Sharon, Kara, and I arrived in Chiang Mai May 25.  A week later I was in the classroom.  This is the first semester of the new school year at Lanna Theological Center.  I am teaching two classes:  Expository Preaching and Holy Spirit.

I have four students in the Holy Spirit class. As we were going around the room introducing ourselves to each other one young man said his name was Santisuk (Peace) and he was from Surin Province.  We do  not normally get students from this far off province.  In fact we have had, to my memory, only 3 students from this part of Thailand.  In addition I noticed there was something vaguely familiar about his face. Over the next few class meetings I asked more questions about how he came to LTC.  Eventually I figured out that Santisuk was the nephew of one of my first students when Sharon and I first came to Chiang Mai in 1987. Santisuk's uncle, Mr. Boonlert Somniyam, graduated from LTC (Then it was called the Institute for Biblical Studies) and served many years on staff at LTC before leaving us to do a church plant.  Not only that but Santisuk's mother (Boonlert's sister) attended LTC and got her Mrs. degree.  And guess who performed the wedding?  That's right.  I did back in 1993.  You know you've been around a while when you start teaching the children of your former students.  

David and his Holy Spirit class with students. Santisuk is to David's right.

As you know many of the graduates of LTC serve in places where Christians are not welcome.  They come to LTC to be trained and equipped and then sent back into Harms' Way in their country.  This evening, June 9th, Sharon and I bumped into three of our graduates who serve under difficult circumstances.  They had come across the border for some meetings here and we saw them at the local food market.  

I had last seen them a year ago this month when I made a short trip to their country.  I asked them how the work was going. They were very excited to report that a church had been planted in a new village with 16 families.  But with the new church has come newer and stronger persecution of the believers.  All 16 families have received notice from the local government officials that they can no longer live in their homes or in their village unless they renounce Christ. The have been driven out of their homes.

This is not an uncommon event for this country. However we had hoped that these types of events would lessen.  They have not.  I asked what the families would do or where they would go.  The church leaders said they did not know, and that they are going back to their country in the morning to help and encourage these 16 families.

PLEASE KEEP THESE FAMILIES AND THE CHURCH LEADERS IN YOUR PRAYERS.  The Christians in the country are strong and most remain faithful even in the face of harsh persecution.  Pray these 16 families stay faithful, pray God provides them with a new place to live, and new jobs.  Pray for the leaders, our graduates, who serve the churches in this country.  Pray God gives them the strength to carry on and the wisdom to counsel.

Because of the sensitive nature of this event we will not be posting pictures or giving any details as to the location of this church and the church leaders.  God knows.  You pray.

Impacting SE Asia for Christ,

David & Sharon Filbeck

LTC invited alumni, Pastor Boonserm, to speak at our mid-term revival last term.   Boonserm graduated from LTC in 2003 and along with an LTC professor, planted a church in a nearby suburb of Chiang Mai.   

I wanted to share Boonserm's story with you because it is a great example of what LTC alumni are doing through out the region.   And... it is a great testimony of God's power to transcend differences.  

Boonserm is a H’Mong working among Northern Thais.  This is an unusual occurrence here as minority groups are often considered inferior to the urban Thais.   Yet, Boonserm does not let that stop him. He is passionate about sharing his faith.   Since Boonserm became lead pastor over 100 people have been baptized as a result of evangelistic outreach trips supported by the church.  

The church isn't large; averaging about 40 in attendance, but  is completely self supporting.  From the very beginning the members of the church did not ask for any funding from missionaries or Churches in America.   The members acquired the land and built their church building with their own funds!   All salaries and church activities are supported through the offerings of the members!       

 When the church first opened, it was named The Light of San Sai Church.   Not a bad name.   But, a few months ago I heard they had changed their name.   So, I asked  Boonserm about it and here is his response....

  “One of my goals as a minister to encourage the members to evangelize their family, friends, and neighbors.   People would ask the members what group they represent.   When they said “Light of San Sai Church”  it didn’t mean anything to people.   We soon realized that we needed a name that  addressed people’s felt needs.   We needed something that would start a conversation about spiritual things.  


All Thai people understand the concept of heaven, believing it to be a place of peace and tranquility.    And  Everyone is searching for that!    So, after much discussion, we chose the name  “Gate to Heaven Church”    We  tell people that we have the “key” to the Gate to Heaven, and they can have one too.   

Since we changed the name, the members have been really energized to share their faith with others.    When we mention the name of the church, people always start asking questions.  It has been a really great witnessing tool”  

Isn’t it amazing how God can use something as simple as a name change to get His Message heard?  

Recently Boonserm met a Muslim family who had fled the violence in the south of Thailand.   Through a series of events,Boonserm was able to witness to this family and they became believers.  The mother has prayed that one of her children would go into Christian service.   Last month, on her birthday, her son said  "My gift to you is to become a preacher".     

Boonserm took him to pick up the application forms for enrolling at LTC!   

This is just an example of what LTC alumni are doing in Thailand and other creative access places in Asia!  

Would you help LTC prepare Preachers like Boonserm?   LTC is in need of additional Partners to cover the general fund and to provide student scholarships.      You can help by going to our Paypal button and sending your donation.   

Joy to the World, It’s not just for Christmas.
 
The hymn “Joy to the World” is one of the most beloved songs we sing at Christmas time.  It celebrates the joy brought to us through the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem.  It has been translated into hundreds of languages around the world.  It is also a song that has been exclusively attached to Christmas.  Think about it, how many times have you sung or heard someone singing “Joy to the World” in July?  (And I’m not talking about the Three Dog Night song).  As great a Christmas song as it is, I believe that “Joy to the World” is not just for Christmas.


Did you know that “Joy to the World” was not written with Christmas in mind?   When Isaac Watts wrote his paraphrase of Psalm 98   “Joy to the World” in 1719 he was looking forward to Christ’s second coming at the end of the age.  Psalm 98 is a great missions anthem as we see God’s great gift found in a manger is not limited to one people or nation.  Christ was born for all people and all nations.

 Psalm 98 celebrates the joy found in salvation found in God’s right hand and holy arm (vs1).  Verse 2 is especially meaningful because this salvation has been “made known to the nations”. And in the succeeding verses the author invites not just Israel, but the whole earth, to “Shout for joy” and “burst into jubilant song”.   


This past Christmas some of the students from Lanna Theological Center encountered a trial that could have destroyed their joy.  As you may know some of our students come from a country that opposes the Church.  Over Christmas break some of our students went home to their country.  They helped organize a Christmas celebration in the house churches they serve.  Normally the authorities turn a blind eye to Christmas celebrations. This year was different.  The authorities in one village decided they needed to “interview” one of the elders and one of our students regarding their Christmas activities.  It was a tense time as we waited news of the outcome from our friends in that country.  

As we waited for news, I reflected back on my Christmas.   The drive though Bethlehem put on by the church.  The chili supper with our cell group.  Visiting family in Illinois and Mississippi.  And not once did I worry about being called in for questioning by authorities. As I prayed for my friend, I wondered if he was feeling any joy during his Christmas.  I wondered if he was able to sing “Joy to the World”.  Then I remembered that Psalm 98 is also a message of Hope.  It looks to the second coming of Christ when sin and sorrow cease and thorns no longer infest the ground.  It is this future hope that allows all Christians to sing “Joy to the World” even in the midst of trials.   

The great themes of salvation to all nations and the future hope of Christ’s second coming is the real message of “Joy to the World”.  Lanna Theological Center is committed to declaring that salvation and that hope to the nations of South East Asia.  The next time you sing “Joy to the World”  pray for Lanna Theological Center. Pray for her students. Pray for those who need to hear the great message of this hym.  Because “Joy to the World” is not just for Christmas.

Oh, by the way our friend?  He was “interviewed”.  And then released without any repercussions.  Joy to the World.

Serving Christ

David &Sharon Filbeck

Ampawn came to LTC and met Uuy, another student from her tribe and country.  They are engaged and plan to serve God together.  

I recently read a statistic that said nearly 50% of churches in SE Asia are without  a Pastor or any kind of leader who is trained in the Scriptures.   They are truly like "sheep without a shepherd". 

Please pray for us at LTC... Please help us ... to train more young people just like Ampawn and Uuy who will Go and make Disciples!

Do  you ever feel like you just need a little more? A little more time, a little  more money, a little more room…. The list goes on… Lately, I am feeling in need  of a little more time. The days pass so quickly. It wasn’t too many weeks ago  that we planted our rice fields …and now.. it’s time to harvest. 
 
Yesterday  was the first day of harvest at LTC. Students and faculty joined together to  cut the rice stalks and lay them out to dry. In a few days they will return to  the fields and tie the stalks into small bundles. Next month we will thresh the  stalks. Each step is a back-breaking task. The students are tired and sore  today and I don’t quite have the heart to make them work hard in class. 
   I  am fortunate in that I get out of working in the fields. Back surgery can have  its perks! But, while I am not in the fields cutting and threshing, the analogy  is not lost on me. LTC’s mission statement says “preparing workers for the
 Lord’s harvest.”

      We  just finished out 2nd week of the 2nd term at LTC. All students  returned and there were no major hiccups. Last  term I was not able to attend chapel services due to my back surgery. While I  still have to carry my folding chair in and sit in the back so I can stand  occasionally, I am enjoying being back in chapel. 
 
   This  last Thursday was an especially sweet worship service. I stood in the back of  chapel and just allowed the music and words to flow over me. I looked out over  the students and had one of those moments when you just feel the presence of the  Lord in a special way. There was something special about that worship service. I  could see it in the students as they sang. I  thought how amazing is this?! Here we are…… a group of people from three  countries and 10 language groups worshiping together.

    You  know, there is so much in this world that divides us. Living and working in  another culture can really bring out the differences. There are days when I feel  so connected to my Thai friends. Then, there are days when I feel so “different”  I become keenly aware that I am “the farang”… (the white foreigner) 
 
It is easy to feel discouraged when that happens. In those moments you can do one  of two things. You can get caught up trying to become like everyone around you.  Or, you pull away because you feel it is just too hard. Either one is the wrong  response. 


Our  fellowship with one another is not based on our sameness ….but solely on God’s  love.

Sometimes it is the little things in life that can take us down faster  than a speeding bullet. In Thai, we say "our heart's energy is gone" And thatjust about sums it up. we lose heart, feel weak at the knees and all we can do is fall down and cry tears of despair.

    And often... it's just one  seemingly insignificant event that tips the scales......    
  Well, that is what happen to my co -teacher Hawm today. 
  
       Hawm had spent weeks preparing a student workbook for her class at LTC.   It was a new assignment for her; a Bible book she had never taught before and  she wanted so much to do a thorough job. There are so few resources in Thai and  you can't just run down to the Christian bookstore and pick something up.  Well, she got it done in the nick of time despite some obstacles...

Hawm  went home that evening and Nopchai said he was sure he had backed that file up.  So, they looked. They went through every file on her flash drive and his!  Nothing. They looked again.... and still nothing. So, Hawm resigned herself  ...again.. 

The next day, she worked hard again on trying to redo some of  her lessons. She had to cancel class so she could get her thoughts pulled together. By the time she went home, she was frustrated and decided to look at again for that file. 

She clicked on the Flash drive menu and began  scanning down the list of files. Half-way down there was one folder with an  English label. She was shocked because she nor Nopchai ever use English. The  folder was titled NVNV. Strange.

She clicked on it and there were several  files. In the middle of the list was her Romans file. She clicked and it  opened... all there! 

Where did this folder come from? Why was it in  English? And another thing... all the other files in the folder could not be opened. 

Hawm called me at home with the news and we both said the same thing; It was a  Miracle!

God is faithful... He knows just want we can handle and  when things are getting a bit overwhelming... even in the little things of  life... He surely does work things out for good! 

 Have you ever done something just because you trusted the  one who asked?   You did it, but all the  time, you had this  nagging feeling that it’s not going to work!

       I wonder if  Simon Peter felt that way when Jesus asked him to “go back out to the deep   waters and let down your nets.”(Luke   5)Simon and friends had worked hard   all night.They were experienced   fishermen.They knew their stuff… and   yet…here was this carpenter telling them to go and do it again.   I can imagine  everyone’s reaction.They were probably  tired and just wanted to go home and sleep.  But, there was Peter saying, “Okay, because you said  so.”
  
     Recently,one of the LTC students asked me, “Teacher,   what is the most difficult thing in ministry?”My first reaction was “Wow, which one do  I  choose!”   As we talked, I  realized  that the student really wanted to talk about a specific cultural issue here.You see, in this culture, it is   virtually impossible for a younger person to initiate anything.The younger’s job is to obey and carry out  the wishes of the older without  questions.There is such a great fear of insulting and  offending the other that often people  will not even ask for clarification.Fear leads to discouragement and then  frustrations mount up and sooner or later  there is either a conflict or  paralysis sets in.
 
This student was  struggling with how to honor this cultural value and still do what  God was  laying on his heart.  (Both  Biblical  principles)  He wanted to know how to protect himself from  accomplishing nothing.
 
I  don’t know why,  but I thought of Peter and Jesus’ command to “go back and let  down your  nets.”There wasn’t a direct
promise of  a big catch.He didn’t  bargain with  the promise of success.And  yes…. while  there was success,the catch
was not the  Lord’s goal.  It  was  simply the tool to  get Peter where Jesus wanted him to be….on his knees,
emptied, broken, dependent  and ready to listen. 

 As  I looked into the  face of this young man,I saw such a  deep desire to serve God.I saw a fear  of failure, a fear of regret, a  fear of lost opportunities.   So, I told  him what I thought was the most  difficult thing in ministry.

Quitting  too soon. 
 
I  think too often we  quit because we simply forget the goal.   The  goal is not the  action.It is not the  ministry, the  program, the numbers, the response.It  is not even success.   Rather, the goal is  to follow, listen, and obey Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
God knows how to orchestrate the events of   our lives so that we can honor His principles and accomplish the very tasks He has assigned.He can make it  happen!  Guaranteed, it will not be our way, or even in  our time. But,  He will do it when we  are ready to do what he says…..…simply because He said so.