J & C
South Asia
The situation here has improved and is generally calm. Ceasefire is observed as the rebels are preparing peace talks with the government parties. As I travel out to visit our churches, security checks have reduced and become less intense. Pray for success in the peace talks. Since the Iraqi war started, the government, in anticipating for fuel shortages, has imposed limits on buying petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas and implemented rationing programmes. As a result, food prices have also increased. Vehicles are now only allowed for use on alternate days. Private cars with even number plates run on even date days and odd number plates the following day. Not only city traffic but also air/noise pollution are instantly reduced by half! I wonder how car owners would react if this fuel saving measure was imposed in Singapore? So these days I drive my beat-up 1961 original VW beetle one day and get some exercise on the bicycle the next day!
The church-planting works in our outstation churches are progressing well. The land has been purchased for CNL-Be and the building construction by our believers will soon be completed. Early this year a new work has branched out from CNL-Be! This is our latest work, the fifth church of CNL missions work here. There are a handful of believing families in the church at the moment.
In CNL-Nr, new believers are coming. We target to branch out a new work from this church in six months’ time. With the general calm brought about by the ceasefire, we plan to hold outdoor outreaches in the villages around our churches. I hope mission teams from CNL-S’pore would come and join us in the outreaches in October this year. I am also hoping to visit CNL-Kr situated in the remote west area with the easing on security at the moment. Pray that the current 'window' will stay open for us to carry out the outreach plans. And ask Father to grant us a great harvest!
The second church-planting course was conducted successfully with 8 trainees. One trainee found with church-planting potential has been singled out to start a new work after the course. We are in the midst of praying for a new area/place where there is yet to have a church to send our trainee to. So, in total we hope to establish 3 new churches within the year. Pray for this to happen! The Harvest Centre’s third church-planting course is scheduled to start in August soon after the rice planting. Already we have 9 applicants in our list! Looks like we may need to expand our training to 10 candidates from next course on. Pray that Father will raise up more potential workers in Harvest Mission Centre for the harvest fields.
Our first three boys celebrated their 3rd birthday in our home recently. All of them are doing very well in their studies. They are usually among the top 5 in their respective classes. At the moment we are waiting for more info (bio data and family history) on two new boys before admitting them into our home. We need Father's guidance in making the right decision. Besides running the children church weekly, the door to minister to prisoners' children has been opened once again for C.
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work," said the Lord (John 4:34). To partake in the Lord's food is truly the most fulfilling, rewarding and satisfying work one can ever take part. For this C and I are always grateful to Father for Ps Ong, Sis Helen, CNL-S’pore & Bethel A/G for your unfailing support for us and our ministry here. May you also desire Father's food in order to taste His goodness and know His greatness in your life!
