Archive | February, 2011

March Prayer Letter

by • on February 28, 2011 • in Prayer Letters

February 28, 2011

Survey Trip Report

The first couple of weeks of February we went on our survey trip and the Lord opened our eyes and opened doors as we traveled the country, talked with missionaries, and stood in the midst of darkness. Honestly, I felt overwhelmed at the enormous task of just the city of Bangkok. We stood at the top of a skyscraper and in every direction 40 story apartments and offices covered the landscape as far as the eye could see.

At every corner there is a spirit house and a shrine in every shop. Buddhism is everywhere. Churches are nowhere. The Satanic and demonic influence is literally everywhere.

Thank you to so many that helped us make this initial trip to Thailand. It was extremely beneficial along the road as we prepare to work there full time.

For more information and pictures go here: 

Deputation Update
After 6 months on deputation, we are just over 28% of our support. Praise the Lord that we are currently even a little ahead of our goal by almost 3 months!  The Lord is really blessing as we travel and we thank Him and all of those that have allowed us to come by and share our burden for Thailand and especially to those that have partnered with us.

Just in January we had promised support from 7 churches and February added at least 2 more.

This month we are scheduled to be in meetings 19 days of the month, so it should be a busy one as well. 

Our Generation Leadership Camp
This May 30th – June 3rd is the Our Generation Student Leadership Camp for Ministry and Missions. If you know of a young person interested in being involved in ministry, there is no better or more helpful place that they could be. The emphasis is on ministry and leadership and how we can be better servants of the Lord as we seek to lead others to Him here and on the mission field. The cost is only $150 and will be at the Fort Bluff campground neat Dayton, TN. Make plans to be there, you will not regret it.

Go to bcwe.org for more information.

Thank you for praying and supporting us. Pray that the Lord would use us as we travel and especially that he would raise up laborers for that land.


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The Most Traveling I’ve Ever Done.

by • on February 23, 2011 • in Uncategorized

Well, we have not written a lot here lately, but in the last month we have done more traveling than I have ever done in my life. Since January, this has been our travels:

  • GA to TX
  • TX to NC
  • NC to GA
  • GA to the Netherlands
  • The Netherlands to India
  • India to Thailand
  • Thailand back through India and the Netherlands to Atlanta (a 40hr ride)
  • One day in Atlanta before going to Los Angeles, California
  • Los Angeles (southern CA) to just below San Francisco (northern CA)
  • Back to LA
  • Back to Atlanta (got in at around 11pm)
  • Left the next morning to South GA near Savannah.

Our travels aren’t over and I guess that some would think this sounds pretty exhausting, but I asked Lori if she was ok last night with all this traveling and she just said that she woke up early excited about going to the next place.

The Lord gives traveling grace for sure! Thank you for your prayers and pray for the conference here at Bethel Baptist that we will be in until Sunday night! We are praying for the Lord to do great things and call some to the mission field.


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Chart Contrasting the Views of Christianity and Buddhism

by • on February 15, 2011 • in Buddhism

 

More at bcwe.org


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Bangkok, Day 2 and 3

by • on February 12, 2011 • in Uncategorized

The youth is said to be questioning a lot of their parents culture, which could be an exciting opportunity for the gospel to make a real impact.

The devil has a strong hold on the country and does not want us there.
Biblically, their worship and sacrifice at their shrines, idols, and temples is sacrifice to devils. 1 Cor. 10:20

I am sure that the devil and demons very literally mocked as we walked in their territory.

I am scared to walk into such an open and unmasked spiritual war, but I am confident in the Lord’s power over Satan and want to see His victorious kingdom spread.

There are very few materials in the language and we will need to do a lot of production and translation ASAP.

The food is really spicy, but actually quite good. Think Thai restaurant. That’s kinda what it is like.

The Thai people were created to be worshippers, but they have changed the glory of God into an image made like to corruptible man. Rom 1

Idolatry is not to be admired and respected. It is demonic.

When we talk idolatry in Thailand, we are not talking Xboxs and fancy cars, we are talking golden idols and spirit worship.

Worship of a nice car and possessions to make us happy is no less idolatrous. Covetousness is idolatry, but far more accepted to us.

These last few days have broken my heart far more than I imagined and I want to do all that we can to see Thailand reached with the Gospel.

A few images:

This is from the tallest building in the center of the city. This is the view in every direction. 12 million people in darkness:

On the vast majority of properties there is what is called a spirit house that is supposed to appease the spirits of that location. Biblically, it is worship of demons.

People pray to a gigantic statue of Buddha next door to the royal palace. Their prayers start with “I take refuge in Buddha. I take refuge in religion. I take refuge in the monks.”


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Headed back from Thailand

by • on February 9, 2011 • in Asia, Missions Travel

We are just now headed back on the plane to head back from Thailand. We have over 24 hrs of travel left before we get back to Atlanta, so pray for safety for this trip, please.


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Day 1 in Bangkok

by • on February 7, 2011 • in Missions Travel

The city is gigantic. Like new York. Skyscrapers as far as the eye can see.

City is very modern with every convenience imaginable.

Malls are 6 stories high with everything you can get in America, seems like.

Bookstore has not one book on anything Christian. Can get very nice house for around 5-700, seems like.

Everyone is sleeping at 9pm except me.

There is food on the street everywhere that looks good and edible.

There are spirit houses for every building all through the city that supposedly protect and bring good luck to that place.

There is a shrine in the back of every single business along the road.

Coke has real sugar here instead of high fructose corn syrup. Every cab driver has a mini idol of Buddha on their dash.

Though those things are true, the city is very secular and disinterested in spiritual things. Carnal.

Girls seem very insecure by the way that they dress. Screaming for attention and acceptance.

The city is huge.

A 6 winged demon is on many large buildings and the currency because that is supposedly the spirit that appeared to the king in a vision and protected the city from being overtaken in a war in exchange for giving that demon the country.

Thailand is a shame based culture (my neighbor will think I’ll of me and my family) rather than a guilt based culture (My God holds me responsible for my actions).

The city is a bit more expense than I was expecting.

Pretty much everyone in the city has a smartphone. Even many iPhones.

The possibilities here are endless and exciting.

We visited a church today that has started 7 churches across Thailand already.

The language is going to be very difficult.

Even though I am sick on this trip, I am very excited.

It breaks my heart to know that virtually no one of the millions in this city have ever heard of Jesus.

I am very thankful for the men that came with me on this trip, they have been invaluable.

Much more unprocessed…


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Finally in Bangkok, Thailand!

by • on February 6, 2011 • in Asia, Missions Travel

It is 8am Monday morning here and we have lots to do in a short amount of time!

Here is our tentative schedule for today:

  • Go through customs
  • Check our stuff into our hotel
  • Meet with missionary Jeff Lange
  • Tour the city (see rich areas, poor areas, business areas, go outside the city a bit to see what it is like)
  • Visit the Bangkok City Pillar (believed to house the city-spirit deity)
  • Meet with missionary Randy Ashcraft
  • Back to the hotel and check in for the night

Please pray for the Lord to give much wisdom to our team and the missionaries and other people that we will be seeing!


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Just got to Varanasi, India

by • on February 2, 2011 • in Asia, Missions Travel

Just landed and it is 10:45am here.

Here is where we plan to see the Ganges river, where thousands of Indians bathe every day, trying to cleanse away their sin, and hundreds more are cremated and their ashes thrown into this river

And the birthplace of Buddhism where Buddha got “enlightened” and preached his first sermon.


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Just Arrived in New Delhi, India!

by • on February 2, 2011 • in Asia, Missions Travel

After a 8 hour flight from Amsterdam, we have just landed in India. It is 11:30PM Friday night here and about 1:00am back in Atlanta (they have half time zones over here).

We will be here a few days to see some ministry and experience one of the most interesting cultures in the world.

One thing I am looking forward to is going just outside Varanasi and seeing the birthplace of Buddhism where the Buddha preached his first sermon. This is where many Thai Buddhists will make a pilgrimage at some point during their life to visit.

I will give you more updates as we travel here.



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Leaving for Thailand Today!

by • on February 1, 2011 • in Asia, Missions Travel

This afternoon at 5:30pm we will be flying out on our way to Thailand! I am very excited about this, obviously, and would ask for your prayers on this trip.

A few things specifically:

  • WISDOM – Everything we see will be very new to us and we must process everything quickly. We need Divine wisdom to see what we need to and be able to translate it into something helpful.
  • SAFETY – Foreign countries are often dangerous and you can be the target of robbery or worse.
  • GUIDANCE – Missions trips are sometimes just a little better than guessing because of all the unfamiliarity and newness. Pray that we would meet the right people and that they would tell us the right things.
  • PASSION – Pray that the Lord would break all of our hearts for what the Lord can do among the Thai and Indian people.

Our flight plans:

  • Feb 1 – Atlanta to Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Feb 2 – Amsterdam to New Delhi, India
  • Feb 3 – New Delhi, India to Varanasi, India
  • Feb 5 – Varanasi, India back to New Delhi
  • Feb 7 – New Delhi, India to BANGKOK, Thailand!
  • Feb 9 – Bangkok to New Dehli
  • Feb 10 – New Dehli to Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Feb 10 – Amsterdam to Atlanta
  • Feb 10 – Atlanta to my WIFE!

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