Remember Ambassadors

Last Friday, Mission Network News posted a story with a fascinating headline: "Extremists historically strong, Gospel still spreading rapidly."  That headline sums up why Christian persecution continues to grow!

There is no doubt about it: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading.  All over the world, more are telling, more are hearing, and more are responding.  The Gospel is going places that it has never gone before, the Bible is being printed in languages it has never been in before, and the light of truth is shining ever brighter.

But as the gospel spreads and grows, so does the opposition to it.  Whether the gospel is going to new places or expanding where it is already known, persecution draws alongside.  Persecution is especially intense when a new Christian converts out of darkness.  The highly-publicized case of Lina Joy in Malaysia is one example, but this persecution does not only exist in Islamic countries; in India, for instance, Hindus that come to Jesus experience persecution from their families, communities, and governments.

Wherever the Gospel goes, it goes carried by the sacrifice of those willing to give as much as it takes to share the good news with a lost world.  As they raise the truth by their commitment, let us raise them up in our prayers.

Every time that we have gone to the Freedom House Orphanage, the children have sung for us.  Each time, their singing has been a highlight of my trip.  These kids love to sing, and do so with a joy and vigor that is a delight to behold.

I've already written about one chorus that they sang for us, a song that you probably recognize.  They also sang a song for us that was completely new–a Karen chorus with an incredible melody and, we later found out, incredible message.  I wanted to share that song with you, because it has certainly stuck with me.  The audio is not great, as it was captured by our little Sony HandyCam, but I would encourage you to praise along with these children as you listen.

To listen, click here.

And here is the translation, exactly as given to us by one of the leaders. 

We're the children of God,
We don't belong in this world.
The world is temporary for us.
We should find out our wrong ways and mistake.
God's want us to come to Him and living according in His will.

So, come to Him.
Praises Him and go forward.
In everyday we should be deeper and stronger in faith and pray.

Even though these two countries border each other, I doubt that many people ever use them in the same sentence.  They are just about as polar opposite as two countries can be.

China, of course, is the most populous nation in the world. While large portions of the nation are rural, millions of citizens live in massive cities, with access to all of modern technology.  For hundreds of years, China was on the cutting edge of development, and though Communism has taken some of that edge off, China continues to be one of the most developed nations in technology and military.

Bhutan, on the other hand, is tiny nation, about half the size of the state of Indiana, nestled in between India and the Tibetan part of China.  There is not one single stoplight in the entire country, and estimates are that up to 90% of Bhutanese citizens are engaged in agricultural work.  While the Bhutanese economy has been described as "underdeveloped," the natural beauty of the country is praised in glowing terms.

Despite their differences, both nations take a similar approach to Christianity–persecution.  Both countries have long histories of anti-Christian sentiment and hatred from the majority religions.  China's atheistic communism and Bhutan's ardent Buddhism walk hand in hand in this respect.   And both countries are ruled by totalitarian governments with the power to carry out their agendas.  Christians in Bhutan, for instance, face the very real prospect of having their citizenships stripped away from them, and their means of livelihood taken by force.  Surrounded by poverty, they have no place to turn.

Whether living in a huge nation or a small, whether surrounded by highrises or the Himalayan plateaus, these brothers and sisters need our prayers. 

For More Information–

Bhutan (Gospel for Asia Summary)

Bhutanese Christians Barred from Attending Worship Services 

Despite the fact that I have not had any time to stop and gather my thoughts since we returned from Thailand, I cannot shake the feeling of praise that continues to sort of follow me around.  God is good, and His grace is overwhelming!

Our team arrived back safely in the U.S. after a virtually hassle-free return trip.  Despite our exhaustion, I think it is safe to say that every team member had a ready smile and a boatload of stories about God's goodness.  God's hand was abundantly evident on our trip, and every one of us was honored to be a part of His work.

Yesterday I had the chance to share a "thank you" message with the people at Believers Baptist Church in Leesburg, VA.  This whole church was involved in a project to bless the children Remember serves at the Freedom House Orphanage.  All ages contributed to make a gift bag for each child.  You've already seen a few of the pictures that we posted about handing out these bags, but there is far more than meets the eye.  Each bag was hand-sewn in order to be sturdy, attractive, and travel-friendly.  Inside each one was a mix of age and gender specific items–stuffed animals, matchbox cars, wooden models, bouncy balls, coloring books, hair ribbons, and a multitude of other gifts.

It is a Biblical truth that it is more blessed to give than receive, but knowing a truth can be far different than experiencing it. Even though our team did nothing more than transport and hand out the bags, we experienced that blessing.  I personally was almost overwhelmed by the chance to see such generosity at work–the energy in the orphanage reminded me of Christmas when I was a kid, and those smiles will always be with me.  These pictures just don't do it justice!

The generosity of the people at BBC has allowed them to experience the truth of this Scripture.  I pray that they will know the joy that they have given to these precious children.