in these words, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
This verse teaches us five things about giving. (1) It speaks of the giver – “every man”; (2) it teaches concerning the amount to give – “according as he purposes”; (3) it expresses the manner of giving – “in his heart”; (4) it addresses the attitude of giving – “not grudgingly, or of necessity”; and (5) it explains the reason – “for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Hence, let us give freely and willingly to the work of missions as the Lord enables us, for it is said in the following verse that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Will you then give?
Besides money, we can also give moral support to Missionaries. This can be done by sending cards, letters or e-mails to the Missionaries to express our love and concern towards them and their ministries. Some may even plan to visit them on the fields. Such a support is indeed significant because to many people, out of sight is equivalent to out of mind. Hence, if the Missionaries were to receive mails from their friends back home, they will be comforted that they are not forgotten.
There are other material support which we can offer to missions, such as usable clothing, toys, Christian literature, books, visual aids, typewriters, computers, software, and other electrical appliances etc. However, before we give such items to missions, it is advisable to find out first whether or not the Missionaries need them.
Some Can Go
There are those who are specially called of God to give their lives to missions. These are life-time Missionaries. Some of the most essential qualifications of a Missionary are: (1) he must be a born-again believer; (2) he must be a mature Christian, who is grounded in the Word of God, in order to equip himself for the task, and at the same time, desires to grow in the knowledge of the Scripture; (3) he must be willing to be used of God and to go wherever the Lord leads him; (4) he must be physically fit to do the job and has the ability to endure hardship, as well as to adapt to the environment; (5) he must be a responsible person; and (6) he must have a heart of love for people.
However, it is not surprising to know that many people are willing to give their money to missions but not themselves, nor their children. Nevertheless, short-term mission trips are so common now a day that anyone of us can just avail ourselves to serve the Lord as short-term missionaries. Will you go then?
As Christians, all of us can be involved in missions. You may be the one whom God has set apart for the work of missions (Acts 13:2-4). Will you then obey the voice of the Lord and say, “Here am I; sent me” (Isaiah 6:8)? Let us therefore be responsible to play our parts in missions. All can pray, most can give, and some can go. However, if you cannot go, you can make it possible for those to go whom God in answer to prayer, would send forth into His ripe harvest fields. Will you do it?
Many Christians think that mission work has nothing to do with them, simply because they are not called to be Missionaries. Some of the common misconception are: I am not mission-minded; I don’t know much about missions; I am too young; I am too busy to be involved in any church activity, much less in missions; I am not called to be a missionary; etc. However, are these excuses justifiable? Is it true that only those Christians whom God has specially chosen to be Missionaries can contribute to missions? How about the others who do not receive such a calling? Can they also play a part in the work of foreign missions? The answer is obviously YES. Let me therefore, suggest three ways in which we can all be involved in foreign Christian missions, which is expressed in this saying, “All can pray, most can give, some can go.”
All Can Pray
Like what was said above, you may not have a special missionary call like the apostle Paul (Acts 13:2-4), but you still can play a part in Missions and that is to pray. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
It is encouraging to know that the harvest of souls is plentiful, but the problem is that the labourers are few. So, what should we do? Should we ask the church to send out more missionaries to do the work? What did Jesus say, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Hence, this is what we should do. We should pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out workers into His harvest fields. When God sends His labourers, He always sends the right person for the right job. Therefore, let us be committed to pray for missions.
Missionaries need very much the prayer support of the church. It can be said that the successfulness of the missionaries depends very much on God’s working in and through them and not on their own efforts to get the work done. So, how should we pray for missionaries? Let me propose three aspects, that derived from the apostle Paul’s request of prayers for himself.
Firstly, we can pray that the Lord will remove all obstructions that will hinder the work of the Gospel and that the Word of the Lord would spread rapidly in the mission fields, and that it will be received and obeyed by the people. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul says, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.”
Secondly, we can pray that the Missionaries will be empowered by God to declare His Word fearlessly. In Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul says, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Thirdly, we can pray that God will provide many opportunities for the Missionaries to preach the Gospel, and that God will grant them the ability to proclaim the message clearly as they should. In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul says, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
The above are just three biblical examples of how we can pray for the propagation of the Gospel in the mission fields. Besides these, we can also pray for the needs and safety of the Missionaries, which can be known through their prayer letters. We can therefore contribute to missions by giving as much prayer support for missions as possible. Will you then pray?
Most Can Give
Besides prayer support, most of us may have the means to give to missions, as the Philippians who gave and supported the apostle Paul in his gospel work (Philippians 4:15-16). There are a variety of ways in which we can give to missions. It can be financial support, moral support or other material support.
As for the giving of money to support missions, we need to understand that the biblical injunction of giving is in these words, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
This verse teaches us five things about giving. (1) It speaks of the giver – “every man”; (2) it teaches concerning the amount to give – “according as he purposes”; (3) it expresses the manner of giving – “in his heart”; (4) it addresses the attitude of giving – “not grudgingly, or of necessity”; and (5) it explains the reason – “for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Hence, let us give freely and willingly to the work of missions as the Lord enables us, for it is said in the following verse that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Will you then give?
Besides money, we can also give moral support to Missionaries. This can be done by sending cards, letters or e-mails to the Missionaries to express our love and concern towards them and their ministries. Some may even plan to visit them on the fields. Such a support is indeed significant because to many people, out of sight is equivalent to out of mind. Hence, if the Missionaries were to receive mails from their friends back home, they will be comforted that they are not forgotten.
There are other material support which we can offer to missions, such as usable clothing, toys, Christian literature, books, visual aids, typewriters, computers, software, and other electrical appliances etc. However, before we give such items to missions, it is advisable to find out first whether or not the Missionaries need them.
Some Can Go
There are those who are specially called of God to give their lives to missions. These are life-time Missionaries. Some of the most essential qualifications of a Missionary are: (1) he must be a born-again believer; (2) he must be a mature Christian, who is grounded in the Word of God, in order to equip himself for the task, and at the same time, desires to grow in the knowledge of the Scripture; (3) he must be willing to be used of God and to go wherever the Lord leads him; (4) he must be physically fit to do the job and has the ability to endure hardship, as well as to adapt to the environment; (5) he must be a responsible person; and (6) he must have a heart of love for people.
However, it is not surprising to know that many people are willing to give their money to missions but not themselves, nor their children. Nevertheless, short-term mission trips are so common now a day that anyone of us can just avail ourselves to serve the Lord as short-term missionaries. Will you go then?
As Christians, all of us can be involved in missions. You may be the one whom God has set apart for the work of missions (Acts 13:2-4). Will you then obey the voice of the Lord and say, “Here am I; sent me” (Isaiah 6:8)? Let us therefore be responsible to play our parts in missions. All can pray, most can give, and some can go. However, if you cannot go, you can make it possible for those to go whom God in answer to prayer, would send forth into His ripe harvest fields. Will you do it?
Mission Goals and Strategies of Truth Bible- Presbyterian Church, Thailand
Our Mission Goals:
Jesus says,
“other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,
and one Shepherd” (John 10:16).
Because we believe that there are others,
whom our Lord would bring into His sheepfold,
and like Him who came “to seek and to save
that which was lost” (Luke 19:10),
our mission goal is two-fold:
(1) to evangelise the lost (see 1 Timothy 2:3-4), and
(2) to edify the saints (see Ephesians 4:12-13).
Our Mission Strategies:
In order to fulfill our mission goal, our strategies are:
(1) to be witnesses for Christ to our love ones,
our friends, our neighbours, and to the strangers (Acts 1:8);
(2) to establish and extend local churches
and other Christian ministries and institutions
(such as a Christian Discipleship Center, Boarding school and Kindergarten, should the Lord provide the means),
for the saving and nurturing of souls (Matthew 28:19-20); and
(3) to train and equip the local Christians (2 Timothy 2:2)
as willing leaders (1 Peter 5:2)
for effective service (Romans 12:11),
for the furtherance of God’s kingdom here on earth (Matthew 6:10).
Biblical Examples:
God has given us a clear pattern of how mission work is to be carried out, as recorded in His infallible Word. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that after the Apostle Paul had led some people to Christ in his missionary journeys, he would send them to a local church. He recognised the necessary of establishing local churches in foreign missions, to take care of the flocks of God (see Acts 14:23; 15:41; 16:5,40; 20:7).
Likewise, following Paul’s example who says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), we will continue to meet together every Lord’s day without ceasing for worship and fellowship.
As a church, we seek to follow the biblical guideline, to continue “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41). So help us Lord. Amen!
Robert’s Testimony of Salvation & Calling to Full Time Service: Saved To Serve
Since young, I was addicted to drug and also enjoyed glue sniffing. After quitting school, I joined the secret society. Got involved in fighting, gambling, womanising, crimes, drugs, idol worship, etc. Trying to get as much pleasures as I could from the world, and wanting to receive more recognition and power, I fought all the way up the stairs of self destruction just to achieve my purpose. Fighting was of course nothing new to me. Beating up people, and likewise, being beaten up by other gang members. Robbing and selling drugs were part of my life, having to feed my drug addiction. Going in and out of prisons was common. Had gone into almost all the prisons in Singapore at that time. Prison was then my second home.
In retrospect, thank God for His mercy on me, in delivering me from drug addiction and the bondage of sins. I had tried to change myself but the change was short-lived. Neither could my mother’s love win my heart. It was God and God alone Who had caused the transformation in my life. It was all because of God, that my life’s journey was changed, from wandering in the darkness of sin, to the straight and narrow way of the marvelous light of Christ, serving the only living and true God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. I knew that my life belong to Him and I must offer my life to Him, to live for Him and serve Him with the remaining years that He has for me. “For the love of Christ constrains us… that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him Who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
God then opened a way for me to study at the Far Eastern Bible College, training me for the ministry that He had prepared for me. In 1998, during the school vacation, I was invited by a fellow college student (who is now my beloved wife) to join her for an outreach to one of the unreached Red Lahu villages in northern Thailand, where God laid heavily upon my heart a burden for this particular group of people thereafter. After our graduation from FEBC, in year 2000, together with our five months old son Evangel, my wife and I launched out to the mission field, to minister among the Red Lahu hill-tribe. One year later, God blessed us with another child, Evangeline.
Life and ministry was not easy then when we first started out, just to name some: I could not speak the language of the natives; Dara has to be my interpreter all the time; she was also expecting Evangeline, going through and enduring all the morning sicknesses (feeling nausea and vomiting) especially during our weekly travel to and fro Chiang Mai city and Den Luang Red Lahu village (150 k.m. away); Evangel was still a baby then; both Dara and me had to take turns carrying Evangel in our arms while serving; then came the arrival of Evangeline; both of us had to carry one child each while serving... Looking back, I would say that God was teaching us to trust Him wholeheartedly and to rely upon Him fully for strength to do His will. God was very close to us and had enabled us to do the work that He had entrusted us to do. Indeed, His grace is more than sufficient for us, for His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Yes, in all these, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us (Romans 8:37).
The first Lord’s day upon our arrival, we gathered together some of our friends and love-ones for worship in Chiang Mai, and that was how our church, the Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church was started. Two years later, we witnessed the ushering in of the first 16 members into the fellowship of the church. God is so good! In the subsequent years, many more souls were baptised and added into the membership of our church. Isn’t it very true that the Bible say, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5)? “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Another part of our ministry involves reaching out particularly to the deserted Red Lahu children in the village, by providing a place of shelter for them where they could call their home. These children and youths came from broken families, and some are orphans. Till date, there are 30 souls whom the LORD has brought into our extended family – The Christian Home of Love. They sleep, work, eat, play and study with us. They do not have to pay any money to come in. We took them in with the purpose of helping them, showing them God’s love and sharing God’s blessings with them. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). The Lord is always good. He has faithfully provided all our needs, even though our daily expenses grow higher as our family grows ‘bigger’. The Bible says, “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want [lack] any good thing” (Psalm 34:10). Truly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want [lack]” (Psalm 23:1).
We treat all the children staying with us as our adopted children. Every day, we teach them the Word of God, praying that when they grow up, they would not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). By the grace of God, they have come to embrace faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. What greater joy could there be but to see them turning away from their sins to worship the living and true God. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10). Praise the LORD! “The Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). We are reminded that the Word of God “shall not return unto [Him] void, but it shall accomplish that which [He] please[s], and it shall prosper in the thing whereto [He] sent it” (Isaiah 55:11), for the gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes” (Rom 1:16). Let us therefore be faithful to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Our God is gracious. He has not given up the Thais and the Red Lahus. The joy of seeing how the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in the hearts of these people, giving them a new and living hope, is indeed indescribable. It is such a blessing to serve the living and true God! All glory to God!
I had wanted to help myself and turn over a new leaf. Told my mom many times too, when she visited me at the prison, that I would stop doing evil and using drugs. However, not long after my release, like a dog that returned to its vomit, I got back to my sinful lifestyle again (Proverbs 26:11). Could not keep what I had promised my mother at all. Life was so meaningless and hopeless then. That was the kind of world I lived in. I was literally living in darkness. There was no peace nor happiness at all.
Upon release from my last imprisonment, I thought I could really change myself and start a new life. But in less than two weeks, I was ‘hooked’ on drugs again, and was selling them. I was working in a night club, earning lots of tips on top of my monthly salary, drinking free X.O. and brandy every night, and attached to a night club lady. Enjoying such prodigal living, who would want to give up?
However, one day, God turned every thing in my life upside down. Many major drug dealers were caught. I could not get any heroin for personal consumption, not to speak of selling. I stayed at home, shivering day and night, having high fever, dared not even touch water. That took me five days before I could get over. And because of drugs, I created lots of problems at the night club and my girlfriend left me too. Every thing in my life was turning against me. It was like the end of the world to me. No more work. No more money. No more girlfriend. And besides these, I was awaiting to enter prison for the crime I had committed not long ago. Was there anymore hope for me? Wasn’t it better to curse God and die?
Had been thinking so much during that time, wanting to get married and start my own family, like any other people. But, I asked myself, “Who would marry a drug addict? Who would love someone, without work and money like me?” The thought of robbing the bank came to my mind, thinking that after robbing the bank, I could keep the money in a secret place, go to prison for a few years, and after release, at least I could still have a sum of money to marry and do what I want to do. However, thank God that before my ‘dream’ could be fulfilled, God had taken hold of my life. Isn’t it true that man’s disappointment is God’s appointment? The Bible says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Praise the Lord!
Seeing my plight, my older brother told me to seek help at The Helping Hand, a Christian organization that helps the drug addicts to get rid of their drug addiction by the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Not knowing yet that God had a higher hand in this, thinking that since there was no better way for me to choose, why not just made use of The Helping Hand to help me get rid of my drug addiction and then ran away after that. That was my original plan when I first stepped into The Helping Hand. That morning, I went searching for more sleeping pills, swallowing as many as I could before seeking entrance. Got locked up in a room for five days and nights going through my drug withdrawer, before I was finally allowed to come out for a walk. I was still struggling to leave that place, but God was merciful to me. I could see a difference in the lives of the residents there. I really wanted to have a new life like them.
Combating every day with myself to stay on for just one reason: to personally experience the change in my life that only God could do. I knew that it was God who made the difference in the lives of the people there and I wanted to experience the difference myself in my own life. By that time, I realized that only the living and true God could help a wretched man like me. I knew that if I wanted to know God, I must know the Bible and pray. Being not so educated, I made it a point to get up earlier every morning to spend time knowing God, reading the Bible. It was not easy for someone like me who dislike study, to be consistent in waking up early to do reading and pray. It is unlike staying awake to watch video-show throughout the night which is much more easier. But, the LORD helped me. Slowly but steadily, God worked in my life till His love constrained me and He opened my heart to believe in Him.
Upon release from my last imprisonment, I thought I could really change myself and start a new life. But in less than two weeks, I was ‘hooked’ on drugs again, and was selling them. I was working in a night club, earning lots of tips on top of my monthly salary, drinking free X.O. and brandy every night, and attached to a night club lady. Enjoying such prodigal living, who would want to give up?
However, one day, God turned every thing in my life upside down. Many major drug dealers were caught. I could not get any heroin for personal consumption, not to speak of selling. I stayed at home, shivering day and night, having high fever, dared not even touch water. That took me five days before I could get over. And because of drugs, I created lots of problems at the night club and my girlfriend left me too. Every thing in my life was turning against me. It was like the end of the world to me. No more work. No more money. No more girlfriend. And besides these, I was awaiting to enter prison for the crime I had committed not long ago. Was there anymore hope for me? Wasn’t it better to curse God and die?
Had been thinking so much during that time, wanting to get married and start my own family, like any other people. But, I asked myself, “Who would marry a drug addict? Who would love someone, without work and money like me?” The thought of robbing the bank came to my mind, thinking that after robbing the bank, I could keep the money in a secret place, go to prison for a few years, and after release, at least I could still have a sum of money to marry and do what I want to do. However, thank God that before my ‘dream’ could be fulfilled, God had taken hold of my life. Isn’t it true that man’s disappointment is God’s appointment? The Bible says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Praise the Lord!
Seeing my plight, my older brother told me to seek help at The Helping Hand, a Christian organization that helps the drug addicts to get rid of their drug addiction by the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Not knowing yet that God had a higher hand in this, thinking that since there was no better way for me to choose, why not just made use of The Helping Hand to help me get rid of my drug addiction and then ran away after that. That was my original plan when I first stepped into The Helping Hand. That morning, I went searching for more sleeping pills, swallowing as many as I could before seeking entrance. Got locked up in a room for five days and nights going through my drug withdrawer, before I was finally allowed to come out for a walk. I was still struggling to leave that place, but God was merciful to me. I could see a difference in the lives of the residents there. I really wanted to have a new life like them.
Combating every day with myself to stay on for just one reason: to personally experience the change in my life that only God could do. I knew that it was God who made the difference in the lives of the people there and I wanted to experience the difference myself in my own life. By that time, I realized that only the living and true God could help a wretched man like me. I knew that if I wanted to know God, I must know the Bible and pray. Being not so educated, I made it a point to get up earlier every morning to spend time knowing God, reading the Bible. It was not easy for someone like me who dislike study, to be consistent in waking up early to do reading and pray. It is unlike staying awake to watch video-show throughout the night which is much more easier. But, the LORD helped me. Slowly but steadily, God worked in my life till His love constrained me and He opened my heart to believe in Him.
In retrospect, thank God for His mercy on me, in delivering me from drug addiction and the bondage of sins. I had tried to change myself but the change was short-lived. Neither could my mother’s love win my heart. It was God and God alone Who had caused the transformation in my life. It was all because of God, that my life’s journey was changed, from wandering in the darkness of sin, to the straight and narrow way of the marvelous light of Christ, serving the only living and true God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. I knew that my life belong to Him and I must offer my life to Him, to live for Him and serve Him with the remaining years that He has for me. “For the love of Christ constrains us… that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him Who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
God then opened a way for me to study at the Far Eastern Bible College, training me for the ministry that He had prepared for me. In 1998, during the school vacation, I was invited by a fellow college student (who is now my beloved wife) to join her for an outreach to one of the unreached Red Lahu villages in northern Thailand, where God laid heavily upon my heart a burden for this particular group of people thereafter. After our graduation from FEBC, in year 2000, together with our five months old son Evangel, my wife and I launched out to the mission field, to minister among the Red Lahu hill-tribe. One year later, God blessed us with another child, Evangeline.
Life and ministry was not easy then when we first started out, just to name some: I could not speak the language of the natives; Dara has to be my interpreter all the time; she was also expecting Evangeline, going through and enduring all the morning sicknesses (feeling nausea and vomiting) especially during our weekly travel to and fro Chiang Mai city and Den Luang Red Lahu village (150 k.m. away); Evangel was still a baby then; both Dara and me had to take turns carrying Evangel in our arms while serving; then came the arrival of Evangeline; both of us had to carry one child each while serving... Looking back, I would say that God was teaching us to trust Him wholeheartedly and to rely upon Him fully for strength to do His will. God was very close to us and had enabled us to do the work that He had entrusted us to do. Indeed, His grace is more than sufficient for us, for His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Yes, in all these, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us (Romans 8:37).
The first Lord’s day upon our arrival, we gathered together some of our friends and love-ones for worship in Chiang Mai, and that was how our church, the Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church was started. Two years later, we witnessed the ushering in of the first 16 members into the fellowship of the church. God is so good! In the subsequent years, many more souls were baptised and added into the membership of our church. Isn’t it very true that the Bible say, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5)? “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Another part of our ministry involves reaching out particularly to the deserted Red Lahu children in the village, by providing a place of shelter for them where they could call their home. These children and youths came from broken families, and some are orphans. Till date, there are 30 souls whom the LORD has brought into our extended family – The Christian Home of Love. They sleep, work, eat, play and study with us. They do not have to pay any money to come in. We took them in with the purpose of helping them, showing them God’s love and sharing God’s blessings with them. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). The Lord is always good. He has faithfully provided all our needs, even though our daily expenses grow higher as our family grows ‘bigger’. The Bible says, “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want [lack] any good thing” (Psalm 34:10). Truly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want [lack]” (Psalm 23:1).
We treat all the children staying with us as our adopted children. Every day, we teach them the Word of God, praying that when they grow up, they would not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). By the grace of God, they have come to embrace faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. What greater joy could there be but to see them turning away from their sins to worship the living and true God. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10). Praise the LORD! “The Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). We are reminded that the Word of God “shall not return unto [Him] void, but it shall accomplish that which [He] please[s], and it shall prosper in the thing whereto [He] sent it” (Isaiah 55:11), for the gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes” (Rom 1:16). Let us therefore be faithful to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Our God is gracious. He has not given up the Thais and the Red Lahus. The joy of seeing how the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining in the hearts of these people, giving them a new and living hope, is indeed indescribable. It is such a blessing to serve the living and true God! All glory to God!
Dara’s Testimony of Salvation & Calling to Full Time Service: Yielding My All
I was born into a family of 11 siblings. Looking back to my original birthplace, it is unbelievable that a Red Lahu girl, who was born in a high mountain of Northern Thailand, could be a child of God today. Thank God for His saving grace. If God had not showered His love to me, I could imagine myself as a dark and gloomy mountain lady (not only physically but also spiritually), married young and having a dozen of children, for this is the life of most Lahu women, living a very strict Red Lahu traditional life-style, worshipping mountains, rivers and all sorts of spirits as gods, instead of the only one, living and true God who created the heaven and the earth.
When I was young, my village was uncivilized. Being hill-tribe people, they had no education and nobody was eager to search for a better life in the town. However, as for me, I had the opportunity to be educated. Being quite well to do in those days, my father was able to send my brothers and sisters and me to study in the city of Chiang Mai, where I grew up. By God’s providence, I was placed in a Christian boarding school, which made it compulsory for me to attend church, where my spiritual eyes were opened. It was during those few years of my time spent in the Sunday School, where I came to an experiential knowledge of God. The Bible says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Hence, in my young age, God had opened my heart to embrace Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.
I liked and enjoyed going to church every Sunday. However, after I left the boarding school at the age of 11, I had to stop going to church till I reached 18 years old, even though I longed to go to church. Nevertheless, my mother was not against me being a Christian, because of my Christian testimony. I continued to experience the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life throughout those few years that I could not go to church. Life would have been so miserable during those days if God was not with me. The Bible lessons which I had learned from the Sunday School became very applicable to me and prompted me especially to trust God always to take care of me. When I was 12 years old, my father was murdered. All my brothers and sisters were still young at that time. Hence, my family was left without any male leadership and my uneducated mother had no choice but to do what she could to rear up the 11 of us, with the youngest at only 2 years old. Problems, one after another, started to pop up in my family, but God was very close to me and taught me to trust Him day by day, during that trying period.
God continued to bless me, even in my studies and had provided a good job for me after my graduation. In my heart, I knew very well that I must serve God one day. However, I was not prepared yet to do so at that moment. It was my plan to serve Him later when I am more ready, because I wanted to work a few more years and earn some money to support my mother, and my 2 younger brothers and 1 younger sister in their studies. I thought in my mind that after I have fulfilled my responsibility of supporting my family, then I would serve God. However, man proposed, God disposed. The Bible says, “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” (Lamentation 3:37). I had chosen to do my own will rather than God’s will. Through that, God had taught me a most unforgettable lesson in my life.
I loved my mother very much. She was very weak mentally and physically ever since my father’s death. Hence, I had to work hard every day for her so as to provide her with a more comfortable life. As a daughter, I knew that it was my duty to take care of my mom. However, my problem was that my love for my mother was stronger than anything else in my life then. Though, I still loved God and trusted Him, I knew that my first love was given to my mother. One day, while I was working, I received a bad news that my mom was hospitalised. In the hospital, I started to pray very hard for her, but she passed away the next day. I was so sad that I did not put all my effort to win her to Christ while she was still alive. I was concerned very much for her physical well-being, but had neglected her spiritual needs, which was the most essential in life. Although I did share the gospel with her before, it was not placed the first priority. After that incident, I totally surrendered my life to God.
About half a year later, after my mother passed away, God opened a door for me to study in Singapore, in the Far Eastern Bible College. I had learned my lesson from my mom’s death. “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). I had decided to follow Jesus all the way and leave every thing else behind, including my two younger brothers and a younger sister, who are so dear to me. I knew that I must submit myself to God’s will and trust Him to take care of my siblings and do that which God wanted me to do. At that time, I did not have money to go Singapore, but the Lord moved a church to provide for my airfare and my needs while studying in Singapore. God did not fail to take care of me. He has been faithful. He has called me into the ministry. I knew that He will never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). The Bible says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
I know that it is not by chance that I could go to study theology in Singapore. It was there at the Bible College that God equipped me to serve Him. And it was there at the same College that God prepared me a life partner, who shared the same burden as me, whom God had called to be a missionary to my country and my village, to start a gospel work among my people, who are in dire need of salvation.
To many, the Red Lahus are a group of hopeless people. Many families resorted to selling drugs and the young women sold their bodies to be prostitutes. Hence, due to bad influences and examples, the children and teenagers eventually followed after the wickedness of the adults. The boys (as young as four years old) learned to sniff glue and take drug, and the girls were drifted into prostitution. The government did try to help them to get rid of their drug problems and provided work therapies for them, but it was to no avail. They were a group of lazy and stubborn people. After few attempts, the government also gave them up.
However, as a child of God, I firmly believe that there is always hope in Jesus Christ, “for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). I am convinced that the Word of God, with the help of the Holy Spirit could change lives and give my people hope, as it did to me, for it is written, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).
Despite our unworthiness, thank God for enabling me and my family to serve Him in this part of the world. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). There are so many works to be done for our Lord Jesus Christ, but so few workers desire to go. Our Lord Jesus told us to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will raise up more willing labourers to do His work. When the Lord calls, He will definitely call the right person, to the right place, for the right job. I have learned my lesson from my mom’s death. How about you? If the Lord were to call you, are you ready to answer His call? Oh what a privilege it is to serve the living and true God, unto whom, we should yield our all. Amen!
When I was young, my village was uncivilized. Being hill-tribe people, they had no education and nobody was eager to search for a better life in the town. However, as for me, I had the opportunity to be educated. Being quite well to do in those days, my father was able to send my brothers and sisters and me to study in the city of Chiang Mai, where I grew up. By God’s providence, I was placed in a Christian boarding school, which made it compulsory for me to attend church, where my spiritual eyes were opened. It was during those few years of my time spent in the Sunday School, where I came to an experiential knowledge of God. The Bible says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Hence, in my young age, God had opened my heart to embrace Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.
I liked and enjoyed going to church every Sunday. However, after I left the boarding school at the age of 11, I had to stop going to church till I reached 18 years old, even though I longed to go to church. Nevertheless, my mother was not against me being a Christian, because of my Christian testimony. I continued to experience the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life throughout those few years that I could not go to church. Life would have been so miserable during those days if God was not with me. The Bible lessons which I had learned from the Sunday School became very applicable to me and prompted me especially to trust God always to take care of me. When I was 12 years old, my father was murdered. All my brothers and sisters were still young at that time. Hence, my family was left without any male leadership and my uneducated mother had no choice but to do what she could to rear up the 11 of us, with the youngest at only 2 years old. Problems, one after another, started to pop up in my family, but God was very close to me and taught me to trust Him day by day, during that trying period.
God continued to bless me, even in my studies and had provided a good job for me after my graduation. In my heart, I knew very well that I must serve God one day. However, I was not prepared yet to do so at that moment. It was my plan to serve Him later when I am more ready, because I wanted to work a few more years and earn some money to support my mother, and my 2 younger brothers and 1 younger sister in their studies. I thought in my mind that after I have fulfilled my responsibility of supporting my family, then I would serve God. However, man proposed, God disposed. The Bible says, “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” (Lamentation 3:37). I had chosen to do my own will rather than God’s will. Through that, God had taught me a most unforgettable lesson in my life.
I loved my mother very much. She was very weak mentally and physically ever since my father’s death. Hence, I had to work hard every day for her so as to provide her with a more comfortable life. As a daughter, I knew that it was my duty to take care of my mom. However, my problem was that my love for my mother was stronger than anything else in my life then. Though, I still loved God and trusted Him, I knew that my first love was given to my mother. One day, while I was working, I received a bad news that my mom was hospitalised. In the hospital, I started to pray very hard for her, but she passed away the next day. I was so sad that I did not put all my effort to win her to Christ while she was still alive. I was concerned very much for her physical well-being, but had neglected her spiritual needs, which was the most essential in life. Although I did share the gospel with her before, it was not placed the first priority. After that incident, I totally surrendered my life to God.
About half a year later, after my mother passed away, God opened a door for me to study in Singapore, in the Far Eastern Bible College. I had learned my lesson from my mom’s death. “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). I had decided to follow Jesus all the way and leave every thing else behind, including my two younger brothers and a younger sister, who are so dear to me. I knew that I must submit myself to God’s will and trust Him to take care of my siblings and do that which God wanted me to do. At that time, I did not have money to go Singapore, but the Lord moved a church to provide for my airfare and my needs while studying in Singapore. God did not fail to take care of me. He has been faithful. He has called me into the ministry. I knew that He will never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). The Bible says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
I know that it is not by chance that I could go to study theology in Singapore. It was there at the Bible College that God equipped me to serve Him. And it was there at the same College that God prepared me a life partner, who shared the same burden as me, whom God had called to be a missionary to my country and my village, to start a gospel work among my people, who are in dire need of salvation.
To many, the Red Lahus are a group of hopeless people. Many families resorted to selling drugs and the young women sold their bodies to be prostitutes. Hence, due to bad influences and examples, the children and teenagers eventually followed after the wickedness of the adults. The boys (as young as four years old) learned to sniff glue and take drug, and the girls were drifted into prostitution. The government did try to help them to get rid of their drug problems and provided work therapies for them, but it was to no avail. They were a group of lazy and stubborn people. After few attempts, the government also gave them up.
However, as a child of God, I firmly believe that there is always hope in Jesus Christ, “for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). I am convinced that the Word of God, with the help of the Holy Spirit could change lives and give my people hope, as it did to me, for it is written, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).
Despite our unworthiness, thank God for enabling me and my family to serve Him in this part of the world. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). There are so many works to be done for our Lord Jesus Christ, but so few workers desire to go. Our Lord Jesus told us to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will raise up more willing labourers to do His work. When the Lord calls, He will definitely call the right person, to the right place, for the right job. I have learned my lesson from my mom’s death. How about you? If the Lord were to call you, are you ready to answer His call? Oh what a privilege it is to serve the living and true God, unto whom, we should yield our all. Amen!
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