Teaching At VBCI Thailand

This past January I taught on the subject of Spiritual Warfare...this class created more discussions than any other class I have taught. I have come to realize how important it is to understand that people view their world through their culture. Not all culture is right or wrong but everything must be viewed through the scriptures. If we don't have a good grasp on the scriptures you will default to what you have programmed within your mind and heart. But one thing we know for sure and that is that we are in a warfare whether you like it or not you are a soldier in God's army. You have been enlisted whether you fight or not. But we are called to "fight the good fight or not." We can win because the greater one lives in us, the greater one in us guides us and the greater one in us fights alongside of us. In February I went up to Mae Sai Thailand to visit my brother in law Samuel. Samuel is a graduate of VBCI and he is teaching english and also evangelism at an Ahka Bible School in Teckeilek Burma which is on the other side of the Burma. He is also translating some material for me in the Ahka language. Samuel has a great future ahead of him and he is showing the diligence that is necessary to be a success in the ministry.

Christmas 2012

Christmas season was full of activities and outreaches around Sriracha and Chonburi Thailand. The students had plenty of opportunities to express themselves and share their testimonies. Wherever the students may serve in the future being able to share their faith in a very practical way is one of the goals that we have for the students. It is rewarding to see the progress of the students. Many of them come here with many insecurities, yet God's Word is having His way in the lives of the students. The students are becoming bold in their witness for Christ!

As for our family we went up to northern Thailand to spend Christmas with Elizabeth's family. The family lives on the Thai-Burma border area and are involved in a local Ahka church and my brother in-law is a now a bible teacher in a bible school in Techilek Burma. Samuel's progress has been a wonderful thing to see. He has great love and vision for his people. During our stay in Northern Thailand my wife and I were able to get away and visit Doi Tung (which is the Kings Mother's Garden). The garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Thailand.

School Year Fall 2012

Christmas is approaching quickly and we are almost half-way through the school year. So far the year has went along quite smoothly. For two weeks in the month of October I taught on "Patterns Of Living From The Old Testament." The class basically covers the major themes of the Old Testament. Teaching on the Old Testament was a first for me...but I enjoyed the challenge. One of the things I like to do for the students during the year is setting up in home groups where they can lead a group on weekends. This gives them experience of leading a bible study before they leave our school. This year I am giving them mostly teachings from the lives of the leaders from the Old Testament. The students have told me they have learned lots from these weekend life groups.

Also this past November Elizabeth, Jeremiah and myself went to Burma to renew our visa's. Burma is going through some major transitions and it looks to me like a very good thing for the country. I had the opportunity to minister in one of my students church on Sunday morning. We are believing for great things for Burma. The scripture tells us that this Gospel will be preached then the end will come. We believe it is a Gospel backed by the Love of God and the Power of God and Burma will see both attributes all throughout the nation. God wants to show His strength and His power to this generation in Burma.

I would also like to mention that we have had different books published in different languages. We had Pastor Tim Davidson's Book "A Verse A Day" published again in Pakistan in the Urdu language. One of our leaders in Pakistan told me it is one of their most "read books" and would like to publish more so we printed another 1000 books. Thank you Word Of Faith Church in Bismarck, North Dakota! We also had another book "Staying Full Of God" by Andrew Wommack printed in the Burmese language. These books are very valuable resources for these nations and I want to thank all of you for contributing to these projects. We plan on getting as much material as we can for translation into the Burmese language for future use in churches, bible schools and training centers.

New School Year, New Faces

This past September we started the year off with 25 students. They come from seven different nations and every type of background. We started the school year off with a work week. I think the students realized this was going to be a different type of school. Actually some of the students really enjoy the work as they are learing things like welding, painting and building cabinets. We have fourteen students back from last year and eleven new students. This years theme for the students is on Integrity. We want the students to know right from the start that Integrity is vital for their success in the ministry and that it is their responsibility to develop a walk of Integrity. It tells us in Proverbs 10:9, "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his way will become known." God will be faithful to watch over those who walk in integrity. Just like last year and the year before my wife Elizabeth and I are supporting a couple of students. That means their tuition and their weekly expenses. The tuition has doubled since last year so we have not be able to support as many, but we are grateful to all of you that are helping us in this endeavor. There are many times where we are helping other students with their visas and expenses. Thank you so much for your continued support for Elizabeth, Jeremiah and myself!

On a side note we celebrated Jeremiah's 2nd birthday on Sept. 23rd with all of our students and held a picnic at our house.

The Summer

The scripture tells us to be led by the Spirit. It says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God." Being led by the Spirit of God takes time to develop in our life as we learn to yield to the wooing of the Holy Spirit. I am sharing this because this last spring my wife Elizabeth and I planted some ginger with my mother in-law in northern Thailand. In August it was time to harvest some of the ginger. Elizabeth and myself have been looking at ways of raising additional income and this seemed like the obvious route for us at this time. As it turned out it looks like we will break even. I am confident that the Lord will show us the best way to raise additional income to support national pastors in Myanmar. We also raised some pigs (20 of them) and sold them in May and June. The money was enough to send four of our family members home by flight to Myanmar and relocate them to the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Believe with me that we find additional ways to use agriculture in Myanmar as a way to raise support for the village pastors.

Also during late June and in August we drove to northern Thailand twice (long drive). It was beautiful as we drove through the mountains. We stayed in Mae Sai and visited with a couple of Ahka pastors and stayed with the family living on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. In the late August we flew to Yangon Myanmar and preached on the weekend and then renewed our visa's. Myanmar is changing quickly and we want to be positioned to help the peoples of Myanmar. It was my wife's first time back home in three years and she loved it. Just a final note this week is the beginning of the new school year here at VBCI we have great students arriving (lots of time on the road to the airport picking up students). Unfortunately there were numerous students that couldn't come because of lack of finances. We look forward to a great school year!

USA

Just wanted to say how much fun we had at home. We had the opportunity to stay with my brother Gary and it was wonderful for us as well as Jeremiah as he was able to get to know his older cousins. We also had a wonderful coming home picnic put on by my family, relatives and friends. We were so blessed. Because we flew into Seattle my wife had the opportunity to view some of the most beautiful areas of the USA. The drive to Bismarck and back to Seattle was long but worth it.

We also had the opportunity to go to Mpls MN and visit my brother Steve and his wife Patty, they took us around the cities and me and my family went to visit Mall of America...it was a great experience for my wife to see such a large indoor shopping center, of course their was also the huge playground in the middle of the mall. Back in North Dakota we went were able to spend time at Word of Faith Church in Bismarck they have been such a wonderful blessing to us, we will miss you. In early June I had the opportunity to preach in Ryder North Dakota and see Pastor Jonathan and Pam Starks. This was the first time in 15 years I was able to see them...what a great church in Ryder!

I am truly greatful for all my brothers and sisters and my church friends as they were so good to us, they all made special meals for us (very good). My mom and sisters went out of their way to spend time with Elizabeth and Jeremiah. Before we left back for Thailand we went to California and ministered in California Victory Church. Thank you California Victory for your hospitality! We look forward to seeing you again.

We look forward to going back to the USA again and would love to go visit our friends in Canada!

Graduation 2012

It was an exciting day on April 21st as we saw many of our students get their first year diploma and quite a few get their 2 year bible degree. For me it was very gratifying as four of my family members graduated with their two year bible degree. For my wife Elizabeth it was quite gratifying because during the this time she also had the responsibilities of being a mother. But we made it! As for the rest of the students they were really a great bunch. The year went by quite quickly and the students really worked hard and pushed through many personal obstacles. They truly "fought the good fight of faith". The students need to believe God for their tuition and their weekly expenses. The school year is a time where the students grow in faith and in character. But God is faithful!