Joshua 1:9 saying “Be strong and courageous; do not
be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
(NASB).
On the wall in our living room, there is a sticker
that says “God is with you in all that you do.”
This notorious sticker always encourages us to serve our Living God and
Lord faithfully in every aspect of our family life and ministry. Yes, indeed God is always with us.
Mission trip to China
Our recent trip to China on August 26-September 2 was
very productive one, though the purpose of the trip was not for ministry
directly, it was about cultural exchange under the sponsorship of the Chinese
government. The majority of the
attendants are non-believers of China-Lisu, represented 64 counties (62
counties in Yunan province and 2 counties in Sichaun province) and 2 autonomic
areas, where all of these counties are being governed by the Lisu mayors and
governors. Each county was granted 5
representatives to attend at this conference.
However, the number of Lisu believers, including the president of
Christian in Yunnan, who happens to be a Lisu Christian, attended at this event. In Yunnan province of China, for your
personal knowledge, the largest Christian population comes from the Lisu people. Stephen led 20 other Lisu leaders, both
believers and non-believers, including our son Nick, to represent the
Thailand-Lisu. Some Lisu Christian
leaders from Myanmar (Burma) also attended at this event. University students who helped as attendees,
half of them were Christians. Praise the
Lord! God is moving in this pagan society
gradually through the impact and example of the Christian lifestyle. We believe sooner or later God will turn this
country upside down through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Stephen’s life and ministry in China is very
dramatic. Above all, it differs from
many other Christian workers in China.
At the beginning of Stephen’s mission works in China, it began with
persecution from church leaders, who tried to arrest Stephen, but God saved him
through non-believers, university professors and other government workers. Stephen’s first sermon in a church a decade
ago in China was permitted by one of the governors from the autonomic areas.
God truly has a sense of humor.
After spending several years at the southwestern
part of Yunnan province and winning many souls among Wa and Lahu people, and
after empowering all God’s Kingdom works to local Christian leaders, our
mission work has moved to the northwestern part of Yunnan province, at the
border of the former Tibetan area. At first, we felt the strong animosity between
believers and non-believers on the cultural issue. Many nonbeliever felt the threat from
Christianity. We have tried several
occasions to demonstrate the alternative connotation, through various speeches,
articles and, of course, deeds of the Samaritan manifesto, and conduct. As we all know that actions speak louder than
words for carrying out the Great commission to the lost nations, China in
particular. Now, not only has the
animosity turned into fellowship, but many of the government leaders also have
acknowledged that Christianity makes people different. At this conference, they even told their
people publicly to take Christians as the example for a high moral standard and
preserving Lisu culture through the written and spoken Lisu language, which is hardly
found among non-believers. Praise the
Lord!
A group of the Thailand-Lisu leaders
Nick, Stephen and
Stephen's brother (Pol.Lt.Col. Nawin)
Stephen with a traditional Lisu dress
The China-Lisu is welcoming the Thailand-Lisu
Police Lieutenant Colonel Nawin
is presenting a gift to the host
The China-Lisu is performing their traditional dance
Family in September
Most of our time this month (September) has been
spent on training and equipping our Burmese students. Mary is busying in taking care of their daily
needs, Nick is teaching English, and Stephen in particular has taught the Bible
intensively starting from 9Am-4Pm from Monday-Friday for 4 consecutive
weeks. At this moment, they are studying
in the book of Philippians, emphasizing the contrast between the social values,
norms and mindset and the mindset of Christ.
Today, Christian leaders need to have the mindset of Christ in humility,
sacrifice for others and walk in the way of Christ, rather than according to
the values of the society around us.
Stephen is teaching the book of Philippians
to a group of Christian leaders from Burma
While John has just begun his classes, Isaac and
Becky are at the final week of their first semester. They are taking final exams. Over all, the Wong family is doing great. Every weekend the family, with the students
of AIS, enjoys visiting various churches at village on the mountains. Nick and John in particular have a chance to
exercise their preaching skills and becoming a Christian model to many youth
who are struggling with drug addictions.
John is preaching
Nick is preaching
Nick, John, Isaac and Burmese student of AIS are singing a special song at church
Like father, like son
Prayer needs
This upcoming October 6-14, Nick and Stephen will
fly out from Chiangmai to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) for a Christian Leadership
conference. Usually, we anticipate
Christian leaders; preachers, elders, deacons, evangelists and youth leaders
from the central part of Myanmar attend at this conference. So far, Christian leaders from the North,
particularly Myitkyina (the capital city of Kachin State) are planning to
attend at this conference. In the past
several days, we received several phone calls asking about this
conference. Many church leaders from
China are also planning to come if their documents would be granted. It will be a great number of church leaders
will attend this conference. Pray most
of all that God, not man, will receive the honor during the conference. Pray for the safety for all speakers, and
attendants especially for save travels, and for God to move at this conference
so that many church leaders’ lives would be transformed by the Word of
God. Pray for the team leaders at this
conference and ten of our students from AIS that will attend at this conference
to help out with whatever the needs are. Nick will be teaching a seminar on
Youth Ministry and help the youth leaders in Myanmar develop a youth program
because, at this moment, Youth Ministry does not really exist there. Please
pray for the speakers: Dean, Nick and Stephen and other speakers from
Australia. This will be an international
conference!
Thank you always for your partnering in carrying out the
Great Commission to the lost souls and the making of disciples in Southeast
Asia and China.
In Christ Alone,
Stephen and Mary
Ps. Please lift up John's school, Grace International School, in your prayers. They have done a wonderful job in ministering missionary children. They now need your supports more than ever so visit them at youtube by viewing at http://www.youtube.com/user/gisthailand
Ps. Please lift up John's school, Grace International School, in your prayers. They have done a wonderful job in ministering missionary children. They now need your supports more than ever so visit them at youtube by viewing at http://www.youtube.com/user/gisthailand
