SE Asia a Success!
Ignite the World Ministries (ITWM) embarked on its fifth missionary outreach to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand in November and had much success in completing its mission. The goal was to establish "missionary outposts of evangelism" and identify key leaders (igniters) to carry forth the Great Commission to under-evangelized areas. A precursor to this mission was conducted in December of 2010 when ITWM sent international partners Pastor Hung of Cambodia and Pastor Daniel of Vietnam on a "scouting mission" to make initial contact with key leaders to see if they would like to partner with our ministry in reaching the unreached. The report was favorable, and ITWM went forward to launch a more comprehensive outreach to solidify these contacts with strategic meetings and training. The Holy Spirit touched many of these men and women to make commitments to "step up" their efforts to bring the Gospel to their countrymen and plant churches for discipleship. Many heard our message of the "time is short", and we need to be busy in winning the lost. We emphasized how the Lord is pouring out His Spirit in these last days (Joel 2:28-32), and how technology
(Daniel 12:4) is reaching millions with the Gospel. We also introduced the "solar audio bible" that will help the igniters reach those who are not connected to the modern world and who also can't read or are blind. The leaders were very pleased with our plan and many made commitments to partner with ITWM. On the right is a map showing our missionary outreach from October 31 to November 10 and a country by country description of the events and activities that took place.
Cambodia
This was our third trip to Cambodia. Our focus here was to check on our compassion relief projects, and to see how the church plants were doing since our initial visit in 2009. Our plan was to visit our 13 clean water wells and 10 latrine projects in three jungle villages North of
Phnom Penh, the capital. We were quite pleased to see the usage of the clean water wells that we built in the village of Tror Pian Rousay as the villagers were making the most of clean drinking water, dish-washing, and bathing. There is now a church planted there with 15-20 believers meeting every week with Pastor Kea of the Cambodian Methodist Services. We were also able to provide a small medical clinic with our friend Mordegai, the jungle doctor as he is known to all the villagers. One man with severe gout, we believe, couldn't stand up for two days. After healing prayer he got up and walked and then he and his family accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. PTL!We later ventured to the village of Kabal Romey to meet with the believers there. We were able to witness how some of the
villagers took our offer to build latrines in or next to their house. ITWM provided the porcelain toilet and some cement. The villager then had to do the labor. This arrangement gave them "ownership" of the project. Some were very simple, and
others added a complete water system to it and even a shower. The church at Kabal Romey has educated their neighbors that the latrines are a good change as it will decrease disease, provide privacy (most people just relieve themselves in the open),
and introduce just general, civilized hygiene. This project has given the church favor in a predominant Buddhist area with a few giving their lives to Christ.
Our last stop was in the village of Baray where Pastor Kea explained how the people are still listening to the solar audio bibles, and many have come to the Lord through them. Pastor Kea and his team of evangelists have started 37 churches in the last few years and are using the solar audio bibles regularly. We also went to visit a new water well that was being well used in the community. We tried to see the newly constructed wells, but could not due to the heavy flooding in the region.
A good, fruitful partnership continues and grows in Cambodia!
Vietnam
Vietnam and Laos was our main focus of ministry on this trip. This was our second visit to Vietnam. We boarded the bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon(Ho Chi Minh City), a six-hour journey. Pastor Hung accompanied us and shared Christ with everyone on the bus. The people sitting near us were moved by what he said and wanted to hear more over lunch at the midway rest stop. They surprised us by buying us lunch. We then landed in Saigon. Later that day we met up with Pastor Daniel and 10 Christian leaders representing key churches.
Some of these were those we met with a year ago. Some said that they have been using the solar audio players and having good success in the villages. They wanted to continue to work with us in getting these units out throughout the country. They said they would provide us with testimonies and photos.
The next day we traveled three hours Northeast of Saigon to the village of Lam San. We shared the gospel at a local church and over 40 received Christ! We also prayed for healing and many were healed. This community was hit hard by the flooding of the rice fields, so ITWM provided rice for 100 families. The people were very happy! Later that night at the hotel, Pastor Hung and Mike met with two young evangelists who were working with the tribal people in the Cau Mau
Peninsula Highlands, the Southern-most point of Vietnam. These young men are real soul-winners and bold, risking much persecution. Please pray for this strategic region of Vietnam.
The next morning we flew to Da Nang, but before we boarded, the police wanted to know what was in our suitcase as the scanner detected a possible electronic devise. They were inquiring about the solar audio bibles. We gladly opened up the suitcase for them and Pastor Hung demonstrated that these units were solar not electrical and played the Gospel for them. They thought it was a very clever devise and like the message they heard. They closed up the suitcase and told us to "have a good trip". In Da Nang, on the Central Coast of Vietnam,
we conducted a two-hour training session with about 15 pastors from that region. We taught on evangelism and church planting. They were excited to receive the solar players, and wanted to work further with our missionary endeavor.
One pastor works with the leper colony in the Central Highlands, about 335 people. Most have come to Christ through his ministry. We gladly gave him a solar bible as many of the older people can't read or can see very well. Another husband and wife team ran
an orphanage and wanted to also use the solar unit
Next, we were off to Northern Vietnam-Hanoi. This was probably our most exciting and fruitful meeting. For over three hours we met with 65 evangelists who wanted to "step-up" their efforts to reach their countrymen for Christ. We taught on 2 Timothy (Doing the work of an evangelist), evangelism in the power of the Holy Spirit as described in the Book of Acts, and in church planting. Many wanted our solar audio bibles. We finished
with a "sending out" service and anointed them with oil. The next day we were off to preach the Sunday sermon at a church in Ha Long City Bay, a coastal town about three hours North of Hanoi. We shared the Good Samaritan parable of Luke 10 and encouraged the people to reach out to their neighbors in need, believers and non-believers alike. Three people accept Christ. Later the church took us on a three-hour boat ride in the beautiful, majestic mountain bay that is well known for harvesting pearls.
Laos
On Monday we flew to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
Here we met with two church leaders and introduced our program. The liked it and said they would share it with their senior pastor, Pastor David who happened to be in the U.S. at the time (later we skyped with Pastor David who said he was excited to partner with us to win all of Laos with the Good News). Laos as you know is a communist country and Christianity is limited. However, where there is persecution, the church grows.
Currently there are an estimated 300 open churches and over 1000 underground churches. The next day we would visit one of the underground churches. Our plan was to fly from Vientiane in the North to Savannakhet, a major city on the Mekong River in South Central Laos. However, we found out that our flight was canceled with no chance of rebooking another flight. With that in view, we decide to take an all-night bus ride to Savannakhet.
We arrived at 5am and found a hotel that let us check in early. We showered, ate breakfast, then drove about 60 miles to the South to a village called Paaksong. This was a small, underground church led by a couple of pastors-mighty, bold men of God. One was called Samson, a one-time champion prize fighter. Both men have spent time in jail for their evangelistic efforts. They have planted many churches.
They were delighted to receive the solar players and we gave them money to buy rice to feed the poor. As we were meeting, the police came and wanted to know why two foreigners were in the village. Samson explained that they were there on a friendly visit to see the pastors. The police then asked to see our passports, asked a few more questions, and then moved on. Pastor Samson has favor in the community because of his past boxing notoriety.
Again the Lord gave us great favor with some key contacts to further the Gospel in Laos. Later that day we met with Dr. Prafix Inthasone, a man of 70-80 years of age, and the first Laotian-trained Optomitrist in Laos. He even provided eye care for the president of the country. He is also the most well-known Christian leader in all of Laos, overseeing 35 open churches and 35 underground churches.
This is a very humble servant of the Lord and highly revered by the people and government leaders. He has done much to spread the Gospel throughout Laos. They next day he took us for a tour of his Eye Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. We were all very impressed with how much eye care gets done for the poor with such antiquated equipment. We gave a solar unit to the blind patients and they were very happy.
Later he drove us over Thai border which saved us several hours. We were very blessed to see how the Lord is pouring out His Spirit in a mighty way to bring salvation to Laos!
Thailand
Now a fast trip to Udon Thani, in the Northeastern section of Thailand. Here we were to meet Pastor Chetti. Unfortunately, he was with Pastor David in the U.S. However, he made arrangements for us to visit his church leaders in a village called Nam Som,
about 60 miles Northeast of Udon Thani. This was a great way to close out our two-week outreach. We met with about 20 leaders and taught again in 2 Timothy, evangelism, and church planting.
The pastors and leaders were hungry for the Word and encouragement. They really wanted more of the Holy Spirit. We concluded with a powerful anointing service and sent out these evangelists to win Northeastern Thailand for Jesus Christ!
In all, the time spent in these four countries was extremely fruitful as the Lord poured out His Spirit and gave us many divine appointments for future ministry. Thank you Jesus!
Video from the mission trip
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