Thank you for your prayers

Thank you for your prayers

Dear Church, we are very grateful for your earnest prayers and support, we believe that all this work is for building God’s Kingdom and bringing glory to Him!!

We believe that in God’s Kingdom there is no age limit to do His work, everyone has a responsibility to bear fruit!

One unique group in our church are ladies who are over 70, but it doesn’t stop them to ride a bicycle, work on the field or carry big baskets on their back. The blessing is to see their growing desire to learn/listen to the Bible, to memorize and share with others about our God. Together, we learned the main characteristics of God, using pictures for better memory, they were

even practicing writing Bible verses and memorizing in their tribal language and Thai. We learned how to share the Gospel using personal testimony or story and they were able to visit one elderly couple in another village, share their faith, and pray with them. The more we learn the Word of God the more changes are happening in our lives. “I am very sorry that before I didn’t know what is right before God and made a lot of mistakes, but now I know and am very thankful for the time we have together” – said one of the ladies. Recently we were able to purchase Children’s Bibles with pictures for them, this way is easier to remember stories and share them with grandchildren. Yes, we believe that children are the future of the country, but the elderly is the power behind them! Because of their prayers, God will continue to lead a young generation in the right way!

Thank you very much for your support in the ministry with the elderly!

May God bless you to be fruitful for Him at any age!

Ministry in Thailand – San and Anita

Avoda – answered Prayers

Avoda – answered Prayers

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, thank you and praise the Lord for the Work He does here in Thailand.

Last month, by God’s grace we had an opportunity to have our children’s camp, which was such a big blessing and answered prayer! We had our older youth organize the program and have a chance to serve together. For some, it was the first time helping with children.  Our topic was – focusing on God, seeing Him through creation, to listen what He says and does it, and talking to Him. God really blessed that time and children had many questions about faith and were not shy to ask. Please pray for these children as they continue coming to church and grow in their faith.

Brick by brick our Sunday school building is growing. As I wrote before, that two months ago because of strong rains, our bamboo shelter fell. The shelter was serving as a classroom for our Sunday and evening school for different ages and activities.

Thank God nobody got hurt, because it happened during the night, and only in the morning did we see this picture. Praise God for every donation, we were able to put the foundation, roof, purchase bricks, and windows for two small rooms that will serve as a storage room to keep all the school material and another for the office.

Thank God for His provision. We are planning to start evening school next month and are very grateful for the roof and strong foundation that we have, but we still need to buy bricks for the best part of the building – $450, put windows and doors – $600, put electricity with lights and fans – 400, and buy a few tables and chairs or mats to sit on the floor, One table $60, mat $7-10 We are very grateful for every donation and prayer, and if God will encourage you to participate in any of these needs, it will be a big blessing in reaching unreached with the Gospel and guiding them to grow in faith.

Thank you again for every prayer and support.

Ministry in Avoda (Thailand) – San & Anita

Please rejoice with us!

Please rejoice with us!

Yes, I believe!!! This is a short but very meaningful and powerful phrase! “Yes, I believe!” – To say it in front of other witnesses is a big challenge. “Yes, I believe and have decided to follow Jesus and want people around me to know about it”. Four young people made a public confession of their faith and got baptized. It was a true celebration in our Church. Most of them were growing without having a close relationship with their parents, not knowing the love of Jesus. One of the boys said: Growing up without a father and later with a step-father I felt a lack of love.  When I saw how my cousin came to Crist and how his life changed, I wanted the same. Now I have the Heavenly Father who loves me and cares for me every day. God is the only one who is the best Father and gives us a new family in Christ!  Moreover, He showers His blessings and gives gifts that we would be able to serve each other. Every week our older children teach younger to play musical instruments. We are very grateful for our volunteers who came a few years ago and taught our children to play piano, guitar ukulele, and now they can pass it to the next generation. Also this year the teachers from the public school said that children and teens who go to church, are very talented and kind, they were the most helpful in the preparation graduation program this year. Glory be to God for all the things He is doing. Please continue to pray for our youth, especially those who decided to follow Jesus, that nothing will stop them and also younger children, that they would grow in their faith. Please pray for the right people to join our ministry, especially for the young couple who are planning to come in June. 

Its been one year since we started a Bible study group with the elderly. As we study the Bible together, we see how relevant and practical it is for our life, doesn’t matter culture or age. They are very grateful for the time we have. “ I really like the time when we pray together, I feel the power and see how God is answering prayers”  – said one of the ladies. 

Thank you very much for your prayers and support, thank you for being a part of the ministry here.

Minsitry in Thailand (Avoda) – San und Anita

One generation for Christ!

One generation for Christ!

People who are worshiping spirits don’t look happy, they live in constant fear to please spirits, and they put a lot of effort into this. They pass their belief to their children and grandchildren, who continue to live by the same pattern. What if, one generation would turn to Christ? They will have hope, joy, their life would be better, their families would be stronger, and their children and grandchildren will know and live for an all-powerful, loving, and wise God. Only one generation will put their trust in Jesus and teach the next generation to do the same. This is our prayer and vision: to reach, disciple, prepare for ministry one generation of faithful followers of Christ and together to reach the next generation.

Yes, it takes time, a lot of time, and effort, but the goal is worth it. We really appreciate you for being coworkers in this ministry, thank you for your prayers that mean a lot, children and youth who are here- the first generation who came to Christ, they might not have anyone else praying for them. Thank you for your financial support, that means a lot because most of our church members are children and youth, who don’t have a big income, but also do their part. Together we can reach, strengthen in faith and prepare for the ministry one generation for Christ and the next generation with them.

“I see, how God changed my life, how He cares for me, provides for me. I want to teach younger children about God that their lives will be changed”

“I am glad to teach younger children to play guitar that they will join our worship team”

“This New Year we went to visit my family in another village, when I saw little children, I really wanted to tell them about God, I don’t know many Bible stories, so I told them the one I knew, they were so happy to hear. I want to learn how to share about God”

“P’Gick, when will we learn from the Bible?” – was the question of two young boys, who come so early right after school and looking for their leader to learn. Together with other girls and boys they will have some short activity of cooking or making any craft, read the Bible and share what they understand. This practice is not easy for many people in this culture where they are taught to learn and accept things, not to express their own thinking. But the Word of God is practical for every age. When this group just started last year, these ten to thirteen-year-old children couldn’t pray and now everyone prays out loud. Now most of them want to play musical instruments and join worship group. Thank God for such growth.

“I want to get baptized!” -said one of the girls during our church lunch and all her friends turned with amazement in their eyes. “Do you think you are perfect in your faith?”  – asked one of the girls, “No, I am still growing and learning but I want to make a decision to follow Christ”

All these children and youth come from strong Buddhist and animist families, please pray for them, that they would grow in their faith. The next few months would be a season for camps. We are planning to have three camps for Christian and non-Christian youth and children this year. Please pray for every participant and leader. Also, one young lady and one family would like to join our ministry this year, please pray that the doors will be opened, and all the documentation process will go smoothly. 

May God bless every one of you

Ministry in Thailand (Avoda) – San and Anita

I want my life to be changed completely

I want my life to be changed completely

“I want my life to be changed completely, I want to follow Jesus and get baptized”- said a young lady, who comes from a very strict Buddhist family. A few months ago, she started to come to our church by driving on a bicycle a long distance. She was having a strong desire to be with Christians. I wrote about her before, thank you for keeping her in prayer.

As Noon shared her story, we learned that when she was in the first grade, that this was the first time when she met a Christian, who became her friend. From that time, she saw that Christians are different people and she liked it. Now attending high school, God sent her another Christian man in her class, who shared the Gospel with her and other friends and invited her to church. When Noon came to Church she asked for a Bible, she likes to learn about God and wants to know more and more. One day she asked if she can help in Sunday school because she wants to hear more Bible stories. “I want to change my life; I want to be Christian! I see that Christians are very special people, I feel accepted and loved, I want to be Christian so that other people around me feel the same way!” When we shared the Gospel and as soon as she prayed and accepted Jesus, she wanted to share the gospel with her friends and family. Now Noon and two other young men are expressed their desire to be baptized and show family and friends their decision to follow Jesus. We are very thankful for your prayers and God’s work in the hearts of young people. None of the family members support Noon in her decision. But we pray that God will open their hearts for the Gospel. One Saturday, Noon wrote that her grandparents don’t let her go to church on that Sunday. We prayed and asked God what we can do in this situation. Next week we visited Noon and her grandparents, with whom she lives. We didn’t know what to expect, will they accept us, or will be angry. God answered, they were not just glad to meet us and we’re very kind that invited us again for a dinner with all extended family.

Even though they are not supporting Noon to change their religion and be Christian, but they are not against her going to Church, even to be in one of our worship groups. she loves to play musical instruments and sing for God. Please keep Noon and her family in your prayers that her kind grandparents would believe and come to Christ!

We really believe in the power of prayer and experienced many answered prayers! Thank you for being a part of this ministry. May God richly bless every one of you.

San and Anita – Avoda ministry in Thailand

Avoda – children camps and mercy ministry

Avoda – children camps and mercy ministry

Dear Church, thank you very much for your participation by prayer and financially. By God’s grace, we had an opportunity to make a youth camp with a mission in the South of Thailand. It was a blessing for our youth, from two of our “Avoda” projects, to have a fellowship and serve together through children camp and mercy ministry, helping local people in the South. The church where we had our camp, doesn’t have children ministry because there is no one who can lead it. We expected not a big number of children to come, especially because it’s a Muslim area. The first day was beyond our expectations because God brought more than 50 children and young people, some came with their Muslim parents, two of them continued to come for the next few days. Children were happy to participate in all the camp activities and learn together how we can see God through creation, listen to Him, and talk to Him. When we asked at the end who has ever been in a camp like this, and who has ever heard about God and Jesus before, guess how many hands were up? Only one. One boy, out of 56 children and teens said that he heard about God before. What about the other 55 children, what about their families?

We realized, that God brought us to the right place, these people need Jesus! Now we have a burden to pray for God to send the right people to serve there and might be for us to visit that place more often. Besides kids camp, we had an opportunity to serve the elderly in this church. Most of them came to Christ after the tsunami that happened here many years ago, some don’t have any family members who would take care of them. Thank God, we could give some food packages to families, share about God’s love and help some in repairing some houses. Some of our youth members also come from needy families, but it was so nice to see them giving caring for others. When we were leaving, we didn’t promise, but we said we hope to come again at least next year. They are waiting. Please pray for us to do this and also for the faithful people to come and serve there.

May God richly bless you!

Avoda ministry in Thailand – San and Anita