August, 2006
GREETINGS from high on an elephant in Northern Thailand! We had opportunity to ride through rivers and jungle—quite an experience.
We also visited the "long-neck" tribe. The women have metal coils placed around their necks as little girls. As the weight is increased, their shoulders are pushed lower, making their necks seem longer.
In recent classes and conferences in Thailand and Moldova, we have been privileged to help sharpen the tools of some fine church planters. We would like to introduce you to two of them.
CAMBODIA - Dareth Ly escaped the killing fields of Cambodia when he was 10 years old. He returned as an Assemblies of God missionary in 1996, and has been planting churches and training other church planters in the Bible school. He was in Everett's MA level class in Bangkok. He could have stayed in America, but chose to return to his own people.
MOLDOVA - Victor had 3 years of Bible school in Romania, then had opportunity to study in the US for a year. He could have stayed there in comfort, but returned to his native Moldova to work in hard places. He has planted churches in 3 villages. Living without heat or water and suffering much persecution by radical Orthodox church people, he has persisted and now has more than 80 members as well as feeding many poor people and training more church planters in Bible school. He was our student in the MA extension program of our seminary in Kiev, Ukraine.
We taught MA courses for ASIA PACIFIC THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (Philippines) in Thailand and for EVANGEL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (Ukraine) in Moldova in June and July.
THAILAND - Everett led a session on contemporary issues in Bible school ministry at the Asia Pacific Missionary conference.
The students in the MA class in Bangkok included 3 AG missionaries, 3 Thais, and a Filipino missionary to Thailand;Bible school teachers, church planters, ministers to the homeless, and other vital ministries
MOLDOVA -(Left) Water baptisms in portable tanks are regular events as people come to Christ. They are great celebrations as candidates receive their first communion, church membership, flowers, and are photographed with family and friends.
(Right) Almost every church is planting one or more churches in nearby villages. It was a delight to minister in a patio covered with grapevines to precious people eager to hear the message of God’s love and power.
All the students in our classes are pastors, church planters, and Bible school teachers.