It was a young man called Barnabus that contacted me through the Internet Bible College and sent out a "Macedonian Call" come over and help us.
I have recieved many such requests but this surpasssed them all...
Nepal
I was in Nepal for only two weeks and able to minister in two churches, their church day is Saturday. I am delighted to report back that the openness of the people to the word of God was wonderfully refreshing. I could not understand a word of what they sang (my Nepali is nonexistent), so I sang in tongues with them as I often have when in another country or culture and I do not know the language. They asked me where I learned to sing in Nepali. We were all amazed! It was a new experience I sang in tongues they heard in Nepali!. Bless God.
In both of the churches the response to the word was wonderful and many were healed and the blessing of the word rested on many. Some wept, some laughed, the responses were delightful to experience.
I was asked to speak with a young lady who was demonic and very much into self harm and harming her husband. He was fearful. I have rarely found deliverance ministry to be dramatic and this was typical, a rebuke of the demon, from the loving heart of Christ, delivered as carefully as I can, and the young lady was released from the insidious grip of the demon. Two days later I met her again and she greeted me like an old friend. The change in her was so dramatic I did not recognise her. In fact I had to check with her sister-in-law to ensure that she was the same woman. Praise God.
I expected to meet just a few pastors but quickly discovered that Vision is an ideal ministry to serve the needs of the nation. Our program of local church based Bible colleges is an ideal method for meeting the training needs of the church in Nepal at this time
There are many denominations, individual churches, mission organizations and para-church groups in Nepal. However I was surprised to learn that they have “covering bodies” that embrace all groups. Their purpose is to encourage a sense of unity within the diversity of the Christian groups, and they do this very effectively. These covering bodies are both national and regional, and they serve the nation co-operatively within their own scope , without threat or hindrance to each other and with great respect to the position of all Christians, regardless of the “flag” they fly.
It was to the leaders of these groups that I was introduced, and usually without my knowledge of the influence of the person I was meeting. Once he was satisfied that I was genuine, meetings were set up with groups of pastors in the region. As a result I had the privilege of sharing Vision on a very personal level with several hundred pastors. They were free to discuss Vision, question me and get to understand our desire simply to come alongside and be a help to them as a “silent partner”.
These men oversee about 1 million Christians throughout the nation. Due to the nature of the churches and their need, along with the unique ministry of Vision, there is no limit to the number of Christians who may be studying with Vision. Of course this will take time, but the right influence with the right people in the right place at the right time will make this possible with the right people on the team, working with the Holy Spirit.
Due to the acceptance of the ministry of Vision we found it needful to set up a committee in Nepal to run Vision for the Nation. A small and very capable team has been established for that purpose and will be able to present the recognised programme at this time. After they become familiar with that, they will be able to offer the accredited program.
I have been privileged to be granted an insight into my brothers and sisters in Nepal, their enormous capacity to work for God, their need of sound teaching that can be offered in their language and administered by their own people, and their love for their own people. I am impressed by their heart for God, the church, for me as foreigner, and for the world at large.
Please pray for them. Pray that God will give them wisdom to move effectively through the nation, that they will neither run too fast nor be too slow. Pray that God will lead others to them, and for the committee of older and wiser heads that will provide the balance that youth so often needs. Pray that they will continue to work harmoniously together.
Onto Myanmar
I had three days in Myanmar on this trip due to the difficulties of the travel into and out of the country. Since the Nargis cyclone there are less flights into and out of the country and flights are full to capacity, not so much from demand as from the lack of flights into Myanmar.
I am pleased to report back that the funds raised and sent by us have been put to good use with hundreds of people being fed, clothed and repairs made to ordinary homes. Literally thousands of Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, Muslims and atheists have come to Christ as a result of the co-operative work of the church. Christian mission organisations have had a freer hand to work as they are national men and women serving Christ in a crisis. From the west we have been able to do little as we are restricted. Our support means that we can and have worked with them. The Internet Bible College was able to raise over $15,000. For each one who gave, it was your contribution that brought some of those thousands to Christ, for they were able to discover a God who cared and who cares through his people.
I was able to meet with three pastors and lecture in two colleges, one being MEGST, and the other being the Foursquare College in that nation. The Foursquare is going use Vision materials. A second college has been established to the north east of Mandalay. I cannot pronounce the name, and it is better not to anyway. And in Yangon a third college was established while I was there. I had the privilege of ministering in the church while with them, as they have a Saturday service. I had to leave on the Sunday morning.
In conclusion
I am increasingly convinced; as I have been for many years, of the diminishing need of the “great white missionary”, in the old style of missions work, and of the increasing need for us to be supportive of our very capable brothers and sisters in developing nations.
Yet if our God can do so much in just these two nations he can do as much or more in our nations also. He is not impotent or unable. He is not short of money or supply, He is not short of willing helpers. Our need is a great as theirs. It may be different in presentation, but it is the same need, deeply rooted in sin and self. That is not a problem for as the scripture says:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set a
Keywords: Internet bible college, mission trip, Myanmar, Nepal, Vision, Vision College
