Christmas Greetings 2011

Faith@work

through

Asia Seminary for Ministry

Reaching Nationals for Nationals

December,  2011

Hi ,
    Training Nationals for Nationals in integrity and skills (Psalm 78:72)

                       Jesus Christ is the reason for this season!

         God's Promise:  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  (Luke 2:10,11).

The precious message of the angel of the Lord at that first Christmas is one of why Jesus Christ came to earth.  The message is to all people, to the whole world.  This is the same message today.  "God so loved the world," the whole world, everyone of the billions of souls ever born, that He gave Jesus Christ to be born in Bethlehem and to die for our sins on the cruel Cross.

Jesus Christ came to be the Saviour!  He did not come just as a teacher, though He often taught the people and spoke as never man had spoken, with great divine authority.  Jesus Himself said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).  He came to save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin.  "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim. 1:15) was the confession of Saint Paul.

He came not primarily to civilize the world, to change society as a whole, to stop wars, crimes and poverty, though wherever His Good News takes hold, there are unique and drastic changes for the best in individuals and societies.

Someone has observed the Advent in this way:
 

                        Christmas Meets our Greatest Need

                        If our greatest need had been information
                        God would have sent us an educator.
 
                        If our greatest need had been technology
                        God would have sent us a scientist.
 
                        If our greatest need had been money
                        God would have sent us an economist.
 
                        If our greatest need had been pleasure
                        God would have sent us an entertainer.
 
                        But our greatest need is forgiveness
                        So God sent us the Saviour!
 

Christ Jesus came therefore to save individual sinner, like you and me, from sin and hell-fire.  He came to make black hearts white through His shed Blood on the Cross.  He came to give new and abundant life to those who are dead in transgressions and sins and enslaved by sin, self and Satan.  The angel explained, "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21). It is true that Jesus Christ and Christianity have been the greatest influence for civilization in the world, but the first and most important thing Jesus does for anyone is to save his or her soul, to forgive sins and to change heart and life. 

Therefore, the most important thing for each one, for you and me, this Christmas, is that we make sure that we have come to Jesus as lost and needy sinners, needing saving from sin, Satan and hell.  By turning to Jesus Christ and from our sin and self, we then receive Him as our Forgiver and Saviour of our souls.

We pray that you will make this Christmas a real Christmas in your heart, one that you will have pardon, peace, power, provision and a place in Heaven.  If you will repent and believe in Jesus Christ, then honestly tell Him right now.  Admit that you are a sinner, earnestly ask Him to forgive you and depend on Him to do it this moment.  Christ Jesus paid fully for your sins by His precious Blood and rose up again to make you right with God and to put His righteousness on you.

He loves you!  He is ready to receive you as He has promised, "the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).  The very moment you turn your life over to Jesus Christ, depend and trust in Him, that moment He will be your Saviour, Christ the Lord, God with you, your constant companion and your eternal refuge and salvation.  May this Christmas be a real blessed one to you!

If you have already known the Lord as your Saviour, please remember that Christmas is the remembrance of His birthday.  What gifts are you bringing to Jesus Christ?  What will make His heart rejoice?  Well, He came to be the Saviour of the world and He is not willing that any should perish but that all will repent and believe in Him (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, the greatest gift we can give Him will be souls (for which He died) to be brought to Him. Will you be His witness of His Good News this Christmas and everyday of your life?  Here is the command of Jesus:   "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).  Let us go soul-winning for Jesus Christ!  May there be many souls saved this Christmas!
 Amen!

May you receive this prayer: "May the Christ of whom the angels sang in that first Christmas chorus bring peace in your heart at this season!  May "the joy of Heaven to earth come down" bring you abundant joy and blessing throughout each day of the New Year as you crown Him Lord in your hearts.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."

Looking into 2012

Praise the good Lord for helping us to build for stability and credibility.  Now there is much for the Lord to do in and through us.  Please read the attachment and get into the blogspot and Facebook for more details.  We will need partners in the these areas.

- We need prayer partners that will uphold us before God for God’s presence, power and provision.

- We need teaching partners in the different departments of studies: Bible, education, management, computer science, English, nursing, etc.

- We need resource partners to help us with resources in the teaching and community projects.

- We need financial partners to fund the various projects as well as funds for National pastors and students. Every dollar counts!

We will be accountable to God and to you as faithful stewards. Please let us know in whatever area you would be able to help.  (Heb 6:10)  “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shown toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Thanks again for your prayers and support in so many ways.  Please visit

                                                 FaithatWorks Facebook

or our blog at

                              http://faithatworksfellowship.blogspot.com/

Be sure to bookmark it.

If we can be of any help to you, please let us know. The good Lord bless you and all yours this Christmas and for many more to come!

Yours always in Christ and for Christ,

Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)

Hdphone: 98207783

         +65-98207783

==============================================================

ASM – Schedule & Expenses for 2012

I.           SUGGESTED  PROGRAMS IN 2012

A.    INDONESIA - MEDAN – MMin & MRE program (S$1,000 per session for 60-65).

1.   13 - 17 February  (18 Feb. Graduation, 40+).

2.   25 - 27 June.

3.   10 - 15 September.

4.   19 - 23 November.

B. INDONESIA – Papau -  7-12 Feb.

C. INDONESIA – Nias Island (to be arranged).

D. NEPAL – MMin & MRE program

1. Kathmandu  - (S5,000 per session for 45-50 people).

a. 4 - 8 March.

b. 23 - 27 September.

2. East Nepal (MMin program with 45 people, S$4,000 per session).

a. 18 - 22 March.

b. 30 Sept. – 4 October.

E. DMin PROGRAM for four brethren in Singapore – in May and November.

F. CAMBODIA –  MMin program  with Life University.

                    Still in prayer and consultation.

G. INDIA, Manipur – exploratory trip.

H. MYANMAR

1.   Training Trip, 6-15 January, Yangon, Mandalay and Maymyo.

2.   Spiritual Convention  in Shan State : 27 - 30 March.

3.   Workshops for Pastors and Leaders : 30 October - 8 November.

 

II.         THE EXPENSES, BY FAITH:

A. MEDAN , INDONESIA 

          1.    4 sessions at S$1,000 each = S$4,000.

    2.    Graduation 18 Feb. – S$1,000.

    3.    Scholarships for Bible Institute – S5,000 per year.

B. NEPAL 
    1.    2 sessions at S5000 each  at Kathmandu = S10,000.

                           2.    2 sessions at S$4500 each at East Nepal = $9,000.       
                           3.    10 goats for 5 pastors at S$150 each = $1,500.

                C. MYANMAR

1.   Scholarships for 40 students (Mandalay Bible Seminary)  at US$150 (x1.30) each   due May = S$7,800.

2.   Spiritual Convention , Shan State at US$1,000 = S$1,300.

3.   Oct-Nov. Pastors’ Conference, Mandalay  at US$1,000 = S$1,300.

D. CAMBODIA – praying for one session in 2012 = S$1,000.

E. RESERVED FUNDS  - FOR LECTURERS’ and other EXPENSES – S$4,000.

Total:  $45,900  (S$40,450 – 2011) -  JEHOVAH-JIREH  !!!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Myanmar Mission Report

Faith@work

through

Asia Seminary for Ministry

                                                              (Seminary without borders) 
December 14, 2011

Myanmar Mission Report (Nov 22-Dec 2, 2011)

Thank God for a wonderful trip!  The Church Leaders and Bible College Students' zeal for knowledge never fail to amaze me.  I consider it a privilege to have a part in their ministry and I am always thankful to God for giving me such contacts and opportunity.

Pyin Oo Lwin (Nov 23-26: the book of Philippians):

The team of 4 (Rev Freddy Yong and Theresa, Bro Ding Yew Soong, and myself) arrived on November 22 at Yangon and took a flight to Mandalay on November 23.  Bro Ding taught Leadership Laws at Mandalay, while Freddy, Theresa and I proceeded to Pyin Oo Lwin.  I started teaching the book of Philippians that night.  Fourty students from Myanmar Reformed Bible College (Chinese) picked up their color pencils and started marking.  First they discovered the background, followed by determining the main theme of every chapter, and finally they were all required to mind map a detailed outline of every chapter.  Below are examples of their hard work.

 

Mind maps of Philippians 1 & 2 by the students

The 3^rd and 4^th year students had learnt this method of studying the Bible on the books of 3 John and Haggai.  I left for Mandalay on November 26, but Rev Freddy took over the task of teaching the 1^st and 2^nd year students on the book of 3 John and the parable of the Prodigal Son.  He did a great job and both Freddy and his wife are eager to go back to teach in Pyin Oo Lwin.  He plans to teach this in Malaysia too. 

Mandalay (Nov 26-Dec 30: the book of Revelation):

The class was held at Fundamental Baptist Seminary.  Rev James Biaklain was my interpreter. Forty-five pastors and leaders attended this module.  Due to the lack of commentaries on the book of Revelation, requiring them to do a research would be absurd. I made them read the book ten times and outline the entire book of Revelation both in a chart form and in pictures.  

 

These pastors were busy putting Revelation into pictures.

They were made to write and draw the 7 Churches, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls and 7 Figures.  They were assigned to teach or preach from the Book of Revelation and write a report.  One of the lecturers shared that he dared not teach this book, but after this module, he is now confident to do so. 

Yangon (Dec 1-2: III John)

This is a totally new group.  The principal Moses Liancuh was my classmate in the Doctor of Ministry class at Singapore Bible College.  Moses pastors a church which take care of orphans.  He has 40 students in his Peniel Bible College.  He has the best team of co-workers I have seen in Myanmar so far.  They are young, dedicated and eager to learn. The 40 students were so excited learning how to use both the right and left brain to study the Bible. 

  

Using Mind Map to outline 3 John in Peniel BC.               A 4th year student asking how to use both the right & left brains effectively. 

 I did what I taught in Pyin Oo Lwin, using 3^rd John.  The senior students immediately saw this method Bible Study as the best substitute for commentaries, which are costly. All the lecturers and their wives sat in for the classes.  Moses’ wife, Sharon, wisely put it across to me that I must come back to teach them again for another 2 to 3 times to help them get a hang of it.  Moses and his team are still young with full of energy and dynamism. I am looking forward to go back to train both the lecturers and students again next year. 

All the 3 Bible Colleges lack resources and funds, but the leaders are men and women of faith.  We not only taught but also provide them with all the necessary stationery and extra cash to buy food and petrol.  We took the trouble also to give Christmas gifts to some of the lecturers, whose salaries range from $39 to $100. The cost of living has doubled, but their wages remain the same.  These 3 groups are very conservative, evangelistic and spiritual.  They pray and fast frequently.  It is our privilege to be partakers of their wonderful ministries – by  Beng Shin.