For His name s sake. November Introducing people to Jesus in the 10/40 Window. by Beverly Thompson

Transcription

1 Introducing people to Jesus in the 10/40 Window November YEARS IN BHUTAN For His name s sake by Beverly Thompson G ospel Outreach s work in Bhutan started a decade ago with a Bible worker we ll call PK. PK had been a Buddhist and then a Pentecostal. Later, as he learned about Seventh-day Adventists, he decided to join the church, but the pastor with whom he d been studying suddenly died. Undeterred, PK found and visited the regional church headquarters. The president sent him home three times to study more before finally baptizing him. Nine months later the president s request was granted for PK to become a Gospel Outreach Bible worker. PK continued to study the Bible and The Great Controversy. The Bhutanese are history lovers, so PK began to PK wears his JC Travel Agency uniform native Bhutan attire. translate this historical-prophetic book. PK s brother was an English professor at a Bhutan university, so PK had his brother edit the translation. Soon PK realized the work wouldn t be easy. Continued on page 3

2 10 YEARS IN BHUTAN by Beverly Thompson PK had been a Buddhist and then a Pentecostal. Later, as he learned about Seventh-day Adventists, he decided to join the church, but the pastor with whom he d been studying suddenly died. Undeterred, PK found and visited the regional church headquarters. The president sent him home three times to study more before finally baptizing him. Nine months later the president s request was granted for PK to become a Gospel Outreach Bible worker. PK continued to study the Bible and The Great Controversy. The Bhutanese are history lovers, so PK began to Introducing people to Jesus in the 10/40 Window PK wears his JC Travel Agency uniform native Bhutan attire. translate this historical-prophetic book. PK s brother was an English professor at a Bhutan university, so PK had his brother edit the translation. Soon PK realized the work wouldn t be easy. Continued on page 3 Global Perspectives For His name s sake ospel Outreach s work in Bhutan Gstarted a decade ago with a Bible worker we ll call PK. November 2018 Published monthly by Gospel Outreach Vol. 26, No. 11 goaim.org PUT IN YOUR SICKLE AND REAP The harvest is fully ripe! Revelation 14:15 PUBLICATION TEAM Editor: Nadine Dower Circulation Manager: Nadine Reneau Creative & Production: Tell It Media Printing: College Press ADDRESS CHANGES Newsletter Circulation P.O. Box 8 College Place, WA office@goaim.org ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS President: Brent Scully VP for Administration: Richard Madson VP for Field Operations: Pat Gustin Treasurer: Lois Hellie Associate Treasurer: Danielle Stewart BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Dodds, chair Brent Scully, secretary Carl Bauer Ken Crawford Jon Dybdahl Rick McEdward Shirley Panasuk Leo Ranzolin Robert Rawson Dwight Rose Steven Rose Marj Simons Beverly Thompson Bruce Thorn Kevin Waite Fred Webb Janet Wilkinson Lenard Wittlake GOSPEL OUTREACH P.O. Box 8 (712 NE C Street) College Place, WA USA (509) office@goaim.org GOSPEL OUTREACH CANADA P.O. Box Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7L7 (778) GOSPEL OUTREACH BRAZIL Instituto de Disseminação do Evangelho Caixa Postal 44 Engenheiro Coelho, SP ide-go.org.br secretaria@ide-go.org.br When we think about the belief systems and practices of Northeast India and Bhutan Hindu, animist (nature worshipers), Buddhist, Muslim, witchcraft it may seem impossible to share the gospel. But the story of Jesus must go to all the world. I m the regional director for this area. More than 255 million people live here, and yet we have only 130 Gospel Outreach Bible Beverly Thompson, workers to reach five regional director Indian states plus Bhutan. I m asked, When can we have more workers? Three more would help, but we really need 10 times as many. These people, poor in this world s goods, want to spread the Good News and see Jesus. They find others who search for truth, but they can t reach them all. They call out for help. Will you answer? Pray for those who use their sickles in the ripened fields. You can also support them in the harvest. It costs about $150/month to support a Bible worker. You can adopt a worker for this amount or give more or less. If each of us does a little, together, with God s blessing, we can do a lot.

3 Continued from page 1 One evening, when PK arrived home, he found all of his clothes on the threshold of the outside door, and his wife refused to let him in. She didn t want their three children to become Christians. Then PK was put in prison three times during his first five years as a Gospel Outreach Bible worker because it s against the law in Bhutan to try to change someone s religion. All citizens are to report anyone proselytizing. YOUR GOD HEALED ME PK sold bricks for construction. One time, a construction foreman said he was interested in PK s religion. The foreman even asked for a Bible. When PK delivered the Bible, he was arrested and spent several days in prison. Another time an elderly woman who had been crippled for seven years asked PK to pray for her. While PK was praying, her son disappeared and returned with a policeman. PK was again arrested for proselytizing. Every day he asked guards to take him to the house to verify that the woman had wanted him to pray. After 25 days a new guard agreed to go. When they arrived, the woman ran to meet PK and hugged him. See! she said. Your God healed me. I can walk. We will return to the jail, and I will write your release, the guard told PK. For the past five years PK has been followed by Bhutanese spies, so he s done many things to divert their attention. Deki, Beverly Thompson, PK and Pastor Ambrose meet to talk about sharing the story of Jesus in Bhutan. For example, he started the JC Travel Agency. JC stands for Jesus Christ. Recently PK finished translating The Great Controversy and Steps to Christ. His goal is to have the five Bhutan Gospel Outreach Bible workers distribute a copy to every home in Bhutan. He wants to start with 5,000 copies for the first printing, which will cost $10,000 (US). Can you help fulfill this dream? ADOPT A WORKER Many other Gospel Outreach workers like PK can be sponsored through the Adopt-a-Worker program. For example, a few months ago, one worker, Deki, introduced Daisy to the faith, and she is now one of more than 100 believers in Bhutan. Daisy translates sermons for another supportive Adventist ministry, and then she presents them on the radio in her native language, Dzongkha. After she has been a faithful believer for a least a year, Daisy will be eligible to be part of the Adopt-a-Worker program. Pray for God s work in Bhutan. Gospel Outreach has Bible workers just waiting for sponsorship. Contact us if you d like to participate by adopting a worker. ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS 3

4 Have you heard about Jesus? Jogen and Ramesh, two Gospel Outreach Bible workers, headed for the jungle to visit people who d never had a chance to hear the gospel. After cycling 15 miles, they came to Sonkubari village. Surprise! The village people were of Jogen s own tribe and spoke his language. The women wore dresses just like his mother had many years ago. The farmers in the field seemed delighted to talk with these visitors. Have you heard about Jesus, and how He healed the sick? Jogen and Ramesh asked. The villagers wanted to know more. They told Jogen and Ramesh that a common sickness for many of them was fever with weakness. We ve come to help with basic health care, Jogen said. We can stay by Beverly Thompson for a few days and teach you about natural healing therapies. Mohan, one of the villagers, immediately offered a place for the two Bible workers to stay. Soon Jogen and Ramesh were taking care of sick people. On the second day, the Bible workers met with the villagers again and talked about the benefit of helping each other and caring for each other in times of trouble. The children heard stories of Jesus healing the sick, quieting angry storms, and caring for those around Him. Soon the sound of Christian songs in the Rava language filled the air. There were questions too. Among Hindus, for example, cows are holy they re worshiped. 4 ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS

5 Bible workers Jogen (left) and Ramesh (right) shared stories of Jesus and taught the villagers about natural healing therapies. What about Christians who eat beef? the villagers asked. Jogen read Leviticus 11 to them. He also read 3 John 1:2, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. The villagers were surprised to know these directions are in the Holy God Book of Christians. As friendship grew between Jogen, Ramesh and the villagers, many families invited the two Bible workers for meals, prayers and health treatments. Jogen and Ramesh also worked with the farmers in their gardens. Pray for the people in Sonkubari village. There are also many, many more unentered villages like this. Please sponsor more workers so we can go to other villages with people waiting to hear and accept God s Word, Jogen and Ramesh say. BIHAR, INDIA Charcoal to the rescue Shortly after training Gospel Outreach Bible workers all morning, Pappu asked permission to go home because he had diarrhea. Oh, no! said Beverly Thompson, Gospel Outreach regional director. We ll give you charcoal, and you ll be well in two hours. They went to the kitchen, pulled burning wood from the cooking fire, scraped off charcoal, pulverized it, mixed it with water and prayed. Then Pappu drank the liquid. Within two hours, Pappu was well. All the nearby Bible workers had a good demonstration of God s power to heal through charcoal and prayer. Pappu (left) smiles with relief. ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS 5

6 Field Notes GREAT DAY FOR A BAPTISM East Jharkhand, India After a twohour ride on dirt roads, fording rivers, walking up rocky hills, and being guided for the last part of our journey, we finally arrived at our destination. What a sight met our eyes. Banana palms with streamers guided us to the meeting area. Tarps draped from two grass-roofed houses, and tarps covered the ground. About 70 people arrived for the Sabbath service. Some walked up to 20 kilometers, and everyone brought an offering. Three young men led song service, Pastor Kisku taught the Sabbath School lesson, and I gave the sermon. These people have come a long way. They will feel cheated if you talk for less than an hour make it at least 90 minutes, I was warned. After that, baptismal candidates took their vows. Then we walked to the water hole, sang songs, and our hearts thrilled to see 12 people baptized. Onlookers paused to observe the ritual. We returned to the tarp area for a celebration lunch. Beverly Thompson TALKING BIBLE CALMS AN ENRAGED LANDLORD India A Gospel Outreach Bible and gave the group permission worker met with believers in his newly to worship in the apartment. rented upstairs apartment. The landlord Another Bible worker played the heard singing and angrily burst into the talking Bible in a marketplace. Many room. Christians cannot meet here for people gathered to hear. Then the Bible singing, he yelled. worker told the listeners, If you want The next time the believers met, to hear more, tell me where you live, they listened to a handheld audio and I ll come. A number of people Bible. In a rage, the landlord again asked him to bring the audio player burst in, but when he saw the audio to their homes. player he sat and listened. You can help sponsor these solarpowered players, which can be Then the landlord asked if he could borrow the device. A week later, having programmed in various languages. heard the whole Bible, he returned it Call (509) or visit goaim.org. 6 ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS

7 Mailbox Please use the enclosed money where needed the most. Thank you for all you do to help others learn about the love of Jesus. S. E., South Dakota Thanks for the nice newsletter. Enjoy reading about the miracles that God s performing. H., Texas IN MEMORY This check is for preaching the gospel of Jesus our Lord Beverly Brass and Savior! M. B., Washington This check is the result of two very special prayers answered by an awesome and loving God. J. H., Texas Watch Adventures in Missions 3ABN 3abn.org Blue Mountain TV College Place, WA bluemttv.com Good News TV Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Flagstaff, Payson, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson and Yuma mygoodnewstv.com HOPE Channel hopetv.org KBLN Grants Pass, OR betterlifetv.tv /gospel1040 KHBA Spokane, WA khba.com LLBN Loma Linda, CA llbn.tv SacFaithTV Sacramento, CA sacramentofaithtv.org Roku Add the Gospel Outreach channel to your favorites. SAFETV safetv.org /gospel1040 Gracia Cafferty-Will Ron Fries Julia Grow Ruby Haney Ordell Johnson Dr. Richard Litke Edwin Powell Nevin Jim Reiswig William Salamone Sylvia Seely Kenneth Smith James Wade Gaylene Wolkwitz IN HONOR Vicky Edwards (birthday) Eugene Lambert Florence Montage (birthday) Patricia Reynolds (friendship) Miles Stafford (Myanmar missionary) Alden Thompson (birthday) ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS 7

8 Handheld talking Bibles Give the gift of solar-powered audio Bibles to people in the 10/40 Window who can t read. When you do, they ll be able to hear God s Word in their own language! Sponsor one or more players at $30 each. Give a talking Bible today: goaim.org or (509) PO Box 8, College Place, WA Address service requested Non-Profit US Postage PAID CHATTANOOGA, TN Permit No. 1114