News from a dear Brother in Burma (Myanmar).
(I have known this brother for several years and visited his church twice. He is a godly and effective pastor, teacher, and church planter. Burma is one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world. All the churches and outreaches must meet secretly in homes and apartments, and are in constant danger from the government)
"Dear brother Court and brethren,
Merry Christmas, and greeting to you in Jesus name. Here is my ministry update and a personal testimony.
Ministry update.
As I had planned, I visited the Delta region so devastated by the Nargis Cyclone last year. The purpose was to set up a discipleship and mission training school. I had 15 students attending from nearby villages, not far from our meeting place. We began with 6 days of training and will continue this with on going discipleship training. Our second class will be at the end of February.
As an added blessing, God allowed us to provide tailoring training in addition to discipleship training. By God's grace, we provided sewing machines for each student though it would be a repayment system. The sewing teacher recommended and said to me that it will be wasting time and money if you do not provide machines because it is impossible for them to afford machine for their business. Now, they can also start a business as soon as they get home. The very best thing is that they now know the Creator and Savior Jesus Christ in their personal life. But I have to plan for follow up ministry to them because they are very new in spirit and will surely be alone at their villages. We can say that they become our newly unpaid Church planters. I taught them how to face their family (mostly Buddhist) and be the light and the salt of the world. Please pray that they may be able to stand firm in their faith by reading the Word of God and personal devotion. Also, pray they may be able to evangelize their own family members as well as the villagers and bring them to the Lord. For a second group of disciples, we plan to start again March-April, 2010. And also we plan to start a boarding school at that building with 5 students in June 2010.
A Personal testimony.
It was my 50th birth day December 10. Though I have had many struggles, I am very thankful to the Lord, for He has allowed me to serve Him more than half of my life as I started serving the Lord when I was 23 years old in Chin state, Burma. When I get home and if the Lord says "Well done my servant," then I believe that it will NOT be just because what I have done on Sunday. Rather it will be because of what I have done on Monday to Saturday. Please pray that I might be able to say what Jesus said: "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
Hope to hear good news from you soon.
In Jesus Christ, Pastor X (name withheld for his safety)"
If you would like to strengthen the faithful labor of this godly pastor please designate your gift "for Burma Brother X."
Thank you so much for your love, your prayers, and your sacrificial gifts. It is only because of your help that we are able to speak out for, and help, the Body of Christ.
Gratefully your servants in Him,
Court and Sandy Wood
"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
The Apostle Paul 2 Corinthians 9:12-15
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him
as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
Hebrews 6:10
Website: www.injesusname.org
