1 (604) 776-3600

Tag: outreach

Good News for Troubled Times

  • Preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ in K village

Our partner Steve* (name changed for protection) is deeply grateful for all who pray for him and his ministry in the volatile opium-producing hills of eastern Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).  We recently received an update from him regarding his latest evangelistic foray to a village far from his home. 

While is was still considered safe to do so, on a recent outreach trip he had discovered an unreached village in the Shan State hills (we call “K” village). He met with the headman and received an open invitation to come back and tell them about Jesus.  Steve* wanted to get back quickly as COVID-19 is presently on the rise in Myanmar.  Although it has mainly been affecting the western states and districts, the government is again closing schools and shutting down cities in many regions of the country. 

Steve* assembled a team of seven men and they headed off to bring the Good News to “K” village.  Several are his apprentices and others are mature followers of Jesus from his church.   They travelled through muck, crossed swollen streams and made the trek of hundreds of kilometres safe and sound. 

On the trail to K village

Here is what Steve reported:

  • When the team arrived they were welcomed into the animistic village by the headman.  
  • *Steve was able to share the whole gospel story two full times with the villagers.  He said:
    • “I preached the full gospel. I preached about creation, the fall of man, the Saviour being born, Jesus dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins; Jesus risen from the dead and being taken to heaven; and that he will come to take all who believe in him one day.

*Steve’s team was forced to leave as opposition from some outside influencers arose; nonetheless, he is happy that they were able to preach the clear and full gospel message to these dear people.  Once the pandemic is over, he hopes to return to baptize those who believe in Jesus and help strengthen them in the faith. Even though there was resistance, our prayer is that these people turn from animism to fully follow Jesus.

  • “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Please pray for “K’ village, as well as *Steve and *April’s entire ministry of UNCOUNTABLE GRACE. We provide refuge and education for 24 vulnerable children in their care.   Pray for health and safety of all and protection from the pandemic, but most of all that God will bless them and their amazing ministry in huge ways. This ministry is still less than half supported.

We need another $2500 per month to meet their needs.  If you would like to partner with the UNCOUNTABLE GRACE ministry to the poor and oppressed in Shan State, please click this link A FUTURE AND A HOPE FOR SHAN STATE or send a cheque to GNI Ministries (see address below). In Myanmar believers in Jesus love to bless people by saying “Piya-da-kein kaun-zyi-beh-bah-seh.” May God bless you!

– Robert Griffioen

Community Blessing Foundation Children’s Outreach

The Community Blessing Foundation (CBF) is the new foundation under the Thai government, under which the House of Blessing is included.  CBF also works in training leaders in surrounding areas, works to help families as well as fights against human-trafficking.  So many exciting things are happening with Community Blessing Foundation’s children’s outreach!

First of all, the children at House of Blessing are mentored and trained to lead the outreach.  Several of the older teens are leading the teaching and Bible study.  Many of the tweens are leading worship with the teens and are busy praying with the other children and interacting with them.

Please pray for the outreach teams as they go to a few villages where Satan works hard to keep them out.  In one village, Satan has closed doors so the team has had to find a third location within the village to meet and share the gospel with the kids in the village.  Praise God that He is bigger than Satan and gives grace to this team who is faithful in spreading His Word!

Secondly, many leaders in surrounding areas are being trained and mentored by Josh in starting their own children’s outreach ministries.  One young lady who was an intern at HOB last year, is now beginning her own outreach.  She is raising poor kids to follow Jesus and they have begun to memorize Scripture in both English and their native tongue.  Some kids heard God’s voice as He said, “Believe in me and trust in me.”

Join us in praying that God will continue to open doors for outreach and pray for leaders to be faithful in sharing His truth.  Pray for leaders and children alike to hear God through Scripture and hear the Holy Spirit.  Let’s claim the promise in Isaiah 55:11, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The Life of a Child in HOB

What does a typical week look like for the children in House of Blessing? During the week, from May-March, the children go to school. Amber helps them with their homework, especially their English homework. The children enjoy going to Amber’s to bake cookies but it’s also a time where only English is spoken and the kids have fun learning and laughing.

Saturday is outreach day when the kids from HOB help Josh lead kids ministry outreach in various villages and communities. The older kids are leading the Bible teaching and the younger kids like to get involved in leading worship! Sunday evening, the team gets together to plan what will happen on Saturday. Friday evening they meet again to make sure everyone is prepared before going out the next day.

Sunday is a day for Bible study and worship at church. Even after the church service is over, sometimes the little kids like to stay up front and sing their little hearts out as they continue in spontaneous worship of their risen Savior! Some weeks, they go to the local youth worship service as well. When with youth from other churches, Josh and Julie see the leadership abilities shine amongst the HOB kids.

Proverbs 22:6 says to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Let’s continue to pray for these children to grow in God and for the leaders as they train them.