Monroeville Christian Church

February 2010

Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings to you all in the Name of our Living Lord and God, Jesus Christ!

In this letter I would like to share with you some of theological problems that I have to deal with during my village evangelistic trip to Maehongson province in the past month so that you will be able to grapes some of our ministerial experiences. This was my first my mission trip to the area since 2000.  Approximately 10,000 Lisu people live and spreading throughout 6 villages in Sop-pong or Pang Ma pha. Though there are a handful of Christians in the area, church buildings are located at almost every village.  Those Christians are very hungry for God’s Word.  Even though my teammates helped me in preaching, I still preached consecutively 4 times on one Sunday at four different churches.  I was so exhausted at that evening.  It seems to me there are many backsliding Christians at this area.  They turned back to their old traditional belief, of course, animism and reestablishing a spirit altar inside their houses.  Many of these people came to me and discussing their problems and struggles and some of them are willing to repent and come back to faith in Jesus Christ and burning out their spirit altars.  The theological question came out among some Christians in the area is whether these people should be re-baptized or not.

I, Stephen, have just received my new passport replacing the expired one.  I will apply for my Chinese visa and buying a flight ticket soon.  Hopefully, everything will go well.  This weekend our house will host a sent-out-mission service to Burma and China .  Next week, I will drive to the border and drop out the Burma mission team at Mae Sai.  This group will make an evangelistic trip throughout Northern Shan state in Burma and if God is willing, they will go and meet me somewhere in China and we will work together inside China .  The following week, then, I will depart to China .  Your prayers for our family, safety and soul-harvesting are most appreciated.         

Please join with us in praying for one of our evangelists, Kalib, who is suffering with TB disease.  Kalib is doing cross-cultural mission works by leaving his Lahu village in order to carry out the Great Commission to the lost souls among Wa people.  Indeed, God has blessed his ministry tremendously, over 100 people among Wa people have accepted Jesus Christ and been baptized in the past year.  Since January, Kalib has been diagnosed with TB.  We are now intensively working out in helping Kalib and other 45 new Christians, who have been diagnosed with the same disease, from his mission field to receive a proper treatment from a hospital whether in Thailand or Burma . 

Also, please join with us in praying for Yasa, my co-worker, who was sick since October 2009.  He may receive a surgery soon if the physical therapy does not work.

Praise the Lord that Mary and I have a personal time for few days at Phuket, one of the most beautiful island in Thailand before my mission trip to China .  Our appreciation should go to our small Bible study group and fellow Christians in Phuket for arranging the trip and taking care of most of our expenses and guiding us for the sight-seeing tour around the island.  It was indeed the first time in my life.  It is an awesome place!

In His Services,

Stephen and his co-workers     

Dear Christian Friends,

Again, praise our Living God and Lord for adding more souls to be harvested!  The past Sunday July 19, 2009 another 5 people accepted Jesus Christ and were baptized into His Kingdom.  Nick’s first baptismal performing was very great.  Nick also decides to go to China for a week of mission trip.  While I will continue to do more mission works there in China he will fly back by his own to Thailand and the USA in the following weeks.  We will leave on July 29 to Kunming.  Your prayers are most appreciated.

In Christ Alone,

Stephen

Preacher’s Comments: TWO AREAS OF PRAISE …AND A WARNING

1. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR ELDERS?

Do you know how many elders (pastors, bishops) we have? Do you know their names, where they live and what they do? Do you know that they meet each Sunday for a short time to catch up on things in the church family? Do you know that they have one regular meeting a month for about 1 hr? Do you know they have many specially called meetings throughout the year to address various situations? Do you know they meet with individuals often to encourage, help, strengthen and, in some cases, correct?

Are you aware of their family situations, their jobs and their tough times? Are you aware that they are like other Christians; they get tired, they have problems, they, too, need support and encouragement? They have their downers. Are you aware that as they address certain church situations and attend various meetings their wives and children may be left to their own. Are you aware that the elders hurt like anyone else when talked about, that they, too, get sick and at times may not be running on all cylinders; they, too, have bad days.

I want to praise our elders and encourage them. I want them to know I’m behind them in their efforts and decisions and that I do not intend to undermine them or their work. But I also want them to know that when in error I must correct as they must correct me when in error. We have good men who shepherd the flock here at MCC. Keep them and their families in prayer and from time to time compliment them, they always receive enough complaints. Don’t add to them unnecessary worries or problems.

2. CHURCH CAMP

I want to congratulate Dave for the fine work he does each year so our young people may experience a great camp week and be drawn closer to Christ. Dave and his crew spend hours and hours in planning. We have been able to make use of the state parks for our camp. It is the responsibility of Dave and his crew to plan all the activities, to buy all the food and prepare the meals, buy all the cleaning supplies for that week, prepare all the recreation, all the classes, and oversee the complete program. The meals at our camp are second to none, and has some built in extras each year.

And might I point out that after we leave the camp we have no further cost for the upkeep. We have no need for a camp manager, cottage repairs, dining hall repairs, or swimming pool repairs. This is all the cost of the state, we just rent the camp for the week or weeks we need, pay the electric bill and it’s done! Thanks to Dave and his crew - we couldn’t do it without you. I would hate to think of trying to train someone else to fill Dave’s shoes on this important program of church camp. I don’t know if we could. There is only one area in which we do not equal other camps and that is cost. How does our camp compare to others in relation to cost of the camp; we are much, much cheaper. This is one case where cheaper is equal to or better. Some camps charge young people from $100.00 a week to over $200.00 a week depending where they are and what the cost of the upkeep is. In some parts of the United States some of our camps are no longer camps, they are resorts. Besides churches supporting the upkeep of these monstrosities, they in many cases help with the campers fees. Our price for camp is $30.00 for the Jr Mini Wk and $60.00 for the Jr/Sr High Week and even then we will pay a portion of that fee if the student completes certain requirements. The cost then being $15.00 and $30.00. If a camper can’t afford that we will pay it all so they can attend camp. This truly is a real bargain by any standards. Our church and our leaders are to be commended for this great undertaking.