Foreign Mission in Pictures

This fellow is the picture of servanthood. Alway present, ever faithful! This faithful woman preached for over 3 years to her drunkard unbelieving husband while being beaten before he repented and believed. Now they serve the Lord together in great Joy and gladness. This poor pastor who suffered with Elephantiasis passed away one month before we arrived in India this year. We went to his church to speak and pray. For a long time before his death this pastor would wake up very early and read the Bible and pray over a loud speaker for his entire Hindu village to hear! "I work at this home (a home in SA for children with disabilities) 7 days a week 6am-6pm. Its hard because we are not able to go to church. Please remember to pray for us." "When we were coming to church today we noticed a cobra on the path, my sister and I ran the whole rest of the way here." Sunday School in India Pastor and Leaders Seminars India. These situations allow for very direct Biblical and doctrinal. There sessions are our main focus in every country we work in. We know we come and go while they remain to carry on! Whether services are indoor, outdoor, large or small, when the Word of God is preached in truth and purity, it will not return void. Thank you Mr. Joe for your suggestion to do a picture report in this fashion! We surely hope you all enjoy these bi-monthly picture reports. The pictures will be sort of random, and hopefully they will capture life as it is lived around the world. www.themissionsite.com | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend   Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, Washington  98604 Add us to your address book Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071

Monthly News February 2015

Above: Nurse Sonja gives shots.  India: Preaching the Gospel and Medical Clinics  As the anti conversion laws increase around the world, medical clinics give a great opportunity to reach communities. During these clinics each person is helped with medical care and given medication or shots as needed. In addition, and most importantly, each person is prayed for and given the opportunity to hear the Gospel. In the same village large services are held to spread The Word. Loud speakers are used to reach the entire village. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name.. Mark 9:41  Thank you to all the team who recently served with the Foreign Mission in India!The medical clinic supplies were as always, personally funded by the team members. Believe and Be Baptized:  Mark 16:16 says: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.    In so many places in scripture we can see the importance of believing and of baptism.  Baptism is a sacrament given by God and has wondrous, marvelous, and mysterious (to us humans) God given power!     However...  click here to read the rest of this story... South Africa 2015:  This year in South Africa the focus was to spend time with the members of the church to uplift, edify and encourage them in their walk as a christian. Bob was able to serve with the Bishop in Leaders Seminars. While Autumn, Julie and Matthew spent time with the youth of the church.  The article below is by Julie Matson: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,  Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future,  And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!"  When we arrived in South Africa we met with the Bishop to talk about the youth and their needs. The truth is no matter where we are, struggles among the youth are just the same. One of the first days arriving in South Africa we sang Because He Lives. Upon reading the words, the youth requested it again and again. We sang in the car, at bible study, church or any opportunity we had. God used this to open up a wonderful opportunity for conversations and searching the Word for wisdom and understanding.  "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 Reports from the field:  The following is a report from Pastor Frank Famiyah on the seminars he conducted for the Togo pastors last week: The seminars started on the 3rd February with all the nine pastors and two church leaders. This time, the first day was given to all the pastors to report on how they had taught and preached the Gospel in their congregations since the last seminars in November 2014.  The idea was to find out not only the extent of their understanding of the Gospel but more importantly, how they have personally taken it in for themselves.  I was quite satisfied with how their reports went. Subjects addressed at the seminar:  Law and Gospel PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST i.e. "Increasing in the  Knowledge of God - Growing in Grace" Good News of forgiveness of sin. Pastor Philippe of the church in Aklotsi, speaking on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude for new insights gained at the seminars and the kindness of the F.M.B. in sponsoring the seminars.  He prayed that God would continue to empower His servant to travel to their country to teach and share the Gospel with them as often as possible.  What could I say to that - the Love of Christ constraineth us!  In His service,  Pastor Frank  The following is a report from South Africa regarding the team that recently visited:  This year the Lord worked wondrously using His servants both from America and South Africa by uniting us in one body and working together with one purpose, to reach the lost souls with the saving gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Much time was spent with the young men, helping them to be the future leaders of the Church. They have continued to hold bible studies. This is an important step, as this was what the church needs desperately. I told them that they will be the ones to minister to my grand children this same saving Gospel. Yours in His service,  Bishop L.Mphahlele The following is a report from India regarding the team that recently visited:  Thank you so much for conducting the Pastors Seminars. All the Pastors were very much deeply Fed by the Spirit of God ,The Living Bread and the Living waters. Many thanks from the Big Services, thank you for the Pastor for visiting Churches, encouraging each and every believer. Thanks to the young people for teaching the kids and woman about the word of God. All the woman and Children enjoyed and are blessed.   Thank you for conducting free Medical camps in the villages. Thank you for providing the Medicine. Thanks to the team for coming and serving God in Free Medical camps. The team is wonderful and awesome with great potential and energy to serve God. The way they assisted and treated the patients was good and with lot of care with Love. Thank you for coming to Tribal area to preach Good News of Jesus and to treat the patients. All the village has seen your great Love like the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37  We all thank you and we all Love you for your Grace and Kind Love of Jesus. May God bless you Pastor. Dr.Kumar and Jean Mary. This is a report by Pastor K.  We are privileged to have the mission-team from FMB-ALCA. The PASTORS' SEMINAR has been a blessing. The Word was taught in its simple and accurate way and ignited the attendants to continue with zeal in His Work wherever the Lord placed them and sends them.  The MEDICAL CAMPS as one of the social wings of the mission work contributed to move the people and show them HIS treatments with the Love of Christ. CONTINUED in next column.... Support options  Email or click on the Donate link above for regular support options. Special projects Only funded with earmarked funds Church rebuilding:The Christians in Liberia are still struggling to get churches built after the 15 year civil war which destroyed the infrastructure of the entire country.  Also in India several places of worship need to be rebuilt due to Cyclone damage.  Many other countries need churches also. The team that visited India saw the damage 1st hand. Later photos will be shared on the progress.  Top five list:  Please be aware that the FM administrator keeps a list of the most needed humanitarian projects around the world where the FM works!  These are not funded by general FM funds, but many people often come forward asking to support special needs.   You can receive this list by email for you or your group to check over and decide what you would like to work toward funding!   Click here to email!  A young widow receiving a bible with tears in her eyes ********************* Please note: The Foreign Mission does not report the number of repentances that have occurred around the world while on mission trips.  Why? Because we have no power over who repents, believes the Gospel, or even comes to the services.  It is all the work of a Mighty and Sovereign God who is worthy of all honor and praise!  We cannot see into the hearts of men anyway, but we know God can.  We also have this promise from His Word: Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where to I sent it. Do you know of anyone that might like to receive these monthly emails but is not currently getting them? Please forward this to them so they can sign up by clickinghere.   continuation.... The YOUTH GROUP very much involved with children and youth. Teaching wonderful choruses, taught the Biblical stories with thought-provoking demonstration to help plant a strong faith in the youth and children. The Youth Group has specially left strong ties and fellowship with ALC Home, the children always remember them and  their movements with at STUDY  HOURS, DEVOTIONS, PLAY-TIME, and Physical Exercise time and in the Dining Hall. We pray for you all. Please pray for us and the on-going mission work in India.   Thank you. Your servant in His service,  Pastor K. Upcoming events > Trip to West Africa March and April 2015 > Trip to Guatamala Late April > Church visits and communications state side will be continued and enhanced as desired by you!  Prayer and praise >  Pray for the upcoming trip to west Africa beginning March 4th.  > Pray for the families of the 21 Christians killed in the Middle East, and pray for all those being persecuted around the world.  > Pray that God through His spirit will bless all that was said and done on the recent trips. May the Lord continue to bless our brothers and sisters around the world, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord.

Believe and Be Baptized

Mark 16:16 says: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.   In so many places in scripture we can see the importance of believing and of baptism.  Baptism is a sacrament of God and given by God, which has wondrous, marvelous, and mysterious (to us humans) God given power! However in non-Christian countries baptism is not always possible, although needed.  What happened on this trip in India is something no one in our group will ever forget.    

We went for a walk through the village to speak to and pray for and with those in need.  We came into a home where our faithful local pastor and guide on this walk, Pastor K had visited often.   Now this family had an eighteen year old daughter who was dying of cancer.  What a sad sight to behold.  Here was this young lady, who professed to be a Christian, so young, yet so fragile. 

As she lay in her bed watching us come in, her dark eyes followed us.  To me they seem to be pleading eyes, yet not eyes of fear or panic.  As I began to pray while we were laying hands on her, the connection between her and our entire team quickly blossomed into something very special.

After some time her mother came into the room.  This particular India family was very different from the norm, because the father and daughter had become Christians, but the mother and her parents remained very strict Hindus.  Never the less, Julie Matson and our other female team members went up to her and comforted her.  The woman wailed in sorrow as the ladies held her, cried with her, and prayed for her.

The men on our team did the same with the father.  O what a bond was formed with this family.

Upon leaving that home we continued on to a few more homes before returning home.  When we arrived home, I asked the pastor if that girl was baptized.  He said no.  The reason is, since she was so young and living at home, the mother and grandparents (Hindus) had absolutely forbidden her to be baptized.  I asked the Pastor to call over there and ask once again!  He did so, but the answer came, no, the mother and grandparents will not allow such a thing.

While many on our team wanted to continue to visit this girl, (it was obvious to see she was close to the end) we had to leave her village to go far away to our next location for services.  I told Pastor K to please allow us to go to visit her when we come back on Sunday night if she is still alive.  He said fine.  

However, the faithful pastor he is, he continued to visit her for the following days.  Finally he called me and told me that the girl appears to be hours from death.  I asked him again about the baptism.  He said that now the mother has given approval.  I believe that God could have worked through our ladies weeping and praying with her, to soften her heart.  

However, the mother’s parents were still downright refusing baptism for her.  Remember, we are dealing with a culture that is thousands of years old, with cast systems, and many other customs that we as westerners cannot know or understand.  

Upon getting off the phone and hearing this sad news, I called our entire team together, and we prayed to the Lord about this situation.  We felt so helpless, but at the same time knowing that our God is one of miracles.

About 2 hours later, the pastor called me back and said that the grandparents finally have given in, and allowed her to be baptized. The Pastor promptly had baptized her!  What joy we all experienced when we heard this wonderful news! See, not only did this precious soul get to experience for her own heart and soul the benefits and wonderments of Holy Baptism. The fact was that now that she was baptized, this caused her entire funeral service to be conducted in a Christian manner with a proper burial, which also was a testimony to the community as they witnessed the entire happening. Due to the culture without Baptism she would have had to have the Hindu ceremonies, cremation and then her ashes would have been dumped into the “holy” river.

Shortly (within hours) after her baptism, sweet little Mina, went to be with her Lord!  What a New Day for her! What an experience for our entire team.  Such pain, sadness, yet so much joy for her.  All who are believing, when they pass for this life, enter into His Rest and Glory!  No more pain or suffering! 

I am so thankful for faithful pastors abroad, and may the Lord continue to allow us to be in fellowship one with another, encouraging each other to walk in the Victory of the Lord!  

May God Bless you all!  John Ruotsala

FM Monthly News January 2015

In the Year or Our Lord,  2015 As we begin this new year, Your Foreign Mission is very humbled  and thankful for your support for the work that the Lord is allowing us to participate in around the world. We ask that God would very much bless the days that He grants you during this New Year! Looking ahead:    We know that we may plan, but God decides!  That being said, the following trips are planned so far for this year.    South Africa:  (currently ongoing)   India: January 19-Feb. 10th.   West Africa: March and April  Guatemala: Late April  Russia: May  Philippines: TBD  Myanmar: TBD  Other trips:TBD If you are interested in joining with us on a trip, click here to email. Priorities for 2015 for your Foreign Mission: To be willing servants ready to be used as the Lord sees fit.  If we are used we desire to be obedient to the WORD:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47 Current Events:  Pastor Bob Maki, Matthew Niemela, Julie Matson, and Autumn Roberts are serving in South Africa.  One   severe problem we have noticed in almost every country the FM serves in, is that young men stop attending church.  We pray that God can use our young people to help with this problem.  The below pic of Matthew and two friends goes with the article below. The article below is by Julie Matson: The incredible part of traveling to foreign countries as Christians, is how quickly strangers can become friends.  First of all, sometimes leaving the US, the airport may be the first time you meet a fellow traveller, but how quickly you can become a team. With a common bond of love in the Lord Jesus Christ, and with that common purpose to know Him and to make Him known. (continued below 2nd picture in the next column) This picture is taken at a home for children with cerebral palsy in South Africa. See an article about this visit in the next Where He Leads!  Staff Change for 2015 For the last five years, Kris Matson has been dependably serving as Editor for Where He Leads. (The Foreign Missions quarterly paper edition newsletter) Kris has announced her intention to hand this responsibility to Liisa Seppanen, starting with this first issue of the year. The team will certainly miss working with Kris, as her diligence, attention to detail and reliability have made working with her a pleasure. We ask the Lord to continue to bless Kris and her family. Liisa Seppanenjoins the team after working in the communications department of an aerospace company. Her former responsibilities included writing for and helping to edit an internal company newsletter. She is looking forward to the change from aerospace news to the ‘Good News.’ Welcome to the team, Liisa!   We are also very thankful that Julie Matson will be a full time volunteer for the Foreign Mission for the year of 2015! Welcome Julie! May God Bless and Protect you!  Pic isJulie in India in past yrs. (from left column) After arriving in other countries, fellow believers quickly become friends. They welcome us into their homes, churches, and communities. In South Africa, Autumn, Matthew, and I have had some most wonderful opportunities to spend a lot of time with the youth. All of us encouraging one another, having Bible studies, outreach to local communities and praying together.  We even had a bbq in the park today and through it all each of us is growing in the knowledge of the Lord, as we walk side by side on this journey of life.    Please pray for this team as they faithfully serve, as well as the larger group that leaves for India on Monday, January 19th.  Support options  Email or click on the Donate link above for regular support options. Special projects Only funded with earmarked funds Church rebuilding:The Christians in Liberia are still struggling to get churches built after the 15 year civil war which destroyed the infrastructure of the entire country.  Also in India several places of worship need to be rebuilt due to Cyclone damage.  Many other countries need churches also. Top five list:  Please be aware that the FM administrator keeps a list of the most needed humanitarian projects around the world where the FM works!  These are not funded by general FM funds, but many people often come forward asking to support special needs.   You can receive this list by email for you or your group to check over and decide what you would like to work toward funding!   Click here to email!  Precious orphan child in Kenya ********************* Please note: The Foreign Mission is backing away from communicating statistics of people or numbers of churches we work with around the world.  Why? Many places we preach at are NOT ALC churches, but rather places we are called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Foreign Mission is not into building a huge empire of churches, but rather about prayerfully preaching the Word of God around the world. Do you know of anyone that might like to receive these monthly emails but is not currently getting them? Please forward this to them so they can sign up by clickinghere. Pic: Woman in church in Kingisepp, Russia 2013 Upcoming events > Trips as outlines above. > Church visits and communications state side will be continued and enhanced as desired by you!  Prayer and praise  >  Pray for our current missionaries in the field, that God would use them to share very clear and complete messages. > The little boy with the hurt leg in Kenya finally may have turned the corner we pray.  He had to have yet another surgery, and now is doing much better!  > Many donations have been made in the past month for the preaching of the Gospel, but also for such things as: wells, bicycles, orphan children support, dental supplies, medical supplies, micro loans, etc.  God is good!   *the needs are still very great and we invite you to join in even with the financial side!  www.themissionsite.com | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend   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

2015

Dear Readers!  God's Peace be with you!

May The Lord Bless each of you with a Blessed 2015

The Foreign Mission is thankful that the Lord used us in 2014 and we pray that He will continue to use us as His servants in 2015.

We know that we can bring nothing of worth to the people of the world, but by the Spirit of God. 

Please pray with and for us during this upcoming year, and if you desire to become involved, just email foreignmission@comcast.net to get started!