We are living in a time of upheaval. Not long ago, we faced the global shock of COVID-19. War erupted in a neighboring land. Floods came. Earthquakes struck. Hearts tremble. And peace—true peace—seems far from the eyes of many. But let us consider Peter stepping onto stormy waters toward Jesus. The winds howled, the waves threatened to consume—but when Peter’s eyes were fixed on Christ, he walked above the chaos. So it is with us. In a world unraveling, we must look not at the storm, but at the One who still commands the wind and the sea.
Earthquake in Myanmar: Suffering Met with the Compassion of Christ
In
March, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the foundations of central Myanmar—a
land already torn by political unrest. Amid collapsing buildings and cries for
help, AFC’s connection to Myanmar became more than a calling—it became a
lifeline. Over the past decade, we have sown gospel seeds in this land through
youth ministries, leadership training, and humanitarian outreach, often in
partnership with IDES.
When
the earth convulsed, some of our students were in Mandalay. They witnessed
buildings crumble and lives buried beneath stone and steel. As emergency
services faltered, the streets filled with the hungry, the thirsty, and the
grieving. In response, AFC and IDES mobilized swiftly. By God's grace and with
the support of faithful partners, we delivered over 12,000 meals and clean
water in just a few weeks.
What
unfolded was nothing short of a miracle. Within two weeks, our local Myanmar
team—composed of seminary students, youth, and church leaders—launched an
organized relief effort. Over 50 church members gave sacrificially of their
time, energy, and compassion, some even cooking and packaging meals deep into
the night. Remarkably, despite political tensions, military checkpoints opened
for our teams. God made a way where there was none. From hospitals to
shelters—even near a Buddhist temple—we carried not just food, but the love of
Jesus.
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| The Church in Maymeo were all onboard to help! |
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| Distributing ready-to-eat meals in front of the Buddhist temple |
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| Another location to give people food |
In an
unforgettable moment, the lead monk of that temple publicly honored AFC,
presenting us with a certificate of commendation. This acknowledgment is not
just a token—it is a door. A door for deeper relationships, greater gospel
access, and bolder evangelism in the heart of Myanmar. We are now preparing to
train evangelists specifically in reaching Buddhist communities with
gentleness, wisdom, and the power of the cross.
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| The certificate being handed to our Myanmar team |
Teaching, Discipling, Transforming
In
May and June, Dr. Derek Voorhees joined us at the Thailand-Myanmar border for
an intensive teaching module on Romans and Matthew. For nearly two weeks—sunup
to sundown—pastors, teachers, and evangelists from both countries immersed
themselves in Scripture. In the midst of political unrest, earthquakes, and
hardship, the Word of God was being proclaimed, studied, and lived out in a
small border town. Peace was present—not the kind the world gives, but the kind
that flows from the Holy Spirit and the unshakable truths of Scripture.
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| Derek teaching while Ale Bo (former AIS student) translates |
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| Group photo with the class! |
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| Lunch served for the students |
We
are deeply grateful to Derek and his family who gave not only their time but
their resources to make this mission possible. Our students—frontline leaders
across Shan State, Myanmar and Thailand—left renewed, sharpened, and deeply
moved. Many would meditate in the evenings on the truths taught. This is
discipleship that multiplies. This is revival in the making.
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| Big group photo! |
Family and Ministry Life: Living as Servants of the Gospel
Each
month, Stephen leads a week-long intensive course, pouring into future leaders
with deep theological training. In addition to these intensives, he faithfully
teaches two to three online courses weekly, reaching students scattered across
China, Myanmar, and Thailand—each lesson a seed of truth sown across borders.
On weekends, he continues to preach the Word, embodying the spirit of the
itinerant preachers of old who carried the gospel from village to village with
burning conviction.
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| Stephen preaching at Huey Lai Church |
Mary’s
clothing ministry became a vital lifeline during the recent earthquake crisis. With
the help from Stephen and Nick, she transported sacks of clothing to the
border, where they were distributed to families devastated by disaster and
conflict. In a time when war has stifled production and imports in Myanmar,
simple garments and hygiene items have become sacred gifts—acts of mercy that
carry the fragrance of Christ’s compassion. We at AFC strive to proclaim hope,
healing, and dignity to the suffering.
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| The clothes have reached Myanmar |
Becky
serves faithfully, teaching English and the Bible to children in Chiang Dao.
Her Saturdays are spent pouring into young hearts, equipping the next
generation. Isaac, now a university freshman in Computer Engineering, will soon
represent his department in Japan for a competition. May God use even this
platform for His glory.
Nick
is nearing the completion of his Master’s thesis and recently found out a
friend has decided to believe and will get baptized. This act, powerful in any
context, is especially profound in Thailand, where family and cultural
resistance to Christianity is often fierce. But love broke through. Light
shined in the darkness. The family saw the fruit of Christ and did not oppose.
Nick’s
wife, Khao, is on track to being promoted to a management position, a testimony
to her integrity and diligence. John, too, is thriving as an English teacher,
having recently delivered a TED Talk—a sign of influence and impact in the
public square.
***We have an update on the expansions of the AFC center. Now, there is a greater increase in students coming to learn. More students will also mean we will need to have more teachers. As more projects arise, we will also have more guests at our center. Therefore, we have decided to make expansions at the center by constructing more buildings to host students, guests, teachers; we will also be able to host larger numbers during Christian events when multiple churches from the mountains will come and meet at our center. We have received great gifts from individuals and churches in starting some of the buildings. As we progress, we are still needing to raise more monetary resources and possibly anyone with construction skills to bring their talent and advice. If you have any questions or would like to be a part of this expansion, reach out to us!***
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| We have a reserve water tank now to support the expansion |
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| Mary and our helpers clearing up the land for construction |
Bearing Peace in a Broken World
We
are tired—but not defeated. Busy—but not distracted. Challenged—but never
without hope. As the world groans under war, disaster, and confusion, we are
reminded again: we are Christ’s ambassadors. We do not run from the chaos—we
walk into it with the peace of Christ in our hands, on our lips, and burning in
our hearts.
Thank
you for praying, giving, supporting, and walking with us. The work is not
finished. The harvest is great. But we will not stop. Until Christ returns or
calls us home, we will press on—proclaiming peace through the Prince of Peace.
“How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” (Romans 10:15)
