The latest FiRE newsletter for October 2019 is now available and contains many things on church and mission, things to challenge, enlighten and inspire but also things you may disagree with. We believe that it is required at times to go out on a limb for Jesus’ sake.
Thank you to the very generous sponsors of our beautiful students at the Life Promotion Centre in Laos. Here is an an update of what is happening at the centre:
In July our students travelled back home to their villages in the provinces They are always very welcome at home and soon take part in general farming duties, a vast difference to their lives at the centre.
The death toll in Nepal is about 150 people and thousands of families are affected. We are providing all kinds of things – food (like rice, lentils, oil), mosquito nets, tarpaulins, mattresses, bedsheets, torches, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, chloride liquid. The people are in danger of being bitten by snakes and getting very sick. Everything is wet, like the floors of the shelters they live. One big problem is filthy water. There are reports of typhoid spreading.
The latest FiRE newsletter is now available and contains an urgent appeal for flood relief that ravaged Nepal, India & Myanmar, high drama in Vietnam as police raid VALBI (prayers needed), celebrations for the Indonesian school opening day, reflections on life and death when cancer comes calling, a final call for the next mission trip, and other stories from AFA’s mission fields throughout Asia.
The latest FiRE newsletter is now available and contains stories about the cutting edge of mission in Nepal, Team Australia leaving a mark in Africa, the amazing story continues in Vietnam, updates on the Sumatra school project and a wrap up of AFA’s mission in 14 countries.
Pr Robindra has put together an update on the continued work of Lutheran Mission Nepal to empower churches by helping the church leaders in discipleship and planting churches.
2018 was as eventful, wonderful as well as stressful as every other year if not more so – with plenty of drama and pain mixed in as well. Overall the number of donors and interest in AFA keeps growing. But like the LCA itself, we are also suffering from the effects of a declining church as people age and die or join other churches and stop to support Lutheran-based mission work.
The latest FiRE No79 for March 2019 is now available and contains stories about a gigantic milestone reached in Vietnam, and amazing journey and insights from Sabah, reaching the unreached in Vietnam and a special project for Pr August’s 50th anniversary of ordination. Please note that Pr August’s special project needs support by April 20th if this vision is to become reality.
Rev. Wangchuk has sent through Christmas greetings and an update on the latest mission efforts in Bhutan. Our prayers are with the spreading of the Gospel over the festive season.
The latest FiRE No78 for December 2018 is now available and contains stories about Religion and the real ‘thing’, why amazing growth in places like Nepal, the despair of asylum seekers in Bankok, and a roundup of of all AFA missions.
The latest FiRE No77 for November 2018 is now available and contains stories from trips to Vietnam and India, a message from Bhutan with love, a shining light from the darkness of Liberia, and a testimonial journey from darkness to light.
The latest FiRE newsletter for August 2018 is now available and contains the Myanmar Wars emergency and AFA's "Helping Hands" response, an amazing trip to Vietnam, the deepening darkness of Nepal, the 6 stages of a dying church, and a roundup of other mission projects around the world.
At this time Australians are inward looking and rise up to help their heartbroken farmers in a fantastic way as they should. But who speaks for the ignored and forgotten by all humanity except for a few small Christian aid groups most people have never heard of? Who speaks for those who suffer and die in silence with literally no hope left (except in Christ), fellow Christians?
On 21st July 2018 at the Lutheran Orphanage in Vietnam I wrote in my diary, “I think every child came forward for blessing and prayer. They look up to us with angelic and expectant eyes. These are the unexpected blessings on the journey. I thought I came to teach Valbi: (Vietnam/Australia Lutheran Bible Institute), but here I am teaching 100 orphans of all ages, and praying for them, and blessing them. And there’s more. They pray for me and bless me.
The latest FiRE newletter for July 2018 contains the Myanmar Wars emergency and AFA's "Helping Hands" response, a new beginning in the Philippines, changing times for Nias, missionary imperatives for the 21st century, Liberia's ministry growing day by day, the vexed question of women's ordination, and a roundup of other mission projects around the world.
This year alone large numbers of people have died in Myanmar. Right now some 100,000 are displaced (refugees), most of them Christians – and the world either does not know it, does n ot want to know it, or is simply silent. Large parts of the Katchin and Karen States of Myanmar are in rebellion. It is confirmed that the Christian villages are always treated far worse by the Army than the Buddhist villages.
Myanmar Emergency - “Helping Hands” Action Now
At the present time thousands die in Myanmar, some 100,000 are displaced (refugees), most of them Christians – and the world either does not know it, does not want to know it, or is simply silent.
To be a Christian leader can mean death, pure and simply, whether 2000 years ago or in 2018. Yes, death! This is what a key AFA leader in Nepal is presently faced with – ‘pay $150,000 or die’.
The latest FiRE newsletter for April 2018 is now available and contains lessons from China, India's caste system, young people for Christ in Thailand, hearts on fire in Vietnam, the Easter Gospel from Laos, a killer stalks in Nepal, and a roundup of other mission projects around the world
The latest FiRE newsletter for February 2018 is now avialable and contains a special on India’s daily battles, the gift of new life through LSC in Thailand, expanding mission work in Nepal, and a roundup of other mission projects around the world.