ASAP Newsletter, 4th Quarter 2008

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Launching into the Deep

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ASAP is a registered 501(c3), non-profit organization and is fueled by faith in God and His provision through individuals’ financial support. Please note that 100% of your gifts go directly to the projects specified. All donations are tax-deductible.

ASAP publishes this newsletter quarterly. Please contact the office to receive your complementary subscription, or for additional copies to give to family and friends.

ASI MEMBER ASAP has been a member of ASI (Adventist-layman’s Services and Industries) since 1996 and is grateful to be an ASI grant recipient.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/DIRECTOR Judy AitkenEDITOR/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Julia O’Carey COPY EDITOR Linda BauerDESIGN/LAYOUT Sarah Lee | whyambient.comPHOTOGRAPHY Frank Spangler | worldviewimages.com

ASAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Bruce Bauer, Judy Aitken, Max & Linnea Torkelsen, Mary Ann McNeilus, Ralph & Beatrice Neall, Byron & Carol Reynolds, Robin Riches, Trudi Starlin, Kenneth Straw

CONTACT USAdventist Southeast Asia ProjectsPO Box 84Berrien Springs, MI 49103 TOLL FREE 1-866-365-3541PHONE 269-471-3026FAX 269-471-3034EMAIL [email protected] http://www.asapministries.org

Fourth Quarter 2008 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

ON THE COVER

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

Photo by DoN LLoyD

IN EVERY ISSUE

3 DIRECTOR’S UPDATE by JuDy aitkeN

4 THE INNER VIEW by bruCe bauer

10 SNAPSHOT OF ASAP’S FINANCES by kareN WaDe

14 ASAP FAMILY CONNECTIONS by WoLf JeDaMSki

15 IN LOVING MEMORY & HONOR

20 A GIVER’S HEART by MartiN kiM

23 P.S. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

16 Launching into the Deep in Laos by JuLia o’Carey

Meet Kajeng SongLay PaStor

18 Launching into the Deep in Thailand

by JuLia o’Carey

Remembering Joy Suthee KajonsonLay PaStor

IN THIS ISSUE

6 Launching into the Deep in Vietnam by JuDy aitkeN

Meet Vo Thi Thao Lay PaStor

8 Launching into the Deep in in Cambodia

by LiM PheNG

Meet Tep Poa Koliyaney ChurCh PLaNter

RECOMMENDED READINGFor an additional blessing, please

read Luke 5:4-11 and the story

called Fishing for the Lord, found

at www.asapministries.org.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a

catch.” Luke 5:4

Imagine the look of incredulous disbelief on Peter’s face when Jesus gave the command in Luke 5:4 to launch out into the deep again after he had fished all night without a catch. Although he was an experienced fisherman and this command went against his good judgment, he had total faith in Jesus and said to Him, “Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.” The amazing result was that “they caught a great number of fish,” more than their nets could hold. Have you ever felt like Peter, laboring in vain, or has the Lord ever impressed you to do something for Him that you felt was impossible? Through the past thirteen years that I have been serving the Lord through ASAP, I have experienced times after laboring when the catch was little. There were other times when I witnessed miracle after miracle and knew that the Lord was filling the nets to overflowing after we faithfully followed His commands. In this issue, examples are shared of how ASAP laborers in faith have launched into the deep unknown. In Bruce Bauer’s interview with Pastor Isah Young on page 4, you will see yet another way how God is honoring the great faith of the leader of the Vietnam underground house-church movement. Did you know even children can launch into the deep for Christ? Find out one way on page 14 in Wolf Jedamski’s article “Kids Reaching Kids for Christ.”

On pages 10 to 13 you can see some of the ways YOU, our ASAP donors, have launched into the deep by supporting many projects that made it possible for the gospel to spread in a mighty way in the past fiscal year. Thank you for stepping out in faith by partnering with us.

In light of what is happening in our world today, with the unstable economy and the signs pointing to the end times, let us earnestly pray for the millions of lost souls in Southeast Asia. Let us pull away from the shore, launch out into the deep, cast our gospel net with faith into all waters and expect a great catch of fish—many more precious souls saved in God’s Kingdom. Truly, the same God who gave an overabundance of fish to the disciples still lives and reigns today.

Sincerely,

Judy Aiken, ASAP Director

Fourth Quarter 2008 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects4

In a phone interview, Bruce Bauer, ASAP Chair, talks with Pastor Isah Young, the leader of the SDA Vietnam underground house-church movement and speaker for the Peace & Happiness radio broadcast.

BB: PASTOR ISAIAH, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT GOD IS DOING IN VIETNAM. I WONDER IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF ANYONE RECEIVING A DREAM OR A VISION FROM GOD IN CONNECTION WITH THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS RADIO BROADCAST?

IY: Yes, just a few months ago a worker had a dream in which he saw me in Vietnam preaching to literally millions of people. That spurred him on for he felt that if it was going to be possible for millions to hear the preaching of God’s word, he should get busy and prepare people for that day.

BB: SO WHAT HAPPENED?

IY: He went out and shared DVDs and handed out literature. All his activity got the attention of the police and he was arrested over and over again and ordered not to witness. On the sixth and last time he was arrested, the police tried a new tactic. They encouraged him to join the official Seventh-day Adventist Church organization, for they strictly control the witnessing activities of the recognized churches in Vietnam. The pastor refused.

by bruCe bauer

THE INNER VIEW

P Pastor lsah Young

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Your gift, big or small, will help spread God’s last day messages to the oppressed in Vietnam. It takes $177,000 for ASAP to keep the Peace & Happiness Radio & TV Ministry going for one year. Your investment in this ministry will produce great returns.

YOU CAN BE THE ONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A LIFE TODAY!

pPpPpP HELP PASTOR ISAH YOUNG SPREAD THE GOSPEL!

Web: www.asapministries.org | Phone: 1-866-365-3541 5

A few days later, one of the pastors from the recognized SDA Church arrived at his house and offered him a job with the official church as well as telling him the well-paid salary he would receive in his new position. At this the ASAP lay pastor asked, “Would you die for a million dollars?” He went on to say that he is willing to face arrest, torture, interrogation, and imprisonment because he believes in spreading the gospel. At that the SDA pastor left. BB: LET’S GO BACK TO TALKING ABOUT THAT AMAzING DREAM. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MEANING IS? I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ALLOW YOU TO ENTER THE COUNTRY AND PREACH TO MILLIONS.

IY: I really don’t know, but God is opening up more and more ways for people in Vietnam to hear the truth. In late August of this year, a lady in Orange County, Los Angeles, California, who is in charge of broadcasting for a local AM station, asked me to give her one hour a day of programming. That was great news! But she also said that the Free Asia Radio (a US government sponsored radio station) would rebroadcast the messages into Vietnam. The US government is presently sponsoring a Vietnamese satellite television channel for Vietnam to encourage democracy. They have also placed one hour of our programming on that channel and are beaming Adventist messages into Vietnam. Somehow this signal is broadcasted in VTC channel 9 in Vietnam, a national cable network. Perhaps all these new opportunities are the meaning of the dream.

BB: I CAN SEE HOW GOD IS INSTRUCTING YOU TO LAUNCH OUT IN FAITH AND YOU ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW HIM EACH STEP OF THIS EXCITING jOURNEY.

————————————————————————————————————— about the author —————————————————————————————————————Dr. Bruce Bauer is a professor and chair of the Department of World Mission in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Dr. Bauer and his wife, Linda, have a passion for mission and have served as missionaries for twenty-three years in Japan, Micronesia and Cambodia. His experience and knowledge brings a rich substance to ASAP, as board chair. In his spare time, Dr. Bauer enjoys birding, canoeing and gardening, as well as spending time with his five grandchildren.

Pastor lsah Young

Photo CaPtioNS toP: (left to right) Pastor isah young sharing about Vietnam during aSi; leading the underground training; a Vietnamese receiving Pastor isah young’s DVD sermons; praying with an aSaP lay pastor, Pastor isah young. (Photos have been blurred for the safety of the individuals)

6 Fourth Quarter 2008 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects

Launching into the Deep in Vietnamby JuDy aitkeN

The Vietnam lay pastors and youth evangelists earnestly pray with great faith for God’s guidance as they launch into the deep waters in seeking fish—souls for God’s Kingdom. With hearts burning of love for God and humankind they travel over pot-holed roads and treacherous mountain trails in spreading the gospel message. Still today, many in Vietnam suffer harassment, threatening, beatings, imprisonment and persecution for Christ. Some have been robbed at gunpoint and face great personal sacrifice.

The experiences of these Vietnamese missionaries strikingly resemble that of the prophets written about in Hebrews 11, who spread the gospel message with great faith.

The prophets: who through faith subdued Kingdoms, worked righteousness … were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith.

Their faith through persecution is a powerful testimony that draws people into the kingdom as a fisherman draws a net full of fish into his boat.

Evangelist Nguyen Nga* and house-church leader Cong Be’s* experience below illustrates this point. When the police were notified by the communist leader of the village that Cong Be’s wife, elderly mother and daughter had not been at home for two days, they came to his home to

investigate. When Cong Be refused to tell them that they were at a special two-day evangelism training led by lay pastor Nguyen Nga, they grew very angry. He described, “When my family returned home, the police came and took us to the police station. After interrogating us, they let the women leave but handcuffed me and beat me severely. As I fell to the floor, I cried in a loud voice to God for courage. The more I cried to God the angrier they became. They continued to kick, hit, and yell at me until my body was swollen and blood flowed from my mouth. I knew my family of God was praying for me.”

When the police allowed him to take a minute to relieve himself outside the station, he bolted into the woods, running until he

collapsed. God sheltered him from the eyes of the searching police and his wife miraculously found him three days later. Lay pastor Nguyen Nga arranged for him to be taken to a hospital in a town quite a distance from his home village where he was given good care. Nguyen Nga, who knows the law, courageously came to his defense and wrote letters to several levels of government. The local police were asked by those higher in command to formally apologize for their injustice. The Lord miraculously intervened and the people can worship but still under surveillance in this area. Their testimony of courage and faith spread throughout that area and five new house-churches have risen up as a result. My prayer is that we, too, will view the trials we encounter as soul winning opportunities and that our faith through conflict will set a shining example to those around us.

PHOTO: Cong Be handcuffed in prison.*Names changed for the safety of God’s faithful servants.

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WHEN MY FAMILY RETURNED HOME, THE POLICE CAME AND TOOK US TO THE POLICE STATION. AFTER INTERROGATING US, THEY LET THE WOMEN LEAVE BUT HANDCUFFED ME AND BEAT ME SEVERELY

7Christ is Coming ASAP … Reach Asia Now!

workers Vietnam

Meet Vo Thi Thao*

“We were doing God’s will and going in the right direction.”

Position Lay PastorLocation Vietnammain GoaL To plant 100 church groupshoW to heLP Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth more laborers who are willing to sacrifice everything for His work.

FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND All things that I gained before, my position, my money, my success, I left behind when I changed my career from head of a large denomination to ASAP lay pastor in the SDA underground house-church movement. Everything, including my priorities changed when I discovered the truth. For Christ “I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish” (Phil. 3:8). I am forgetting what is in the past and pressing ahead for what God has in store for me!

THE LORD GUIDES US My wife and children joined me in beginning a new church. They were strong in their faith and willing to start over again with nothing. We patiently pleaded with God for direction asking what we should do each step of the way. We sensed God’s leading when we began using Pr. Isah’s DVDs. My family and I would visit our friends’ homes and invite them to play the DVD we brought them as a gift, so we could watch it and discuss it with them. Some families were willing to watch about half of the DVD and there were other families that would turn it off immediately when they learned what it was about. We did not give up easily. We went back and approached them again and again. Some of them would accept the messages after the second, third, or fourth time. In a short time we began seeing families converted. This was a big encouragement to us, especially in the start of our new ministry. We were in God’s will and going about it in the right direction.

It didn’t matter what people said, I pressed on with my goal.”

*Name has been changed and picture blurred for the safety of the individual.

REjECTED BY ALL When I decided to work in the SDA underground house-church movement, I received rejection from friends and church members in my former congregations. Even my daughter-in-law who used to be active in evangelism and outreach turned against me. They told me how stupid I was and said I had something mentally wrong with me that I would give up all I had worked so hard for. I told them that my purpose is for eternal life, not for building up treasures in this life.

LOVE IS THE REASON When I first followed the Lord, I did so because I wanted Him to heal my wife who had cancer. Now I follow the Lord because I love Him. Because of my love for Him, my greatest desire I have is to be faithful and serve Him until the end of my life. I wish I understood the Bible when I was young. I am fifty-four and I hope that God will give me fifty more years to work for him.

‘ ‘


I am thankful to the Lord that Cambodia has opened up to the Gospel and that the Word of God is being proclaimed throughout all my homeland. What a joy it is for me to see God change people’s lives in this predominantly Buddhist country and witness them accept Jesus and walk in new light.

In the past year, we praise God for the 556 souls who received Him as their Savior in baptism and the fifteen new groups that have formed. Many more people are interested in the gospel and are in Bible studies with church planters as I write this. Although the majority of the members are

in great poverty, the local tithe has increased by 33 percent in the last year. This giving spirit reflects the spiritual maturity of the members.

Although we have encountered some governmental restrictions in the area of evangelism, the ASAP national missionaries and church members are still sharing the gospel message in their communities. In areas where local authorities are not as restrictive, we have been able to conduct small scale evangelistic meetings (110-300 people attending). In other provinces the authorities do not allow meetings conducted unless the worship place is registered. Please pray specifically for two provinces where small groups gathering to worship in homes were barred from meeting.

I am most impressed by the faith I see in the lives of the workers and believers. One example of this great faith took place in February when Pastor Horng Sophal found out the rent of the hospice was raised from $300 per month to $500. After he pleaded with the landlord that this was over the budget, she lowered it to $450, but that was still too much. Pastor Horng Sophal led the workers and residents of the Sda Center AIDS hospice in multiple, earnest prayer sessions. Miraculously, the landlord agreed to $350 a month. Praise the Lord for honoring their faith and answering prayers.

Without the prayers and financial support of ASAP, Cambodia Adventist Mission (CAM) would not be able to carry out its evangelistic efforts at this scale. We appreciate ASAP for supporting the literacy program, Feed & Read schools, church planting projects, humanitarian projects such as the hospice and other evangelistic related projects such as training for the workers. We see positive results coming out of those projects.

——————————————————————about the author ——————————————————————

Pastor Lim Pheng is the well-loved secretary of the Cambodia Adventist Mission and acting president since Garth Anthony retired in March of this year. He came to know the Lord in the refugee camps in Thailand when he was a teenager and resettled in the United States. In 1992, he chose to return to Cambodia to reach his people. He is

married to Agusta who is originally from Malaysia. They have two children, Lesley (10) and Jennifer (6).

Launching into the Deep in Cambodiaby LiM PheNG

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I AM MOST IMPRESSED BY THE FAITH I SEE IN THE LIVES OF THE WORKERS AND BELIEVERS

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Meet Tep Poa Koliyaney

“Every day I share the good news to people and invite them to church.”

Position Church PlanterLocation Cambodiamain GoaL To show my people that God is loving and powerful and can help them in their lives today.hoW You can heLP Please pray about giving a special gift to support the church planters so that ASAP can raise their stipends in the upcoming year. It is very difficult for them to live on what they currently are receiving because of the rising costs of necessities such as rice and gasoline. Currently Cambodian church planters receive a stipend of $100 per month.

WHAT IS MOST REWARDING I am happy to preach eight times per month, teach thirty children the Bible and lead my church members to study the Bible more and more, but the most rewarding thing I see is when God answers my prayers for those who are suffering from illness. Just last month, God completely healed five people from serious strokes.

PLEASE PRAY Mr. Soun’s family needs your prayers. I hope they will someday join the SDA church, too. Please pray for me to have health and courage because in February I experienced my fourth miscarriage. Please also pray for the faith of the members in my groups. Pray that my husband and I will have wisdom in how to reach more people. Pray for safety as we work in a dangerous neighborhood due to many of the people addicted to drugs. In another neighborhood many people are elderly, sick, illiterate and in need of help.

workers

I love seeing God heal.” ‘ ‘GOD STILL HEALS When I went visiting from house to house in my community, I came to Mr. Soun Soung’s house and discovered that he had been bedridden for five years due to intense joint pain throughout his body. After I introduced myself, I told him about a natural remedy and a God who is able to help him. When Mr. Soun agreed to try the natural remedy, Tep explained that the most important part of the treatment was prayer to the God who has power to heal. His grown children who shared the home strongly objected to praying to God because of being Buddhists. Mr. Soung told them, “Be quiet and let me make my own decision.” I prayed and did natural remedies every day for a week and after that he was able to walk again because his pain subsided. Mr. Soun praised God for healing him and he is coming to worship every Sabbath. His children and relatives were very surprised, but remain stubborn. They said, “That God healed you so you can go ahead and worship Him, but we are not going to that church!”

cambodia


by kareN WaDe CPa, aSaP treaSurer

ln this past fiscal year, you launched out into the deep by providing for many soul-winning projects in

Southeast Asia, including:

HEALTHY MEALS AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR 230 STUDENTS IN THE READ AND FEED PROGRAM

MANY SUCCESSFUL CHURCH PLANTING PROjECTS, WITH EVANGELISTIC SERIES HELD, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS OF OVER FORTY-TWO CHURCHES

A Snapshot of ASAP FinancesP

Children who otherwise would spend their days scavenging food and looking for items they might find useful from the trash dumps, with never enough to eat, now have an opportunity to learn. Learning to read not only breaks the cycle of extreme poverty that keeps them trapped in the garbage dumps, but it teaches them to love Jesus and give their hearts to God.


Photo by alden J. ho Photography


28 WELLS DUG NEAR CHURCHES FOR VILLAGERS THAT DID NOT HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO A SAFE WATER SOURCE

APPROXIMATELY 100 BICYCLES & MOPEDS were repaired or purchased which gives more efficiency to ASAP national missionaries.

OVER $160,000 IN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA which provided opportunities such as sewing schools for poor women and timely aid to SDA members suffering from cyclones, flooding, droughts and other emergency situations. You helped rebuild lives!




HEALTH TRAINING for ASAP medical missionaries and lay people in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

PRAYERS AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS RADIO/TV MINISTRY WHICH BRINGS THE GOSPEL DAILY TO MILLIONS IN VIETNAM

SPONSORSHIP FOR AN AIDS HOSPICE in Cambodia where infected SDA members receive a roof over their heads, adequate nourishment, treatment, as well as a chance to live with dignity.

SALARIES FOR 174 LITERACY TEACHERS where a total of 1,843 women and children have learned not only to read and write but also to read the Bible and learn about the loving author of this special Textbook.




A FLOATING HOUSE-CHURCH IN CAMBODIA WHICH WILL SERVE AS A SANCTUARY FOR THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

NEARLY 1,200 SETS OF DVD EVANGELISTIC SERMONS with players (556 so far distributed) to nurture the faith of underground house-church members in Vietnam.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE, ALONG WITH SPIRITUAL NURTURING THROUGH AN ASAP MISSION TRIP

TOOLS FOR EVANGELISM supplied, such as 6,000 Bibles, 163,485 DVDs, 30,000 books, radios and evangelistic pamphlets to feed people’s spiritually hungry hearts.

OVER 400 CHURCH PLANTERS AND LAY PASTORS sharing the truths about the real God with those who have never heard of Him.




Wow! What a great week! The Collegedale SDA Church in Tennessee was alive with the sounds of children’s voices. Vacation Bible School kicked off Monday morning, July 14, and the fun never slowed down until after the closing program on Friday. Each day we averaged 329 kids!

During the week our kids learned all about service; how they can make a difference by serving their family, friends, neighbors, community, and most importantly Jesus. Through music, Bible stories, community service activities, crafts, and recreation kids learned how service looks and feels. They learned that no matter their age they can make a difference for Jesus. The children were challenged on Friday morning to commit their lives in service to Jesus and were given the opportunity to respond by writing their names on paper hands. The commitment fence was covered with little hands!

In addition to serving the local community, a mission project was selected. This year’s project was to raise funds for ASAP’s Read & Feed schools located in Cambodia. These schools help reach poverty stricken children who spend their days digging through the local dump trying to find food and miscellaneous items that they can sell to help support their families. Each student not only receives a hot meal but

they receive an education. It costs only $130 to sponsor a child for one year. So we challenged our kids to see how many of their brothers and sisters in Cambodia they could sponsor.

One seven year old, Miranda, with the help of her brother and some friends, set up a lemonade stand to raise money for this mission project. She came to us Friday morning with a bag full of money, a huge smile, and proudly announced that she had over $108 to give for our Cambodian children. Talk about service! At the end of the week we were proud to announce our VBS kids had raised $1,385.81. This means that they sponsored over ten children! And in recognition of the hard work of our VBS staff we sponsored two additional children from the VBS operating budget. On Sabbath morning we challenged the church family to match the amount that our children raised. The congregation accepted the challenge and gave enough to reach a total of $3,990.07. A total of just over thirty children will be sponsored for a year. A program like this takes a lot of hard work and dedication but the results are well worth it.

——————————————————————about the author——————————————————————Wolf Jedamski is the Administrator and Associate Pastor of Mission at the Collegedale SDA Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He and his wife, Beth, are intimately tied to God’s work in Cambodia. They have led mission groups to this part of the world for the past fifteen years. Through his efforts, the church has adopted and supported the work of mission in Cambodia since the country reopened to the Gospel.

by WoLf JeDaMSki

CONNECTIONS

ASAP FAMILY

Kids Reaching Kids for ChristP

IT COSTS ONLY $130 TO SPONSOR A CHILD FOR ONE YEARSo we challenged our kids to see how many of their brothers and sisters in Cambodia they could sponsor.


Please take the words found in Philippians 1:3-6 as ASAP’s message to you and your families as you either grieve the loss of your loved ones or celebrate their special life events.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” IN MEMORY OF:Ann Marie Dunn, former missionary to Burma, by Judy AitkenForris Chaney, our best friend, by Ivan and Alice HammondMilton Kesler and Wesley Steele (brother) by Yvonne KeslerFrank Kosh by Ileana KoshMark Hall, by Judy AitkenAll Vietnam veterans KIA by Norman McBrideOur dear brother, Wendell L. Cherrier by Doris Wareham and Wayne CherrierLinda Watson, by Judy Aitken

IN HONOR OF:Dorian Ward by James GusterMaddox Cowan’s 3rd birthday by Carolyn HartmanAmy Kim’s birthday by Martin and Liana Kim

In Loving Memory & Honor

Phot

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I would like to focus your attention on two bits of news that show how beautifully God is working among the Lao people during the past quarter. ASAP received an exciting report from Pastor Boonprannee Wannadee, the president of the Lao Adventist Field, where he told about two animistic villages in Northern Laos that ASAP representative, Kork Sihavong, and he visited. Wannadee writes, “We sought an opportunity to get into their homes to witness for Christ and through prayer, finally got a chance to make a visit.

More than twenty people came to listen to what Kork and I had to say. We shared the plan of salvation and gift of eternal life only through Jesus Christ. They were excited to hear the story and responded by accepting Jesus as their Savior. We chose two young men among them to return

to Vientiane with us to study the Bible. We hope they will become ASAP church planters and return to their villages to teach their people in the near future. The Lord really blessed our mission trip through ASAP’s support.”

We received great news regarding the ASAP Wangmuang project for displaced Laotians within Cambodia. Cambodia Adventist Mission finally received governmental permission for ASAP to build a school. For quite some time, the Gold Beach Church members (ASAP donors who adopted this project) have been praying patiently for this to happen. Now the two ASAP church planters, Visian, who is Laotian, and Khut Ney, who is Cambodian, can continue their labor of love for the displaced Lao people, by leading out in the building of this much needed facility. Currently over forty students attend the Lao/English/Cambodian Bible school every day. Half of the students attend worship each Sabbath. Eighteen of the children are preparing for baptism.

Although these people are Laotian, before Visian came to this village, no one could read the Lao language. They were not educated by Cambodian standards either because the government did not want to invest in their education since they are native Laotians. Brian Wilson, supervisor of the project writes, “On a previous visit I listened to the children reading from the Bible on Sabbath and was impressed by the clarity (and enthusiasm!) with which they read.”

These are just two examples of how ASAP stepped out in faith to share Jesus with the Lao people. Let us pray that we will follow Jesus’ command in Mark 11:22-23 so we can even reach more Laotians for Christ. “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Launching into the Deep in Laosby JuLia o’Carey

P

Students at the Wangmuang SDa School.

the Wangmuang garden project.


Meet Kajeng Song

“When I pray, God always answers me.”

Position Lay pastorLocation Tongnamee Nua Village, Borekeo Province, Laosmain GoaL To put God first in my life and serve Him with all my heart by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to my Hmong people.hoW You can heLP

Pray for our growing congregation.•Pray for a church that will be large •enough for everyone to worship.Pray for funds to prepare the land.•Pray for a motorbike so that I can •visit more people.

GOD’S CALL Two years ago I heard God’s call to preach and teach the good news of salvation to my people. Shortly after I began serving God as a volunteer. There were only sixteen people coming to church to worship God in my family’s home at that time. I thank God that today there are 103 who come to worship God on Sabbath. I also thank God that I was able to receive support as an ASAP lay pastor beginning January 2008.

PRAYER IS THE ANSWER Two years ago my father had a very serious kidney disease. The doctors told him that he would have to have surgery to replace his kidney. My family is very poor and did not have money for the surgery. I asked my friend to pray with me for my father. We prayed all night. The next morning my father told me that he felt relief from the pain. When my father went back to be checked, the doctor was very surprised and said that the kidney is well and he does not need the operation. I thank God for the miracle of healing my father.

workers Laos

God shows His love to me.” ‘ ‘ONE OF MY FAVORITE BIBLE TEXTS I hold on to Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” I like this verse because it shows that God as our Father is very rich to provide for our needs. God shows His love to me. I feel that He is very close to me. When I pray, God always answers me. He helps me in everything I do for Him.


ASAP exists for one simple purpose—to “catch fish” for God’s Kingdom in the “seas” of Southeast Asia. God gives different commands to various “fishermen” in order for a great catch to take place. In Thailand, health evangelism and English/branch Sabbath Schools are two effective “hooks” ASAP workers use to catch people’s attention and lead them to Christ.

ASAP assists Mission College as one of the sponsors who makes it possible for their students to conduct thirteen English/branch Sabbath Schools throughout the towns neighboring the college. Each Sabbath afternoon students volunteer their time to share their faith with Buddhist children and their parents. Judy Aitken, ASAP director says, “My heart was so touched when I visited the English/branch Sabbath School on the Thai air force base in Korat this past March. The room was packed with children who sang with much enthusiasm. About seven of the parents were in the back, clapping, smiling and singing along. I was so impressed with what a great witnessing opportunity this is.” Mission College students teach the students about God through songs, stories and the “venue” of teaching them conversational English. Praise God some students are now attending church each week.

Phamor Phoopichitprai partners with ASAP to train laborers to use health evangelism in their ministries. The onset of his son’s blindness occurring from a preventable auto-immune disease caused him and his wife to seriously search the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy regarding the subject of health. Through that search he developed a passion for the unique health message of the Adventist Church.

ASAP funded several health training seminars led by Pastor Phamor this year. At a recent training, a group from Aenon Health Farm in Malaysia teamed up with Pastor Phamor. ASAP sponsored twenty-seven laborers (mostly from Myanmar) to come to Chiang Mai and study topics such as “prevention is better than a cure,” “food is the best medicine” and “how to help the body heal itself through natural remedies.” After gaining knowledge, the students worked

in cooperative groups and presented what they learned to elementary students. Passtor Phamor writes, “The students were extremely interested in the information given by each group and the teachers from the school were so impressed they invited us to return in the future.” They received hands-on experience by visiting nearby villages providing the people with health advice and free massages.

As the ASAP team visited remote villages in Southeast Asia, we encountered many testimonies of how people were healed by God’s power when they followed His instructions on health. These real experiences often led them to accept God as their Savior. Counsels on Diet and Foods, page 76 states, “Much of the prejudice that prevents the truth of the third angel’s message from reaching the hearts of the people, might be removed if more attention were given to health reform.” Please pray that these hooks will indeed catch many more fish for Christ!

Launching into the Deep in Thailandby JuLia o’Carey

P

Pastor Phamor leading a health evangelism training.

the korat students visit the SDa church for a special service.


Remembering Suthee

Kajonson

“After I learned about the SDA beliefs and started following God’s truth about the Sabbath I felt a peace, a sense of purpose that I had never had before.”

Suthee Kajonson faithfully labored for God as an ASAP lay pastor up to the day he passed away, August 14, 2008. The ASAP family, Thailand Adventist Mission and all who associated with Kajonson are deeply saddened by his passing. We look forward to the day we will be reunited with him again in heaven.

Kajonson came to know the Lord when he was about forty years old. Prior to that time, he was a practicing Buddhist monk, yet continually searched for a religion that gave him peace and answers to his many questions. After accepting Christ, Kajonson continued his search for the true Christian church. Years later, Kajonson attended a friend’s wedding where he was invited by a SDA pastor to join his Bible class.

“After I learned about the SDA beliefs and started following God’s truth about the Sabbath I felt a peace, a sense of purpose that I had never had before,” Kajonson said, following his baptism. After taking on the responsibility of ASAP lay pastor, it wasn’t long before he had planted an active, thriving church in his village of Lahansai, Thailand. God blessed Kajonson with a friendly personality, passion for the Word of God and commitment to prayer. He was a respected elder in his village. The members of Kajonson’s church are committed to continue their Sabbath worship in the church that the Lemos family built during a mission trip to Thailand in 2006.

It must also be said, though, that along with Kajonson’s passing, there are reasons for praise. We rejoice that the Lord gave him seventy-two healthy years and are especially thankful for the past six years that Suthee Kajonson spread Adventist truth. Furthermore, we praise the Lord for the fifty-nine souls who were baptized under Kajonson’s leadership.

workers thaiLand

We look forward to the day we will be reunited with him.” ‘ ‘


A GIVER’S HEART

P Making Him Feel Like a King

A week before my wife and I made the long trek from Seattle, Washington to Berrien Springs, Michigan, the Lord gave us a special message of preparation through one of the Soquel campmeeting speakers. Elder Paul Ratsara, President of the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division, the fastest growing division in the world, began his message on faith with the text found in Hebrews 11:6 which says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” He preached an inspiring sermon about how we need to live by faith and expect great things and ended with the following story:

King Alexander, the great and mighty conqueror, was known as being a very compassionate king. Once a year, he set aside a day where he would show his compassion to the people. Those in need would come and present their humble requests, such as clothing, food, medicine, etc, to the king’s servant who dutifully took them to the king. One by one the king would grant the requests. It so happened that one individual came and asked the king’s servant for a palace. The servant thought this was a ridiculous request and began telling this individual that such a request could not be granted. The individual went on, asking, “I would like this palace to be fully furnished and on top of that, I would like a banquet prepared so that I can invite all my friends and family over so we can celebrate.” The servant decided not to take this request to the king. However, the king later asked the servant what the one individual had requested.

Because the king insisted on knowing, the servant shared. The king listened very carefully and then said to the servant, “I will grant this man’s request!” The servant was quite surprised and asked the king why. In which he replied, “Most people come to me with simple requests that could be supplied by others. But this individual came with a request that only I as the king can provide. This man makes me feel as though I AM KING!” Liana was so inspired by this story, she said, “Lord, I have been praying that You would provide us a small home in Berrien Springs, but now I pray for a palace!” So Liana and I drove out to Michigan expecting great things. After a grueling four days on the road, we decided to get a good night of rest and begin house hunting the morning after we arrived. Liana woke up feeling a bit anxious. Her worries and fears were put to rest as she read her Bible that morning. She felt so blessed as she came across many beautiful promises in Ps. 46-48. As she came across chapter 48, she saw the word “palace” a number of times. She came away from her morning devotions quite excited that the Lord was indeed going to provide us a palace. After visiting the ASAP home office where we would begin working, we started looking at ads and driving around the neighborhood, searching for a home to rent, trusting that the Lord would lead us to the right home in His time and in His way. After checking out one house, we decided to stop by some apartments in the area, though that would not be our first choice. As we pulled into the parking lot, I asked the mailman where the office was. He said that the office is located in downtown Berrien Springs. But he said that the owner just pulled in and he pointed to the building that she went in. As we approached

by MartiN kiM

LORD, I HAVE BEEN PRAYING THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE US A SMALL HOME IN BERRIEN SPRINGS, BUT NOW I PRAY FOR A PALACE!


Making Him Feel Like a King

the building we realized that we could not go in without a key. Right at that moment, someone entered the building and let us in and introduced us to the owner who was heading out. She said, “I have no more apartments for rent, but I do have a home. Would you like to see it?” We enthusiastically said yes and followed her back to the neighborhood we just drove through by the office. When we first set eyes on the house Liana turned to me and said with a big smile, “This is a PALACE!!!” As we looked through the house, we were convinced that this was God’s special gift to us. It is an affordable, small, two bedroom house with a big basement. We have our own little dock in the back where we can greet and feed our regal guests (ducks) that honor us with daily visits, and squirrels that make their home in our trees. It is a half mile away from the ASAP office (something we prayed specifically about). And it has a million dollar lakefront view! We feel the Lord has brought us here to give us a foretaste of our heavenly home.

A real estate agent shared with me that it is very difficult to find a home for rent in this

area these days. A lot of first time home buyers have also decided to rent because of the housing market crisis. On top of this, there are many students coming in for the new school year. One student shared with me that there are seventy-three names on the waiting list at the Andrews University apartments.

We thank the Lord for the way He has provided for us! Through this experience, we caught a glimpse of the ultimate Giver’s heart, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. I hope this testimony will inspire you to step out in faith. You too, can make God feel like the King of Kings He is by the magnitude of your requests. Always remember that the greatest gift He desires to give you is a clean and pure heart, a giving heart that mirrors His.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Martin and Liana Kim find much joy in sacrificially giving of their time, their resources and their hearts! They are two of the most unselfish, faith-filled people I know. Yet their testimony here shows once again that the more they give and rely on God in faith, the more God gives back to them to honor that faith. We feel so blessed to have Martin and Liana as part of the ASAP team.


The Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC) came alive Saturday evening, September 6, as guests began arriving for Keep Hope Alive, a concert benefiting the needy through Adventist Southeast Asia Projects. Song writer and accomplished pianist, Jee Wong, along with local talent Lucy Lewis (violinist) and the choral group, Journey, performed musical numbers in keeping with the theme of the concert. The ASAP team was so blessed to see how the people responded. The greatest blessing, however, was in seeing how the Lord filled the music hall as we had looked to Him to fill the net (Luke 5:4). This has been a rich faith building experience for our ASAP team that keeps our hope alive in Him. We look forward to launching out and planning ASAP Benefit Concerts in many other locations.

To read the full story, visit www.asapministries.orgIf you are interested in hosting an ASAP Benefit Concert in your area, please contact us.

BE THE ANSWER TO SOMEONE’S PRAYER!

Cambodia, a country slightly smaller than the state of Oklahoma, has been hit with a number of natural disasters. Thousands of hectors of rice fields have been damaged in several provinces because of a severe drought. Other provinces have been affected by terrible flooding which have also left people hungry and in need of rice, their staple food.

TWO KEY WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Please pray for children and families affected by the floods and droughts.

Donate now to help ASAP respond quickly to help those who are suffering and needing help to rebuild their lives.

MANY ARE HUNGRY AND PRAYING FOR HELP. WILL YOU BE THE ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS?

pPpPpPpP

by raChaeL barreraHope Kept Alive


LAOS

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

My son Levi had another lemonade stand this summer with the same enthusiasm and excitement! He was so thrilled to see God’s answer to our prayer to impress his customers with generosity for the Vietnam Peace & Happiness radio ministry.

breNDa froM keNtuCky

The Lord impressed me to tell my doctor about the Sda Center Hospice in Cambodia when I had my appointment this week. The enclosed check is the result of the Holy Spirit’s prompting.

NaNCy froM fLoriDa

We are all thankful to the ASAP donors and we thank God a million times for what He has done. By your help we can go place to place, house to house, village to village and district to district to take the good news to share with people and help them to know God. May God bless you and always be with you.

SauM SoVaNNy, PaStor froM CaMboDia

The Oroville SDA Church VBS children chose a mission project for the first time this year. The young people AND adults really got into it! We collected money for the purchase of rice to feed needy families in Southeast Asia. As the donations came in, we filled an empty plastic jar with gumballs, which we dispersed to the children on the last night as a tasty reminder of their sacrifice.

kathy froM CaLiforNia

Adventist members who live in Sda (hospice) center thank God so much for kind people who help them to have a place to live in and food to eat. Though they have HIV/AIDS, God remains to love them. Before they were discouraged and without hope because their family rejected them. Now they thank God so much that He loves them, provides for their care and gives them hope that when He comes the second time they will go to heaven with Him.

horNG SoPhaL, PaStor froM CaMboDia

Dear ASAP Family, I am faithful in sending in my donation every month even though I have not had work for a long time. Please receive this gift to help a family of five for a month to have the rice they need to survive. I hope we will all see each other in heaven when these natural calamities are over.

riCarDo froM VirGiNia

I am thankful to ASAP for supporting the literacy program in Cambodia. God blessed me to have peace in my life and He makes my life joyful. I am very happy that I can work as a literacy teacher. God makes me brave to tell my students about the love of God in His word. Now I teach 18 students who are studying the Holy Bible and preparing themselves to be baptized. They are very happy. I would like to pray for ASAP to have good progress and good health in God’s grace.

MoL LiNa, teaCher froM CaMboDia

P.S. We Love Hearing from You!P

MYANMAR

You can read more inspiring stories of how God has influenced people’s lives by visiting our website:www.asapministries.org/about-testimonials

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ASAP Newsletter, 4th Quarter 2008

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