Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
Why we need to combine audio evangelism in our ministry today? Villagers who have not learned to read and write could easily follow. Audio Bible lessons make it possible to let the Word of God pour out to the people of every tribe and culture, in their own languages.
These Bible lessons offer a solution to the fact that over half the people on the planet today cannot read and therefore do not have a means for understanding the Word of God. By taking advantage of the conveniences and amazing offered in today’s high tech world, the Bible lessons in MP3 through CDs are shared using these methods. The Word of God will expand into the farthest reaches of the world through audio format for the benefit of all.
Some busy individuals and those people who have no interest to read can also benefit this through listening to Bible lessons in MP3 recordings. The result of the recent survey reveals that 50 percent of the world's population does not read and according to Dana Gioia, the chairman of the [National Endowment for the Arts) “Reading is in decline among all groups, in every region, at every educational level and within every ethnic group,” he said and calling the survey results “deeply alarming.” Audio Bible lessons might be helpful to them.
So do you want to participate in sharing God's word in effective ways? Do you want to learn Thai to share the gospel? Now sharing God's word and learning Thai are no longer stressful for us. The SULADS RESOURCE CENTER has been preparing Thai audio Bible lessons in mp3 files to help you learn Thai and participate in sharing Jesus. These 37 audio lessons are perfectly fitting for our Bible interests who have totally zero background about God to bringing them to the feet of Jesus. Also great tools to learn Thai language since they are in mp3 format. If you feel you need this material please consider sending a small donation. The suggested donation is 95 baht per CD (free shipment). Name your order now so we will know how many copies to make. E-mail me mienfield@yahoo.com to order. Just simply put "send me" then specify the number of copies and then your complete postal address. Payment will be made through paypal so it would be easier. The SRC is a faith base project. We wish to give this out for free. But it has been very challenging to pay workers. As self-supporting ministry, keeping this audio recording and editing going has been proven to be very challenging to us. Your small payment will serve as a donation so the SRC could normally function to produce more materials.
You can also download the free samples at http://suladsthailand.multiply.com/music/item/86
In every donation you give for a CD Bible lessons, you are helping the Word of God spread throughout the literate and illiterate world. It surely makes a difference. Remember, there are many many people who wait to hear God's Word because they cannot read it.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
37 Audio Bible Lessons
Things are busy from the past several weeks till this Christmas. But praise the Lord that our first set of audio Bible Lessons (37 Lessons) has just finished. There have been some financial and technical obstacles but God was not short of means. We couldn’t have a laptop for this project but God has provided us on time. An Indian friend of mine loss and wasn’t able to find job and so he decided to sell his laptop in an installment basis. And I discovered later on that his Thai Buddhist wife used to work in a calling cente. And so I decided to hire his wife for our Audio Bible Lessons projects. As I started to work as audio editor, I realized that editing and re-editing is a long process, especially that I still need to learn more the Thai language. But we are so happy for the success of the first set. Why audio Bible lessons are so important? Because many are not interested to read and others simply don’t know how to read. On top of that, Filipinos and other foreign missionaries could really express themselves in such a way that their Bible interest will really understand. As “faith comes by hearing” Romans 10:17.
This first set of 37 lessons in mp3 format is very useful to reach out our Buddhist brothers who have zero background about God into knowing Jesus Christ in a clear and understandable way. My friend Buddhist wife-totally isolated in the Buddhist environment, who recorded them, commented that she really understood and she enjoyed every lesson. She was so oppose to Christianity, not allowing his Moslem husband to listen to the audio Bible and join our cell group meeting. Now praise God that she is glad to join with her husband. She even invited her neighbor to join the Bible study meeting. This set is also great tools to learn Thai language since they are in mp3 format.
If you feel you need this material please consider sending a small donation. The suggested donation is 95 baht per CD (free shipment!). Or you can send ten blank CD’s then we will send you one copy. This is to help fulfill our goal to make a lot of copies to be distributed to the oral base community in the mountain for free. And you can participate this way.
Name your order now so we will know how many copies to make. E-mail me mienfield@yahoo.com to order. Just simply put "send me" then specify the number of copies and then your complete postal address or the address of your friend you want to receive the lessons. Payment will be made through paypal so it would be easier. The SULADS Resource Center is a faith base project. We wish to give this out for free. But it has been very challenging to pay workers. As self-supporting ministry, keeping this audio recording project has been proven to be very challenging to us. Your small payment will serve as a donation so the SRC could normally function to produce more materials.
If you feel you need them for your ministry but you don’t have means to donate, please e-mail me and tell me about your case so I could send you for free.
We are in the process of doing another new set of lessons ( Steps to Christ Thai verion in audio and Learning Thai prayers for Foreigners ) with booklet in English and the Thai script and the Thai transliteration script (Thai written in English) booklet and audio and we hope to finish them soon. So this 3 type of scripts and the mp3 format audio will make it easy for you to learn Thai prayers.
God is so good to give us the opportunity to help spread his word in this way. Jesus is surely coming.
Please visit our website at www.suladsresource.org and click missionary shop for more information.
Sulads Resource Center
This first set of 37 lessons in mp3 format is very useful to reach out our Buddhist brothers who have zero background about God into knowing Jesus Christ in a clear and understandable way. My friend Buddhist wife-totally isolated in the Buddhist environment, who recorded them, commented that she really understood and she enjoyed every lesson. She was so oppose to Christianity, not allowing his Moslem husband to listen to the audio Bible and join our cell group meeting. Now praise God that she is glad to join with her husband. She even invited her neighbor to join the Bible study meeting. This set is also great tools to learn Thai language since they are in mp3 format.
If you feel you need this material please consider sending a small donation. The suggested donation is 95 baht per CD (free shipment!). Or you can send ten blank CD’s then we will send you one copy. This is to help fulfill our goal to make a lot of copies to be distributed to the oral base community in the mountain for free. And you can participate this way.
Name your order now so we will know how many copies to make. E-mail me mienfield@yahoo.com to order. Just simply put "send me" then specify the number of copies and then your complete postal address or the address of your friend you want to receive the lessons. Payment will be made through paypal so it would be easier. The SULADS Resource Center is a faith base project. We wish to give this out for free. But it has been very challenging to pay workers. As self-supporting ministry, keeping this audio recording project has been proven to be very challenging to us. Your small payment will serve as a donation so the SRC could normally function to produce more materials.
If you feel you need them for your ministry but you don’t have means to donate, please e-mail me and tell me about your case so I could send you for free.
We are in the process of doing another new set of lessons ( Steps to Christ Thai verion in audio and Learning Thai prayers for Foreigners ) with booklet in English and the Thai script and the Thai transliteration script (Thai written in English) booklet and audio and we hope to finish them soon. So this 3 type of scripts and the mp3 format audio will make it easy for you to learn Thai prayers.
God is so good to give us the opportunity to help spread his word in this way. Jesus is surely coming.
Please visit our website at www.suladsresource.org and click missionary shop for more information.
Sulads Resource Center
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Person Versus Program
“As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
Let me share what is happening nowadays to give you a wider picture, because this mistake is unconsciously done repeatedly over and over again by many leaders. You can readily observed today that many leaders are preaching the program they have been doing but not the person. The program was widely known but little to Jesus.
The missionary organizations which are supposed to be responsible to expand God’s kingdom have almost become like those of the government development program. The end result, they had received plague and the praises go to the leadership not to Jesus. The leaders get all the glory. The attention of the members were stolen by the leaders and the result, members lose their admiration to Jesus. Jesus said, “As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. Jesus used the word "lifted up," this is related to the word “exaltation” to give a strong emphasis on His glorification. This means when we lift HIM up high, He has the way to achieve to be acknowledged and glorified by men. And so how could the people come to Jesus when He isn’t lifted up?
Why this has been happening? Because many outreach organizations were stucked unconsciously by their humanitarian programs. It has become their main focus not the glorification of the Life-giver-person-Jesus Christ. They get stuck on these developmental, humanitarian and feeding programs. They actively supporting the government program but they don’t have the extensive program to lift up the crucified Savior, so many might see Him. The worse is that they don’t have the disciple-making program to equip the new converts into maturity, that they may be able to participate to lift Jesus up.
Let me share what is happening nowadays to give you a wider picture, because this mistake is unconsciously done repeatedly over and over again by many leaders. You can readily observed today that many leaders are preaching the program they have been doing but not the person. The program was widely known but little to Jesus.
The missionary organizations which are supposed to be responsible to expand God’s kingdom have almost become like those of the government development program. The end result, they had received plague and the praises go to the leadership not to Jesus. The leaders get all the glory. The attention of the members were stolen by the leaders and the result, members lose their admiration to Jesus. Jesus said, “As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. Jesus used the word "lifted up," this is related to the word “exaltation” to give a strong emphasis on His glorification. This means when we lift HIM up high, He has the way to achieve to be acknowledged and glorified by men. And so how could the people come to Jesus when He isn’t lifted up?
Why this has been happening? Because many outreach organizations were stucked unconsciously by their humanitarian programs. It has become their main focus not the glorification of the Life-giver-person-Jesus Christ. They get stuck on these developmental, humanitarian and feeding programs. They actively supporting the government program but they don’t have the extensive program to lift up the crucified Savior, so many might see Him. The worse is that they don’t have the disciple-making program to equip the new converts into maturity, that they may be able to participate to lift Jesus up.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
How the Church in the West Confuses the Church in Asia
"...They received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11
Nowadays, the current confusing situation of God’s people in the West affects the Asian church so much. This has made many Adventists in the verbally base community in Asia to wonder why there is so much confusion when it is simply obeying what the Bible clearly says.
The Seventh-day Adventist church in the West has been characterized by division. Many educated church leaders, have tried to question the fundamental beliefs of the church. Some members who want to keep the Biblical doctrine pure have form independent organizations. I was surprise to see how this confusing Adventist community in the West affects our church in Asia especially in my home country in the Philippines.
These hilltribe Adventist people in the mountain has been wondering why there is so much division and confusion going on when they think it is simply obeying the plain teaching in the Bible. To them who could not really read, they open their hearts and simply believe that, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28. While some, "they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. But they have not criticized the Word of God.
Today, many Adventist missionaries in the West love to be God’s representatives in the church in Asian but in reality their teachings are representing other branch of Adventism. They can be hardly recognized by the very ordinary members who plainly accept the Bible as inspired. Now it is the time to learn from those ordinary people we called needy and ignorance. The one we came to reach, teaching them some basic knowledge could give us wisdom, to draw close to God. They have many things to teach more than we could share.
They are simply more on verbals, but when the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Our formal schools may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us.
visit also www.suladsresource.org
Nowadays, the current confusing situation of God’s people in the West affects the Asian church so much. This has made many Adventists in the verbally base community in Asia to wonder why there is so much confusion when it is simply obeying what the Bible clearly says.
The Seventh-day Adventist church in the West has been characterized by division. Many educated church leaders, have tried to question the fundamental beliefs of the church. Some members who want to keep the Biblical doctrine pure have form independent organizations. I was surprise to see how this confusing Adventist community in the West affects our church in Asia especially in my home country in the Philippines.
These hilltribe Adventist people in the mountain has been wondering why there is so much division and confusion going on when they think it is simply obeying the plain teaching in the Bible. To them who could not really read, they open their hearts and simply believe that, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28. While some, "they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. But they have not criticized the Word of God.
Today, many Adventist missionaries in the West love to be God’s representatives in the church in Asian but in reality their teachings are representing other branch of Adventism. They can be hardly recognized by the very ordinary members who plainly accept the Bible as inspired. Now it is the time to learn from those ordinary people we called needy and ignorance. The one we came to reach, teaching them some basic knowledge could give us wisdom, to draw close to God. They have many things to teach more than we could share.
They are simply more on verbals, but when the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Our formal schools may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us.
visit also www.suladsresource.org
Friday, December 12, 2008
One For All
“See that you say nothing to anyone...instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.” Mark 1:45
Through experience, I learn something in my own culture that breaking the heart of one means breaking the heart of all. Many leadership tragedies happened because they broke the heart of just one humble worker. The sympathy of all workers to just one who poured out his heartache to his fellow workers became a big fight between workers versus administrators.
This is something we need to learn. This is true also in the Asian classroom situation that having a relationship problem with one student means having a fight to all. Then after all who would listen to you then? This means that you are no longer effective in reaching them all because of that one person.
But this cultural principle could be use to accomplish our task. Being kind to one seems unlovable person in the village, seems like you are doing it to all, because everyone will know about the good things you did for him. After Jesus healed the sick person He said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you.” Mark 5:19. But in other occasion Jesus warned the miraculously healed leper in Mark 1:44, 45 but “instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.” And everyone knew.
But we don’t have to do this just for catching their attention, but as real Christians with real intention to glorify God, this action just comes within us naturally. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt.25: 45. Then we become the light, spreading the character of Jesus not only His words.
Through experience, I learn something in my own culture that breaking the heart of one means breaking the heart of all. Many leadership tragedies happened because they broke the heart of just one humble worker. The sympathy of all workers to just one who poured out his heartache to his fellow workers became a big fight between workers versus administrators.
This is something we need to learn. This is true also in the Asian classroom situation that having a relationship problem with one student means having a fight to all. Then after all who would listen to you then? This means that you are no longer effective in reaching them all because of that one person.
But this cultural principle could be use to accomplish our task. Being kind to one seems unlovable person in the village, seems like you are doing it to all, because everyone will know about the good things you did for him. After Jesus healed the sick person He said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you.” Mark 5:19. But in other occasion Jesus warned the miraculously healed leper in Mark 1:44, 45 but “instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.” And everyone knew.
But we don’t have to do this just for catching their attention, but as real Christians with real intention to glorify God, this action just comes within us naturally. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt.25: 45. Then we become the light, spreading the character of Jesus not only His words.
Sowing or Ground Breaking?
“Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.” Rom. 16:5.
By nature, our frail human side demands the things we could see. Something we could call our accomplishment. We feel this is important especially when working in the foreign land and your home church has been eagerly waiting to hear your success stories since those donors are more interested on the literal evidence of your success-finish structure. They want to see the beautiful building than church character. They are more interested in ground breaking than sowing.
If a missionary is doing a church planting project it is not necessarily mean building project. Church planting means reaching people for Christ’s sake. It means sowing seeds in the heart not ground breaking ceremony for the building to be put up. This is sometimes hard because naturally we love to see structural outcome.
Missionary visa in restricted countries is extremely hard to obtain.
Usually, restricted countries have made new visa policy which is expensive and difficult to obtain. But those foreign missionaries who obtain missionary visas miraculously, who were suppose to be commissioned to make disciples, have delayed their work by focusing on the so called “church-building” projects, which later on were destroyed by the extremists. How can gospel be heard by all? Excepting some home churches that were attacked at home, the ekklesia were being prematurely persecuted because of the building. Many Christians were suffering because of the building.
The missionaries did not fully understand that the people’s heart who believes in Jesus Christ is the true church of God. They are God’s temple and God dwells within their hearts. That’s why the Bible refers church as the people who are called out rather than the bricks. No wonder the Apostle Paul said, “Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.” Rom. 16:5.
By nature, our frail human side demands the things we could see. Something we could call our accomplishment. We feel this is important especially when working in the foreign land and your home church has been eagerly waiting to hear your success stories since those donors are more interested on the literal evidence of your success-finish structure. They want to see the beautiful building than church character. They are more interested in ground breaking than sowing.
If a missionary is doing a church planting project it is not necessarily mean building project. Church planting means reaching people for Christ’s sake. It means sowing seeds in the heart not ground breaking ceremony for the building to be put up. This is sometimes hard because naturally we love to see structural outcome.
Missionary visa in restricted countries is extremely hard to obtain.
Usually, restricted countries have made new visa policy which is expensive and difficult to obtain. But those foreign missionaries who obtain missionary visas miraculously, who were suppose to be commissioned to make disciples, have delayed their work by focusing on the so called “church-building” projects, which later on were destroyed by the extremists. How can gospel be heard by all? Excepting some home churches that were attacked at home, the ekklesia were being prematurely persecuted because of the building. Many Christians were suffering because of the building.
The missionaries did not fully understand that the people’s heart who believes in Jesus Christ is the true church of God. They are God’s temple and God dwells within their hearts. That’s why the Bible refers church as the people who are called out rather than the bricks. No wonder the Apostle Paul said, “Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.” Rom. 16:5.
Illiterate But Not Ignorance
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
"Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." Rom. 12:17
We often label the verbally base community as ignorant where in fact the reality is that they have all the good values we need to learn from them. These verbally base communities are students of the “school of practical experience.” To confess, I have learned many things more than I could give. What I have learned is that these people enjoy life to the fullest. They don’t worry about how little they have. They don't worry about the time. This is so contrary to our city life which are full of hassles, deadlines and demands, which if couldn’t achieve, the result is so much stress caused by frustrations.
Most of these people work hard every day just to have food on their tables for their families to eat, but they are so contented of the life they have. These families, which are poor in the eyes of the world, are very happy with the life they have. And how about their bonding? These people are willing to stop just to listen. They know what it means to be a neighbor. Where in many civilized areas, you can readily observed close door neighbors but not friends. Civilized community separate friends to neighbors, neighbors to friends. But for them “neighbors means friends.” Their community bonding is strong. They closely support each other in good and bad times. They are ready to cancel any plan just for an ordinary visitor. These are the many realities of life that highly educated people are ignorant about.
Though they are illiterate in the eyes the world but they are not ignorance. For example, the Manobo hilltribe in the Philippines they are not following written rules but they have oral rules to ensure and maintain peace order and to solve problems, which sometimes better than our ways. Contrary to the very highly urbanized community which have written laws and judges to base the decision but still problems can hardly be solve. Why? Because many members of these urbanized people have lose their conscience. I will not explain this but just surf on the internet, watch the news or read newspapers. Greed and selfishness can be seen in the civilize world. People hurting each other without thinking others’ feelings. They killed, robbed, raped and tortured. To them they are safe if the police are not there. They afraid of the police not the bad things they have been doing.
How about these people we called illiterate? They have lived with pure conscience. They have unwritten rules and experience that we can learn from them. When the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Formal school may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us. This is something we need to think about.
"Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." Rom. 12:17
We often label the verbally base community as ignorant where in fact the reality is that they have all the good values we need to learn from them. These verbally base communities are students of the “school of practical experience.” To confess, I have learned many things more than I could give. What I have learned is that these people enjoy life to the fullest. They don’t worry about how little they have. They don't worry about the time. This is so contrary to our city life which are full of hassles, deadlines and demands, which if couldn’t achieve, the result is so much stress caused by frustrations.
Most of these people work hard every day just to have food on their tables for their families to eat, but they are so contented of the life they have. These families, which are poor in the eyes of the world, are very happy with the life they have. And how about their bonding? These people are willing to stop just to listen. They know what it means to be a neighbor. Where in many civilized areas, you can readily observed close door neighbors but not friends. Civilized community separate friends to neighbors, neighbors to friends. But for them “neighbors means friends.” Their community bonding is strong. They closely support each other in good and bad times. They are ready to cancel any plan just for an ordinary visitor. These are the many realities of life that highly educated people are ignorant about.
Though they are illiterate in the eyes the world but they are not ignorance. For example, the Manobo hilltribe in the Philippines they are not following written rules but they have oral rules to ensure and maintain peace order and to solve problems, which sometimes better than our ways. Contrary to the very highly urbanized community which have written laws and judges to base the decision but still problems can hardly be solve. Why? Because many members of these urbanized people have lose their conscience. I will not explain this but just surf on the internet, watch the news or read newspapers. Greed and selfishness can be seen in the civilize world. People hurting each other without thinking others’ feelings. They killed, robbed, raped and tortured. To them they are safe if the police are not there. They afraid of the police not the bad things they have been doing.
How about these people we called illiterate? They have lived with pure conscience. They have unwritten rules and experience that we can learn from them. When the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Formal school may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us. This is something we need to think about.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Teach Me How to Pray
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
1.*Prayer for encouragement
We praise You Lord for the many blessings we received from you. We thank you for guiding us all the time and for sending Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Thank you for what you have done for us. Thank you for dying on the cross to take away our sins. Help us to Lord to know You more because we want to have strong faith in You. Lord, our sins are many. We need you Lord because we are sinners and we are separated from you. We ask you Lord to forgive us from all our sins. We need your help Lord because we want to give our lives fully to you everyday. Lord, thank you for your promise that you will not leave us nor forsake us. Help us to find time to pray. Satan is so happy when we forget to pray. Satan has made many ways to keep us from praying. We ask you Lord to remind us to pray all the time so that we won’t be overcome by temptations. Help us to give up the sins that we love so much so that you will hear our prayers. Thank you Lord for helping us and for giving us strength to overcome our weaknesses. Help us to give our life fully to you everyday. Help us to be faithful to you. Help us to obey your will. I pray for brother Somchai and his family. May you continually bless them spiritually and materially. As we are waiting for your coming, may your Holy Spirit will change our hearts, so that we will be ready when You come. All these I pray in Jesus name amen.
2.*Prayer before giving Bible study
Thank you Lord for giving us time to study Your Word. We admit that we are sinners. We have done many things that don’t please you. Many times, we run away from You. We have lived our lives for ourselves. We are so sorry and we repent. We ask you to forgive us. Thank you for dying on the cross to save us. You have done what we couldn’t do for ourselves. We come to you now and ask you to take control of our lives, we give it to you. Help us to live everyday in a way that pleases you. In a special way, I pray for brother Somchai as he’s going to study Your words may you guide him through Your Holy Spirit. Give him wisdom so that he may able to understand Your word. Help us to believe your words and take away all our doubts. Thank you for the promise that whatever we ask in your name, you will do it. Please, send your Holy Spirit to help us understand Your plan of salvation to us. Bless us all today. Give us peace of mind. Help us to love one another. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
3.*Prayer after Bible study
Thank you Lord for giving us Your words that helps us understand your plan of salvation to us. Thank you also for sending Your Holy Spirit to us, who helps us to know what You want us to do. May Your Holy Spirit help us to grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. So that we will be change and our character will become like Him. Help us to know You more. We want You to be the ruler in our lives. May your Holy Spirit will continually work in our hearts. I pray that you will bless brother Somchai. Help him to make the right decision. May you are always there in every decision he makes. Bless also his family. Give them health and keep them safe. Protect them from sicknesses and bad people. Bless them materially and spiritually. You know them and You know what is best for them. But I asked You Lord, that if they have problems, please helps them. We believe that Your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. I pray that every day You would always be the center of our lives. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
4.*Prayer for members who have problem
Thank you Lord for the life, for the protection and for the health. We don’t know our future. But thank you Lord that you know what lies ahead and you know everything about us. Thank you that you know what is best for us. Brother Somchai is facing big problem today and You know it. Help him to decide the best things to do to solve it. You are the source of help and strength. I ask you Lord to solve his entire problem. We believe that You can help us. Lord you understand our pain and sorrows. When we start to follow you Lord, Satan is not happy and he will attack us and he will do everything possible to prevent us from trusting you. Lord, in ourselves we are not strong enough to resist him. But thank You Lord for the Holy Spirit who comes close to us to help us every problem we face. Thank you Lord for the promise that you will not leave us nor forsake us. You know the future and what is best for us. Lead us always to the right direction so we will know the right way to go. Gives us strength to face our problems. Give us a clear direction. And help us to understand Your will. Help us not to doubt. Help us to trust you more even in difficult situation. Satan gives us problem to keep us away from you. We know that this is the work of Satan. And he will do all in his power to stop us from believing you. But we thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit that gives us strength, to help us and to help brother Somchai in this problem. Help us to be faithful to you no matter what comes into our lives. Lord, we know that Your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for Your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
5.*Prayer before giving sermon
Thank you Lord for being so good to us. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and thank You for the many blessings we received from you throughout the week. We worship you because You are our Creator and we owe everything we have to You, including our lives. We are so thankful for protecting us and for giving us health and other blessings. As we listen to Your words today, may these inspire us and help us to be ready for Your coming. We ask Your Holy Spirit to Help us to live a victorious Christian lives. Help us to develop a closer relationship with You. So that in everything we do, it will be pleasing to You. Take away all our doubts and help us to trust You more. Help us to believe to receive what we are praying for. Help us not to doubt. May your Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts. We believe that your coming is very soon and so help us to walk closer to You in every moment in our lives. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
6.*Prayer after giving sermon
Thank you so much Lord for the worship we have today, that helps us to understand more about your plan to us. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who is able to help us in many ways. To help us in bringing love, joy, healing, wisdom and conversion. Thank you for the words we have just heard, that helps us to have a closer relationship with You and gives us encouragement and hope. May Your Holy Spirit will help put Your words in our heart. So that we may draw our heart closer to You, to help us love You more. Thank you Lord that you suffered and died for us that we may be able to have eternal life. May You keep us safe as we go home. We ask You to bless us with the things we need, such as knowledge, guidance, peace and health. Help us to grow more spiritually. We ask You to give us a clean heart. Help us to know You more and more. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
7.*Prayer for the doubting
Thank you Lord for the time to pray. Thank you for the life we have. Help us to believe your promise that we will receive what we ask if we believe to receive it. We admit that we are sinners. We have done many things that don’t please you. We have lived our life for ourselves. We ask you to forgive us. We believe that you died on the cross for us, to save us. You did what we could not do for ourselves. Thank you Lord for your promise that you will supply all our needs. Nothing is impossible with you Lord and so we ask you to supply the need of brother Somchai. We come to you now and ask you to take control of my lives, we give it to you. Help us to live every day in a way that pleases you. We love you, Lord, and we want to spend all eternity with You in heaven. Help us to develop a closer relationship with You. Help us to believe to receive what we are praying for. Help us not to doubt. Take away all our doubts and unbelief. Help us to believe that nothing is impossible with you. We want You to be the ruler in our lives. Please provide us with our spiritual and material needs. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
8.*Prayer offered for the local co-Bible workers
Thank You Lord for choosing us to be Your instruments in reaching other people. Thank You for sending your Holy Spirit to lead us. Help us not to do Your work with our thinking and in our strength. Lord, we want to work under Your direction, so help us to be your humble instruments. So that your name will be praise in everything we do. Help us live like Jesus in our homes, our work and our neighborhoods. Help us to use our talents to lead people to You and to strengthen Your church. So that the work you want us to do will be done in a right time. Thank you for Your promise that when we seek, we will able to find and when we knock, the door will be open and when we ask, we will receive. Help us to please You in every way. Use us to be Your instruments to bring people to know about your great plan of salvation. May Your Holy Spirit open the way for us to share Your great love to the people around us. We ask You Lord to fill us with genuine love for our friends and neighbors. Help us what to do to be a good friend to those around us. May your Holy Spirit guide us in every word and deed so that we may say and do the right thing at the right time. May the life of Jesus will be seen in our lives. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
9.*Prayer for members who is leaving for work
We praise Your name Lord for what You have done to each of us. Thank you for the life and for giving us another day to work and to do our daily responsibilities. We thank you for the health, strength and for the many blessings we received from You. In a special way, I pray for brother Somchai as he leaves for work. I pray that you will protect him. Please bless him and his family. Bless his work, his fellow workers and the company he is working in. Take good care of him and give him wisdom and strength as work. I ask You also to please take care of his children as they leave for school and wherever they are. Please protect them and bless them. Thank you for giving us your Son Jesus Christ who died for us. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
10.*Prayer for the food
We thank you Lord for being so good to us and for the fellowship we have today. We thank you for the health and for the life. We thank you for all the blessings and for providing our daily needs. Thank you for the good food. Bless the hands that are so kind to prepare for this. May you continually bless them. Bless this family and their livelihood. We thank you Lord for giving them the job, to give them source of their income to live on and meet their daily needs. Bless the food we are about to eat today. May this give us good health and strength. Thank You for keeping us healthy, strong and able. May your name will always be glorified in everything we do. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
11.*Prayer for the sick
Lord, we humbly come to You today to ask Your blessings. You know brother Somchai so much better than I do. You know his sickness and the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with Somchai now, to work in his life. Let your will be done in his life. Lord, I pray for brother Somchai because your Word says I should pray for his healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in You to heal him, but I also trust in the plan you have for his life. We trust You because you are the best doctor and the greatest healer. Lord, I don't always understand Your ways, and why Somchai has to suffer, but we trust you. I ask that You look with mercy and grace towards him. Let him know You are there with him through this difficulty. And may You always be glorified in his life and also in mine. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
12.*Prayer for members about to travel
We praise your name Lord for the life we enjoy each day. We thank you for keeping us safe all the time. I pray for brother Somchai as he travels to Bangkok. May Your angels will watch over him. Keep him safe in his entire trip, so that he would be able to come back in a right time. Bless also his family he left behind in a short time. May You take care of their daily needs and will keep them safe. Help us always to continue to grow spiritually and be connected to You through prayer, Bible study and meditation. Help us to trust You more. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
13.*Prayer before going to bed
Thank You Lord for the success of our activities today. May your Holy angels will watch over us as we rest tonight. We ask You to wake us up early tomorrow so we could spend time with You in prayer and in Bible study. Thank You Lord for dying in the cross for us. Help us to watch and pray continually. Lord, we need Your help because we cannot change our hearts. And so we surrender our lives to you now. Because it is only You who can transform us. We humble our hearts and we recognize our weaknesses. But we thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to work in our hearts. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Give us peace of mind as we sleep tonight and forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
14.*Prayer before starting the day
Our Father in Heaven, thank You for the new day. We know You love us so much. Thank You for Your love and care. Thank You Lord for waking us up and for the new strength. We want to start our day with You because we want to draw closer to You everyday. We ask You to take control of our lives today. And help us to give our lives completely to You. We ask You Lord to transform our hearts, that we become more and more like Jesus. We ask You to strengthen us to be kind to each other and to be witnesses to the people around us. May Your name will be glorified in everything we do. Help us to be faithful in our work today. As we start to do our responsibilities, may You guide us and protect us from any harms and dangers. Help us to be blessings to the people around us. Use us Lord to lead them to You. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
15.*Prayer for comfort in loss
Lord we come to you today to seek Your comfort and guidance. We believe that you love us and you are there all the time. You suffered and died for us and you understand the pain and grief we bear at this moment. To experience death, sickness, and pain are not part of Your plan because You want us to be happy. But Satan is making troubles to give us sufferings. I pray for brother Somchai and his family. Please help them in this time of loss and overwhelming grief. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why our lives are filled with pain and heartache. But we turn to You as we seek to find strength because You will not leave us. Help us not to despair. Brother Somchai’s heart is crushed, but I know that you will not leave him. Please Lord shows him your compassion. Help him through the pain so that he will hope in you again. We believe the promises in your Word to send him fresh mercy each day. Though we can't see what lies ahead of us today, I trust your great love will never fail him. Thank You for Your promises that You will come again to take us to heaven, to end up all our sufferings. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
1.*Prayer for encouragement
We praise You Lord for the many blessings we received from you. We thank you for guiding us all the time and for sending Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Thank you for what you have done for us. Thank you for dying on the cross to take away our sins. Help us to Lord to know You more because we want to have strong faith in You. Lord, our sins are many. We need you Lord because we are sinners and we are separated from you. We ask you Lord to forgive us from all our sins. We need your help Lord because we want to give our lives fully to you everyday. Lord, thank you for your promise that you will not leave us nor forsake us. Help us to find time to pray. Satan is so happy when we forget to pray. Satan has made many ways to keep us from praying. We ask you Lord to remind us to pray all the time so that we won’t be overcome by temptations. Help us to give up the sins that we love so much so that you will hear our prayers. Thank you Lord for helping us and for giving us strength to overcome our weaknesses. Help us to give our life fully to you everyday. Help us to be faithful to you. Help us to obey your will. I pray for brother Somchai and his family. May you continually bless them spiritually and materially. As we are waiting for your coming, may your Holy Spirit will change our hearts, so that we will be ready when You come. All these I pray in Jesus name amen.
2.*Prayer before giving Bible study
Thank you Lord for giving us time to study Your Word. We admit that we are sinners. We have done many things that don’t please you. Many times, we run away from You. We have lived our lives for ourselves. We are so sorry and we repent. We ask you to forgive us. Thank you for dying on the cross to save us. You have done what we couldn’t do for ourselves. We come to you now and ask you to take control of our lives, we give it to you. Help us to live everyday in a way that pleases you. In a special way, I pray for brother Somchai as he’s going to study Your words may you guide him through Your Holy Spirit. Give him wisdom so that he may able to understand Your word. Help us to believe your words and take away all our doubts. Thank you for the promise that whatever we ask in your name, you will do it. Please, send your Holy Spirit to help us understand Your plan of salvation to us. Bless us all today. Give us peace of mind. Help us to love one another. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
3.*Prayer after Bible study
Thank you Lord for giving us Your words that helps us understand your plan of salvation to us. Thank you also for sending Your Holy Spirit to us, who helps us to know what You want us to do. May Your Holy Spirit help us to grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. So that we will be change and our character will become like Him. Help us to know You more. We want You to be the ruler in our lives. May your Holy Spirit will continually work in our hearts. I pray that you will bless brother Somchai. Help him to make the right decision. May you are always there in every decision he makes. Bless also his family. Give them health and keep them safe. Protect them from sicknesses and bad people. Bless them materially and spiritually. You know them and You know what is best for them. But I asked You Lord, that if they have problems, please helps them. We believe that Your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. I pray that every day You would always be the center of our lives. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
4.*Prayer for members who have problem
Thank you Lord for the life, for the protection and for the health. We don’t know our future. But thank you Lord that you know what lies ahead and you know everything about us. Thank you that you know what is best for us. Brother Somchai is facing big problem today and You know it. Help him to decide the best things to do to solve it. You are the source of help and strength. I ask you Lord to solve his entire problem. We believe that You can help us. Lord you understand our pain and sorrows. When we start to follow you Lord, Satan is not happy and he will attack us and he will do everything possible to prevent us from trusting you. Lord, in ourselves we are not strong enough to resist him. But thank You Lord for the Holy Spirit who comes close to us to help us every problem we face. Thank you Lord for the promise that you will not leave us nor forsake us. You know the future and what is best for us. Lead us always to the right direction so we will know the right way to go. Gives us strength to face our problems. Give us a clear direction. And help us to understand Your will. Help us not to doubt. Help us to trust you more even in difficult situation. Satan gives us problem to keep us away from you. We know that this is the work of Satan. And he will do all in his power to stop us from believing you. But we thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit that gives us strength, to help us and to help brother Somchai in this problem. Help us to be faithful to you no matter what comes into our lives. Lord, we know that Your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for Your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
5.*Prayer before giving sermon
Thank you Lord for being so good to us. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and thank You for the many blessings we received from you throughout the week. We worship you because You are our Creator and we owe everything we have to You, including our lives. We are so thankful for protecting us and for giving us health and other blessings. As we listen to Your words today, may these inspire us and help us to be ready for Your coming. We ask Your Holy Spirit to Help us to live a victorious Christian lives. Help us to develop a closer relationship with You. So that in everything we do, it will be pleasing to You. Take away all our doubts and help us to trust You more. Help us to believe to receive what we are praying for. Help us not to doubt. May your Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts. We believe that your coming is very soon and so help us to walk closer to You in every moment in our lives. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
6.*Prayer after giving sermon
Thank you so much Lord for the worship we have today, that helps us to understand more about your plan to us. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who is able to help us in many ways. To help us in bringing love, joy, healing, wisdom and conversion. Thank you for the words we have just heard, that helps us to have a closer relationship with You and gives us encouragement and hope. May Your Holy Spirit will help put Your words in our heart. So that we may draw our heart closer to You, to help us love You more. Thank you Lord that you suffered and died for us that we may be able to have eternal life. May You keep us safe as we go home. We ask You to bless us with the things we need, such as knowledge, guidance, peace and health. Help us to grow more spiritually. We ask You to give us a clean heart. Help us to know You more and more. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
7.*Prayer for the doubting
Thank you Lord for the time to pray. Thank you for the life we have. Help us to believe your promise that we will receive what we ask if we believe to receive it. We admit that we are sinners. We have done many things that don’t please you. We have lived our life for ourselves. We ask you to forgive us. We believe that you died on the cross for us, to save us. You did what we could not do for ourselves. Thank you Lord for your promise that you will supply all our needs. Nothing is impossible with you Lord and so we ask you to supply the need of brother Somchai. We come to you now and ask you to take control of my lives, we give it to you. Help us to live every day in a way that pleases you. We love you, Lord, and we want to spend all eternity with You in heaven. Help us to develop a closer relationship with You. Help us to believe to receive what we are praying for. Help us not to doubt. Take away all our doubts and unbelief. Help us to believe that nothing is impossible with you. We want You to be the ruler in our lives. Please provide us with our spiritual and material needs. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
8.*Prayer offered for the local co-Bible workers
Thank You Lord for choosing us to be Your instruments in reaching other people. Thank You for sending your Holy Spirit to lead us. Help us not to do Your work with our thinking and in our strength. Lord, we want to work under Your direction, so help us to be your humble instruments. So that your name will be praise in everything we do. Help us live like Jesus in our homes, our work and our neighborhoods. Help us to use our talents to lead people to You and to strengthen Your church. So that the work you want us to do will be done in a right time. Thank you for Your promise that when we seek, we will able to find and when we knock, the door will be open and when we ask, we will receive. Help us to please You in every way. Use us to be Your instruments to bring people to know about your great plan of salvation. May Your Holy Spirit open the way for us to share Your great love to the people around us. We ask You Lord to fill us with genuine love for our friends and neighbors. Help us what to do to be a good friend to those around us. May your Holy Spirit guide us in every word and deed so that we may say and do the right thing at the right time. May the life of Jesus will be seen in our lives. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
9.*Prayer for members who is leaving for work
We praise Your name Lord for what You have done to each of us. Thank you for the life and for giving us another day to work and to do our daily responsibilities. We thank you for the health, strength and for the many blessings we received from You. In a special way, I pray for brother Somchai as he leaves for work. I pray that you will protect him. Please bless him and his family. Bless his work, his fellow workers and the company he is working in. Take good care of him and give him wisdom and strength as work. I ask You also to please take care of his children as they leave for school and wherever they are. Please protect them and bless them. Thank you for giving us your Son Jesus Christ who died for us. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
10.*Prayer for the food
We thank you Lord for being so good to us and for the fellowship we have today. We thank you for the health and for the life. We thank you for all the blessings and for providing our daily needs. Thank you for the good food. Bless the hands that are so kind to prepare for this. May you continually bless them. Bless this family and their livelihood. We thank you Lord for giving them the job, to give them source of their income to live on and meet their daily needs. Bless the food we are about to eat today. May this give us good health and strength. Thank You for keeping us healthy, strong and able. May your name will always be glorified in everything we do. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
11.*Prayer for the sick
Lord, we humbly come to You today to ask Your blessings. You know brother Somchai so much better than I do. You know his sickness and the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with Somchai now, to work in his life. Let your will be done in his life. Lord, I pray for brother Somchai because your Word says I should pray for his healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in You to heal him, but I also trust in the plan you have for his life. We trust You because you are the best doctor and the greatest healer. Lord, I don't always understand Your ways, and why Somchai has to suffer, but we trust you. I ask that You look with mercy and grace towards him. Let him know You are there with him through this difficulty. And may You always be glorified in his life and also in mine. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
12.*Prayer for members about to travel
We praise your name Lord for the life we enjoy each day. We thank you for keeping us safe all the time. I pray for brother Somchai as he travels to Bangkok. May Your angels will watch over him. Keep him safe in his entire trip, so that he would be able to come back in a right time. Bless also his family he left behind in a short time. May You take care of their daily needs and will keep them safe. Help us always to continue to grow spiritually and be connected to You through prayer, Bible study and meditation. Help us to trust You more. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
13.*Prayer before going to bed
Thank You Lord for the success of our activities today. May your Holy angels will watch over us as we rest tonight. We ask You to wake us up early tomorrow so we could spend time with You in prayer and in Bible study. Thank You Lord for dying in the cross for us. Help us to watch and pray continually. Lord, we need Your help because we cannot change our hearts. And so we surrender our lives to you now. Because it is only You who can transform us. We humble our hearts and we recognize our weaknesses. But we thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to work in our hearts. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Give us peace of mind as we sleep tonight and forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
14.*Prayer before starting the day
Our Father in Heaven, thank You for the new day. We know You love us so much. Thank You for Your love and care. Thank You Lord for waking us up and for the new strength. We want to start our day with You because we want to draw closer to You everyday. We ask You to take control of our lives today. And help us to give our lives completely to You. We ask You Lord to transform our hearts, that we become more and more like Jesus. We ask You to strengthen us to be kind to each other and to be witnesses to the people around us. May Your name will be glorified in everything we do. Help us to be faithful in our work today. As we start to do our responsibilities, may You guide us and protect us from any harms and dangers. Help us to be blessings to the people around us. Use us Lord to lead them to You. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
15.*Prayer for comfort in loss
Lord we come to you today to seek Your comfort and guidance. We believe that you love us and you are there all the time. You suffered and died for us and you understand the pain and grief we bear at this moment. To experience death, sickness, and pain are not part of Your plan because You want us to be happy. But Satan is making troubles to give us sufferings. I pray for brother Somchai and his family. Please help them in this time of loss and overwhelming grief. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why our lives are filled with pain and heartache. But we turn to You as we seek to find strength because You will not leave us. Help us not to despair. Brother Somchai’s heart is crushed, but I know that you will not leave him. Please Lord shows him your compassion. Help him through the pain so that he will hope in you again. We believe the promises in your Word to send him fresh mercy each day. Though we can't see what lies ahead of us today, I trust your great love will never fail him. Thank You for Your promises that You will come again to take us to heaven, to end up all our sufferings. We believe that your coming is very soon, so help us to be ready for your coming. Forgive us Lord from all our sins. In Jesus name I pray amen.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Promise of the Holy Spirit in the Church
Today, there are many old nominal religious gathering characterized by pride, selfishness and division. Their gathering seems religious but not spiritual. God cannot bless their gathering. Jesus’ presence is not in their midst since they are not gathering in unity.
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt.18:20. This promise of God’s presence is conditional. God approves a small gathering only if the two or three gathered in His name. In the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself because they gathered in unity.
The faction in the religious gathering means you are inviting and welcoming other spirit’s presence rather than God’s. The promise of God’s presence is only for those churches who gather in unity.
We can plant a character building church inside this big assembly. But we must remember that a missionary is a model so don’t begin the work of church planting anywhere else, begin it within yourself.
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt.18:20. This promise of God’s presence is conditional. God approves a small gathering only if the two or three gathered in His name. In the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself because they gathered in unity.
The faction in the religious gathering means you are inviting and welcoming other spirit’s presence rather than God’s. The promise of God’s presence is only for those churches who gather in unity.
We can plant a character building church inside this big assembly. But we must remember that a missionary is a model so don’t begin the work of church planting anywhere else, begin it within yourself.
The True Goal of Church Planting
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
What is the true goal of church planting? How do some missionaries view church planting? How does it affect our mission? “The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. AA 9
So what is the goal of church planting? If you think that gathering lot of worshippers then you miss the true goal of church planting. We can answer the question by seriously answering this question: How do we measure success in church planting? Is a missionary successful because the church planted by the missionary was able to establish another church? Maybe many would say yes. But other denominations can do this. I’m holding the belief that only the true church has the true goal of church planting.
Many missionaries claimed they were successful in the church planting since they where able to gather many members and they were able to branch out another church, where in fact the reality was that they just have enough funds to make another branch. And the scary thing is that the spirit of selfishness and division is crippling inside the church they planted. Did Jesus declare he was successful after he gathered the crowd of followers and the 12 disciples following Him? (Mark 3: 7-19).
It is possible that many serve as church planting missionary but did not know the true goal of church planting. They have lot of strategies. They know how to emphasize the doctrine theologically. But they miss the true goal of church planting that is to plant churches that reflects the character of Jesus, a church that each member really unite to build up their character, a loving and faithful church, though their meeting place(building)is not nice. The primary goal of the church planting is to build the heart of people who will be willing to be counted as the son of God, who is willing to stand for the right no matter what their faith would bring them and are willing to say “all to Jesus I surrender.” Church planting is not necessarily mean putting up building or branching out another worship hall in other places, but establishing people who are faithful and committed worshippers of God. Who are willing and open for Holy Spirit’s use.
Is there any church like this in the world today? If a missionary can plant a spiritual church like this, then this church will naturally branch out of its own. It will not only branch out one or two churches but immeasurable that no human being can tell! One spiritual church is brighter than a thousand nominal churches.
What is the true goal of church planting? How do some missionaries view church planting? How does it affect our mission? “The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. AA 9
So what is the goal of church planting? If you think that gathering lot of worshippers then you miss the true goal of church planting. We can answer the question by seriously answering this question: How do we measure success in church planting? Is a missionary successful because the church planted by the missionary was able to establish another church? Maybe many would say yes. But other denominations can do this. I’m holding the belief that only the true church has the true goal of church planting.
Many missionaries claimed they were successful in the church planting since they where able to gather many members and they were able to branch out another church, where in fact the reality was that they just have enough funds to make another branch. And the scary thing is that the spirit of selfishness and division is crippling inside the church they planted. Did Jesus declare he was successful after he gathered the crowd of followers and the 12 disciples following Him? (Mark 3: 7-19).
It is possible that many serve as church planting missionary but did not know the true goal of church planting. They have lot of strategies. They know how to emphasize the doctrine theologically. But they miss the true goal of church planting that is to plant churches that reflects the character of Jesus, a church that each member really unite to build up their character, a loving and faithful church, though their meeting place(building)is not nice. The primary goal of the church planting is to build the heart of people who will be willing to be counted as the son of God, who is willing to stand for the right no matter what their faith would bring them and are willing to say “all to Jesus I surrender.” Church planting is not necessarily mean putting up building or branching out another worship hall in other places, but establishing people who are faithful and committed worshippers of God. Who are willing and open for Holy Spirit’s use.
Is there any church like this in the world today? If a missionary can plant a spiritual church like this, then this church will naturally branch out of its own. It will not only branch out one or two churches but immeasurable that no human being can tell! One spiritual church is brighter than a thousand nominal churches.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Gospel and the Traditional Beliefs
sulad Jhun Cardeinte
One of the reasons of the existence of their traditional beliefs and practices are to answer their spiritual problems and questions in their real life situation. Children learn them from their old aged folks. People believe their ritual leaders, thinking that they have wisdom to answer their spiritual emptiness. Since that is the only available and common answers they have around them which were handed down from the old to the present society they are in.
Though there are certain traditional beliefs that are useful bridge to let them understand the gospel, many of the aspects of traditional beliefs and cultures are contrary to the Gospel. For example, the Mien people pay their health, protection and fortune to the spirits by making spirit money and ritual ceremony. Mien rituals and ceremonies are very costly, tiresome and time consuming. The literal payment and their sincere effort assure them their security in all aspect. The Bible confronts this belief. Believing Jesus Christ is far different and free of charge.
If the challenge in the city evangelism is replacing their inappropriate livelihood, the challenge in the hilltribe church planting includes finding Biblical ways to replace their old sinful ways of responding to life’s struggle with Christian ceremonies and activities that bring glory to God.
Each hilltribe group has their own ritual ways in responding to unexpected and unpleasant situation. Now observe what your people do in difficult times and when they are sick. Use these questions as a guide;
What are the things they do when they are sick? Or when something bad happen to them? How do they respond to sickness or to bad situation? How should Christians respond to sickness and to any unfavorable situation? What can you do to replace their sinful ways to Biblical ways?
One of the reasons of the existence of their traditional beliefs and practices are to answer their spiritual problems and questions in their real life situation. Children learn them from their old aged folks. People believe their ritual leaders, thinking that they have wisdom to answer their spiritual emptiness. Since that is the only available and common answers they have around them which were handed down from the old to the present society they are in.
Though there are certain traditional beliefs that are useful bridge to let them understand the gospel, many of the aspects of traditional beliefs and cultures are contrary to the Gospel. For example, the Mien people pay their health, protection and fortune to the spirits by making spirit money and ritual ceremony. Mien rituals and ceremonies are very costly, tiresome and time consuming. The literal payment and their sincere effort assure them their security in all aspect. The Bible confronts this belief. Believing Jesus Christ is far different and free of charge.
If the challenge in the city evangelism is replacing their inappropriate livelihood, the challenge in the hilltribe church planting includes finding Biblical ways to replace their old sinful ways of responding to life’s struggle with Christian ceremonies and activities that bring glory to God.
Each hilltribe group has their own ritual ways in responding to unexpected and unpleasant situation. Now observe what your people do in difficult times and when they are sick. Use these questions as a guide;
What are the things they do when they are sick? Or when something bad happen to them? How do they respond to sickness or to bad situation? How should Christians respond to sickness and to any unfavorable situation? What can you do to replace their sinful ways to Biblical ways?
Missionary and Culture
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
Missionaries working in the cross-cultural field must be aware that there are many people who will not accept change readily. They oppose to new ideas and methods. They are suspicious and prejudice, though your intention is for their good it will be misunderstood. The pen of inspiration says, “Workers with clear minds are needed to devise methods for reaching the people. Something must be done to break down the prejudice existing in the world against the truth.” Ev, 129 However, you cannot think of method unless you understand how they see things in their own worldview.
The basic human relational principle of missionary in the foreign land would be similar to visiting your neighbor’s house that you have to be observant to follow the household rules to fit in yourself with their routines. Though, the host family would understand that you are visitor but they would appreciate if you would behave the way all the family members do and common sense is needed in almost every situation.
So how do we meet people in other culture and belief? Cross-cultural ministry should be considered as “careful evangelism.” This should be breakdown into two;
First, careful about knowing what they believed. This means seeking to understand the people’s thinking and worldview. Second, careful about our relationship with them.
A missionary friend of mine shares his experience how they build up their relationship with the very sensitive minority Moslem tribe in the Philippines. He used to work as a mission school teacher. He told me that they very careful in giving awards. That all students should received honor-ribbons. He added that they didn’t have any problem proclaiming the academic honors students but they have tried to be make sure that the strength of each their students were acknowledged. And so all should receive honor ribbons, such as most diligent, most industrious, most kind and etc.” This has many positive effects. The students will remain motivated and on top of that, it is relationship-building between the missionary and the villagers.
Let’s face it, you don’t have effective ministry if you don’t have quality relationship with the people you are there for. If they have reservation to accept you then how about the gospel you have brought with you which is so strange to them? If you are personally strange then the gospel would be far more strange to them. Gospel will only be clear and understandable and acceptable when we make ourselves clear and acceptable, that they can simply build trust on and this relational move is our personal responsibility. If you could win them to yourself then you could usher them to the feet of Jesus. For me personally, I only trust the recommendation of friends whom I have trusted.
Missionaries working in the cross-cultural field must be aware that there are many people who will not accept change readily. They oppose to new ideas and methods. They are suspicious and prejudice, though your intention is for their good it will be misunderstood. The pen of inspiration says, “Workers with clear minds are needed to devise methods for reaching the people. Something must be done to break down the prejudice existing in the world against the truth.” Ev, 129 However, you cannot think of method unless you understand how they see things in their own worldview.
The basic human relational principle of missionary in the foreign land would be similar to visiting your neighbor’s house that you have to be observant to follow the household rules to fit in yourself with their routines. Though, the host family would understand that you are visitor but they would appreciate if you would behave the way all the family members do and common sense is needed in almost every situation.
So how do we meet people in other culture and belief? Cross-cultural ministry should be considered as “careful evangelism.” This should be breakdown into two;
First, careful about knowing what they believed. This means seeking to understand the people’s thinking and worldview. Second, careful about our relationship with them.
A missionary friend of mine shares his experience how they build up their relationship with the very sensitive minority Moslem tribe in the Philippines. He used to work as a mission school teacher. He told me that they very careful in giving awards. That all students should received honor-ribbons. He added that they didn’t have any problem proclaiming the academic honors students but they have tried to be make sure that the strength of each their students were acknowledged. And so all should receive honor ribbons, such as most diligent, most industrious, most kind and etc.” This has many positive effects. The students will remain motivated and on top of that, it is relationship-building between the missionary and the villagers.
Let’s face it, you don’t have effective ministry if you don’t have quality relationship with the people you are there for. If they have reservation to accept you then how about the gospel you have brought with you which is so strange to them? If you are personally strange then the gospel would be far more strange to them. Gospel will only be clear and understandable and acceptable when we make ourselves clear and acceptable, that they can simply build trust on and this relational move is our personal responsibility. If you could win them to yourself then you could usher them to the feet of Jesus. For me personally, I only trust the recommendation of friends whom I have trusted.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Why you should visit the sulads resource center?
There are 7 points you should know;
1. So you will understand better how other people group think.
2. So you will become an effective communicators of the gospel.
3. So you could help contribute with your thoughts about certain cross-cultural issues at the sulads forum.
4. So you will discover how to build relationship in other cultural groups for effective ministry.
5. So that you will know how to handle critical cross-cultural situation effectively and appropriately.
6. Because communicating with people in other culture is difficult.
7. Because we should consult the biblical principles in handling conflicting situations.
you are welcome to visit to learn and help at the sulads resource center at www.suladsresource.org (copy and paste it if clcking the site doesn't work)
1. So you will understand better how other people group think.
2. So you will become an effective communicators of the gospel.
3. So you could help contribute with your thoughts about certain cross-cultural issues at the sulads forum.
4. So you will discover how to build relationship in other cultural groups for effective ministry.
5. So that you will know how to handle critical cross-cultural situation effectively and appropriately.
6. Because communicating with people in other culture is difficult.
7. Because we should consult the biblical principles in handling conflicting situations.
you are welcome to visit to learn and help at the sulads resource center at www.suladsresource.org (copy and paste it if clcking the site doesn't work)
Join the Sulads Forum at www.suladsresource.org
Dear SULADS and Friends,
This is a second invitation for you to join the cross-cultural forum
The SULADS RESOURCE FORUM has now started.....There are many questions relating to cross-cultural mission that needs to be answered. And there are many insights you've got that others might need them....Share it!!!!! Or ask the SULADS missionaries to everything you want to know about...Ask your questions and share your insights in the SULADS RESOURCE FORUM...
So, do you have a problem to discuss? come on, start posting!!!I have posted critical cross-cultural issues about the Mien culture and many others. I think those topics are good enough to start with...Please see them
There are many questions there like;
1. What is it like to be a SULADS missionary?
2. The SULADS missionaries will go where the rest of the world is unable. How will I be fit to be a SULADS missionary? Is this for everyone?
3. People who live in the easy-to-reach places have heard the Gospel. The people in the hard-to-reach places haven’t. Often traditional mission strategies don’t get it done. How does the SULADS reach those people in the most isolated and difficult-to-access places?
4. Mien customary invitation; Mien has used cigarette sticks to invite their neighbors for a special ocassion. The host would house to house his neigbhors. He would then hand in a cigarette stick to anyone he invited. And accepting the cigarette stick would mean accepting the invitation. I always accept the cigarette stick! This has happened to me many times. What do you think? I never used but throw away the cigarettes anyway after they left. How could I be a good witness?
5. What do you think is the importance of having a cross-cultural SULADS missionary forum?
Who knows that by visiting the SULADS Forum would become the best cross-cultural online tour you've ever done in your life...There are many more cross-cultural issues there.
Go to the www.suladsresource.org then click the SULADS Forum button at the left to join...
This is a second invitation for you to join the cross-cultural forum
The SULADS RESOURCE FORUM has now started.....There are many questions relating to cross-cultural mission that needs to be answered. And there are many insights you've got that others might need them....Share it!!!!! Or ask the SULADS missionaries to everything you want to know about...Ask your questions and share your insights in the SULADS RESOURCE FORUM...
So, do you have a problem to discuss? come on, start posting!!!I have posted critical cross-cultural issues about the Mien culture and many others. I think those topics are good enough to start with...Please see them
There are many questions there like;
1. What is it like to be a SULADS missionary?
2. The SULADS missionaries will go where the rest of the world is unable. How will I be fit to be a SULADS missionary? Is this for everyone?
3. People who live in the easy-to-reach places have heard the Gospel. The people in the hard-to-reach places haven’t. Often traditional mission strategies don’t get it done. How does the SULADS reach those people in the most isolated and difficult-to-access places?
4. Mien customary invitation; Mien has used cigarette sticks to invite their neighbors for a special ocassion. The host would house to house his neigbhors. He would then hand in a cigarette stick to anyone he invited. And accepting the cigarette stick would mean accepting the invitation. I always accept the cigarette stick! This has happened to me many times. What do you think? I never used but throw away the cigarettes anyway after they left. How could I be a good witness?
5. What do you think is the importance of having a cross-cultural SULADS missionary forum?
Who knows that by visiting the SULADS Forum would become the best cross-cultural online tour you've ever done in your life...There are many more cross-cultural issues there.
Go to the www.suladsresource.org then click the SULADS Forum button at the left to join...
Friday, November 7, 2008
Gardening in the Cross-cultural Route
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
By experience, we can learned that in reaching the extreme hilltribes, sometimes direct giving of something post some problems. But there is something right you could give directly to them. Enough vegetables and fruits may be the best things you could offer, if given in proper way. Missionaries who love gardening during free time are usually loved by people.
They are also setting good example to the villagers. It is better for the missionary to bring light vegetable seeds than a heavy load of attractive strange goods in the village. Vegetables are basic, healthful, affordable and accumulative. It is basic in the sense that they eat everyday with the main food that is common. It is affordable in the sense that they can easily grasp and plant it for themselves. Most of them own consider size of land. It is also propagating in a sense that they are living and subject to grow and produce and reproduce. Plants have increasing and extending nature!
In reaching the ethnic groups, one of the many ways I observed that help make friends is to grow and maintain a vegetable garden. Living plant is a reflection of a living God. Plan for plants in your village! And you are planting friendship and life. I remember our work in one of the pioneering mission schools somewhere in Bukidnon, Philippines. My teammate was an experienced farmer. So we agreed to grow a good size of vegetable garden, sensing that we should help meet their basic felt needs first before reaching their spiritual needs.
I'm not saying that you should make yourselves a vegetable supplier for all people to help them feel better. In our adult class every Friday, I could still remember our fellowship lunch. Of course we encouraged them to bring with them something of what they have from their house. But we always cooked food which was enough for everyone, because we have something that we can gather from our garden. That memorable event we did almost every week had made us close and won the villagers’ heart.
We even felt happy hearing from the mothers that they learned how to cook from us. Needless to say that some of them didn’t have the idea what a balance diet is, so that while we cooked they learn from us. Not only that, they actually saw that our diet was always almost same of what they had in their house. We invited them so that they will actually see that we have lived their kind of simple lifestyle.
But addressing their felt needs is a starting point toward revealing and knowing their real deep needs.
The gardens we built supplies us! And we survived for months of no food allowance from the SULADS! The pen of inspiration has a say, “Working the soil is one of the best kinds of employment, calling the muscles into action and resting the mind... This is the very first work that should be entered upon.” 6T 179
As health reformers, we must acquire knowledge on how to grow and utilize the land that will better help the people. When you plant, you are making the way and doing wonderful things to help the villagers.
By experience, we can learned that in reaching the extreme hilltribes, sometimes direct giving of something post some problems. But there is something right you could give directly to them. Enough vegetables and fruits may be the best things you could offer, if given in proper way. Missionaries who love gardening during free time are usually loved by people.
They are also setting good example to the villagers. It is better for the missionary to bring light vegetable seeds than a heavy load of attractive strange goods in the village. Vegetables are basic, healthful, affordable and accumulative. It is basic in the sense that they eat everyday with the main food that is common. It is affordable in the sense that they can easily grasp and plant it for themselves. Most of them own consider size of land. It is also propagating in a sense that they are living and subject to grow and produce and reproduce. Plants have increasing and extending nature!
In reaching the ethnic groups, one of the many ways I observed that help make friends is to grow and maintain a vegetable garden. Living plant is a reflection of a living God. Plan for plants in your village! And you are planting friendship and life. I remember our work in one of the pioneering mission schools somewhere in Bukidnon, Philippines. My teammate was an experienced farmer. So we agreed to grow a good size of vegetable garden, sensing that we should help meet their basic felt needs first before reaching their spiritual needs.
I'm not saying that you should make yourselves a vegetable supplier for all people to help them feel better. In our adult class every Friday, I could still remember our fellowship lunch. Of course we encouraged them to bring with them something of what they have from their house. But we always cooked food which was enough for everyone, because we have something that we can gather from our garden. That memorable event we did almost every week had made us close and won the villagers’ heart.
We even felt happy hearing from the mothers that they learned how to cook from us. Needless to say that some of them didn’t have the idea what a balance diet is, so that while we cooked they learn from us. Not only that, they actually saw that our diet was always almost same of what they had in their house. We invited them so that they will actually see that we have lived their kind of simple lifestyle.
But addressing their felt needs is a starting point toward revealing and knowing their real deep needs.
The gardens we built supplies us! And we survived for months of no food allowance from the SULADS! The pen of inspiration has a say, “Working the soil is one of the best kinds of employment, calling the muscles into action and resting the mind... This is the very first work that should be entered upon.” 6T 179
As health reformers, we must acquire knowledge on how to grow and utilize the land that will better help the people. When you plant, you are making the way and doing wonderful things to help the villagers.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Moved by the Holy Spirit
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
Pressure by the sponsors in our home country or needing impressive reports for supervisor's approval, our worries and incapability to witness will tempt us to create some unbiblical gimmicks. To get people baptized. Honestly, this had happened to many missionaries.
Let us remember that our mission is not just to help the gospel spread further but to finish, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt.24:14 KJV. This will help us understand that we should be open to the Holy Spirit leading not to trust to our limited potentials. Let us learn to leave our worryings to the LORD.
We can learn from the holy prophets of God who did not produce their write ups in their own words, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet.1:20,21 KJV. As they had prepared to become vessels that the Holy Spirit can moved them to write.
So we need to have that necessary preparation for the Holy Spirit’s working or else we will be working by our own impulse! Not until we will acknowledge that we cannot accomplish this impossible task, then the Holy Spirit cannot fully work in us. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Pro. 3:5,6 RSV. Unless we are truly vessels of the Holy Spirit the method we are using is on our own. Let us be humble and welcome His wisdom and might and strength and ability!
Pressure by the sponsors in our home country or needing impressive reports for supervisor's approval, our worries and incapability to witness will tempt us to create some unbiblical gimmicks. To get people baptized. Honestly, this had happened to many missionaries.
Let us remember that our mission is not just to help the gospel spread further but to finish, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt.24:14 KJV. This will help us understand that we should be open to the Holy Spirit leading not to trust to our limited potentials. Let us learn to leave our worryings to the LORD.
We can learn from the holy prophets of God who did not produce their write ups in their own words, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet.1:20,21 KJV. As they had prepared to become vessels that the Holy Spirit can moved them to write.
So we need to have that necessary preparation for the Holy Spirit’s working or else we will be working by our own impulse! Not until we will acknowledge that we cannot accomplish this impossible task, then the Holy Spirit cannot fully work in us. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Pro. 3:5,6 RSV. Unless we are truly vessels of the Holy Spirit the method we are using is on our own. Let us be humble and welcome His wisdom and might and strength and ability!
Half Welcome
Missionaries’ popular mission strategies may not sometimes go contrary to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but some of those may give just very small space for the Holy Spirit to work into. That the Holy Spirit's assistance is half welcome!
A story is told to a missionary who met his church members to announce his 24 night’s evangelistic seminar plan. He required each of his members to bring 1 friend each night until the end of the seminar. A lady, one of his members, who is very excited about evangelism said, “I suppose to bring three.” I already calculate it and I’m worried that we’ll run short of materials and budget for snacks,” replied the missionary. Sometimes our strategies are defective because we have a very small space that the Holy Spirit can hardly work freely!
I had been assisting evangelistic effort and many times what I had discovered surprisingly was that those uninvited, unregistered or latecomers’ guest, who come halfway to the end of the seminar, become one of the candidates for baptism.
In our missionary endeavors, our methods of labor must see to it that the Holy Spirit is welcome in every detail so He can work freely. Sometimes our methods are too human that demonstrate lack of faith. The worse thing is when we do not give room for the Holy Spirit to work into. There may be times that the Holy Spirit impressed us to conduct evangelistic meeting but we did not obey because we feel we lack budget.
Touching people's lives to commit to the Savior is the work of the Holy Spirit. But it doesn't mean we need to stop finding creative and effective means to evangelize but creative ways of sharing the good news is not the substitute of the Holy Spirit. But it doesn’t mean just sitting down and leave the result to the Holy Spirit. We must find the vessels (methods) so the Holy Spirit could use them.
The real issue is not whether to eliminate our strategies or not, but it is how much space you give and how open is it for the Holy Spirit to work in. If we love the people as Jesus and Paul did then we should study them carefully, learning how to reach them. We need to develop methods with all our wisdom and ability that could lift up Jesus in all His beauty. Make Him as attractive that His name be glorified.
A story is told to a missionary who met his church members to announce his 24 night’s evangelistic seminar plan. He required each of his members to bring 1 friend each night until the end of the seminar. A lady, one of his members, who is very excited about evangelism said, “I suppose to bring three.” I already calculate it and I’m worried that we’ll run short of materials and budget for snacks,” replied the missionary. Sometimes our strategies are defective because we have a very small space that the Holy Spirit can hardly work freely!
I had been assisting evangelistic effort and many times what I had discovered surprisingly was that those uninvited, unregistered or latecomers’ guest, who come halfway to the end of the seminar, become one of the candidates for baptism.
In our missionary endeavors, our methods of labor must see to it that the Holy Spirit is welcome in every detail so He can work freely. Sometimes our methods are too human that demonstrate lack of faith. The worse thing is when we do not give room for the Holy Spirit to work into. There may be times that the Holy Spirit impressed us to conduct evangelistic meeting but we did not obey because we feel we lack budget.
Touching people's lives to commit to the Savior is the work of the Holy Spirit. But it doesn't mean we need to stop finding creative and effective means to evangelize but creative ways of sharing the good news is not the substitute of the Holy Spirit. But it doesn’t mean just sitting down and leave the result to the Holy Spirit. We must find the vessels (methods) so the Holy Spirit could use them.
The real issue is not whether to eliminate our strategies or not, but it is how much space you give and how open is it for the Holy Spirit to work in. If we love the people as Jesus and Paul did then we should study them carefully, learning how to reach them. We need to develop methods with all our wisdom and ability that could lift up Jesus in all His beauty. Make Him as attractive that His name be glorified.
Witness-Special Target of Attack
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
Preaching the gospel is a mission which the Holy Spirit must be totally involved. What count is not how much strategies you make and how unique are those, but how dependent and submissive we are to the dictates of the Holy Spirit to be a living witnesses. Believe me, the Holy Spirit is a very accurate guide to teach us in what to do in every situation in the field.
Strategies and methods are not substitutes for proclaiming the pure gospel of Jesus. There must be something that can be seen in you about Jesus that convinced them. Missionaries are the living-Bible to the people around them. A missionary who has living faith is a living witness for Jesus.
Don’t you know why a guilty suspect will try to kill the eye-witness of the incident? Because he knows that the dead cannot be a living witness in the court. In the same way, Satan tries to cut our living connection in Jesus because he knows very well that spiritually dead missionary cannot be a living witness to the Savior. When we are spiritually living, it is always goodnews to God because it is always effective beyond human eyes can see. But this is badnews to Satan and this is what he’s scared about and so he will find a very scientific way to cut our connection off from Jesus. For he knows that we are totally cannot function and incapable when we are spiritually disconnected.
Preaching the gospel is a mission which the Holy Spirit must be totally involved. What count is not how much strategies you make and how unique are those, but how dependent and submissive we are to the dictates of the Holy Spirit to be a living witnesses. Believe me, the Holy Spirit is a very accurate guide to teach us in what to do in every situation in the field.
Strategies and methods are not substitutes for proclaiming the pure gospel of Jesus. There must be something that can be seen in you about Jesus that convinced them. Missionaries are the living-Bible to the people around them. A missionary who has living faith is a living witness for Jesus.
Don’t you know why a guilty suspect will try to kill the eye-witness of the incident? Because he knows that the dead cannot be a living witness in the court. In the same way, Satan tries to cut our living connection in Jesus because he knows very well that spiritually dead missionary cannot be a living witness to the Savior. When we are spiritually living, it is always goodnews to God because it is always effective beyond human eyes can see. But this is badnews to Satan and this is what he’s scared about and so he will find a very scientific way to cut our connection off from Jesus. For he knows that we are totally cannot function and incapable when we are spiritually disconnected.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Understanding Privacy
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Entering among another cultural group is a challenge. Sometimes, the new lifestyle that is taking over our home-country's habitual life will become a threat to us. There will be a lot of adjustments to make, such as food, climate, forming new relationship, and etc. But one of the most challenging adjustments to make is adjusting to the new people around us.
One of this adjustment is tied up to personal privacy. By nature, we need a quiet environment, time we could spend alone, good and clean space to maintain the comfort and convenience. And when we are deprived from these may cause stresses and demoralization. Privacy is important. We loose our patient when someone invade our privacy and the result we couldn't function well. But what is the main reason why we claim privacy? Because we use to our home culture that we should have something we called ours and we reserved them for ourselves.
We say, “you are welcome, but only until here!” Is there any problem? Yes there is, because your home culture boundary may not be a boundary of other culture. This may cause misunderstanding and may hinder our relationship with the people we are working. One cannot say, you need to understand me because I’m a Filipino or I’m an American. A missionary cannot say “I don’t care” because he should care and must take the responsibility to understand and adjust. Let's face it. Establishing relationship to the people we are working is our responsibility.
Normally, what makes a missionary uncomfortable is when confronted by other strange situation which he feels not normal in his own lifestyle. He should understand the fact that our lifestyle is varied because of cultural, economical, educational, and geographic factors.
These factors made our ways to live greatly differs from others. If two persons with the same culture (both insiders) have misunderstanding, how much more to the person who is not of the same culture (between insider and outsiders).
Individually, there are personal matters we hate to share which we want to keep it confidential. This is how strong the influenced of civil rights in our life which shaped our being.
Education made us aware of the law protecting right and privacies, so that we normally start to claim our implied rights. But sad to say that not all people are educated and aware of rights we are enjoying in our homeland. Understanding other people's thinking of their privacy is one of the key to the door of success.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Entering among another cultural group is a challenge. Sometimes, the new lifestyle that is taking over our home-country's habitual life will become a threat to us. There will be a lot of adjustments to make, such as food, climate, forming new relationship, and etc. But one of the most challenging adjustments to make is adjusting to the new people around us.
One of this adjustment is tied up to personal privacy. By nature, we need a quiet environment, time we could spend alone, good and clean space to maintain the comfort and convenience. And when we are deprived from these may cause stresses and demoralization. Privacy is important. We loose our patient when someone invade our privacy and the result we couldn't function well. But what is the main reason why we claim privacy? Because we use to our home culture that we should have something we called ours and we reserved them for ourselves.
We say, “you are welcome, but only until here!” Is there any problem? Yes there is, because your home culture boundary may not be a boundary of other culture. This may cause misunderstanding and may hinder our relationship with the people we are working. One cannot say, you need to understand me because I’m a Filipino or I’m an American. A missionary cannot say “I don’t care” because he should care and must take the responsibility to understand and adjust. Let's face it. Establishing relationship to the people we are working is our responsibility.
Normally, what makes a missionary uncomfortable is when confronted by other strange situation which he feels not normal in his own lifestyle. He should understand the fact that our lifestyle is varied because of cultural, economical, educational, and geographic factors.
These factors made our ways to live greatly differs from others. If two persons with the same culture (both insiders) have misunderstanding, how much more to the person who is not of the same culture (between insider and outsiders).
Individually, there are personal matters we hate to share which we want to keep it confidential. This is how strong the influenced of civil rights in our life which shaped our being.
Education made us aware of the law protecting right and privacies, so that we normally start to claim our implied rights. But sad to say that not all people are educated and aware of rights we are enjoying in our homeland. Understanding other people's thinking of their privacy is one of the key to the door of success.
Impact of Home Visitation
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
“Therefore go and make disciples..." Matthew 28:19
Among the many public evangelism I have participated in the Philippines, I found out that most of the decisions of our baptismal candidates were the result of house-to-house visitation. The contribution of these visiting activities to the success of evangelistic effort, is beyond anyone could imagined.
The pen of inspiration goes on saying, “It is not preaching that is the most important; it is house-to-house work, reasoning from the Word, explaining the Word. It is those workers who follow the methods that Christ followed who will win souls for their hire.” GW 468.
In the cross-cultural route, success in the works largely depends on our personal going out to meet people where they are. “The Lord desires that the truth shall come close to the people, and this work can only be accomplished by personal labor.” Ev 445
Missionary works is not a wait and see job. It is a going out business! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…,” Matt.28:19. We can learn from the farmers. They go out to sow seeds. Matt. 13:3. They don't sit down waiting in the seed barn, praying for the field to come to him! We go to the lost, not asking or waiting for them to come to us.
One more encouragement from the pen of inspiration, “House-to-house laborers are needed. The Lord calls for decided efforts to be put forth in places where the people know nothing of Bible truth.” CT 540.
We go out to visit the villagers' home to reach them out. Scattering the seeds and to harvest means you need to go to the field. But why be diligent to visit? To discover the needs of the villagers living in the territory. Visiting will help us discover the sick person, let other people feel important and etc., so that they would know that we really care.
A missionary needs to go out and spend time with the people he is reaching. “Are you seeking to become acquainted with those who need your help? Are you using your opportunities and advantages and means in winning souls to Christ?” HP 320 “This house-to-house labor, searching for souls, hunting for the lost sheep, is the most essential work that can be done.” Ev 431
“Therefore go and make disciples..." Matthew 28:19
Among the many public evangelism I have participated in the Philippines, I found out that most of the decisions of our baptismal candidates were the result of house-to-house visitation. The contribution of these visiting activities to the success of evangelistic effort, is beyond anyone could imagined.
The pen of inspiration goes on saying, “It is not preaching that is the most important; it is house-to-house work, reasoning from the Word, explaining the Word. It is those workers who follow the methods that Christ followed who will win souls for their hire.” GW 468.
In the cross-cultural route, success in the works largely depends on our personal going out to meet people where they are. “The Lord desires that the truth shall come close to the people, and this work can only be accomplished by personal labor.” Ev 445
Missionary works is not a wait and see job. It is a going out business! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…,” Matt.28:19. We can learn from the farmers. They go out to sow seeds. Matt. 13:3. They don't sit down waiting in the seed barn, praying for the field to come to him! We go to the lost, not asking or waiting for them to come to us.
One more encouragement from the pen of inspiration, “House-to-house laborers are needed. The Lord calls for decided efforts to be put forth in places where the people know nothing of Bible truth.” CT 540.
We go out to visit the villagers' home to reach them out. Scattering the seeds and to harvest means you need to go to the field. But why be diligent to visit? To discover the needs of the villagers living in the territory. Visiting will help us discover the sick person, let other people feel important and etc., so that they would know that we really care.
A missionary needs to go out and spend time with the people he is reaching. “Are you seeking to become acquainted with those who need your help? Are you using your opportunities and advantages and means in winning souls to Christ?” HP 320 “This house-to-house labor, searching for souls, hunting for the lost sheep, is the most essential work that can be done.” Ev 431
Friday, October 31, 2008
Small Puppy
Sulad Alejandro "Jhun" Cardeinte
A nature and pet lover family invited me for a walk at “Lumpini Park” the most known and biggest park in Bangkok. Everyone was excited as we were heading to the park. The smiling 8 years old Luisa(not real name) brought her cute puppy with her. We went straight inside the guarded park after we stepped off from the taxi.
But as we walked about 200 meters, we realized that no one is allowed to bring dog at the park. The two guards at the gate did not notice the small girl Luisa carrying the small puppy with her. And so we were admitted. We passed by several public sign boards at the park that no dogs are really allowed.
And so Luisa’s mom said we should go back home before the roaming guards would send us outside. But pet lover Luisa fight for her cute puppy. She said “no” and tried to insist that she only brings puppy with her and not dog. But as we kept on walking, we realized that there is no such thing as puppy in Thai language and it belongs to one name “ma.” No matter how small or big it is!
But we can’t let the puppy go. Luisa loves the puppy so much that we decided to help her carry it wherever we go and trying to hide it whenever we saw a roaming guard. As were walking through, Luisa understands the situation and promised her mom not to bring the puppy anymore next time. It was a bad experience that I was physically and mentally involved and affected! Our planned to enjoy and get refresh at the park was ruin just to save the small puppy.
When it began to dark, we decided to go home. Many strict guards were guarding at the gate but fortunately they all stayed in one place and we easily outsmarted them and were so happy to make our way out from the park without their knowledge. Then we ate outside and enjoy at the small restaurant with the cute puppy!
Then finally we waited for the cheaper public bus, hoping we could save some money. It seemed that we were waiting for the last bus since we waited for more than 30 minutes. But finally it arrived and we happily hop in right away.
Unfortunately, we were not aware that people bringing animals are not allowed to ride the bus. When the unforgiving conductress saw the puppy with us, she was so upset and asked the driver to stop and with all her authority ordered us all to step out right away from the bus in the presence of many passengers! To avoid more embarrassment, we stepped out right away just because of a small puppy. Still in the feeling of shame and humiliation, we decided to ride the expensive taxi.
Do you have small puppy in your spiritual life? The silly things that you love most that is so hard to give up. Ask God on how to surrender your small puppy-sin. Christians who won’t give up their small puppies will be put to shame in the judgment day.
A nature and pet lover family invited me for a walk at “Lumpini Park” the most known and biggest park in Bangkok. Everyone was excited as we were heading to the park. The smiling 8 years old Luisa(not real name) brought her cute puppy with her. We went straight inside the guarded park after we stepped off from the taxi.
But as we walked about 200 meters, we realized that no one is allowed to bring dog at the park. The two guards at the gate did not notice the small girl Luisa carrying the small puppy with her. And so we were admitted. We passed by several public sign boards at the park that no dogs are really allowed.
And so Luisa’s mom said we should go back home before the roaming guards would send us outside. But pet lover Luisa fight for her cute puppy. She said “no” and tried to insist that she only brings puppy with her and not dog. But as we kept on walking, we realized that there is no such thing as puppy in Thai language and it belongs to one name “ma.” No matter how small or big it is!
But we can’t let the puppy go. Luisa loves the puppy so much that we decided to help her carry it wherever we go and trying to hide it whenever we saw a roaming guard. As were walking through, Luisa understands the situation and promised her mom not to bring the puppy anymore next time. It was a bad experience that I was physically and mentally involved and affected! Our planned to enjoy and get refresh at the park was ruin just to save the small puppy.
When it began to dark, we decided to go home. Many strict guards were guarding at the gate but fortunately they all stayed in one place and we easily outsmarted them and were so happy to make our way out from the park without their knowledge. Then we ate outside and enjoy at the small restaurant with the cute puppy!
Then finally we waited for the cheaper public bus, hoping we could save some money. It seemed that we were waiting for the last bus since we waited for more than 30 minutes. But finally it arrived and we happily hop in right away.
Unfortunately, we were not aware that people bringing animals are not allowed to ride the bus. When the unforgiving conductress saw the puppy with us, she was so upset and asked the driver to stop and with all her authority ordered us all to step out right away from the bus in the presence of many passengers! To avoid more embarrassment, we stepped out right away just because of a small puppy. Still in the feeling of shame and humiliation, we decided to ride the expensive taxi.
Do you have small puppy in your spiritual life? The silly things that you love most that is so hard to give up. Ask God on how to surrender your small puppy-sin. Christians who won’t give up their small puppies will be put to shame in the judgment day.
What News Are You Bringing?
Alejandro Cardeinte- excerpt from his unpublished book "The Gospel Call"
“Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6
When I sat down one day to watched the news on TV, one of the headline news was about government humanitarian program distributing 2 kilos of rice to each family. Those were distributed in elementary grade school, to alleviate the country’s poor situation. Some government officials were not impress about the program since they felt it did not offer real help to the serious economic problem.
In the mission field, missionary sometimes mistakenly did the same thing. We come to the mission field we bring goodies for the people. As young missionaries, we still have much to learn about how to dispose our mission and our mission itself. But basically, missionary knows that they are involved in the gospel business.
There are two choices the missionaries are going make, to please God or man. This is where problems begin. Scared to loose the financial support from homeland and the confidence of the supervisor, there is often a temptation to immediately turn to good report. Because of this, missionaries tend to use the wrong methods to gain the villagers confidence.
We should understand that we are working among the group of people who have real problems, difficulties, and struggle that needs real help. Missionaries often bring unreal solution by giving temporal relief for the people. The villagers are given something to eat or a small trinket in order to keep them coming back. This is goodnews to the villagers but these things are not long lasting.
I personally witnessed this kind of motivation when I was working as student missionary in South Korea. Snack had to be a part of every activity planned. The church spends a lot of money because the children would stop coming to Sabbath school if they did not get a treat. However, even food didn’t hold their interest for long. It is comparable to home churches that use “rewards” for every activity at the church expense.
I observed that few months later, the children’s desires for snacks died. One Sabbath when my Korean co-teacher distributed the snacks, some children simply return them to her. Many times when I helped the janitor swept the floor, the things that had been distributed were left on the desks or scattered on the floor. Snacks did not satisfy the kids anymore.
My point is that the children need something more substantial to satisfy them, and could not get it from the snacks or toys. The teachers refused to put some time an effort into designing attractive, Christ-centered activities. Instead, they spend a lot of money for things that temporarily attracted the children.
May we bring them the goodnews not the goods news.
“Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6
When I sat down one day to watched the news on TV, one of the headline news was about government humanitarian program distributing 2 kilos of rice to each family. Those were distributed in elementary grade school, to alleviate the country’s poor situation. Some government officials were not impress about the program since they felt it did not offer real help to the serious economic problem.
In the mission field, missionary sometimes mistakenly did the same thing. We come to the mission field we bring goodies for the people. As young missionaries, we still have much to learn about how to dispose our mission and our mission itself. But basically, missionary knows that they are involved in the gospel business.
There are two choices the missionaries are going make, to please God or man. This is where problems begin. Scared to loose the financial support from homeland and the confidence of the supervisor, there is often a temptation to immediately turn to good report. Because of this, missionaries tend to use the wrong methods to gain the villagers confidence.
We should understand that we are working among the group of people who have real problems, difficulties, and struggle that needs real help. Missionaries often bring unreal solution by giving temporal relief for the people. The villagers are given something to eat or a small trinket in order to keep them coming back. This is goodnews to the villagers but these things are not long lasting.
I personally witnessed this kind of motivation when I was working as student missionary in South Korea. Snack had to be a part of every activity planned. The church spends a lot of money because the children would stop coming to Sabbath school if they did not get a treat. However, even food didn’t hold their interest for long. It is comparable to home churches that use “rewards” for every activity at the church expense.
I observed that few months later, the children’s desires for snacks died. One Sabbath when my Korean co-teacher distributed the snacks, some children simply return them to her. Many times when I helped the janitor swept the floor, the things that had been distributed were left on the desks or scattered on the floor. Snacks did not satisfy the kids anymore.
My point is that the children need something more substantial to satisfy them, and could not get it from the snacks or toys. The teachers refused to put some time an effort into designing attractive, Christ-centered activities. Instead, they spend a lot of money for things that temporarily attracted the children.
May we bring them the goodnews not the goods news.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Invitation to join the SULADS Forum
Dear SULADS and Friends,
The SULADS RESOURCE FORUM has now started.....There are many questions relating to cross-cultural mission that needs to be answered. And there are many
insights you've got that others might need them....Share it!!!!!
Or ask the SULADS missionaries to everything you want to know about...
Ask your questions and share your insights in the SULADS RESOURCE FORUM...
So, do you have a problem to discuss? come on, start posting!!!I have posted critical cross-cultural issues about the Mien culture and many others. I think those topics are good enough to start with...Please see them
follow one of the optional links below....
http://suladsthailand.googlepages.com
then click SULADS Forum
or go straight in this link if you are in a hurry;
http://www.atfreeforum.com/mienfield/
Thanks see you!
Sulad Jhun
The SULADS RESOURCE FORUM has now started.....There are many questions relating to cross-cultural mission that needs to be answered. And there are many
insights you've got that others might need them....Share it!!!!!
Or ask the SULADS missionaries to everything you want to know about...
Ask your questions and share your insights in the SULADS RESOURCE FORUM...
So, do you have a problem to discuss? come on, start posting!!!I have posted critical cross-cultural issues about the Mien culture and many others. I think those topics are good enough to start with...Please see them
follow one of the optional links below....
http://suladsthailand.googlepages.com
then click SULADS Forum
or go straight in this link if you are in a hurry;
http://www.atfreeforum.com/mienfield/
Thanks see you!
Sulad Jhun
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Illiteracy Challenge
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20
In the verbally based community, pressures are great in shaping the members spiritually. Distribution of religious books or any printed pages couldn’t do for their spiritual nourishment. In the Philippines alone, time and money were seem wasted for many years, thousands of translated materials for them seem of no use.
But is this the real problem? Is this situation hopeless? The answer is absolutely no! Our goal is not to let all of them read and write but rather to shape them into maturity because we shouldn’t let them rely on to us till Jesus comes.
Their inabilities; no-read no-write would tend them to totally rely on to the missionary for their spiritual strength. Missionary presence seems their only way of getting spiritual food. They depend largely on what they hear and see, their spiritual maturity is a challenge that we need to pray for God’s wisdom on how to nourish them properly. This is where real and strong and intimate relationship should be made. Our presence is the only source of spiritual guidance. We should be reachable as their open and living Bible.
Sad thing is when we underestimate them and treat them as non-persons and neglect them, because they were so ordinary people that we don’t take much interest to see the all the details of their lives and listen to their story. Sometimes we are in a hurry. “Talk as though they were as good a piece of humanity as you are. They have little enough light and joy, and why not carry additional joy and light to shine in upon them and fill their hearts.” WM 90. Missionaries who are always interested to listen to them often rewarded with success.
We must understand that they are students of the “school of practical experience.” Though they are illiterate in the eyes the world but they are not ignorance at all. For example, the Manobo hilltribe in the Philippines they are not following written rules but they have oral rules to ensure and maintain peace order and to solve problems, which sometimes better than our ways. They have unwritten rules and experience that we can learn from them. When the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Formal school may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us.
We can discover from the theology program even here in Asia that almost all of the books are labeled by western. Look at Asian churches today, they seem a reflection of a western culture. Sad to say some church practices seem going out from the Biblical culture.
It seems that western culture became the source of form and authority, because many Asian ministers and missionaries try to get education from the west. This would establish pride and obviously one the evil of global mission, which would hinder our solemn mission.
Nowadays, it seems to appear that the basic qualification for ministry is educational degree and no longer spirituality. Sad to say that this measuring rod of qualification in the world has unconsciously started going inside the church. This seems contrary to the Bible record of the early church, “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.” Acts 6:3.
Let me tell you a fact, in the Philippines alone, there were hundreds if not thousands of less educated laymen who became powerful witnesses. And we cannot deny that some of them have a higher number of baptisms than that of the high educated pastors.
We must take note that they have the equal ability to grow spiritually if they are rightly nurtured. Though may vary by responsibilities, illiterate and less educated are equally able to that of formal schooled members for God. This is the reality if we look at the record in Acts;
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” Acts 4: 13,14
We can see that when the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, they become equally useful for God. As the pen of inspiration says, “No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light without the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven.” DA 172. The amazing thing is that this less educated and illiterate missionaries can hardly be stopped telling about Jesus! Let’s look again the record in Acts;
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand…Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:1-4,18-20.
Today, some movements which are reaching the illiterate community miss the most important point. We need to understand that the most important we should do in this verbally base communities are not teaching them how to read and write. Sometimes we imitate the western trend. And we are of no difference from the humanitarian programs. Sometimes, we forced them to join in the adult class when they are not interested anymore. Remember that when people grow old, mostly, their interests in formal schooling were already lapsed. How much more to them where influences of schools are very slim. Their memories and brains are no longer as quick as their youth. Adding with their poor diet that their failing eye-sights It is not necessary that we will teach them how to read and write. This may even bring dangers to some since this will eventually lead them to self-confidence and pride. Instead that they will depend upon the guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to used them in the ministry. The early church became effective not because they are intelligence but because they were full of the Holy Spirit.
It doesn’t mean we will no longer build a school for them anymore. School is also important as a center for evangelism and will serve as a starter of our mission goal since the parents love to send their kids in school and we can introduce Jesus. And so that from there we can start to move on build our relationship with the villagers as a whole. But it must not be a prerequisite plan for the adults, unless it is requested. Reading and writing are not so important to them than learning some healthy and practical things that they should not be ignorance. For example, in the Philippines there are unhealthy practices such as defecating anywhere and along the river banks where they get water for drinking, washing, and bathing. They never brush their teeth, and wear no slippers, seldom bath and never use soap in bathing and laundering their clothes. These are necessary things they need to know, so that education in hygiene to improve their health and lives must not be overlook.
Another thing, some hill tribe people think they are saving money when they will not buy slippers or boots, which is not true. They must know that the more they are losing money, if they stepped something like sharp nails, broken glass or they will be bitten by the snake. It may cost them a lot than buying a pair of boots or slippers. But teaching lessons such as health, farming, and education, will just improve their lives but it will not change them. So practical lessons must only be a secondary. We do believe that through our personal example they can be taught lessons of a normal living. If they be only spiritualized firstly, then everything will follow. What is the most important is not more than our careful and sensitive in giving a personal example with them. A missionary must be one with them. “What we want is the tender sympathy of Jesus Christ, and then we can melt our way right into their hearts. We want to clothe ourselves, not with pomposity, but with plain simple dress, so that they will feel that we are an equal with them and as though we considered that they were worth saving, and we can melt our way into their hearts.” WM 90
They have more emphasis on what they see, hear and experience. Though they are not word- readers but they are life readers. They cannot read Bible but they can read your life! That’s why it is important to make ourselves a open Bible for them. They need to be cared as often as possible since paper guide wouldn’t do anything to them. What can actually help them is the spiritual person that can guide them.
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20
In the verbally based community, pressures are great in shaping the members spiritually. Distribution of religious books or any printed pages couldn’t do for their spiritual nourishment. In the Philippines alone, time and money were seem wasted for many years, thousands of translated materials for them seem of no use.
But is this the real problem? Is this situation hopeless? The answer is absolutely no! Our goal is not to let all of them read and write but rather to shape them into maturity because we shouldn’t let them rely on to us till Jesus comes.
Their inabilities; no-read no-write would tend them to totally rely on to the missionary for their spiritual strength. Missionary presence seems their only way of getting spiritual food. They depend largely on what they hear and see, their spiritual maturity is a challenge that we need to pray for God’s wisdom on how to nourish them properly. This is where real and strong and intimate relationship should be made. Our presence is the only source of spiritual guidance. We should be reachable as their open and living Bible.
Sad thing is when we underestimate them and treat them as non-persons and neglect them, because they were so ordinary people that we don’t take much interest to see the all the details of their lives and listen to their story. Sometimes we are in a hurry. “Talk as though they were as good a piece of humanity as you are. They have little enough light and joy, and why not carry additional joy and light to shine in upon them and fill their hearts.” WM 90. Missionaries who are always interested to listen to them often rewarded with success.
We must understand that they are students of the “school of practical experience.” Though they are illiterate in the eyes the world but they are not ignorance at all. For example, the Manobo hilltribe in the Philippines they are not following written rules but they have oral rules to ensure and maintain peace order and to solve problems, which sometimes better than our ways. They have unwritten rules and experience that we can learn from them. When the Holy Spirit will work in their heart, they can be intelligent for God’s cause. Formal school may produce leaders but may not produce humble servants. It may produce scholars but may not produce diehard missionary frontliners. It may produce teachers but may not produce teachables. It often produces dominant-like but may not produce Christ-like. It may produce intellectual but may not produce spiritual, which is the greatest need of the world to see among us.
We can discover from the theology program even here in Asia that almost all of the books are labeled by western. Look at Asian churches today, they seem a reflection of a western culture. Sad to say some church practices seem going out from the Biblical culture.
It seems that western culture became the source of form and authority, because many Asian ministers and missionaries try to get education from the west. This would establish pride and obviously one the evil of global mission, which would hinder our solemn mission.
Nowadays, it seems to appear that the basic qualification for ministry is educational degree and no longer spirituality. Sad to say that this measuring rod of qualification in the world has unconsciously started going inside the church. This seems contrary to the Bible record of the early church, “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.” Acts 6:3.
Let me tell you a fact, in the Philippines alone, there were hundreds if not thousands of less educated laymen who became powerful witnesses. And we cannot deny that some of them have a higher number of baptisms than that of the high educated pastors.
We must take note that they have the equal ability to grow spiritually if they are rightly nurtured. Though may vary by responsibilities, illiterate and less educated are equally able to that of formal schooled members for God. This is the reality if we look at the record in Acts;
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” Acts 4: 13,14
We can see that when the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, they become equally useful for God. As the pen of inspiration says, “No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light without the co-operation of the Spirit of God. The sowing of the gospel seed will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven.” DA 172. The amazing thing is that this less educated and illiterate missionaries can hardly be stopped telling about Jesus! Let’s look again the record in Acts;
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand…Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:1-4,18-20.
Today, some movements which are reaching the illiterate community miss the most important point. We need to understand that the most important we should do in this verbally base communities are not teaching them how to read and write. Sometimes we imitate the western trend. And we are of no difference from the humanitarian programs. Sometimes, we forced them to join in the adult class when they are not interested anymore. Remember that when people grow old, mostly, their interests in formal schooling were already lapsed. How much more to them where influences of schools are very slim. Their memories and brains are no longer as quick as their youth. Adding with their poor diet that their failing eye-sights It is not necessary that we will teach them how to read and write. This may even bring dangers to some since this will eventually lead them to self-confidence and pride. Instead that they will depend upon the guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to used them in the ministry. The early church became effective not because they are intelligence but because they were full of the Holy Spirit.
It doesn’t mean we will no longer build a school for them anymore. School is also important as a center for evangelism and will serve as a starter of our mission goal since the parents love to send their kids in school and we can introduce Jesus. And so that from there we can start to move on build our relationship with the villagers as a whole. But it must not be a prerequisite plan for the adults, unless it is requested. Reading and writing are not so important to them than learning some healthy and practical things that they should not be ignorance. For example, in the Philippines there are unhealthy practices such as defecating anywhere and along the river banks where they get water for drinking, washing, and bathing. They never brush their teeth, and wear no slippers, seldom bath and never use soap in bathing and laundering their clothes. These are necessary things they need to know, so that education in hygiene to improve their health and lives must not be overlook.
Another thing, some hill tribe people think they are saving money when they will not buy slippers or boots, which is not true. They must know that the more they are losing money, if they stepped something like sharp nails, broken glass or they will be bitten by the snake. It may cost them a lot than buying a pair of boots or slippers. But teaching lessons such as health, farming, and education, will just improve their lives but it will not change them. So practical lessons must only be a secondary. We do believe that through our personal example they can be taught lessons of a normal living. If they be only spiritualized firstly, then everything will follow. What is the most important is not more than our careful and sensitive in giving a personal example with them. A missionary must be one with them. “What we want is the tender sympathy of Jesus Christ, and then we can melt our way right into their hearts. We want to clothe ourselves, not with pomposity, but with plain simple dress, so that they will feel that we are an equal with them and as though we considered that they were worth saving, and we can melt our way into their hearts.” WM 90
They have more emphasis on what they see, hear and experience. Though they are not word- readers but they are life readers. They cannot read Bible but they can read your life! That’s why it is important to make ourselves a open Bible for them. They need to be cared as often as possible since paper guide wouldn’t do anything to them. What can actually help them is the spiritual person that can guide them.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Expanded article; Audio Bible Answers for Challenges
By Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
I have one thing to share, the SULADS missionaries and others assign in the verbally base mission field, are really in need of some audio tools. All of the old folks and most adult do not know how to read. I'm sure the solution is not literacy program when it comes to reaching the old illiterate villagers. Aside from the long process of learning the local language, our young missionaries are too young to be listened to by the illiterate but respected Datus (village’s head) and all other older folks in the village.
Second, our missionaries are not working for a long term bases. This means their short term is not enough to learn the language. But if they could carry the portable digital audio Bible with them then they will be more effective not only in the humanitarian work but in witnessing for God.
Now is the time! I guess the solution is to take advantage of the new powerful invention- the audio Bible. We have been doing the same here since I'm working with the verbal and isolated Mien tribe. My Mien language is not yet perfect but witnessing becomes possible and not too stressful. A portable digital audio Bible player is proven useful and effective for sharing God's word.
Here in Asia alone, thousands of hilltribe villages are completely illiterate. They do not read simply because they couldn’t. These people have been heavily dependent to oral form of communication. You can’t teach them all to read and write. Besides, this is a very difficult and time-consuming process and not all of them could ever learn how to read. The chances to hear the word of God are very slim with that old-slow way of reaching the illiterate villages. The solution is audio Bible! So God's word can be made quickly available to them.
Even in the lowland literate community here in Asia, still portable audio Bible is needed. Yes, they can read but they don’t have interest to read, while others simply have eye-sight defects. This is true to our elderly people whose health and strength started failing. They are one of the most challenging to reach but don’t be discourage, audio Bible player is the answer!
My church members shared their stories on how they listened to God's word through the audio Bible player when I'm away for the other church. This means they still have access to the word of God even their missionaries are away.
I highly recommend the one of the excellent producer- the Megavoice Company. Please follow this link to learn http://www.megavoice.com/bible.php.
These tools could be given free if the missionary organizations reaching the hilltribe people will work hand-in-hand with them. Contact the Megavoice Company for more particular.
Let me end this article with very important cautions. This audio Bible tools are not effective if the Holy Spirit is not working. The audio tools are not the substitute of our devotion and prayer. Second, this may not be heard by them if our personal relationship with them is not truly valued. Gift is only valuable and will be treasured if the person itself who gave it is loved by someone else. They may already have radio and TV to entertain them. And so what is the difference with the audio-gospel? Those are boring and couldn’t entertain them.
To make the difference is your responsibility and it can only be answered by you! They would love it if they loved you! They will treasure these effective audio tools forever if you have a real place in their heart.
I have one thing to share, the SULADS missionaries and others assign in the verbally base mission field, are really in need of some audio tools. All of the old folks and most adult do not know how to read. I'm sure the solution is not literacy program when it comes to reaching the old illiterate villagers. Aside from the long process of learning the local language, our young missionaries are too young to be listened to by the illiterate but respected Datus (village’s head) and all other older folks in the village.
Second, our missionaries are not working for a long term bases. This means their short term is not enough to learn the language. But if they could carry the portable digital audio Bible with them then they will be more effective not only in the humanitarian work but in witnessing for God.
Now is the time! I guess the solution is to take advantage of the new powerful invention- the audio Bible. We have been doing the same here since I'm working with the verbal and isolated Mien tribe. My Mien language is not yet perfect but witnessing becomes possible and not too stressful. A portable digital audio Bible player is proven useful and effective for sharing God's word.
Here in Asia alone, thousands of hilltribe villages are completely illiterate. They do not read simply because they couldn’t. These people have been heavily dependent to oral form of communication. You can’t teach them all to read and write. Besides, this is a very difficult and time-consuming process and not all of them could ever learn how to read. The chances to hear the word of God are very slim with that old-slow way of reaching the illiterate villages. The solution is audio Bible! So God's word can be made quickly available to them.
Even in the lowland literate community here in Asia, still portable audio Bible is needed. Yes, they can read but they don’t have interest to read, while others simply have eye-sight defects. This is true to our elderly people whose health and strength started failing. They are one of the most challenging to reach but don’t be discourage, audio Bible player is the answer!
My church members shared their stories on how they listened to God's word through the audio Bible player when I'm away for the other church. This means they still have access to the word of God even their missionaries are away.
I highly recommend the one of the excellent producer- the Megavoice Company. Please follow this link to learn http://www.megavoice.com/bible.php.
These tools could be given free if the missionary organizations reaching the hilltribe people will work hand-in-hand with them. Contact the Megavoice Company for more particular.
Let me end this article with very important cautions. This audio Bible tools are not effective if the Holy Spirit is not working. The audio tools are not the substitute of our devotion and prayer. Second, this may not be heard by them if our personal relationship with them is not truly valued. Gift is only valuable and will be treasured if the person itself who gave it is loved by someone else. They may already have radio and TV to entertain them. And so what is the difference with the audio-gospel? Those are boring and couldn’t entertain them.
To make the difference is your responsibility and it can only be answered by you! They would love it if they loved you! They will treasure these effective audio tools forever if you have a real place in their heart.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Solution; Audio Bible
I have one thing to share, sulads missionaries assign in the mission schools are working with the verbally base isolated communities. All of the old folks and most adult do not know how to read.....I'm sure the solution is not literacy program when it comes to reaching the old illiterate villagers. Our young missionaries are too young to be listened to by the illiterate but respected Datus and all other older folks in the village.
Second, our missionaries are not working for a long term bases.....This means their term is not enough to learn the language. But if they can carry each of them the audio Bible to share it to all then they will be more effective not only in the humanitarian work but in witnessing for God.
I guess the solution is to take advantage of the new powerful invention- the audio Bible....We are doing the same here since I'm working with the isolated Mien tribe. My Mien language is not yet perfect but witnessing becomes possible and not too stressful.
My church members shared their stories on how they listened to God's word through the ambasador audio player when I'm away for the other church..... This could be given free if the oeganization reaching for the hilltribe people and for the Sulads specifically if they are going to work hand-in-hand with the Megavoice company....please click here to learn.... http://www.megavoice.com/bible.php
Hope this is helping.......God bless.....
In God's service,
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte, Thailand
Second, our missionaries are not working for a long term bases.....This means their term is not enough to learn the language. But if they can carry each of them the audio Bible to share it to all then they will be more effective not only in the humanitarian work but in witnessing for God.
I guess the solution is to take advantage of the new powerful invention- the audio Bible....We are doing the same here since I'm working with the isolated Mien tribe. My Mien language is not yet perfect but witnessing becomes possible and not too stressful.
My church members shared their stories on how they listened to God's word through the ambasador audio player when I'm away for the other church..... This could be given free if the oeganization reaching for the hilltribe people and for the Sulads specifically if they are going to work hand-in-hand with the Megavoice company....please click here to learn.... http://www.megavoice.com/bible.php
Hope this is helping.......God bless.....
In God's service,
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte, Thailand
Monday, July 21, 2008
Is Caring Enough? How God's Enemy Use Humanitarian Works
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
To care people is a nice thing but our work-goal does not stop right there. I could still remember my personal experience in my first mission field in one of the mission school in the Philippines. I got a partner ahead of me for about 5 months in the mission field. It was a pioneering work. People were so prejudice about hearing God’s word. Many months passed, after a routine of caring for the sick villagers, helping the needy and the likes, I could sense that we already won their confidence, so we were really glad about it. But my partner had always warned me not to talk about Jesus and the Bible, so I did. We just introduce gospel songs for the children and some stories that have moral lessons.
One day, when I was left alone in our cottage, a group of mothers- our good supporters in the village asked me about the Sabbath and about our Christian lifestyle, as they always observe us having unique differences with them. I remember my partner’s words but it seems there was a small voice that prompted my heart to communicate the truth to them. Sensing the rare opportunity, so I told them about how a true Christian should walk as Jesus did as our perfect example. Mothers were nodded in approval while hearing my side concerning our faith.
I was so happy as I went back to the cottage. I feel that I was unburden that day. So excited to relate my fresh experience to my older partner, I told everything to him. But I felt so disappointed as he replied angrily. He asked me why I told those things to them. He added that if somebody would ask me again concerning our faith, I will just tell them we just follow what our parents believed.
Is that how we represent the Savior? Is that how we accomplish our mission? Our mission is to make proclaim God’s Word, so we can make disciples as the final result. Caring must followed by teaching and after this equipping. Sad picture can be seen in many humanitarian organization today which ended their services to caring. They don’t have real program that equip the missionary members. This also reflects to the kind of missionary they have. The result, though they are gathering many people, they are not actually growing.
Is it a very sad thing to hear we stay long in the field, just waste our effort, time and money doing social works. Helping them for their stomach but neglecting the real saving purpose, to fulfill the great commission. We are gospel worker not a social worker. Meeting three areas in the village namely; health, agriculture and education are important in fact the government is also trying to do something to at least uplift the life of the people. But this must not be our main concentration or else we don’t have any difference from the humanitarian upliftment program. And the people will miss on heaven.
Jesus is active in humanitarian work, but let us look at carefully the "Jesus' humanitarian method." Let us examine the reasons why Jesus feed the 5,000 people recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6: 32-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-12;
1. The crowd followed him- “But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.” Mark 6:33, (see Matt.14:13, Luke 9:11, John 6:2)
2. Remote place- “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place…” Matt. 14:15 (see Mark 6:35, Luke 9:12
3. Already very late- “…and it’s already very late.” Mark 6:35 (see Matt. 14:15, Luke 9:12)
The feeding of 4,000 people has revealed similar reasons;
1. The crowds have been with Jesus-“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Matt.15:32.
2. They are hungry and may collapse on the way- “I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Matt. 15:32, Mark 8:3
3. Some of them came from far places- Mark 8:3
Yes, they are hungry, but what made them hungry? Is it because they were doing personal business or hearing the word of God? Firstly, they have been following Jesus. The record implies that Jesus, His disciples, and the people had been without either food or rest during the entire day because of their spiritual enrichment program. Then everyone was hungry. The disciples could see no solution to the problem but to dismiss the people, asking them to go hoem. But the “compassion” of Jesus (see v. 34) extended to their physical and spiritual well-being.
There are a lot of Missionary program today which offers too material rather than spiritual. In the sense that their concentration is more focus on health, agricultural and educational. The Apostle Paul's ministry recorded in Acts gives as an idea of our job description as gospel proclaimer,“…He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:9,10. The reason why everyone who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of God because everyday the Apostle Paul devoted his time for an intensive program of public evangelism. The Apostle Paul conducted lectures, but his lecture was not on health, agriculture and education. A lot of effort he exerted were basically focus on proclaiming the gospel.
It is a sad fact that there are missionaries today who don’t know even how to conduct Bible study, because they don’t have the basic training. The reason is that their concentration is focus on humanitarian program. As the Apostle was wise to “…took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” Acts 19:9. So it is wise for us to conduct a serious effort, equipping our missionaries of the word of God, so that the near villages will hear the word of God.
It is a responsibility of the outreach movement to check out whether their missionaries are thorough equipped and knows how to impart the gospel.
We must be involved in expanding the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem we faced is not just how to improve them but most important is how to evangelize them. Or else they see no difference from that of other social organization.
A true missionary is conscious that he has a heavy responsibility to present the truth. I appreciate those movement that are reaching the unreach which give special “how to give Bible study” training. As I have notice that there are movements today that excludes this most important training. How could they impart God’s word when they are not equip to the things they need?
The pen of inspiration says, “in a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers.”9T 19. We must take note that we are not the light but we are just bringing the light. We are not the truth but we are just carriers of truth. They couldn’t see the truth we bear unless we are going to share what we have. It wouldn’t be appropriate to say our presence in the mission field is enough. As it is “Now, just now, is the time to obey the commission, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” Matthew 28:20. Those who do this work must have a ready knowledge of the Scriptures. “It is written” is to be their weapon of defense. God has given us light on His word, that we may give this light to our fellow men.” CT 540.
In reality, doing social works alone will benefit their stomach but not their hearts. We must reach their heart by letting the truth shine out.
It is not bad to do social work and I'm not against them. Caring the sick, providing them food and clothing, educating them, and etc. But if we forget our mission-tasks that would be another story. Our goal why we invest our time, effort and money is to spread the everlasting goodnews of Jesus. Doing humanitarian services means an opportunity to share Jesus. Humanitarian program should not be the end of our goal itself, but it is a starting point to find chances to witness.
Let us remember our accountability towards God. He placed the burden of on our shoulders to declare the truth. It is not enough to do social works! It is beyond. The gospel must be proclaimed. In the whole Asia alone we have thousands of villages just remain unreached. So how come you will be stagnated in the so-called social development and upliftment program. “ All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.” John 9:4. We need to ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance that we may do the right thing God wants us to do.
To care people is a nice thing but our work-goal does not stop right there. I could still remember my personal experience in my first mission field in one of the mission school in the Philippines. I got a partner ahead of me for about 5 months in the mission field. It was a pioneering work. People were so prejudice about hearing God’s word. Many months passed, after a routine of caring for the sick villagers, helping the needy and the likes, I could sense that we already won their confidence, so we were really glad about it. But my partner had always warned me not to talk about Jesus and the Bible, so I did. We just introduce gospel songs for the children and some stories that have moral lessons.
One day, when I was left alone in our cottage, a group of mothers- our good supporters in the village asked me about the Sabbath and about our Christian lifestyle, as they always observe us having unique differences with them. I remember my partner’s words but it seems there was a small voice that prompted my heart to communicate the truth to them. Sensing the rare opportunity, so I told them about how a true Christian should walk as Jesus did as our perfect example. Mothers were nodded in approval while hearing my side concerning our faith.
I was so happy as I went back to the cottage. I feel that I was unburden that day. So excited to relate my fresh experience to my older partner, I told everything to him. But I felt so disappointed as he replied angrily. He asked me why I told those things to them. He added that if somebody would ask me again concerning our faith, I will just tell them we just follow what our parents believed.
Is that how we represent the Savior? Is that how we accomplish our mission? Our mission is to make proclaim God’s Word, so we can make disciples as the final result. Caring must followed by teaching and after this equipping. Sad picture can be seen in many humanitarian organization today which ended their services to caring. They don’t have real program that equip the missionary members. This also reflects to the kind of missionary they have. The result, though they are gathering many people, they are not actually growing.
Is it a very sad thing to hear we stay long in the field, just waste our effort, time and money doing social works. Helping them for their stomach but neglecting the real saving purpose, to fulfill the great commission. We are gospel worker not a social worker. Meeting three areas in the village namely; health, agriculture and education are important in fact the government is also trying to do something to at least uplift the life of the people. But this must not be our main concentration or else we don’t have any difference from the humanitarian upliftment program. And the people will miss on heaven.
Jesus is active in humanitarian work, but let us look at carefully the "Jesus' humanitarian method." Let us examine the reasons why Jesus feed the 5,000 people recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6: 32-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-12;
1. The crowd followed him- “But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.” Mark 6:33, (see Matt.14:13, Luke 9:11, John 6:2)
2. Remote place- “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place…” Matt. 14:15 (see Mark 6:35, Luke 9:12
3. Already very late- “…and it’s already very late.” Mark 6:35 (see Matt. 14:15, Luke 9:12)
The feeding of 4,000 people has revealed similar reasons;
1. The crowds have been with Jesus-“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Matt.15:32.
2. They are hungry and may collapse on the way- “I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Matt. 15:32, Mark 8:3
3. Some of them came from far places- Mark 8:3
Yes, they are hungry, but what made them hungry? Is it because they were doing personal business or hearing the word of God? Firstly, they have been following Jesus. The record implies that Jesus, His disciples, and the people had been without either food or rest during the entire day because of their spiritual enrichment program. Then everyone was hungry. The disciples could see no solution to the problem but to dismiss the people, asking them to go hoem. But the “compassion” of Jesus (see v. 34) extended to their physical and spiritual well-being.
There are a lot of Missionary program today which offers too material rather than spiritual. In the sense that their concentration is more focus on health, agricultural and educational. The Apostle Paul's ministry recorded in Acts gives as an idea of our job description as gospel proclaimer,“…He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:9,10. The reason why everyone who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of God because everyday the Apostle Paul devoted his time for an intensive program of public evangelism. The Apostle Paul conducted lectures, but his lecture was not on health, agriculture and education. A lot of effort he exerted were basically focus on proclaiming the gospel.
It is a sad fact that there are missionaries today who don’t know even how to conduct Bible study, because they don’t have the basic training. The reason is that their concentration is focus on humanitarian program. As the Apostle was wise to “…took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” Acts 19:9. So it is wise for us to conduct a serious effort, equipping our missionaries of the word of God, so that the near villages will hear the word of God.
It is a responsibility of the outreach movement to check out whether their missionaries are thorough equipped and knows how to impart the gospel.
We must be involved in expanding the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem we faced is not just how to improve them but most important is how to evangelize them. Or else they see no difference from that of other social organization.
A true missionary is conscious that he has a heavy responsibility to present the truth. I appreciate those movement that are reaching the unreach which give special “how to give Bible study” training. As I have notice that there are movements today that excludes this most important training. How could they impart God’s word when they are not equip to the things they need?
The pen of inspiration says, “in a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers.”9T 19. We must take note that we are not the light but we are just bringing the light. We are not the truth but we are just carriers of truth. They couldn’t see the truth we bear unless we are going to share what we have. It wouldn’t be appropriate to say our presence in the mission field is enough. As it is “Now, just now, is the time to obey the commission, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” Matthew 28:20. Those who do this work must have a ready knowledge of the Scriptures. “It is written” is to be their weapon of defense. God has given us light on His word, that we may give this light to our fellow men.” CT 540.
In reality, doing social works alone will benefit their stomach but not their hearts. We must reach their heart by letting the truth shine out.
It is not bad to do social work and I'm not against them. Caring the sick, providing them food and clothing, educating them, and etc. But if we forget our mission-tasks that would be another story. Our goal why we invest our time, effort and money is to spread the everlasting goodnews of Jesus. Doing humanitarian services means an opportunity to share Jesus. Humanitarian program should not be the end of our goal itself, but it is a starting point to find chances to witness.
Let us remember our accountability towards God. He placed the burden of on our shoulders to declare the truth. It is not enough to do social works! It is beyond. The gospel must be proclaimed. In the whole Asia alone we have thousands of villages just remain unreached. So how come you will be stagnated in the so-called social development and upliftment program. “ All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.” John 9:4. We need to ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance that we may do the right thing God wants us to do.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Danger of Relying on the Translator
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
“For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.” 1 Cor. 14:8, 9
To communicate the gospel effectively we must not let the locals understand us but rather we must understand them by learning their own language.
There are non-English speaking countries which some people can speak English. But it wasn’t complete, they have their mother tongue and so often times when they express themselves in English it couldn’t represent their real feeling and emotion.
Mistakes would not be avoided if you asked one of the locals to translate your sermon. Depending on the ability of the translator but by experience, I learned later on that out of 100% only about 40 to 45 % is being communicated. This means without taking time to acquire the local language we will not like to reach our goal to reach the unreach. But most alarming here is that the limited translator expresses what he understands and believes, though he is trying to represent you.
It is not bad to have translator at the start while doing the friendship evangelism. But as our ministry started to mature and so we move on to present the unique doctrine of salvation as their understanding progresses.
In that critical stage, though the first thing we should consider to a translator is his language ability, there is danger of relying on him (translator) since what he usually expresses is his view about certain things. This involves his spiritual experience in the past.
Evangelists who do not take time to learn the language are often misrepresented by their limited translators. We can read a lot on the internet about the huge number of baptism after the almost a month evangelistic meeting of a well-known evangelist. But do you think they have the biggest part of the success? No. Because oftentimes when they arrived at the evangelistic meeting place everything is ready and candidates for baptisms were already finish their Bible study at their respective homes. Believe me, those were actually the faithful and untiring effort of the local laymen. Well, we can excuse the visiting evangelists and missionaries but language acquisition should be one of the first priorities of the long term missionaries.
“For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.” 1 Cor. 14:8, 9
To communicate the gospel effectively we must not let the locals understand us but rather we must understand them by learning their own language.
There are non-English speaking countries which some people can speak English. But it wasn’t complete, they have their mother tongue and so often times when they express themselves in English it couldn’t represent their real feeling and emotion.
Mistakes would not be avoided if you asked one of the locals to translate your sermon. Depending on the ability of the translator but by experience, I learned later on that out of 100% only about 40 to 45 % is being communicated. This means without taking time to acquire the local language we will not like to reach our goal to reach the unreach. But most alarming here is that the limited translator expresses what he understands and believes, though he is trying to represent you.
It is not bad to have translator at the start while doing the friendship evangelism. But as our ministry started to mature and so we move on to present the unique doctrine of salvation as their understanding progresses.
In that critical stage, though the first thing we should consider to a translator is his language ability, there is danger of relying on him (translator) since what he usually expresses is his view about certain things. This involves his spiritual experience in the past.
Evangelists who do not take time to learn the language are often misrepresented by their limited translators. We can read a lot on the internet about the huge number of baptism after the almost a month evangelistic meeting of a well-known evangelist. But do you think they have the biggest part of the success? No. Because oftentimes when they arrived at the evangelistic meeting place everything is ready and candidates for baptisms were already finish their Bible study at their respective homes. Believe me, those were actually the faithful and untiring effort of the local laymen. Well, we can excuse the visiting evangelists and missionaries but language acquisition should be one of the first priorities of the long term missionaries.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Lessons I Have Learned in Two Weeks
Sulad Jhun Cardeinte
(This article written in October 2007)
When I stepped back on the airport, everything had flashed back in my mind the things that I have had a lot of trouble adjusting almost a year past. But I get through with it and was getting used to living in Thailand. But being absent for several months, it seemed everything I see is like a new experience to me. I could feel the impact of the strange things that confronted me in my head; the kind of people, the belief, the language, stressful traffic, spicy food, styles of dress and etc. I know I’ve got a return shock and so I paused for a moment and say “LORD, please direct my steps.” As I felt the need to undergo some process of enculturation again to understand the people’s thinking and new way of life around me.
THAI SONG
The day I arrived, I heard about evangelistic meeting that was going on in the Chinese Adventist church through my sisters’ friend that visited them that day. Having gone to the challenging air trip in the middle of the night, I was still dizzy and actually needed some rest. But the friends of my sister persuaded me to help them sing. It was an official invitation for the night evangelistic presentation.
Knowing that Chinese in Thailand are still Thai by language, I decided to go with them, thinking that I can inspire them through Thai songs. That evening came and we were ready to sing. We sang the first song”As the Deer” and I sang the Thai version “Jit Win Yan”. The audience was so amaze seeing a Pilipino singing Thai song. That has been the natural impact I always observe whenever I sing in the Thai church. But some of them were so touch that they can’t help waving their hands with their very emotional faces. They seemed enjoying the heavenly moment with God as they could feel it through the song.
But many can’t help but turned on their videos and some their cameras to get me shots. It seems that it was their first time to hear a clear Thai song from a foreigner. And they wanted to gather what they heard and get memories for their future use. But they forgot the heavenly blessings of that moment.
This holds true to our Christian experience that we try to escape the present moment of our lives by the busyness of the things we tried to build up for our future use and forget to live the full spiritual life at the present time. We love to linger the past moments and work hard for the future that we neglect the status of our present relationship with God.
BIG BOX
When the Sabbath afternoon came, a missionary minded family invited me to join them distributing the free “Steps to Christ” with a new attractive cover “The Secrets of Happiness.” The plan was to distribute a big box to “Lumpini Park” the most known and biggest park in Bangkok. Everyone was excited as we were heading to the park. As we stepped off the taxi, just in front of the guarded gate, we helped carry the heavy box going inside the park. One of the two guards in the main gate suspiciously stretched his neck to peep the inside of our box. But we simply passed by naturally as if we did not bring questionable things to distribute inside the park. I already knew that such religious activity would not make the Thai government happy. Thousands of religious books had been confiscated by them in the past. But that missionary family (a Filipino who has been teaching in Bangkok) was purely innocent and all they know were to help save the Thai people.
As we got through the park, we made the box ready on the bench. Seeing many people gladly walking, I and the kids started to gather books in our hands to distribute. Unfortunately, we placed the box just about 10 meters away to another guard station inside the park.
I knew that the guard will really stop us, but I did not tell anyone of my companion to avoid early commotion. But I gathered the books without delay and slipped away to the very opposite direction. In about 4 minutes, as I started handed out the books, I saw them from the distance that the guard had confronted them and finally ordered to take the box away from the park.
Innocent and obedient as they were, they headed back outside the park. I thought that was the end of our activity, but they started giving books outside the park just in front of the main gate! They offer the books to anyone without exception even those who were going inside the park. They even gave one to the guard!
As I finished giving the books to people inside, I headed outside the park and was amaze seeing many people entering the park reading the books. I even saw the guard reading at his table as I reached the gate! Seeing the remaining few copies of books in the big box, I joined with them. And finally carried the empty box again inside the park!
Statistically, 70% accepted our free book gifts. But 30% refused the gifts with varied reasons. Some refuse because they said they will do the jog exercise and don’t want to have something in hand that will disturb their rhythm. Outside the park, some refused because they were so busy and have no time to read while some walked with their fix plan and don’t want to be delayed.
Too long to write, but these are all present in the Christian realms. The Holy Spirit has been trying to do everything, every possible ways beyond human eyes can see. But He has been half welcome! We sometimes give very small space to HIM that HE can hardly work freely! We do not give the Holy Spirit the full chance to get involve in every detail in our life. Then we unconsciously go against the things God wants. We tend to become so engross with our work, wanting to let everyone see that we are one of the best workers in this planet!
How much space we give for the Holy Spirit? Is HE still the one that controls the rhythm of our life? If we give HIM the full chance to drive the steering of our life and accept HIS full guidance then we will truly understand that His plan is the best!
SMALL PUPPY
Pet lovers as they were, we realized that no one is allowed to bring dog at the park. This is a problem different from the challenge we met through the big box of books we brought in. But the guard at the gate did not notice the small animal with us. And so we were admitted. We passed by several steel board notices at the park that no dog is really allowed. But we tried to insist that we only bring a puppy and not dog. But as we kept on walking, we realized that there is no such thing as puppy in Thai language and it belongs to one name “ma.” No matter how small or big it is! But we can’t let the puppy go. In fact, the husband and the two boys of maam Luisa went back home to get another two puppies! They love the puppy so much that we decided to carry it wherever we go and trying to hide it whenever we saw a park guard. It was a bad experience that I was physically and mentally involved and affected!
When it began to dark, we decided to go home. Many strict guards were guarding at the gate but fortunately they all stayed in one place and we easily outsmart them and were so happy to make our way out from the park without their knowledge. Then we ate outside and enjoy at the small restaurant with the cute puppy! Then finally we waited for the cheaper public bus, hoping we could save some money. It seemed that we were waiting for the last bus since we waited for more than 30 minutes. But finally it arrived and we happily got in right away.
Unfortunately, we were not aware that people bringing animals are not allowed to ride the bus. When the unforgiving conductress saw the puppy with us, she was so upset and asked the driver to stop and with all her authority ordered us all to step out right away from the bus in the presence of many passengers! To avoid further embarrassment, we stepped out right away just because of a small puppy. Still in the feeling of shame and humiliation, we decided to ride the expensive taxi.
Do you have small puppy in your spiritual life? The silly things that you love most that is so hard to give up. Ask God on how to surrender your small puppy-sin. Christians who won’t give up their small puppies will be put to shame in the judgment day.
(This article written in October 2007)
When I stepped back on the airport, everything had flashed back in my mind the things that I have had a lot of trouble adjusting almost a year past. But I get through with it and was getting used to living in Thailand. But being absent for several months, it seemed everything I see is like a new experience to me. I could feel the impact of the strange things that confronted me in my head; the kind of people, the belief, the language, stressful traffic, spicy food, styles of dress and etc. I know I’ve got a return shock and so I paused for a moment and say “LORD, please direct my steps.” As I felt the need to undergo some process of enculturation again to understand the people’s thinking and new way of life around me.
THAI SONG
The day I arrived, I heard about evangelistic meeting that was going on in the Chinese Adventist church through my sisters’ friend that visited them that day. Having gone to the challenging air trip in the middle of the night, I was still dizzy and actually needed some rest. But the friends of my sister persuaded me to help them sing. It was an official invitation for the night evangelistic presentation.
Knowing that Chinese in Thailand are still Thai by language, I decided to go with them, thinking that I can inspire them through Thai songs. That evening came and we were ready to sing. We sang the first song”As the Deer” and I sang the Thai version “Jit Win Yan”. The audience was so amaze seeing a Pilipino singing Thai song. That has been the natural impact I always observe whenever I sing in the Thai church. But some of them were so touch that they can’t help waving their hands with their very emotional faces. They seemed enjoying the heavenly moment with God as they could feel it through the song.
But many can’t help but turned on their videos and some their cameras to get me shots. It seems that it was their first time to hear a clear Thai song from a foreigner. And they wanted to gather what they heard and get memories for their future use. But they forgot the heavenly blessings of that moment.
This holds true to our Christian experience that we try to escape the present moment of our lives by the busyness of the things we tried to build up for our future use and forget to live the full spiritual life at the present time. We love to linger the past moments and work hard for the future that we neglect the status of our present relationship with God.
BIG BOX
When the Sabbath afternoon came, a missionary minded family invited me to join them distributing the free “Steps to Christ” with a new attractive cover “The Secrets of Happiness.” The plan was to distribute a big box to “Lumpini Park” the most known and biggest park in Bangkok. Everyone was excited as we were heading to the park. As we stepped off the taxi, just in front of the guarded gate, we helped carry the heavy box going inside the park. One of the two guards in the main gate suspiciously stretched his neck to peep the inside of our box. But we simply passed by naturally as if we did not bring questionable things to distribute inside the park. I already knew that such religious activity would not make the Thai government happy. Thousands of religious books had been confiscated by them in the past. But that missionary family (a Filipino who has been teaching in Bangkok) was purely innocent and all they know were to help save the Thai people.
As we got through the park, we made the box ready on the bench. Seeing many people gladly walking, I and the kids started to gather books in our hands to distribute. Unfortunately, we placed the box just about 10 meters away to another guard station inside the park.
I knew that the guard will really stop us, but I did not tell anyone of my companion to avoid early commotion. But I gathered the books without delay and slipped away to the very opposite direction. In about 4 minutes, as I started handed out the books, I saw them from the distance that the guard had confronted them and finally ordered to take the box away from the park.
Innocent and obedient as they were, they headed back outside the park. I thought that was the end of our activity, but they started giving books outside the park just in front of the main gate! They offer the books to anyone without exception even those who were going inside the park. They even gave one to the guard!
As I finished giving the books to people inside, I headed outside the park and was amaze seeing many people entering the park reading the books. I even saw the guard reading at his table as I reached the gate! Seeing the remaining few copies of books in the big box, I joined with them. And finally carried the empty box again inside the park!
Statistically, 70% accepted our free book gifts. But 30% refused the gifts with varied reasons. Some refuse because they said they will do the jog exercise and don’t want to have something in hand that will disturb their rhythm. Outside the park, some refused because they were so busy and have no time to read while some walked with their fix plan and don’t want to be delayed.
Too long to write, but these are all present in the Christian realms. The Holy Spirit has been trying to do everything, every possible ways beyond human eyes can see. But He has been half welcome! We sometimes give very small space to HIM that HE can hardly work freely! We do not give the Holy Spirit the full chance to get involve in every detail in our life. Then we unconsciously go against the things God wants. We tend to become so engross with our work, wanting to let everyone see that we are one of the best workers in this planet!
How much space we give for the Holy Spirit? Is HE still the one that controls the rhythm of our life? If we give HIM the full chance to drive the steering of our life and accept HIS full guidance then we will truly understand that His plan is the best!
SMALL PUPPY
Pet lovers as they were, we realized that no one is allowed to bring dog at the park. This is a problem different from the challenge we met through the big box of books we brought in. But the guard at the gate did not notice the small animal with us. And so we were admitted. We passed by several steel board notices at the park that no dog is really allowed. But we tried to insist that we only bring a puppy and not dog. But as we kept on walking, we realized that there is no such thing as puppy in Thai language and it belongs to one name “ma.” No matter how small or big it is! But we can’t let the puppy go. In fact, the husband and the two boys of maam Luisa went back home to get another two puppies! They love the puppy so much that we decided to carry it wherever we go and trying to hide it whenever we saw a park guard. It was a bad experience that I was physically and mentally involved and affected!
When it began to dark, we decided to go home. Many strict guards were guarding at the gate but fortunately they all stayed in one place and we easily outsmart them and were so happy to make our way out from the park without their knowledge. Then we ate outside and enjoy at the small restaurant with the cute puppy! Then finally we waited for the cheaper public bus, hoping we could save some money. It seemed that we were waiting for the last bus since we waited for more than 30 minutes. But finally it arrived and we happily got in right away.
Unfortunately, we were not aware that people bringing animals are not allowed to ride the bus. When the unforgiving conductress saw the puppy with us, she was so upset and asked the driver to stop and with all her authority ordered us all to step out right away from the bus in the presence of many passengers! To avoid further embarrassment, we stepped out right away just because of a small puppy. Still in the feeling of shame and humiliation, we decided to ride the expensive taxi.
Do you have small puppy in your spiritual life? The silly things that you love most that is so hard to give up. Ask God on how to surrender your small puppy-sin. Christians who won’t give up their small puppies will be put to shame in the judgment day.
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