Hello From Chiang Mai,
It’s been a while since I wrote a newsletter because I have been busy doing the same old things, training and personal mentoring of key leaders. I usually teach FREE seminars focusing on leadership skills for missionaries here in South East Asia, but also train and connect them with Business As Missions opportunities so they can earn money while doing the work of the ministry. However, this last month, I had two new things happen in my life.
The first thing was that I went to China. Before this, I had only been in Chinese airports but never getting to see the country and its people. This was the fulfillment of a promise God made to me 40 years ago while China was closed to Americans. I was there escorting a Jewish philanthropist lady from Dallas, Texas. We stayed at the guest house of an orphanage that cares for handicapped children, mostly babies with deformities. Often they only need surgery to repair their abnormalities. Handicapped children are usually given up because of the “one child” policy in China and are adopted to families, mostly in the US. I used my I-Phone to take photos but it was hacked and I lost everything. I got to see the Great Wall and much of Beijing but no photos remained. I will be back, I’m sure to work toward seeing God’s kingdom firmly established.
Another first is that we were deported from Myanmar. We did not have the right paper work. We were missing a letter from an “authorized” travel agent. I had set up our flights in and out and hotels online. In the past, I had a business visa but this was my first tourist type trip. We were exploring new opportunities and not working with an established company. I lost the cost of one airfare and three nights at a hotel that I had already booked and paid for. It is easier to get into China and every other country in SE Asia than it is to get into Myanmar.
I began the journey with Sandy in Cambodia where we met the founder of Daughters of Cambodia, a ministry that rescues sex workers and trains them for productive lives. They have a café and a sewing factory. They provide a day care for the children of those they are training. Because of the general slowdown of tourism in SE Asia, every ministry is tightening their belts. We also met with some other BAM people who are starting businesses that will hopefully supply jobs and funding for others, especially at the huge garbage dump where many people make a living searching through garbage for things to recycle.
The word has gotten out and I meet with someone almost every day here in Chiang Mai. I help leaders become more productive in their ministry through training them how to organize and train their people so the leader can be free to expand their ministry. Ministries are growing but many of the leaders are still doing everything themselves and often burn out. I am beginning to see leaders change and make the transition to train their people to do what they themselves have been doing. Growth without change is impossible. Significant growth without significant change is impossible.
I went to south Cambodia last week to teach leadership skills to about 50 pastors from the Vietnam border area. If we don’t train others to lead, we will not see the Kingdom of God grow. In II Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul told Timothy to train faithful men who would also train others. Without leaders, the Kingdom of God will not grow. Ephesians 4:11-12 says that the purpose of leadership is to train the saints to do the work of the ministry. This principle of God was used by the Apostles to establish the church. Paul traveled about teaching and leaving leaders behind in every city. Can we do less?
I will return to the US in December for a short visit with my kids and supporters. I will return to SE Asia to train missionaries and help organizations expand the Kingdom of God here. Two out of every three people who have not heard the Gospel live within one thousand miles of Chiang Mai, where I sit writing this newsletter. Romans 10:13-15 says, “For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent.” There are three categories of people in the whole world; Hearers, preachers and senders. In the world is only hearers but in the church are only preachers and senders. Which are you; a preacher or senders? If you are not preaching, you should be sending through prayer and/or finances. I am here on your behalf. Would you please pray for me? If you would like to help pay for some of the travel and training expenses you are welcome to help in that way as well through Message Ministries. I have enough for personal living expenses but traveling to train native pastors can be expensive.
Please pray for the following:
1. God’s favor and wisdom as I help ministries throughout this part of the world.
2. God’s financial provision for me to travel and train struggling/growing leaders and ministries. There are now more request for help than I can fulfill without additional finances. Travel cost are what I need the most. The people I help are among the least and the last in God’s kingdom.
3. Open doors to share during my trip back to the US in December.
4. Clear direction and open doors for this next year so I can fulfill my call to help leaders grow.
5. It gets lonely here though I am busy. Please pray for me to keep focused on God’s call to this part of the world.
God bless you,
Jim
