March FM Monthly News

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...Mark 16:15 View this email in your browser THE FOREIGN MISSION MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE FOR MARCH 2019 Always an opportunity to share the gospel!             While the main goal was of this very recent trip to Pakistan (they just arrived back in the USA today!)  was to share the Gospel and Fellowship with Pastor John Feroze (left) and his congregations and peoples, outreach is always on our hearts!  Due to the unusual turn of events, which forced an extension of almost a week, opportunities arose that were unscheduled!  The above picture is just one such example of such, as Scott and Brian Niemitalo were able to spend some quality time with many, including some Muslims, such as the man pictured. There will be more about this trip in the next edition of Where He Leads, which is in production now.           Pastor John Feroze is here translating Scott Niemitalo. I just received this message from Pastor John. Hi My Brother John Ruotsala Greetings We are very thankful of Foreign Mission board USA, who sent their missionaries Brother Brian and Scott in Pakistan. Although this mission trip was very hard for them but they always serve for Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever they go for preaching the Gospel our Lord Jesus bless then and used them with the power of Holy Spirit. I myself and my people in Pakistan more to more learn about the Real Doctrine and also their preaching and teaching. They also had gone in the kilns point where lot of much people makes the Bricks and laboring with their children. We have a small need for children study in the school. They visit some villages and some houses. They also pray for sick people in the meetings.  In our 2 days Pastors and Leaders seminar they preach very well and trained to the all Pastors and Leaders and tell them about the true Doctrine. They also meet many people who were did not understand about Jesus. Someone was Muslim people during our church meeting. Brother Brian and Scott always in happy mode and very kind person to stay with us in Pakistan.  We also learn very well about the Gospel of John 14. Brother Scott preaches and teaches very well about the Gospel of John. We were so blessed in the name of Jesus during their stay in Pakistan. We pray for them wherever they want to go for preaching the Our Lord Jesus help them and keep them safely. They love the people of Pakistan and with my family. God bless you  Your Brother, John Feroze Masih A Guest from Guatemala!  "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 Last week, Pastor Giovanni from Guatemala paid us in New England a short visit!  During his stay, we held a Spanish language service in Manchester, NH at a hotel conference room. It was a wonderful time of fellowship.  It was a blessed time to be with the Ashburham Church. I was very happy to see how the Lord is leading you to reach people from other cultures, from other languages. This is coming from God because He sent us to preach the gospel to every creature and everywhere. So when the church is following God's commandment, then the church is growing and receiving the blessing of God's Word. I'm so happy to be part of this blessing of preaching the gospel to these Latino people. Pastor Giovanni        MEET A FRIEND  (Through this section in each Monthly News, we hope you can feel better connected to some of your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.)  Vijay Kumar Andra Pradesh, India Vijay and his wife Jessi serve by having a children's ministry. They help tutor children after school. They teach both secular and Bible education. This a great way to minister to the children, who are not from Christian families is most cases. Vijay is a gifted translator and always intent and excited to learn from God's Word. Vijay is so wonderful to be with, as he exudes the Joy that fills his heart! He wrote me this message at the end of our recent trip to India.  Dear Sir. It was a great privilege and oppurtunity that God has given me to having fellowship with you for the mission in India.  Please keep hold us, family and ministry in your prayers. Thank you so much Sir. God's Peace!   Note: Please pray for Vijay's wife Jessi, as she is suffering greatly from Epileptic like Seizures caused by granuloma in her brain.  She is on medication and visit the hospital every month.  Your prayers are surely appreciated.  News From the Field   India   On February 9th, our 3 day convention was over in one village, so we went that evening to hold an open air service in another nearby village. This is the message that was you may have seen on FaceBook live. Pastor Frank Famiyeh was delivering the message that night. (the message is still on FB) We knew many Hindu’s would be both in attendance and within earshot of the sermon. God worked mightily through HIS WORD, and we were blessed by the message. After we had already gotten into the vehicle to return home,  Pastor MP came into the van with two men. He stated that these two formerly unbelieving men (idol worshippers) had heard the message and are repentant and wanting to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. They had heard the Word and BELIEVED. What a joy it was to be able to lay hands on them and assure them that Jesus died for them, and that they could believe beyond any doubt that through the Powerful Name and Blood of Jesus Christ, they can believe that all of their sins have been paid for and forgiven!! God is so good that HE worked faith in the heart of these men through His Word! Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  We left the area the next day…but the below letter that I received from Pastor MP declares the answer this question:  Acts 8:36 See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? God's Peace. I have given baptism on this Sunday to those TWO brothers who turned to the voice of God on the 9th night in Bhatlapalika open air meeting. The below picture is taken by youth while giving baptism. Thank you for serving in our convention and in churches.                        Gods Peace. Greetings to you dear brother in Christ. I hope that you all have reached your destinations safely. We have prayed for your safe return journey. Thank you so much for the ministry done by you in Jesus name. Ministry at The Tribal area and ministry at Injararm was really a spiritual uplifting for me and all of us. Your ministry at the Tribal area was very much Spirit inspired as the Lord spoke through you the condition of the that tribal area, Hamlet. The lives of the people were  like  the Jericho condition only, even some of the pastor's who attended. It was an exhortation message to all. Since I know the condition over there, I could able to sense that the message was timely and a Sprit led one.  Praise God. (sermon text was Luke 18:35-43) At Injararm, during my stay, your ministry and brother Frank's was too heart touching ones. While most of the preaching is on prosperity in this part of India, your messages were purely Gospel oriented, that is Christ centered. My continued fellowship and love towards you is because of the Christ centered messages and ministry. I'm in the ministry for the past 24 year's at various capacities the Lord has put me, my sole theme is always EXALTATION OF CHRIST ( Seminars/ Conferences/ open meetings/ Bible study classes/ special meetings).I love you because you are involved in the Christ centered ministry. Thank you dear brother once again. Thank you for the spiritual and material investment during your visit. In Christ they're highly precious. I value every dollar you spend, because I value every rupees I spend. I will be back to you with much more details in the coming days regarding very important issues of the ministry. My desire is to see that your sincere and faithful efforts in India should bring forth Eternal impact. As I have been appealing you to see the big picture of India. With regards His Servant Dr Solomon Did you know?  Did you know? In Kenya the dowry (Bride price) is typically paid in cows!  Please pray for Pastor Dennis Kawaya as his wife to be Vane Choi as they will be married in April. The picture is of Dennis and the cows that were paid this week! Pastor Dennis knows English also, and he is sometimes our translator!         Did you know that when a person is dying in India, they are often put out of the home to die outside. The reason is that the belief of many of the non Christians is that if a person dies in the home, the house becomes unclean and cannot be occupied for six months.  This came to light this year as we went to pray for a Christian lady who was dying.  Many in her family were not believers.  They had moved this poor dying elderly lady into a makeshift tent in the yard.   When we prayed for her, she closed her eyes, and seemed to relax a bit.   She did not die right then, but within 14 hours she had passed away.  We pray that somehow the light of Christ would shine through the darkness, so that the remaining members of her family would come to know Jesus as  their Lord and Saviour.                                    Other Highlights or Events >  Bibles were sent to Pakistan this month from The Bible Fund. Want to donate to the bible fund? Click here >  A boy in the Philippines had a major operation, and a women in Africa who had a baby that was delivered still born were dramatically helped through the Emergency Medical Fund. > The Hockinson ALC Sunday School sent some funds along with us to India, and blessing were distributed both on the trip and after the trip!  What a joy to share what the Lord gives us through His children! > We are thankful that Pastors Bob Maki and Chuck Korhonen had a wonderful trip to South Africa in January.  There will be articles about that trip in the next Where He Leads! > Our Toronto Canada ALC recently donated some English Bibles. The New Ipswich, ALC has donated some as well.   On each trip, we run across a few people that are able to read English, and they really appreciate receiving their first ever English Bible!    Ordinarily Bibles are too heavy to ship or carry in lot, but a few can be taken on each trip in the regular luggage…..  Our normal way of Bible distribution is to send funds from our Bible Fund to a trustworthy Pastor to buy Bibles in their own language.   A gift of the WORD of God is a huge blessing! Thank you!  (note: We have enough English Bibles now for a couple years,,,, however,  each month as long as we have funds, we are sending more funds for Bibles in their languages!)                                 Here is a note from India regarding a Bible just delivered! Beloved pastor John. ..another English Bible given to Miss.Swarna..from Orissa. Another one given today after the service to Miss.Rani...an opthomologist who works in our village..she is from Chattisgarh state...they are thankful. ..thank you.  The Foreign Mission fully understands that nothing can be accomplished except that God through His Holy Spirit would move His children to help in their individual capacity.  We certainly give all Honor, Praise, and Glory to God.  Items are put here only so you can see the various ways that you can help in the Lord's Vineyard, even if you cannot leave your home! Prayer is of top importance of course!  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1 Upcoming Trips                           Would you like to join us?   Trips that are happening in the coming months!   Guatemala in April (trip is filled up!) More Guatemala Trips to come. Philippines:  May Praying for God to send laborers for other trips in the near future, if it be His Will that we go.  Stay tuned for further announcements in this section each month! CLICK HERE  F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K Website Email News Blog  Support Options Email or click DONATE link below for regular support options.  Click Here to Donate Top 5 List Are you looking to donate for a specific most needed cause? Ask for the administrator top 5 list! Click Here to email Church building fund:  We have a small specially donated church completion fund set up.   So far several church roofs have been completed.  The FM believes it best for the local congregations to put their own prayers, sweat, and treasure into their own church so that each congregant takes personal interest in the church.   We do enjoy helping such congregations finish their building, hence the fund.  We have many current needs for church buildings!   The Bible Fund; We get many requests for Bibles. It is such a blessing to give the WORD of LIFE! Click here to donate. Praise & Prayer section:  >  Pray for Unity among the brethren in the church in the USA, as well as abroad. > We Thank the Lord for the missionaries that were able to travel to India, SA, and Pakistan recently. See the next Where He Leads for stories! >  Pray safe travels for the groups going to Guatemala in both March and April. >  Pray for our Pastor, Leaders, families, and friends in all the congregations we work in around the world.  God is with them always.             May God Bless Your Month!  Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, WA 98604 Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071