Praise the Lord! Asians for Christ’s hopes and dreams of
equipping leaders for the furthering of His Kingdom has indeed made much
progress in Myanmar. Through several years of teaching and equipping leaders
from Myanmar, we are coming to an end with a new batch of leaders ready to be
empowered by going back into the work field with the Word of God that we have
given to them through the Love and Grace of our Heavenly Father. They have only
one last project to work on for the next year in order to complete their
studies.
This final term consisted of classes taught by Stephen,
Dr. Derek Voorhees, Professor Isaiah, Nick, and Becky. Stephen started the term
with a Revelation class and is now wrapping up the term with an evening class in the book of James, while
Professor Isaiah teaches on the Doctrine of God during the day time. Dr. Derek
Voorhees taught the book of Matthew. Nick taught a class on pastoral counseling,
while Becky taught English. It was a great blessing from God to provide the
teachers and the classes that the leaders from Myanmar learned and will take
back to their people.
Isaiah's class on Doctrine of God
Nick's Pastoral Counseling Class
Stephen teaching on James
During the week, teaching would occur; during the
weekends, the teachings were applied in sermons and worship songs in the
various Lisu churches in the mountains of Northern Thailand. On the trips to
the villages, Nick helps drive the students and the team. Thanks to you all for
participating in this equipping and empowering ministry in prayerful and
financial supports. Without your participation, this ministry would not be
accomplished in this fruitful way!
Stephen, Nick and the Myanmar students
on a weekend evangelistic trip
Lisu village
A typical farming system at village
Derek preaches and Stephen translates
Church at Hui Ko
Lunch prepared by Hui Ko Church
Church at a suburb of Chiangmai
Praying for family in their transition,
moving into Thailand from the USA
After the Voorhees blessed us with their time to be with
us, they went back to America; John went back to Boise, Idaho with the Voorhees
and is staying with them until he attends Boise Bible College in the fall. Nick
is preparing to teach the youth at an international church in the month of
July. On top of these things, Nick was asked to host a radio program in Chiang
Mai. The Wongratanamajcha’s plan for going to the States this summer has been
postponed due to Mary’s health. Please pray for her as she’s going through a
time of health related problems.
For the Sake of His Kingdom,
The Wongs
The Wongratanamajchas, the Voorhees,
& the Myanmar students
Note from Dr. Derek
Voorhees
Spending the first two weeks of June 2016 with the
Wongratanamajcha’s and the Lisu believers was amazing! A blend of sweet
harmonies when singing praise to God in their house and in two different
village churches. Mary's blend of garlic, basil,
and lemon made for one tasty meal after another after another. And then there
was the special blend of cultures, languages, and nationalities (US, Thai,
Burmese…and the Lisu tribe). These and other elements all came together by the
Lord’s blessing to offer such a pleasant time together!
As you would expect, the Wong's hospitality was over the
top. This is also seen in how they care for and serve the Burmese students by
providing food, health-care and clothes. It is common seeing the students work
around the house and rice fields for the Wong's to earn their keep, but they
are well taken cared while away from family for 2 months. The Christ-like
servant-heartedness of the Wong’s is special to watch.
Eating the Thai/Lisu foods offers a little taste of
heaven. As a result, I learned a new Lisu word…bulio (it means “to be full”). I honestly think I used this
word after every meal, every day…no exaggeration. The food cooked by Mary, or
purchased at a shack down the road, or the meal provided in the villages we
visited was always so delicious that I could hardly stop. ”Bulio!” But I also used the word with
regards to the rich blessing by such amazing Christ-followers. Witnessing the
Wong’s lead from a sincerely intentional devotion and deep commitment was good
for my soul…I left the Wong’s bulio,
my heart, mind, body & soul fully
satisfied!
Besides going to edify the entire Wong family, my main
purpose for going was to instruct the young Lisu students from Burma who are always hungry to study. They come to be
equipped to shepherd the needs of the people in their churches and evangelize
the lost in their villages, and train up the current and emerging leaders they
serve alongside. This is the third consecutive year I’ve been privileged to
instruct the students from a NT book. Two
years ago we studied “2 Corinthians,” last summer was “Romans,” and this summer
I led them through an exegetical study of “Matthew” for 9 days, 6+ hours each
day. The overarching theme from Matthew highlights Jesus the Messiah as Son of
David, the King of a new international kingdom of heaven.
Derek teaching Matthew
I love hearing the students process Scripture for their
lives and their Lisu culture back home. They take it very seriously because
they are so honored and grateful for the opportunity to participate in Asian
Christian Seminary by Stephen’s invitation, for the glory of God.
The teaching experience, combined with the devoted
ministry of the Wong’s, compels me to ask you a question. If you're reading
this report you have supported the Wong's and/or Asians For Christ in some form
or fashion (financial gift, prayers, personal visits to Thailand…or all of
these). For me as a first-hand witness of how the Lord is honoring, providing,
and working through this family and the AFC ministry, I'd like to encourage you
to consider increasing your prayers for them and your financial sacrifice…even
making a trip to visit the Wongs. It is a fruitful investment! The Lord is
counting this small part of his Kingdom as productive and faithfully obedient.
He has given them much to manage and they do not
bury it until the King returns, but by the Spirit’s power are
multiplying God’s seed for the Kingdom! So for starters, tell someone about
God’s work in SE Asia through the Wongs. Share this note and direct them to the
blog. And then, if you haven't lately, write the Wong's a personally warm
message of encouragement about their family & ministry (you can email it
directly to Stephen at stephenwps23@gmail.com).
Lastly, what made this trip extra special (my 6th
to teach alongside Stephen) was that my wife Nell and college-age daughter
Kaylee accompanied me! We flew to
Beijing, China to spend a week with a recent alumnus of Boise Bible College
before going on to Thailand for two weeks. I’m a privileged man to serve
alongside my wife and daughter both in Beijing and Chiangmai. It was a true joy
to watch them interact with, encourage and simply love on our host in China and
Mary in Thailand (...and other women like Mary’s daughter Becky, mother Leah,
and a newly married student Priscilla). They both loved it!! To have been given
the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the King with my family, by loving
fellow believers in an international context, was a memorable gift from God!
Well, thanks for reading all of this! So thankful to the
Lord for his provision and grace!
Derek
PS. Teaching alongside these students in their own
Burmese context would be a privilege. So, could I ask you something? Would you
mind asking the Lord right now to begin revealing His will about a possible
trip for me to teach other church leaders with Stephen in Burma in the next
year? And continue to lift up the students and the Wong’s as they follow God’s
lead for the most effect steps of ministry.
