The Global View - Categories: Asia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines

Redeeming a New Generation

Doug Beacham — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:53:24 +0000

About twenty years ago our family took a Thanksgiving holiday vacation to Europe and visited with IPHC missionaries and military chaplains. The trip was filled with special memories for our children as they experienced spending time in a different culture - mainly German on that trip.

One of the highlights was an afternoon trip outside Munich to the concentration camp at Dachau. I still remember the eerie feeling of walking through the gate with the haunting sign “Arbeit Mach Frei” (Work Makes Free). We walked silently through the compound and museum, absorbing humanity’s inhumanity to itself. I’ll never forget as we completed our visit, standing before a large wall with the words “Wie Nieder” (Never Again) in bold relief as if concrete words could change the course of humanity's sinful inclinations.

I was reminded of this a few weeks ago on my first visit to the 11 year old Cambodian IPHC. Along with Asia's Overseas Ministry Coordinator Russell Board and his wife Sandra, we visited Sammy and Merlin Lamanilao who came from the Philippines to plant IPHC ministry in Cambodia.

I met the men who were Sammy’s first converts and also most of the leaders of our young work. I was humbled to know that most of them are first generation followers of Jesus. I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s comment of the household of Stephanas, “that it is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

The impact of their youth impressed me even more as I toured the “Killing Fields” of the horrors of Pol Pot’s regime in the late 1970s and early 80s in Cambodia. In the post-Vietnam chaos of southeast Asia, a radical communist leadership possessed Phnom Penh, unleashing indescribable corporate and personal violence against millions of their own people. The personal torture of almost every victim ranks this Cambodian holocaust on par with the worst of Hitler and Stalin.

Pol Pot intentionally imprisoned and slaughtered the leadership of every sphere of Cambodia's civilized life: economics, education, politics, religion, industry. That demonic system cut off the head of an entire nation. I was told that at one point following the end of the horror, the average age of Cambodians was under 20 years old.

Yet, as I saw young men and women respond to Jesus Christ, feed their hungry neighbors through People To People, and unashamedly bear witness to Jesus Christ, I remembered that “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more” (Romans 5:20). Here in Cambodia the Holy Spirit is taking the chaos of sinful humanity and raising up a new generation with a witness that there is a better way of life.

- Dr. Doug Beacham

Samanzi's Story

World Missions Staff — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:45:06 +0000

Pray for Haiti

World Missions Staff — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:31:41 +0000

Darrel and Bonnie Clowers requested prayer for the following:

Preservation of life
Expansion of the Gospel
Open doors of effective ministry
Financial needs
Medical needs
A portable field hospital
Portable water systems
Protection of ministry teams
Revelation of God's order for the restoration of Haiti
Continued strengthening and grace for the situations that the missionaries will face
Full-time missionaries for Haiti

Legacies Worth Thanksgiving

World Missions Staff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:35:57 +0000

Recently, World Missions Ministries lost several members of its family:

Jettie Parker
Joan Donald
Rose Boyd’s mother, Joyce Boyd
Margaret Mathena, the mother of WMM’s board member and Appalachian’s conference missions director, Preston Mathena
Winston and Marie Hollingsworth’s son, Philip Hollingsworth

Each of these people leaves behind a unique legacy. For instance, Joan Donald served as a missionary to India, where she started two children’s homes, her husband was the first superintendent of the Andhra conference, and their adopted son Vidyasagar was the first national to serve as conference superintendent. She passed away this Saturday, November 21.

As Thanksgiving approaches, remember these families in your prayers. Choose to honor their legacies by being thankful for those who have made a difference in your life.

Update from Bali Coffee House/Training Center

World Missions Staff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:57:15 +0000

Our Coffee House in Bali, Indonesia serves as a multi-faceted center. The building is large enough that it provides space for training our national pastors and ministers. Also the center serves as a base and provides opportunity for outreach ministry into the surrounding communities. Following is an update from missionary, Tim Salley. He reports the following on his recent visit:

“Brother Gunter & Neni are leading the work at the Coffee House/Training Center. They are currently operating the mission school. This operation is a perfect platform for ministry as well as a means to support monthly expenses at the training center. In addition to the coffee shop and training classes, they have started a motorcycle cleaning business and a mobile phone shop. Through these businesses they have been able to build relationships with the community. As a result, the church that meets at the center is ministering to three families, two from a Hindu background and one from a Moslem background. In addition, they have started 2 home cells with 10 people.
While I was in Bali, I had the opportunity to encourage all our leaders, including Gunter & Neni. During my week stay, I was reminded again of how much spiritual warfare takes place in this Hindu stronghold. Hindu festivals take place all the time around the island. Over 90% of the 4 million inhabitants in Bali are strong Hindu believers. Gunter & Neni desperately need our continued prayers and support as they minister in this non Christian spiritual environment.”

Persecuted Believers in India and Nepal

World Missions Staff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:37:48 +0000

This Sunday, November 8, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Today, pray for Christians in the Hindu world who face persecution and discrimination. IDOP suggests these points for prayer:

Ask God to protect Christians in Nepal and India, most of whom are vulnerable, poor and without a voice. Pray that they will not feel abandoned but rest in the peace and provision of their Father.

Pray for God to awaken the people of India to the dangers of militant Hinduism and pray that anti-Christian propaganda will be rejected in preference for truth, openness, harmony and liberty. Pray for the Indian Church to grow in prayerfulness, casteless solidarity, wisdom, grace and perseverance in the face of suffering.

Pray for the people of Nepal to be united across ethnic and religious lines, and that they will find so much joy in liberty that they will not be tempted by Hindu nationalism. Ask God to give great heavenly wisdom and courage to evangelists in Nepal and to bless their witness.

Pray too for the IPHC missionaries, national missionaries, national church leaders, and believers in India and Nepal.

Floods Threaten Lives in the Philippines

World Missions Staff — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:29:28 +0000

Tropical storm Ketsana unleashed torrential rains of the Philippines, causing widespread flooding. Will you help our affected churches and members as they struggle to survive and rebuild?

Three Students who Made a Difference

Doug Beacham — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:31:10 +0000

Recently, I visited two churches where young people who have caught a vision for missions decided to be a part. Rebecka Belue is an 8 year old girl who is making a world of difference. She lives in Warsaw, South Carolina, where her mother pastors The River. The River is a revitalization project within the South Carolina conference, and Pastor Regina Belue had wondered how the church could start a missions program. During the GO Rally, it was Rebecka who launched the church's missions program with a simple act of faith.

Dr. Kundael Mrema, a missionary to Tanzania, had asked those in attendance to consider supporting his family. He analogized missions support by relating the money involved to something anyone can understand - taking a family to McDonalds. A supporter could think of a $20 monthly gift as being like taking the Mrema family to McDonalds once, and Rebecka asked her mom for a pen and began completing the faith commitment card. She plans to do extra chores to earn the money. Her mother and pastor, Regina Belue, writes about her daughter's decision:

The night of the GO Rally I was reminded what childlike faith was all about. Rev Mrema asked If anyone would consider sending his children to McDonald's once a month. Becka asked me for a pen and began to fill out a card. She asked If she could support his children every month and send them to McDonald's.

I learned a valuable lesson in faith that night. It only takes one person to begin a missions program. Our program was started by a 9 year old.

In Andrews, South Carolina, Stan (16) and Lindsay (13) Wilson of the Bloomingvale PHC are making a tremendous impact. For three years, Stan has raised money for Global Outreach, every year increasing his goal. His goal this year was to raise $1,000, and he surpassed it, bringing in about $1700! His younger sister, Lindsay, decided she too could be a part, and she committed to giving at least $1 a week. Matching gifts from her local missions director, Rhonda Howard, and other donations brought Lindsay's total gift to GO to more than $800 for 2009.

I'm convinced that anyone, regardless of age, can be a part of building God's Kingdom around the world. Will you join these kids and me in giving to Global Outreach or a missionary's support? You can give online, through your church, or by mail or phone. Thank you for being a part; together, we are making a world of difference.

-Dr. Beacham