asap newsletter, november/december 2004

November/December, 2004

Gifts ThatKeep Giving

T h e N e w s l e t t e ro f A d v e n t i s tS o u t h e a s tA s i aP r o j e c t s

Adventist Southeast Asia Projects2

FeaturesFeaturesFeaturesFeaturesFeatures

Adventist Southeast Asia Project's purpose is to support the preaching of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christthrough church planting and evangelism endeavors for Southeast Asian people throughout the world. As a privatelyfunded nonprofit organization, we work as a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As anunaffiliated independent ministry, we are dependent upon God to move people to support this work. For informationwrite to Adventist Southeast Asia Projects, PO Box 84, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. (Tax-deductible contributionsmay be sent with the enclosed envelope.) Our telephone #: 269-471-3026. Our fax #: 269-471-3034. Our e-mail:[email protected] address: http://www.ASAPministries.org. We would love to hear from you. Please feel freeto contact us at any time.

Editor.......................................................................................................................Judy Aitken

Copy Editor............................................................................................................Linda Bauer

Layout...................................................................................... ..Son Praises/Margie Mitchell

Editor’s Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Catch the spirit of giving. Judy Aitkenshares thoughts on gifts that keep giving.

Christmas Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Pastor Nhean Thorsovan on the meaning ofthe season in Cambodia.

ASAP Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Be inspired by these gifts from the heart.

In Loving Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Helping Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A shipment will soon leave for Cambodia.Send gifts aboard that will make a difference.

Can Anything Good Coming Out ofOrissey? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Mary Ann McNeilus steps out and into thelives of Cambodian villagers.

The Gift of a Church Planter. . . . . . . . . . 10Soum Sovanny shares on the meaning ofsalvation in one Cambodian province.

A Holiday Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Cambodia Adventist Mission presidentoffers a glimpse of ASAP donor's impacton spreading the gospel.

The Gift of God’s Love . . . . .. . . . . . . . 12This is the difference Christ had made inQuyen Lai Nam’s life – a testimony froma Vietnamese physician.

Gifts That Keep Giving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Gifts that keep giving: ASAP donorsprovided bamboo and thatch churchesas requested by villagers and theCambodia Adventist Mission. Thischurch (top) in Prey Kom Peng Villagewas an answer to prayer.

The Gift of Eternal Life: Pastor Men Mara(bottom) baptizes a new believer.

ASAP 3

Editor'sEditor'sEditor'sEditor'sEditor'sUpdate Update Update Update Update ... by Judy Aitken... by Judy Aitken... by Judy Aitken... by Judy Aitken... by Judy Aitken

BBBBB love! But wait, maybe it really is that easy.How surprised and excited we will be inheaven to learn of the simple things we didin life that resulted in someone receivingthe gift of salvation: a short prayer, a smile,perhaps a small gesture of kindness, a pass-ing comment to a friend, a donation sent forpastors or support given for Bibles - just tomention a few.

If I placed my little calendar in a drawerand forgot about it, it would no longer holdsignificance in my life. The fact that I haveincorporated it into my mornings gives itmeaning and makes it a meaningful gift.This little newsletter you hold in your handsis filled with gifts of all kinds - gifts avail-able for the giving (pg. 7), appreciation forgifts already given (pgs. 8-12), the effectsof gifts given in the past (pgs. 13-16), andgifts that are currently being given (pgs.10,11). What is better yet, is that these gifts arethe very best kind - gifts that keep giving byleading men and women to know the great

eside me, here on my desk, sits asmall, flip-calendar. Each morning asI wait for my computer to boot up, I

flip to the day’s inspirational quote and Bibletext. I look forward to this little routine. Thecalendar was a gift from my son, Jay. It is oneof my favorite gifts received last year. Why?Because it is a gift that keeps giving - overand over again I am blessed by it. And I passthis blessing on, as I share the texts andquotes with others.

Many gifts will be given and receivedover the upcoming holidays, and I’m sureyou will agree that the best are those thatkeep giving. We have all been given an ex-ceptional gift - the book that inspires us,the magazine subscription that enriches ourlives or an item that comes in so handy. Farmore exceptional than all these gifts is thatone and only gift that keeps giving and willdo so “through the endless cycle of eter-nity.” If only we could wrap salvation up in abright little package to give to all those we

"The Savior’s joy is in seeing, in the kingdom of glory, the souls that have been saved byHis agony and humiliation. And the redeemed will be sharers in His joy, as they behold,among the blessed, those who have been won to Christ through their prayers, their laborsand their loving sacrifice. As they gather about the great white throne, gladnessunspeakable will fill their hearts when they behold those whom they have won for Christ,and see that one has gained others, and these still others, all brought into the haven ofrest, there to lay their crowns at Jesus’ feet and praise Him through the endless cyclesof eternity.” Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 339.


ASAP

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ was performed last Christmas by Bible students

in the Tang Krasang Village Church of Kampong Thom Province. Thousands of

people hear the message and are saved in Christ’s Kingdom through the witness of

Adventist children and adults who share the gospel story at Christmas. It is done

through dramas and plays in churches across the countries of Cambodia, Vietnam,

Laos and Thailand.

love of God. They bring people to the mostimportant gift that the almighty God of lovegave to the world - His precious Son, JesusChrist. It is the only gift I know of that willkeep giving through the endless cycle ofeternity - better than any gift we could thinkof on earth!

It is my prayer that you will find a way tomake this newsletter personally significant.I pray the Lord will impress upon your heart

the appreciation and gratitude felt by thosewho have been given the gift of salvation. Ipray the Lord will impress upon you theamazing effects of your gifts given for Him- how they keep giving and the impact thesegifts have in changing lives. And finally, Ipray that the Lord will pour out His bless-ings upon you as you prayerfully considerthe gifts you will give during this season ofgiving.

ASAP 5

SAP friends, thank you so much forthinking of us at Christmas time.

This year, more than 700 Khmer people willjoin in Christmas celebrations in the PhnomPenh SDA Church. More will celebrateChrist’s birth in villages and cities in otherareas of the country. My church in PhnomPenh will be very crowded with membersand many visitors who come with friends(remembering from last year). Officialsfrom the government, police officers, sec-tion and district leaders, religious heads ofthe government, grandparents, parents, rela-tives and friends will be invited to join ourChristmas services. The church plans andpractices many weeks for this special time.It is our big time to tell the whole city aboutthe God we worship.

One Department of Religion officer toldme that after they did a recent census ofpeople in the country, they have found thatthere are 80% who still believe in Buddhawith the remaining 20% being Christians orMuslims. This statistic is not official yet. Ifit is true, one can thank God so much for Hisworking in Cambodia.

Each year, it appears that the country ismore receptive to the Western holiday ofChristmas. Things seem to be different fromyears in the past. Now restaurants, hotels,larger stores and the big markets have deco-rations and a Christmas tree to celebrate theholiday. I know we do not know exactly thedate when Jesus was born, but it is a goodsign that the holiday is observed by Cambo-

dians now. It is good advertisement for Chris-tians. It is a chance for us to witness. It is achance for us to tell the history of thisholiday, that it is the birthday celebration ofJesus. Some people celebrate but they donot know the meaning of what they do. Dur-ing this season Cambodian pastors are verybusy because we have many opportunities toshare the history and meaning of Jesus’birth. With the special Christmas programsin our churches it is easier to tell the story ofJesus coming to earth because people liketo come to a celebration.

The Christmas season gives all people anopportunity to know about Jesus and the biggift that He gave. When I share the mangerstory with others, I look into their faces andsee that they are listening intently. Step bystep they will come to know and love Jesus.Please remember your Cambodian familythis Christmas. Please pray for us duringthis important time when people in Cambo-dia can have the opportunity to know aboutJesus.

Christmas Opportunitiesby Pastor Nhean Thonsovan

C A M B O D I A

A

The author,NheanThonsovan, ispastor of thePhnom Penh citychurch and thenorthern districtof Phnom Penh.

ASAP


J ust a note to accompany this dona-tion. We had a mild winter and early

spring. The fruit trees bore one monthearlier than usual. In our small backyard wehave three apricot trees. We never got muchof a harvest. The fruit that appeared wasmainly harvested by birds and ground squir-rels. But this year we did not have any groundsquirrels and not as many birds until the endof the harvest season. This year the treeswere loaded with fruit, even breaking someof the branches. We had more than enoughfor our own consumption and to give tosome friends. So we announced at ourmonthly retirement meeting that everyonewas welcome to several flats of apricotsfree of charge. The only thing we asked forwas a freewill donation for ASAP to help

support the pastors. This our members didgladly. So, we collected a total of $110. Godbless your work.

Pastor and Mrs. J. G. Nikkels of Calimesa,California.

Dear Friends,I can’t think of a better way to cel-

ebrate my 73rd birthday than to sendyou a donation. Oh, how I wish it couldbe more!!!

Yours in Christ,BW

Robby and Shayla both had a birthdayrecently and they both decided to

give their birthday money to ASAP.Of the $100 enclosed, $50 isfrom Robby and $50 is from

Shayla. They would like it to goto buy Bibles for people in Cam-

bodia and Vietnam. May God bless you andyour ministry.

LS

GIFTS FROM THE ASAP MAILBOX

ASAP

We sincerely thank Max and CarolynHammonds of Hendersonville, NorthCarolina, for their gift made in memoryof Fred Gerling, long time missionary toBurma and other areas of Southeast Asia.

To this family we send our deepestsympathy and condolences. We join youin looking forward to a reunion in heavenand hearing Christ’s words, “Enter thouinto the joy of Thy Lord.”

Matthew 25:21.

ASAP 7

ASAP

GIFTS THAT ARE GREATLY NEEDED

Vietnam:Salaries and training for 200 pastorsEvangelism needs i.e. Bibles,

Bible lessons and literatureMopeds and bicycles for pastorsThe Vietnamese SDA radio ministry

(entitled Peace and Happiness)Cow bankRice and food for emergency assistanceRepair for house churchesRadios, sermon tapes and DVDs

Cambodia:Support for church-planters, lay pastorsSupport for Bible workersMopeds and bicycles,Bibles Bible lessons and hymnbooksBamboo and thatch churchesLiteracy schools and teachersTuition assistance for children at Adventist

schoolsHumanitarian assistance: rice, food and

wellsIncome generating projects for widows

Thailand and Laos:Stipends for 21 lay workers and pastors in

Laos and 10 in ThailandEvangelism materials (Bibles,

Bible lessons, hymnbooks)A church building in northeast Thailand

God bless you for your support!And, thank you for your gifts of love tothe people of Southeast Asia.

Bless for your support!

GodYou


his year, Diana David, a New Startnutritionist from Singapore, and I

traveled to Kratie. This scenic city, lo-cated along the Mekong River, is the gate-way to northeastern Cambodia. We planneda health and nutrition seminar for Bibleworkers and church planters from Kratie aswell as surrounding provinces. The KratieCity Church work began four years ago un-der the leadership of Pastor Saum Sovanny.This twenty-seven year old young man andhis family have been tireless laborers in theLord’s vineyard! Today there are eight newgroups in addition to the Kratie City congre-gation.

One of these new groups is in Orissey -a village notorious for gambling and drunk-enness. One of its charter members is KimChheun, a widow who was a smoker and analcoholic for more than twenty years. Shedid laundry for people in Kratie City. Arelative lived near the Adventist church andmentioned Chheun to Pastor Sovanny. Thepastor visited her from time to time withstop-smoking literature from ADRA. NelsonDecina, a young Filipino church planterworking with Souvanny, asked Chheun to dohis laundry. Sometimes she came to workdrunk. Knowing this, Nelson and Sovannystill invited her to join Sabbath worship at

Can Anything GoodCan Anything GoodCan Anything GoodCan Anything GoodCan Anything GoodCome Out of Orissey?Come Out of Orissey?Come Out of Orissey?Come Out of Orissey?Come Out of Orissey?

by MaryAnn McNeilus

Mary Ann McNeilus (left), Soum Sovanny, district pastor of Kratie Province with KimChheun (center).

TTTTT

ASAP 9

ASAP

the Adventist Church. Again, Kim Chheunwould come to church drunk. As the gospelseed took root and grew in her heart, her lifechanged. She no longer smoked and thedrunkenness disappeared.

Two years ago, a new church group startedat Kim Chheun’s home in Orissey village.As her house was small, the group met un-derneath the dwelling. The village midwifeand two of her children joined the group.One Sabbath, the midwife’s husband, MoulKren, along with six other village men, dis-rupted the meeting with loud drunken danc-ing! When Moul came to his senses, he wasashamed and embarrassed by the spectaclehe had made of himself. Pastor Sovanny andNelson visited him and invited him to jointhe worship group. The following Sabbath,he sat alongside his wife. Today, Moul Krenand Kim Chheun - both former alcoholicsare living witnesses of God’s transforminggrace in human hearts.

When Philip told Nathanel that they hadfound Jesus of Nazareth of whom Moses

and the prophets wrote, Nathanel said, “Canthere any good thing come out of Nazareth?”Philip’s reply rings true today when he said,“Come and see” (John 1:46). Yes, with thegospel’s empowerment, good things are notonly coming out of Orissey village, but outof all the northeastern provinces of Cambo-dia! Your gifts for evangelism, pastors andBible workers make these good things pos-sible.

Moul Kren (seated center) and Kim Chheun (right of Kren), with a group of believersin Orissey Village, Kratie Province. Moul Kren and Kim Chheun, former alcoholics,are living witnesses of God’s transforming grace.

The author,Mary AnnMcNeilus, is aphysician whopracticesnatural ways ofhealing. She andher husband,Marnelle, have ahome healthcenter inWhalan,Minnesota.


IIIII

by Soum Sovanny,District Pastor of Kratie Province, Cambodia

work to share the gospel in KratieProvince. There is a church group in

the city and also eight groups that worshipon Sabbath in villages.

From March 25 to April 4 of this year weheld a big evangelistic meeting in the centerof Kratie town. During the daytime therewere 30 members who went out city-wideto alert people’s attention to upcomingmeetings. They walked from house to houseand family to family to give them tracts andinvite the people to come to the meetings.Around 300 to 500 people came to listen toGod’s Word every night. After ten days ofevangelism, 39 people who were baptized.

During that series of meetings my fatherwas baptized also. He had attended churchfor one year before he was baptized. I hadprayed for my father for ten years. So this isa very happy time in my life. God loves us.My father said, “I am very happy when Ibelieve in God Jesus. Everything changedwhen I accepted Jesus as the living God. Ibelieve that Jesus is the true God.”

I will use the DVD evangelism tools foran evangelistic meeting in the town ofChhlong and also Kratie City in December.Please, can you pray for my plans for evan-gelism in these cities?

Editor’s NoteAgain this year ASAP has been asked

to sponsor Soum Sovanny and his wife,Doung Sovanlida, in their work of plant-ing churches in Kratie Province.

The GifThe GifThe GifThe GifThe Gift of a Churt of a Churt of a Churt of a Churt of a Churccccch Planth Planth Planth Planth Plantererererer

C A M B O D I A

Soum Sovanny with his wife DoungSovanlida, with their children.ASAP

ASAP 11

ASAP

ratie church is one of the fast growingdistricts in Cambodia. The new city

church site is right in the center of the town,an excellent location. It comprises both liv-ing accommodation for the pastor, as well asample room for the church members tomeet in. The church usually is full eachSabbath and there are currently over fifteenpeople studying with the pastor. We arelooking to our friends to help to purchasethis building that we need for a church. Weask ASAP for help—$26,000. Since workstarted in Kratie four years ago, 79 peoplehave been baptized. Not only has the mainchurch grown but has divided and now eightsatellite groups have been formed. SoumSovanny, the church planter who is sup-ported by ASAP, uses the building for Bibleand English classes, natural health classes,worship services on Sabbath and Pathfind-ers. His wife Doung Sovanlida also teachesvegetarian cooking to the ladies. There arecurrently fifteen Pathfinders.

We really appreciate the support thatASAP readers give to evangelism and churchplanting projects here. Without your helpfor church planting in Kratie Province andother areas of Cambodia, we would not beable to progress as we do. Our aim is to haveat least one good church building in eachprovince and then at least one church in eachpart of Phnom Penh. Temporary churchesare also needed in new areas. Our first prior-ity is for church buildings where there aremany members and viable support.

Best wishes and thanks once again for allthat you are doing and your many gifts forGod’s work in Cambodia.

by Garth Anthony

C A M B O D I A

The author, Garth Anthony,a native of Great Britain.He currently serves aspresident of the CambodiaAdventist Mission. He andhis wife, Sylvia, haveworked in Cambodia forover three years.

The Gift of a Church

Members and interested people stand in front of the Kratie Seventh-day AdventistChurch.

KKKKK


FFFFF

ASAP

or forty-five years of my life I was aBuddhist by tradition, but not by my

heart. Though I was a successful medicaldoctor, I did not have peace in my heart. Ialways felt a desire to find peace. Aboutthree years ago an incident happened thatmade me feel helpless. My husband becamevery ill. At that time I needed to have a Godhelp me overcome this tragedy. A Christianfriend came to see me. She comforted meby telling me about a God of love. She alsogave me a Bible. I began to read the Bible,seeking to know God. I attended church withmy friend and met the pastors of the church.Though I read the Bible and went to churchI did not find peace until October 2002.

It was during this month that by accidentI tuned into the Peace and Happiness radioprogram. The first time I heard the pastor’ssermon there was a drawing power. I felt anew wind - a refreshing wind of peace comeinto my life. I tuned into the radio programevery day to listen to the sermons. I fell inlove with Jesus. Pastor Isah Young has a giftfrom the Lord. The Word of God changedmy life and gave me a hunger to know thetrue God. I heard the pastor say, “The Wordof God is a seed of faith. If you open yourheart and accept Jesus, the seed will come

into your soul. The seed will sprout and bearfruit.” I believe the seed of faith is sproutingin my heart.

At that time I was worried about my life.My husband had cancer in the upper respira-tory system. He lived with cancer for threeyears. His condition is stable at this time. Ialso have two sons that do not yet believe.The radio sermons give me peace and helpme to trust in God.

I would like to give my appreciation tothe Seventh-day Adventist Church for theradio broadcast. It is a great gift to my life. Iam very thankful to the Holy Spirit whohelps me understand and receive truth fromthe radio programs. Every morning I listento the sermon from Peace and Happiness.The program is my spiritual food for eachday. I cannot live without it. I write downwhat I hear and review it later. I have encour-aged many friends to listen to this program.Lately, I have been following the series onRevelation very carefully. This is a difficultbook but the Lord has opened my eyes. I amseeing the wonderful truth in this book. Ihave decided that I want to be a part of theremnant people of God and become a Sev-enth-day Adventist Christian.

The Gift of God’s Love -The Gift of God’s Love -The Gift of God’s Love -The Gift of God’s Love -The Gift of God’s Love -His Wonderful SalvationHis Wonderful SalvationHis Wonderful SalvationHis Wonderful SalvationHis Wonderful Salvation

by Quyen Lai Nam

G I F T S T H AT K E E P G I V I N G

ASAP 13

The Gift of Eternal Life: Pastor Isah Young baptizes a pastor who ministers to a largedistrict of house churches in Vietnam. More than 30,000 new believers from the radioministry are waiting for baptism. Thousands of people from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos andThailand were baptized into God’s Kingdom during the past year.

The Gift of Bibles: Despite more than 2,000 Bibles given in Vietnam alone, more are neededfor not only Vietnamese but also Khmer and Laotian Bible students. Pastor Isah Young (aboveright) studies the Bible with two district pastors from Vietnam.

ake a look at someof the many gifts

given throughout thepast year by ASAPdonors and prayersupporters. On behalfof each life reachedfor Christ as a resultof your love andgenerosity,thank you.

G i f t s T h a tK e e p G i v i n g :

TTTTT


GIFTS THAT KEEP GIVING continued.. .

The Gift of Transportation:ASAP doners provided bicyclesfor lay Bible workers inCambodia enabling them totravel to neighboringvillages with the gospel.Two lay Bible workers(right) stand by theirnew bicycles that willtake them to villagesin Prey Veng Province.Mopeds were also given todistrict pastors in Vietnam,making it possible for themto follow-up on thousandsof new believers.

The Gift of Wells: ASAP donors gave wells to many communities and villages throughoutCambodia. This one sits on the grounds of a SDA church in Chuk Chey Village of PreyVeng Province. Pastor Khut Choeun stands on left. The wells are a great blessing not onlyto church members but also to the people who live in the community.

ASAP 15ASAP

The Gift of a Lay Bible Worker: ASAP donors support 70 Southeast Asian lay-pastorsand Bible workers who work with the national district pastors in soul winning and evangelismoutreach. Srey Sann (left) is 68-years-old and works with Pastor Pen Narith in KampongThom Province. He is the leader of Sdoc Sdom Village Church. Mao Yon (right) is the leaderof the Tradocpong Village Church. She works with Pen Narith, district pastor of KampongThom Province.

The Gift of Eternal Life is given through literacy classes and child evangelism. ChanPhyrun (left) teaches children about Jesus in a Cambodian village.

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asap newsletter, november/december 2004

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