Wednesday, February 25, 2009

LEAVING THAILAND AND GOING FURTHER FOR GOD'S MINISTRY


Shalom All,


Greetings in the Lord’s Name as Our God is the Great God! Amen to All!


We will depart from Thailand on Sunday, 1st March 2009 and travel to Cambodia for a month mission. We will not be able to access the internet regularly for the next couple of months. After a month in Cambodia, we will continue our mission journey to Vietnam for a 3 - 4 months period. Once the mission is complete, we will move on to China to continue our mission there. We will carry out our ministry in Harbin City, China (Harbin is between North Korea, Mongolia and Russia) for a year plus.


Last Wednesday, I completed the TESOL course (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) after one month of study. I now have a license to teach English anywhere around the world. Praise the Lord for the Lord is the Refresher of our spirit. Obtaining a TESOL license is essentially one of the few ways to gain a longer visa in China, therefore I plan to teach English in the school and Jenny will be doing an online course on “Child Care Management”. The course will help her to enhance on developing the Christian children and also draw close to God.


I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters who sent me birthday messages on 4th February 2009 (as I am far away from my home, yet you still remember me). I pray that Jesus' light will continue to shine upon your heart everyday. It is Glory to the Lord. Today, I made “Malaysian Bak Kut Teh” for my wife and her ex-colleague, just to share some happy moments together!


To give you a sampling of what lies ahead In Harbin City, the stronghold religion there is Russian Orthodox which claims to be Christian belief, however, when they end their prayers, rather than saying “In the Name of Jesus, God or Lord” they instead end with “In the Name of all Saints. As well, many of their doctrines are very different and not in line with what we now understand as fundamental Christian beliefs. There is still much more to learn about this religion though, before I can really share with you all in detail. Pentecostal Christians are not strong there so we need more prayer to breakthrough the city itself. As you may know, China has restrictions over evangelism, published Christian websites or anything related to it, so as such I may be unable to update my website/blog or send my monthly mission report regularly as the Chinese Government monitors all websites within China.


Below is my Financial Report from October 2008 to January 2009.


We would like to update you with our Report for January and February 2009.





On the December 30th, 2008, the Jaisamarn Full Gospel Bang-Pa In Church invited us to the church camp for 3 days and the pictures is above. It is a real church camp as we were living in the virgin jungle and not like my home based church that we go to the nice resorts. We have to use woods to made fire to cook and to made camp-fire. Moreover, the water in the bathroom is real cold. During the church camp, we have to made into group and prepare the theme action for every game. Therefore, I designed my theme for my group is “We love God, We Love You and We Love Everybody” with the action too. On the next afternoon, we went to the evangelism at another village whereby each team take care one area. One of the families was touched by our prayer and felt so joyful. During the midnight also a New Year Eve, a few people include me went to the jungle to find the wild animals till 3 in the morning. Before we return back to the church in the noon, we had lunched with the local pastor and pray for the district. In the sudden, one brother who also a part time evangelist came out and ask me to lead the pray as he know that he did mistakes during the church camp. Amazing, the Lord had change his heart and Glory to the Lord!



On the January 18th, 2009, we were invited to come to Jaisamarn Full Gospel Bang-Pa In Church by the elder, Bro. Somdech. In a very big surprise, the church decided to support our mission field in Cambodia, Vietnam and China as they feel the Great Joy, Love and Faith from the Lord in me. Praise the Lord for All! Right after the church service, we went to distribute the Christmas Gifts to the children in their home and they had attended the Christmas Day function. When we give the present to them, they are so surprise with the gift with joy. There will be more young people to win for Christ as Jesus Christ won us too. Halleluyah!




On the January 25th, 2009, we went to the nearby church that is Laksi Church that runs by the Korean missionary. Before the service end, I took the opportunity to come out and share a short sermons about “Being a missionary” to the small congregation. Then the Korean missionary invited me to share the Word of God on the next following Sunday as Jenny became my interpreter in Thai.


On the January 29th, 2009, I went to Nakhon Luang together with Bro. Somdech and attended the cell group there. We visited a few homes and spent some quality time with the local people as we also went to evangelism the people. Four people accepted Christ and became Christian as I lead the prayer. I also visited an old lady and I laid the hand upon her who unable to walk and fill evil spirit. I called upon the name of Jesus Christ and the evil spirit came out from her body. Few days later, I was informed that the sister had recovered and then she able to walk again slowly with the Lord’s strength. Praise the Lord as Our Living God is real and Jesus is the Healer! Give thanks to Jesus Christ!


On my birthday also February 4th, 2009, we met Bro. Kamjorn Chaowrat whom is also the former Senator for Bangkok and founder of the Channel 3 TV. His testimony is amazing how he accepted the Christ 7 years ago. He used to be strong Buddhist person and the only person who donated USD 15 million for the building the temple and hospital before knowing Christ. He is now sharing his testimonies everywhere around Thailand as how God use him. Praise the Lord!




After a day of Valentine Day that is Sunday, we went to Nakhon Luang to attend the “Family Valentine Day”. Many local people turns up for the programme and I was invited to present the Valentine gifts to the lucky draw winner as everyone also get it.




On the February 22nd, 2009, I was invited to preach the Word of God on the topic “Wounded Heart” in our home church. After the church service is over, we went to the river side to do water baptism. Pastor Saksun and I perform the water baptism for the 9 sisters in Christ. As Jesus said “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” in the Matthew 28 v 19. Praise the Lord for the new born Christians.


We do need your prayer support and also your provision support as our journey is getting longer this round. I hope that all reports that I send to you all will encourage you as the Lord lead all of us. Our God is Good, Amen!


For the translation in Thai Language, it will be update at http://faithwithyou-thai.blogspot.com.


God Bless!


Blessing,

Pastor Steve Peter H S Kok and Sister Jenny Kok

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

PART OF THE TESTIMONY FROM DR. KAMJORN CHAOWRAT (FORMER SENATOR OF THAILAND)

Hi brothers and sisters and all the honor guests.


First of all, I would like to apologize and tell you the most important story in my life. I have been God’s children for 7 years, experiencing many miraculous events counted as precious moments for me. I would like to tell you about these.


In the past, I was a chief priest of disciple of one Buddhist high priests in the ceremony on national level. I used to offer more than 10 kilogram of gold and more than hundred million Thai Baht for the hospital’s building for monks in the North and the Northeastern of Thailand and help expanding more than 10 hospitals with the strong desire to enter the heaven at that time because I was nearly 70 years old.


Anyway, I will tell you about how I become a Christian. I used to be a banker and one of the founders of the Channel 3 TV station since 39 years ago. Besides, I used to be senator and government counselor. But the only position in my life that makes me proud is God’s child. In previous day, I was so strong in my old belief that I was a Dharma Speaker on TV program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I was well known among the monks throughout this country. It is amazing that a man like me become God’s children. I know that it is not by my power but by the power of God who called me.


Seven years ago, I started to think of God through one man. If he was alive, I would have fled to kiss his feet and thanks Him with gratefulness. He is Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Normally, I love to sing, sometimes. I don’t pay attention to the lyric. It is amazing that the songs which I sang for 30 years are in the worship album named “His hand in mine”. At that the song, I sang with no purpose to worship God. Many be God has been watching over me and has His compassion on me.


So, He called me through my daughter-in-law who was a doctor and my son who was lieutenant colonel. They persuaded me to be a Christian but I paid no attention because at that time I was so strong in my old belief. One day, they brought my wife out to Christian camp at Rayong for 2 days. After she came back, she told me that the Christian community was so good. They love and took care of each others. Let’s become a Christian. Before my wife said to me, I just thought that I would like to believe in God but I was concerned that my wife would not agree because she was so strict in old religion’s ritual. So when she convinced me, I said Okay. I was so excited inside, very joyful. God is so Great!