We have to move out of the landowner’s property by the end of June 2024. We are facing a great challenge for the ministry. We have been praying to God. He led us to a piece of land with 508 sq meters. We must buy land to sustain our ministry, reduce pressure and persecution from Hindu groups and remain in an accessible place to grow the ministry.
In this edition of FiRE we focus on the inspiring testimonies of how Jesus came into the lives of those we support throughout Asia and beyond. Read about Pr Rabindra’s coming to faith in Nepal, Pr Wangchuk’s journey from Buddha to Christ, how God’s grace was sufficient for Wilson Vai in Liberia, Pr Larry’s walk into faith, Esther finding a place of joy, how Hotlin met Jesus in Sumatra, and a Mongolian journey from communism to Christ by Pr Puje. Read on to be inspired by their stories and by how much Jesus loves us all.
.. I first found a booklet which told the story of a narrow and wide road from the Gospel of Matthew. I later got a Hindi New Testament Bible from my friend with the interesting title: ‘Message of Love’. It was a message of the love of Jesus Christ for me.
.. As soon as the Canadian man finished speaking, people started throwing the same questions that I wanted to ask. Our gatherings went on for about a month, and we found ourselves confessing our sins and, with tears in our eyes, accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour. There were less than twenty young people like me, and this was the beginning of the birth of the Mongolian church.
.. However, on February 15, 1990, my life changed completely when Jesus Christ appeared to me in a dream. I had suffered from severe and chronic headaches and in the dream, this man touched my forehead. When I woke up, the headache was gone – I was completely healed.
Meeting Jesus has been a wonderful time for me, from my childhood till now. I have met rich people and poor people and at every time and in every condition, I have met Jesus.
In 2003, I was converted in a refugee camp in Laine, in the south of Guinea, by the message of a preacher there. The message was from Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” It is only by having faith in Jesus Christ as the true Son of God that we can be saved.
When the worship music began, I fell onto the floor shaking and crying continuously while all my sins against our God were racing through my memory; my wretched life flashing before my eyes – all the sins I had committed made me feel like a dirty rag that no one would even want to touch. But I met Jesus there. He held me and spoke to me in an audible voice while I humbly asked for His forgiveness.
With Visa and travel challenges behind us, Pr Rabindra Das from Nepal is on his way to Australia to share his message of spectacular, Acts-like growth of Christianity throughout the Himalayan nation amidst adversity and poverty.
Pr Rabindra will be speaking at churches, schools and gatherings on these dates:
Queensland:
5-14 March Gympie, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Buderim
15-17 March Gold Coast
18-22 March: Brisbane
Canberra: 23-26 March
Adelaide 27 March - 2 April
Currently there are 32 Chepang families (of the Jirayat community) now living in this area. They’ve built temporary shelters of straw and bamboo which are their homes (photo on left). The Sarlahi Municipality Office has provided some zinc sheets to be used for roofing. However, the shelters are open-sided and not protected from rain, wind, storms and the bitter cold. Sadly these people are unable to complete the construction of their shelters because the only available work is labouring, and the pay is very little.
Asia Focus, in partnership with Good Shepherd Community Church Canberra, is proud to bring Pr Rabindra Das to Australia! Hear the amazing story first-hand of massive growth of Christianity throughout Nepal
In this edition of FiRE we focus on the miracles and goodness of God as we approach the Christmas season. There are stories of the Jari people of Vietnam, planting many churches in Nepal, news from Lutheran Global Village Liberia, a thankyou from the Damadi kids in Myanmar, Facing winter in Mongolia, meeting Jesus in Bhutan and and many more stories. Read on for a Christmas message of Hope!
Tragedy strikes further areas of west Nepal. Lives, homes and livelihoods are destroyed by this severe flooding. In this devastating situation, Pastor Rabindra needs our ongoing prayer support and any financial assistance that we’re able to offer. More photos …
In this edition of FiRE we focus on the good news and hope springing from your generosity, support and prayer through Asia Focus. There is joy in Vietnam through the continued VALBI theological training, good news from Lutheran Global Village in Liberia regarding schooling, a letter of thanks from Kenya for the famine victims, sewing machines put to good use in the Philippines, school bus upgrades to keep the rain out for LPC kids in Laos and many more stories. Thankyou for supporting these projects!
Landslides in hilly areas and floods in the plainlands area of Nepal are regular annual disasters. They cause huge loss of life and damage to property and livelihood. This is always a very challenging time for us. We are praying for the safety of our churches and church members. We are also praying that affected families can get their necessities in such a difficult time”. Another of our pastors in Dhading said, “I hope and pray that we can be any kind of support to our people in such situations.”
Our newsletter this month is about the young people helped by the generosity of Asia Focus donors. Often, we don’t know how or where our donations have encouraged or even provided a pathway to a changed life. The stories are many In this edition, let me introduce you to just a few of these young people who live in Thailand, Nias (Sumatra), Vietnam and as far away as Liberia and Mongolia. Their lives are an inspiration and tribute to their dedicated fellow countrymen and women, the love and compassion of strangers like us, and the overriding love and grace of our Lord.
The 2 girls who have written the stories are both students at STT and are supported in their studies by Asia Focus scholarships.
Most readers of FIRE will have heard about the teaching ministry of Asia Focus in Vietnam. It is usually described as VALBI which is short for Vietnam Australia Lutheran Bible Institute. The concept of VALBI came out of links established between Pastor August Fricke and leaders of small groups of pastors around Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Da Lat, who were seeking teaching for themselves and the emerging pastors they were discipling. Most of the ‘students’ had little education beyond year 6 and many had become pastors later in life. The old model of formal seminary training was simply unsuitable for the task…
Overall, AFA sought to bring a holistic perspective on mission including evangelism, church planting, diakonia, interfaith dialogue, aid and relief when required.
This is an extensive history of the Abundant Life Church, please click through to read the entire article.
It’s Thursday evening and the first edition of Zoom Teaching for the Vietnam Australia Lutheran Bible Institute (VALBI) has concluded.. Both David Christian and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There were no problems with the technology and both of us quickly discovered the best way to set up. Better still... around 160 people were tuned in... Yep, that’s right... 160 participants...