Tuesday, May 17, 2011

MISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM MAY 2010 TO APRIL 2011

Shalom All,

Greetings in the Name of Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

The favor which we had received, and for which we felt so much gratitude, had been received from you as Our Lord is the source of it, and we rejoiced of His kindness. Our heart lead with cheerfulness and joy up to God.

The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. He does not grants us superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to His interest. As we contend for the faith we will face troubles, pressures and trials. At every step of life, Christ is able to strengthen us and can bring us triumphantly through.

Money measures our energy, it represents our day-to-day security. Giving money away put our work and our futures at risk. Not every charity deserves your attention and you are wise to scrutinize missionary appeals as well. But once you have determined that a project honors the Lord, do not hold back as you give generously and joyfully. You will be establishing an eternal partnership.

We can trust that God will always meet our needs. Whatever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death as Paul did. Whatever we need in heaven he will supply. We must remember, however, the difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provision and power to live for Him.

Blessings,
Rev. Steve Peter H S Kok

Saturday, May 14, 2011

SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

Shalom All,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

It gives me great pleasure to share my faith-work with different Christian denominations, from east to west, and north to south.

It is never easy to do mission work. Each step of the way, we walk by faith, trusting and depending completely on our Lord to carry us through, to bring the message of hope, as He has commanded us to do the Good News that “Jesus Christ of Nazareth is coming soon”.

With each passing day, time is getting shorter and nearer for all of us waiting for the return of our Lord .

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” - Revelation 22 verse 12.

For the past 2 years, so many disasters have taken place in our earthly abode and they still continue to appear before us to this day!

In recent weeks, I have followed and read the Thai News about unusual foreboding signs, such as abnormal hysterical cries from panicked animals and wildlife in the forests or torrential heavy rainfall, or river water levels rapidly rising and even water in streams changing its color to match mountain soil. I believe the animals are much more alert and sensitive when disasters are about to happen or strike, because God's signals and voice seem to resonate with them and they seem to obey and respond more willingly and naturally!.

When God's voice or commands reach us, the humans, admonishing us, " Hey, time to abandon things here and now!", we tend to close our ears and our heart, not hearing His voice and still thinking and telling ourselves, that we have yet to achieve our earthly objectives and goals, of self and greed, and of our many needs that are yet to be satisfied!

“We want to strive for more and more each day, and there is, and never seems, enough!”.

At the end of the day, we truly become the “Lost Sheep” as narrated in the Bible!

But, in truth and as believers, we know it from our hearts, that is not God's plan for us at all.

Indeed, God’s love for each one of us is so great that He seeks each one one of us out and rejoices when each sheep is found. The Lord Jesus associates with sinners because he wants to bring back the misdirected sheep, people about to be totally lost, so that hope for them is within their grasp and they will turn around and accept the Gospel of God’s Kingdom.

So everyone must work towards the salvation, plan of God and strive to work in unity to become one with Christ. This means the entire church must work together to rid themselves of divisions and discord and to faithfully obey the command of Christ, our Lord and Savior. We must know what we believe and how we should live, in obedience to Him, especially when we are on our own. Be more like Christ, so that we won’t sidetrack..

Now the mission reports;

Let come to mission reports;

On February 1st, 2011, we went to the House of Mercy and Khao Kao Church in Phetchabun (about 440km northeast of Bangkok ) and spent a prayerful quiet time with the Lord on my birthday. We also have had a good fellowship time with the Rev. Robert Dunk and his team at the House of Mercy, which is serving a great need and doing a great job. This planting provides free education for the disadvantaged children, from kindergarten to middle secondary school. It was established in 1985 and now has about 1,000 students.

We also brought some Christmas gifts from Bangkok to give away to the children of Hmong Hill Tribes in Khao Kao Church.

On Valentine Day (February 14th, 2011), we visited the first Bangkok Christian International Library, also known as BCIL that was launched in February 2011. We donated our 5 books “A Journey of Life” to support this library. It is heartening to hear from the testimony of the managers of the library, Brother Sang and his wife, that they are only 14 months' old Christians ! Yet they are so willing to surrender themselves to serving God through this library.

But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you” - 1 Samuel 12 verse 24. Praise the Lord!

We took a week's trip, from March 3rd - 9th, 2011 to Southern Thailand to share the Word of God, without any pre-arrangement to meet any church group or organization. On the first day, we went to Prachuap Khiri Khan province (about 180km from Bangkok) and distributed Christian leaflets, also shared the gospel with the local people.

There are many churches planted by Korean missions in South Thailand. We visited Bethel Thai Church on March 5th, 2011 in South Krabi (about 590km from Bangkok) that concentrates on the Muslim community. During our trip south, we along with some church leaders and two young Korean missionaries, were invited to attend a Thai Muslim wedding. The following day, with my background knowledge as a Malaysian, I shared with the church leaders about Muslim culture and beliefs and the way to reach out to the community.

On March 8th, 2011, we visited the Hatyai Baptist Church in Hat Yai (about 970km from Bangkok ) and had fellowship with the church pastor. The pastor told us about the flood last December 2010 that hit the city, reaching a height of 6 - 7 feet, fully submerging and damaging his car. By God's grace, he has now been able to replace this loss with a new pick-up truck. We gave this church our book 'A Journey of Life', plus a few copies of Christian News and evangelism leaflets.

The following day, we were invited to visit the site for a new 'Teen Challenge' centre in Phatthalung (about 100km nort of Hai Yat ) which will be led by Rev. Preecha who now uses his home as a temporary centre. Teen Challenge is an evangelical Christian drug recovery rehabilitation program and is also a Christian social and evangelizing work center. There is a 12-18 months program that serves drug addicts, alcoholics, gang members, prostitutes and people with relationships problems. We are in prayer how we might be able to assist in this outreach.

On the March 19th, 2011, we were invited to attend a launching ceremony for a new church in Suan Phung, Province of Ratchaburi (Western Thailand, about 180km from Bangkok). This center will cater to the needs of the Burmese community.

The following day, we went to Nakhon Ratchasima (northeastern, about 300km from Bangkok) and attended the Miracle Night Conference. It is amazing to see God's hand in using the speaker, Pastor Henry Madava who pastors a church in Ukraine, to reach out to people in Thailand! In the morning, we have fellowship with Hope Church, Korat and then lunch with Pastor Henry and other church leaders. Early evening, we joined the conference in the outdoor stadium. The turnout was about 3,000 people.

Now back in Bangkok.

On March 29th, 2011, we decided to take a walk-evangelism in Chinatown, Bangkok. Not many people there are ready or willing to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ or are interested in receiving and reading through the Christian leaflets. We notice that there are 2 or 3 churches around The Chinatown area. We don't know how active they are in sharing or evangelizing the Good News, with the local people there.

The biggest problems about the Thai Christian community is perhaps its zero growth rate, still standing at 0.5% -1%, for the last 180 years (less than 200,000 out of 67 million people). There are many reasons for this sad state of affairs; such as the sabai culture (easy-going), the church leaders do not want to change to be better, many cell groups never grew, or chose to close down, few were willing to serve; and lack of discipleship or leadership training. I believe that all Thai Christians need to come together, to pray for a wakening, a serious call to spread the gospel of salvation, good works, repentance, etc. As Jonah was called to go to Nineveh, so must the people of God heed God's call to serve Thailand in this century and age! Let us pray together for this to take place.

On March 31st, 2011, we visited Sister Jeab, a sister-in-Christ, whose mother was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a tumor in her brain in Aytthuya City (about 100km from Bangkok). The doctor said that the survival chance was very slim and she passed away on May 8th, 2011. Our condolences to Sister Jeab and her family.

In closing, it is my prayer that we will all continue to serve our Lord according to His will and plan for each one of us.

We walk with faith in our Lord. We believe that God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to give us the Light and the Truth. As we walk in faith, our earthly problems will become small, dim and inconsequential. And as we surrender our troubles and ourselves to Him, He will lead us and give us peace and joy serving Him.

All Glory to our God.

Blessings,
Rev. Steve Peter H S Kok and Sister Jenny P Kok