We have finally arrived back in Thailand after a month of our USA tour. It was a blessed trip to connect with our partners from Hawaii to the Midwest. Every stop was a blessing to be able to see the ocean, the mountains, and even the vast cornfields. We would like to express our thanks to everyone who hosted us and made this a fruitful and rejuvenating trip. God has given us many wonderful opportunities that have just been blessings after another.
Our first stop was Hawaii, which was an exceptional state. The views from the coast as the sun rose were majestic, and the weather was perfect. It was the first time for Khao and Nick and they enjoyed it thoroughly. Stephen and Nick were able to present on AFC’s new project, Salween and Mekhong Project. This new project will mobilize our existing and future students in evangelizing to the people near these two rivers, going from Thailand all the way to China. This project was well received and would need further fundraising and committed funding monthly to initiate.
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| Nick and Stephen presenting AFC at Winema Christian Camp |
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| Stephen speaking at the campfire |
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| Khao speaking at the youth camp |
As we work on the logistics and the structure of the new
project, we have had several other tasks at hand. This week, Stephen has been
teaching a class to the Thai cohort of about 20 people on the book of 1
Corinthians. The students are all here at the center, living and studying with
us. As you know, we accept only those who are active in a ministry, so they
have to take a week off in order to study with us. We then encourage them to
apply their new knowledge in their respective fields. This has been a great
working system because it reinforces what they have learned. They will come
back later, and some will ask further questions about the bible. We are proud
of the students who are deeply invested in studying the bible and continue to
apply them in their ministries.
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| Stephen teaching 1 Corinthians |
In 2013, a group of AIS students asked Stephen, because of
his background before his conversion, to help break new ground in an area of
Myanmar that had long been difficult to reach with the gospel. The region was
home to animistic communities, where opium cultivation was a major cash crop.
Many evangelists had attempted to reach these villages before, but with little
success. So Stephen asked the students a simple but demanding question:
“If the villagers allow you to stay among them, who is
willing to live there?”
Among those who answered the call were Solomon, Daniely, and
Zawwa, all AIS students who were willing to leave behind their families and
live among the people they hoped to reach.
For Zawwa, this was not a short-term mission trip. He went
there to stay. He learned the people’s way of life, built relationships with
families, and gradually became part of the community. Eventually, he married a
local woman, and together they began building both a family and a ministry
among the people they serve. Today, Zawwa and his wife have two children, and
their family continues to live and minister among these communities. For the
past ten years, Zawwa has faithfully traveled from village to village, often
through difficult mountainous terrain, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ
with people deeply rooted in animistic beliefs and practices.
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| Zawwa farming with the locals |
When opportunities opened in other communities, Zawwa and
his family were willing to move again. They settled in a new village and began
the same patient work all over again: living among the people, developing
friendships, sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, and helping a
community of faith take root.
Today, more than 14 churches have been established in this
area. But the work is not finished. Zawwa and the other believers are now
looking beyond the next mountain range, where the gospel has not yet reached.
Many of the people in the area continue to follow traditional animistic
beliefs, and opium remains a major cash crop.
The same challenge that was given in 2013 now stands before
us, with these new students. Please pray for Zawwa and Solomon and their
families and these 14 churches as they take the next step of faith. Fourteen
churches have been planted, yet beyond the next mountain, there are still
villages waiting to hear the good news.
Our other task is the ongoing flooding in Myanmar, Northern Thailand, and Laos. This has been a huge issue because rainfall has escalated and the rivers and flashfloods from the mountains spread to the locals. Some may have also suspected that countries in the north have been releasing a lot more water which affects the countries in Southeast Asia. On top of losing a lot of their crops, the locals have also suffered a lot of damage to their homes. This is a task we are also working on in order to provide basic needs for the people who are very affected by this natural disaster. Please pray for those affected, so that we can use this opportunity to show them Christ love. In the past, we have had great success in bringing the gospel to those who suffer. They asked, “why would anyone come and help us?” and as they find out we are doing this because of the love of Jesus, many are interested. In Myanmar, a couple years ago, we even had a Buddhist monk come and inquire more about this Jesus.
Family
As soon as Stephen returned from the USA, he began three
weeks of intensive teaching with two groups of students eager to study God’s
Word. Afterward, Stephen and Mary took a one-week break to visit Isaac in
Bangkok, where he is attending university and living on his own.
Stephen then returned to Chiang Mai for another three weeks
of teaching, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with two more groups. Another 40
students are waiting to take his online courses.
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| Stephen teaching Bible online |
We thank God for these opportunities to equip His people.
Yet the need for teachers continues to grow. AIS urgently needs visiting and
volunteer teachers. Please pray that the Lord will send qualified teachers,
especially in the New Testament, Old Testament, and missions. Pray also for
strength and wisdom for Stephen, spiritual growth for the students, and God’s
guidance for Isaac in Bangkok.
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| Myanmar pastor visiting Stephen |
Nick continues to catch up on work. He’s getting mental health classes ready for the end of the year cohort. On top of this, he’s been mentoring university students and going through a bible study class with one of Khao’s coworkers. At this time, we are going through the book of Matthew, highlighting Jesus as the king who came to die for the world. This has been very receptive and every Saturday, they go through the book together. Some of the university students also started coming to church so that has been an amazing blessing to see. On Saturday morning, Nick and Becky still work with the members at a church in Hawaii, teaching students in Myanmar and Dubai the bible online.
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| Nick leading bible study |
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| Nick giving an encouragment speech to the Myanmar migrants |
Kingdom Worker Highlight - Meet Michael, Our Evangelist
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| Michael giving his testimony at the church at the Thai-Myanmar border |
We would like to introduce you to Michael, one of our
faithful evangelists serving along the Thai–Myanmar border. God has placed him
in a unique ministry of sharing the gospel, strengthening churches, and helping
Christians who face social pressure and opposition because of their faith.
In one area, a local leader publicly announced that
Christians should be driven out of the community. This created fear among
believers and caused many non-Christians to hesitate to turn to Christ. Because
Michael has developed good relationships with senior police officers and
government officials, local churches asked him to help oversee and support
them. By God’s grace, the opposition has now become quieter.
Michael regularly visits churches to encourage believers and
leads Christians from house to house to share the gospel. His ministry reaches
beyond evangelism. He also helps displaced people from Myanmar who face
detention and deportation. Some Christians were at risk of being sent back to
Myanmar and forced into military service. Through Michael’s relationships with
local authorities, he was able to appeal for their release, and some received
legal permission to remain in Thailand.
We praise God for Michael and his faithful service. Please
pray that God will continue to give him wisdom, courage, protection, and favor
as he strengthens the churches, cares for those in need, and brings the hope of
Christ to communities along the Thai–Myanmar border.
