Category Archives: Asia

Update on Followers of Jesus Christ in North Korea

In addition to being the most obscure country in the world, North Korea also has the dubious distinction of being the most oppressive place in the world for Christians, ranking no. 1 on Open Door’s World Watch List for 17 years in a row. The 2014 report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Human Rights Situation of North Korea states, “The State considers the spread of Christianity a particular threat, since it challenges ideologically the official personality cult and provides a platform for social and political organization and interaction outside the realm of the State.”

For three generations, everything in the country has focused on idolizing and deifying the leading Kim family. Christians are seen as hostile elements in society. They have to be eradicated. Due to the constant indoctrination permeating the whole country, neighbors and even family members are highly watchful and report anything suspicious to the authorities. Not only are believers deported to labor camps as political criminals or even killed on the spot, but their families will share their fate as well. Christians do not even have the slightest space in society. Meeting other Christians in order to worship is almost impossible and if some believers dare to, it has to be done in utmost secrecy.

TESTIMONIES FROM NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS

Starving Child in North Korea

A. “Due to the tightened sanctions, there is a sharp increase of the number of people starving to death in North Korea. In spite of heightened security, people are roaming around in the countryside, seeking for food. North Korean residents are in a situation whereby they cannot afford to buy coal imported from China at their marketplace, so they are both hungry and cold.”

According to eyewitness reports by defectors, the food situation is so desperate that in some areas, people resort to cannibalism.

B. “I talked to my Sister-In-Law in North Korea and asked her how she is doing. She told me that up till then she had made a living smuggling goods, but now the smuggling has completely stopped. It is very difficult to live because Chinese products cannot be sold in the Jang-Ma-Dang marketplace (the black market, not sanctioned by the State). There are now sanctions in China and serious crackdown in North Korea for selling Chinese products. If caught, there are heavy fines to be paid.

“Once the harvest was over, I used to distribute some of the produce to others more needy. This year, it was heartbreaking to experience that the government confiscated what was left, in order to provide for the military. Residents in rural areas look for potatoes in the snowy fields in the middle of winter. That’s all they have to eat — a few small potatoes. Even the small amount of food distributed to the people is taken away by the military. “And then — the North Korean authorities are forcing the hunger-stricken people to worship their leader! “In the meanwhile, the North Korean authorities are spending astronomical amounts of money on nuclear development. Please pray that these abuses stop, that they provide the North Koreans with food for living.”

C. The Following Testimony comes from Moses, a North Korean Trained in China by our Partnering Ministry: Moses (nickname) initially crossed the border from North Korea to China in search of food. There, he happened to meet one of our missionaries who shared the Gospel with him. Moses came to faith and was trained as a worker for the underground church.

After months of training, Moses was on his way back to North Korea when he and his wife were caught by the North Korean border patrol. The officer who interrogated them asked them what they had been doing in China, and to reveal the name and address of the person who had provided training to Moses. The interrogation was so harsh that he could not eat due to a swollen mouth. Instead of revealing who had trained him, Moses wrote down what he had learned about God and the Christian faith. The officers kept beating him over and over again to have him answer the questions posed by the border guards. But again, Moses wrote about the greatness of God’s love he had received in the prior eleven months through the missionary who had given him food when he was hungry, and a place to sleep when he had no place to go. Moses boldly declared that he had never before received such love from anyone. Again, his written confession was torn up and he was required to write the information they demanded again and again, bu he continued to write about God’s love.

The torture continued for four more months till Moses was so weak he could no longer stand. His mouth was so badly swollen that his voice could not be heard. He cried out to God, “If You are real, why should I continue to be tortured? I cannot survive any longer. You brought me to China to believe in You and be trained to be Your worker. I may die even before I serve You inside North Korea.” A few nights later, in a vision he saw those officers hung with thick wires on big telephone poles and they were all dead. Moses knew that it was the picture of these officers on judgement day. Moses then rose up and began to praise God, “Yes, I will be with you, O’ God eternally; but they will not.” But instead of gloating, he felt much pity for those officers and others who were so lost that he began telling the other prisoners about God, while still being beaten and tortured.

Gathering Grass for Food

One day a prisoner in the next cell was having severe diarrhea and complained about an upset stomach. His body was completely emaciated since he had not been receiving proper or enough food. When Moses entered his cell, he laid his hand on the sick man and proclaimed healing in Jesus’ name. He had never done this before. As he prayed, the man immediately felt warmth through his body; the diarrhea stopped and he was completely healed! Moses was totally surprised, as he had never before seen a miracle; this was his first! During his training, he had learned from reading the Bible that Jesus healed people. So, Moses simply did the same, he proclaimed healing in the name of Jesus! Then, he realized that the Word is true, and that there is power in the name of Jesus! God manifested His power of healing!

Many of the prisoners were paralyzed due to lack of nutrition and being locked up in a small cell without being able to move for long periods of time. When Moses laid his hands on them and prayed in Jesus’ name, one by one the prisoners were healed. A man’s gums were terrible swollen from an infected tooth so that puss was pouring out of his mouth and caused a terrible smell in the cell. Moses placed his hand on this sick man’s face and asked God for healing. The swelling subsided immediately, the pain disappeared, and he was healed. Many sick prisoners were healed and came to believe in Jesus as their Lord!

Word about the miracles spread swiftly. One officer came and saw for himself. “This man is a true Christian!” he exclaimed. From then on, Moses was permitted to freely go to cells and pray for the sick since there was no medicine available in the prison.

North Korea – Labor Camp Workers

Long before Moses’ scheduled date of release, a higher ranking officer came to his cell with a written confession and asked Moses to sign it with his thumb print. The document stated that Moses and his wife had gone to China in search of food and had not caused any shame to North Korea’s authorities. This caused Moses and his wife to be released. As they were leaving the prison, the officer told him, “We know you will escape to China, but please return to North Korea when this country becomes a better. North Korea needs true and genuine Christians like yourself.” The officer expected that North Korea would imminently open. Instead, Moses and his wife returned to his home town where he planted an underground church. He continues to share his faith and pray for the sick among his people!

MASTERS OF DECEPTION – A GRIM REALITY ON THE GROUND WHILE DEMONSTRATING A BEAUTIFUL FACE TO THE WORLD

Military Parade of the Elite

Child Labor – Gathering Crop

North Korea – Children Carrying Hay

Monuments of Kim Dynasty

FROM R.K.’s CORNER

At the moment of writing, the eyes of the world are on North Korea and the United States, as their two respective leaders, Kim Jong-Un and President Donald Trump, have decided to meet face-to-face to discuss the process of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. This marks a watershed in history, as Kim Jong-Un, leader of this “Hermit Kingdom”, the most obscure and secretive country in the world, also the most oppressive, is continuing, like his father and grandfather, to threaten annihilation of her arch enemy. Ignored in the past, it is now taken very seriously, being that North Korea is close to having nuclear capability and has vowed to launch a nuclear attack on America and her allies. Prior to this, there has been little diplomatic interaction between the two nations for 70 years, when the Kim dynasty took control of North Korea. Our prayer is that this meeting will result in peace and an end to the imminent danger of a nuclear holocaust.

In 2009, via a partnering ministry, we were given an open door to help support the suffering church in North Korean through a national Christian who has direct access to fellow believers within the country, as well as defectors who have escaped into China. To re-familiarize you with that endeavor, I have placed a link below to our first report from on North Korea, which you will find in the April 2009 Bridge Report in the PDF Archive above for your perusal. There is also a link below to that report. Since then, or donors have enabled us to bless our North Korean brothers and sisters with $10,000 worth of Bibles and Leadership training. https://www.bridgeinternational.org/pdf/april2009.pdf

PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING OUR SUFFERING BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NORTH KOREA!

References for Further Information:
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/inside-look-north-koreas-war-christianity/
https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/05/26/528615440/defectors-reflect-on-life-in-north-korea

Yermek Balykbekov — The Gospel Prospering among Ethnic Groups in Central Asia

BRIEF BACKGROUND INFO. ON CENTRAL ASIA

Central Asia includes the five republics of the former Soviet Union: Kazakhstan pop. 17.5 mill, Kyrgyzstan pop. 6 mill, Tajikistan pop. 8.5 mill, Turkmenistan pop. 5.4 mill, and Uzbekistan pop. 30.3 mill – a total population of almost 69 million. Afghanistan pop. 31.5 mill, is also sometimes included. Central Asia is historically tied to its nomadic, Turkish language-based peoples, of which there are 25 ethnic groups, and the Silk Road, which has acted as a crossroad for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Europe, Western Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. In the 3rd – 4th Centuries, the region was Christian, evangelized by Nestorian, Assyrian missionaries, but later Buddhism and Islam became the dominant religions. Today, there are less than 3% Christians in Central Asia, including the Orthodox Church. They are increasingly being discriminated against by the authorities – Uzbekistan perhaps being the most restrictive country against Christian believers.

REPORT FROM YERMEK BALYKBEKOV

In June, my wife and I, and our two daughters had a great opportunity, to spend our vacation in a very special way. In the middle of June, we traveled from our northern city Karaganda to Almaty, located in southern Kazakhstan, near the Chinese border. We participated in a Turkish language speaking gathering of Pastors, (“kurultrai” in the Kazakh language), where national pastors and Christian leaders from Central Asia came together – from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tatarstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Karakalpakstan, and Christian leaders from the Uighur people.

During our gathering there were so many great and powerful testimonies that touched our hearts. Some of the pastors and church leaders have been persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. They are experiencing opposition from their families, the authorities, Muslim leaders, and their neighbors. In spite of the many trials facing the followers of Isa (Jesus Christ), there is a deep hunger for God, so, the number of those coming to faith and learning to be disciples of Jesus, keeps growing!

A leader from one of the Central Asian countries shared his testimony. He told us how God used persecution for His own glory. That man (let’s call him Omar) was imprisoned for 15 days for simply being a believer and being unable to pay a fine of 1.500.00 USD, which is the penalty for being a Christian and doing religious activities in this country. While in prison, he was placed in the same cell with an inmate who had been convicted of terrorism.

Omar shared the Gospel, not by words, but by living out his faith day by day. Although the prisoners were given only one meal a day, he always prayed for the food. His cellmate was amazed by Omar’s daily prayers for the food and for his joyful attitude towards every situation he faced. After a while, the Muslim prisoner began asking a lot of question about Omar’s beliefs. Just before he was released, having daily been watching Omar’s life, he came to faith in Christ, expressing he had never met a man like Omar who was so full of hope, joy and faith – he wanted that!

When Omar himself was released from jail, he was sternly warned by the authorities not to preach about Jesus. You all know how the Apostles in the Book Acts responded when they were threatened not to share their faith; they just continued to preach!

This was one of dozens of similar testimonies I heard in this conference. It proves that Central Asian believers are becoming more mature and eager to make disciples. Many of the them are working underground, due to safety issues for the believers and their families. Supernatural healing, visions and dreams are taking place in people’s lives, which also contribute to the spreading of the Gospel among Muslims, and the growth of the Church in Central Asia. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. I also strongly believe, it is due to the work of intercessor groups who have been faithfully praying without ceasing.

During this vacation, my family and I also had the opportunity to visit brothers and sisters in Uzbekistan. It was great to be with them and hear so many testimonies, as well as sad stories of persecution. But, it is the price of being a believer who is a Christ follower! There is a great hunger for the Lord among Uzbek Christians and they have great courage in spreading the Gospel. One of the Karakalpak (Central Asian ethnic group) brothers said to me this: “We never pray that God will stop persecutions – we pray that God will give us boldness to preach the Gospel”. These people are heroes of faith!

Dear partners, I want to encourage you not to give up in praying for the Central Asian nations and partnering with us the way only you can! Sometimes, we don’t see the results and get discouraged, but I tell you, they are there. Praise the Lord! We are all coworkers in His Kingdom! May God bless you!

In His Field, Yermek Balykbekov, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

Those of you who have been with us throughout the years know that The Bridge has been active in supporting the Christian faith in Central Asia by partnering with a number of indigenous faith-based groups various countries It goes back as far as 1993, when we helped establish the first Bridge-sponsored Bible-based Leadership School with Agape Evangelical Center in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Gradually, our ministry began serving other groups and individuals in other areas. One of them is Yermek Balykbekov.

The partnership between Yermek and The Bridge began in 2004. To familiarize yourself with Yermek, his ministry, and our history together, please go to our web address on the Internet:

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/category/kazakhstan/

The hallmark of Yermek’s passion as a Pastor, is to see his Kazakh people, not only have faith in Isa (Jesus Christ), but become His disciples who reflect God’s Kingdom in every aspect of life In this issue, Yermek reports from two gatherings of indigenous Christian leaders he attended in June, one in Kazakhstan, and one in Uzbekistan. If you desire to join us in helping sponsor Yermek, please note Kazakh Workers 2 on your gift. Thank you!

Reaching the Himalayas for Jesus Christ – by Dawa Singye Bhutia

Note! The introduction to this story is at the end of under the headline R.K.’s CORNER, where you also will find many more pictures from Dawa’s ministry.

Dawa with his wife and two sons

I was born into a middle class family in a small town in Bhutan. My family is Tibetan, and staunch followers of Tibetan Buddhism, which is a pantheistic religion promoting non-violence, family honor with a strong emphasis on preserving national religion and culture.

I excelled in school and displayed leadership abilities, so after my 10^th final, I was sent to attend a military defense academy. One day, Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet in exile, came to visit the school. While he was inspecting the students, he suddenly pointed me out, and said, “When you have finished your education here, I will send for you!” I was stunned and deeply honored. I studied and worked very hard, as I was good in academics, but also at sports and different kinds of martial arts. After two years, I graduated from 12^th grade. Shortly thereafter, Dalai Lama did indeed send for me!

In 1950, China invaded Tibet and by force incorporated the nation into the People’s Republic of China. Nine years later, due to a number of death threats, Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of his people, fled Tibet, and was given residency by the Indian government in Dharamsala in the northern part of the country where he established a democratically based shadow Tibetan government, which includes an army.

The travel cost from my home town to India was paid for by Dalai Lama, and he also gave me a free scholarship to train as his personal security guard. While in the security department, my duty was more than just guarding him, but I also spent a lot of personal time with him. It involved meetings and planning. I traveled to 40 countries with Dalai Lama, and met many worldly dignitaries, and rich and famous people, especially among film stars in Hollywood, from whom Dalai Lama receives huge amounts of donations – in the billions! I accompanied Richard Gere on some of his travels to Dalai Lama’s headquarters in India, and stayed in his home several times when Dalai Lama visited Hollywood. He is a well known film star who has embraced Buddhism and is an ardent spokesperson on behalf of Tibet’s freedom movement.

I found Dalia Lama a gentle, kind, and a sincere person who takes his religion seriously. He lives a simple, ascetic life, is not involved in politics, but spends much time meditating in high mountains. In contrast, as military personnel, we had no restriction. As head of security, I was a tough guy, a troublemaker who was proud of my fighting skills. I respected nobody, but demanded that everybody respect me. During my days off, my coworkers and I we were carousing, fighting, and gambling. I earned a bad reputation, which came to my family’s attention and made them ashamed of me. None of us took the Buddhist religion seriously. The religious rituals were rote with no conviction, no satisfaction, no peace. I was like a candle in the dark.

There was just one problem. My roommate – he was different. During the two years we roomed together, I never heard him say a bad word, or do a bad deed. There was a purity in him, and a peace that exuded from him which I did not have, and I was drawn to that. I admired him, but he irritated me immensely, so I began watching him carefully and testing him, just to see if what he had was real. He never gave in to the temptations presented.

One day, embarrassed by my own life, I asked him, “You are a nice guy, you don’t drink, you don’t gamble – why are you different from me? Why don’t you just enjoy life?” “Because of Christ,” he replied. I was baffled, “What?” “Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has forgiven my sins. If you believe in Christ in your heart, confess Him with your mouth, you will be saved.” I had never heard of Jesus Christ, had never seen a Bible, nor did I know anything about the Christian faith. “Your life has been talking to me all the time,” I confessed, “I see in you what I must follow.” He then said, “I will bring you to my group.”

After a week of talking to him about these new ideas, he brought me to a secret group meeting of 5-6 young men, from different ethnic backgrounds; Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan. One had been a high priest.

When they began singing, I was overwhelmed by a great sense of harmony and peace which I had never experienced before. After a cup of tea, the high priest guy shared his testimony; while I listened, I was struck by a great fear and began shivering. The Lord was convicting my heart of my sin. I had a flask of alcohol in my pocket, so I quietly went to the bathroom and emptied it into the toilet. When I returned and sat down, I burst out, “I don’t know how to say this, but I am with the right people for the first time in my life. I want to become like my friend – I have never before had this kind of feeling of peace and harmony. What must I do?” The high priest guy said, “I will pray – it’s very simple. Jesus Christ will come and stay unless you reject Him. Simply give your heart, mind and body to Him; the Truth will set you free and you will stop being a man-pleaser.” With sincerity I prayed the sinner’s prayer. After that, I went back to the camp. I was changed!

I began longing for this kind of fellowship and for people who could teach me more from the Bible. I wanted to live a different life; to go away and study the Book. But I took some time to contemplate and filter through my thoughts and my life. God is the caller and qualifier. I hung onto the scripture verse in Hebrew 11 and kept it in my heart – God is the author and finisher of our faith, and – who can separate us from Christ? I decided to leave my job, but gave no reason to Dalai Lama for my resignation, and he accepted that. I decided to go home. I had a message. I was the prodigal son!

When I arrived home, I was warmly welcomed. My family had been ashamed of my bad lifestyle, but proud of my position with Dalai Lama. The entire community came together, and when they were gathered, I began speaking, “I want to say that I have not been a very good son, and I am sorry. But from now on, I will be a son you can be proud of. I have a testimony to share – I am now a follower of Jesus Christ!”

A long, stunned silence followed. Then, my uncle exclaimed, “What are you doing? You are a Tibetan, and as such you are a Buddhist. A Tibetan must always be a Buddhist – Jesus is a foreign, Western God!” I protested, “My home god never gave me peace and joy. This God has given me peace and deliverance. I am happy to tell you about this God.”

Not in my wildest dreams would I have expected the chaos that followed. I thought my family would be proud that I had changed for the better. Instead, the negative, emotional reactions were profound, but I felt God’s word to me, “Stand firm. Open up and speak from your heart with kindness and grace about your life– I will speak through you.” So I stood firm, strong, and steady and continued sharing my testimony. That evening, everybody was very upset, so the Elders decided we would talk collectively the next morning.

This time, the community leaders met with me. My uncle began, “You are our son, our community will accept you, but we have our own gods and culture which we must follow very strictly. If you continue to be aggressive with following this Western god, we will excommunicate you from our society.” I answered, “This Jesus gave me peace, happiness and deliverance. He is the only powerful god I have known.” “Think twice, this is a matter affecting a whole generation,” they said. I stood firm, “I am following Jesus!” They gave an extra day to consider my options.

The third day as we gathered again, the elders asked me, “What is your final decision?” “I stand firm as yesterday,” I replied. “Do you know what the consequences are?” “No.”

“We will excommunicate you from our family, and from our entire community. We will consider you as dead, like a broken egg. You will have no part in our business, and you will not be given any inheritance from our family. If you leave now without anything, where would you go? Let the Christians take care of you! But if you return, we will welcome you 24/7, but only as long as you come without your god.” Since that day, I have never been permitted to return home to my family.

I was ordered to leave my home and community. I was not even allowed to take my suitcase, so I walked away with only the clothes on my back and a few hundred rupees (approx. $15) in my wallet. I had learned that there was an Indian Bibleschool 12 hours away by bus further to the North, so I bought a ticket and arrived there.

I knocked on the door of the Principal’s office. I shared my testimony with him, and told him I wanted to study the Bible. “What church do you belong to?” the Principal asked. “I do not have a church, and I do not have any money.” “So, who will pay the $300.00 a year tuition for your studies?” he inquired. I admitted I had no one to support me. But I was insistent, “Sir, please give me a chance!” Finally, I was permitted to enroll in the school with the condition that I would work in the school kitchen and do the gardening during weekends in return for tuition.

While I was in school I had no spending money, but I knew I was not to ask people for help – God was to be my provider! I had one set of clothing, so every night I would wash my underwear and hang it in front of the fan to dry. I would squeeze toothpaste from tubes the other students had discarded, and collect nearly used up bars of soap. But I buried myself in the studies, deeply motivated to learn more about God! In between semesters when the other students went home to their families, or took vacation, I stayed, as I had no money to go anywhere.

After three years, I became part of a church. One day, and older church member, a retired doctor, came up to me and said, “Will you be my son?” She shook my hand, and invited me home. There, I celebrated my first Christmas. Eve, my new “mom” gave me 20 rupees (app. $1.00). It was huge!

After the graduation from the school, I started out as evangelist from my church. During this time, I met my future wife. I did not even have a ring for my wedding, but a friend bought it for me. There were lots of ups and down and struggles during this time, but my Heavenly Father never left me! In 1994, Campus Crusade came to India, and I worked with them for three years before I received a salary, but it was a good time when I received international training.

Ministry Center and The Leadership Bible Training School of Himalayan Good News Network Ministry

In 2002, I left Campus Crusade and founded Himalayan Good News Network Ministry. At an international conference, I had met Kaj Holte, a Norwegian minister. In 2004, Kaj and his friend, Ole came to the Himalayas to pursue the story of eight young Finnish women who in the late 1800 traveled to these mountains as missionaries. They were totally rejected by the local people who locked them out of their lives, so they ended up starving and freezing to death. Kaj and Ole found one of their graves, and worked on erecting a stone in their memory. The Free Church of Finland Mission has now 200 home churches throughout the Himalayas. Kaj and I became good friends, and Kaj recently helped finance the building for our ministry’s Leadership Bible Training school. We are also partnering with Troens Bevis who are sponsoring a number of our pioneer church planters.

Today, our ministry has 260 graduates from our Bible Training School who have been sent out to remote and rural areas in the Himalayas to evangelize and plant home churches. We have just started a new semester at the Leadership Bible Training School with 50 attending students, both men and women. When they graduate, like the others, they are ordained as Ministers of the Gospel and are then sent as ministry partners all throughout the Himalayas, to do pioneer church planting mostly in rural areas. There will then be will 310 of them. There are regional leaders to whom the missionaries are accountable, and twice a year, HGNNM brings them together for Alumni Ministry Partners Retreats.

We encourage the missionaries to be tent-makers, that is, they keep their jobs, so that they can support their families. The medium expense for a family of four in the city is $300 per month, and in rural areas $150 per month. We add $60 per month to cover some of their ministry expenses.

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

Last month, I reported from my July trip to Norway, where, among other things, I attending the annual Summer Festival at Troens Bevis, one of the largest and most effective mission organizations in Europe, with whom we have partnered for over thirty years. They sponsor over 1000 indigenous missionaries around the world. In the last issue, I focused on their ministry, the Festival, and Rune Edvardsen’s gift in bringing the Gospel afresh to a new generation, both at home and abroad.

During the Festival, there is always an appeal for missions funds for their indigenous missionaries. This year, the focus was on the Himalayas. The guest speaker, Dawa S. Bhutia, is an ethnic Tibetan and former Buddhist from Bhutan, who is founder and leader of Himalayan Good News Networking Ministry with hundreds of pioneer evangelists and church planters. They serve the Lord in some of the most remote and inaccessible places in the Himalayan mountains among Bhutanese, Indians, Nepalese, Tibetans, and more obscure tribes.

Dawa shared his testimony — a vivid demonstration of the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ in a Buddhist society. I sat down with Dawa, confident he had been well vetted by the leaders at Troens Bevis, and interviewed him for the following story. It is a stirring account of the loss of all things for the gain of the Peace that passes all understanding!

Guess my surprise when, at the end of August, I received a phone call from Dawa, who was in the States! He was visiting Nepalese believers he had mentored in refugee camps in India. Steve and I flew him down to Florida where he stayed in our home for a few delightful days! We came to know him better. Dawa, and Steve with kindred hearts for the world, became friends. The Bridge gave a generous gift toward his Leadership Bible Training School. We believe support of his ministry and pioneer missionaries are a valuable contribution to the Kingdom of God!

Please look to the top right to find ways by which you can sponsor his church planters!

From the Philippines via the United States to the Nations

FROM R.K’s CORNER

The residual effect of the raging debate on the uncontrollable migration of refugees and illegal immigrants pouring into this country, is that the negative arguments tend to drown out the positive side of immigration: the acknowledgement and appreciation of the millions of honest, hard working legal immigrants— often people of faith, who deposit their knowledge and skills into their communities and help better people’s lives. Some of them use their new homeland as a springboard to serving the poor and needy in other parts of the world.

Zenaida (Zheny) Bongato is such a person. I came to know Zheny, as we for some time, attended the same local church. A legal immigrant from the Philippines, she has a quiet and gentle disposition, yet, she is a woman of grit and courage, committed to her Christian faith and obedient to God’s calling on her life. Her dentist profession could have provided her a prosperous lifestyle, but she chooses to live modestly, while spending her extra money on self-financing short term medical/dentist mission trips to some of the most dangerous places in the world. There, she serves the needy and poor with the dentist’s tools in her hands and the Words of Life in her heart and mouth!

FROM THE PHILIPPINES VIA THE UNITED STATES TO THE NATIONS

by Zenaida Bongato

I was born and raised in the Philippines. My family was Catholic and strictly religious. Nightly rosary is prayed every summer in the Province, in front of ceramic, wooden and some headless statutes. We were a tightly knit family with a lot of love between us, but at that time, we were spiritually lost. I grew up believing that good works, good grades, and being kind to our neighbors would please God and gain me entrance into heaven.

TESTIMONY

The first time I realized I was misguided, was at 15 years old. I was in my first year of college, when I met a missionary from Thailand who shared the Four Spiritual Laws with me. I had heard about the Gospel prior to that through my cousin. She had joined the Navigators, and every time she saw me, she would give me a tract to read – but they all ended up unread in my drawer.

But this was different. The Thai missionary had a compelling testimony. Coming from a wealthy background, she had left her family (who owned a private jet) and rich-and-famous lifestyle for the sake of Christ. This was very unusual to me. Through her, on July 17, I invited Christ to come into my life and take charge. I asked God to use me and my life to His glory.

Fast forward a few years. I had suffered hardship and rejection from my die-hard Catholic family for being a committed believer in Jesus Christ, but in the midst of it, I kept feeling God’s guidance and experienced miracle after miracle. Jeremiah 29:11 became very dear to me, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” God had a plan for me, and I began seeing God unfold it before me:

While in active service, the military had given my Dad a one year scholarship for personal advancement, but instead of using the scholarship for himself, he gave it to my older sister. She utilized the first semester of the scholarship, but did not need the second, as she herself received a scholarship from the university she attended. So, the second semester of the scholarship was given to me – and then it was extended until I graduated from dental school.

During the scholarship period, I failed in one subject because I refused to cheat. The answers to the questions presented in one of the exams had been leaked and were circulating among the students. My friends kept calling me to give me the leaked information, thinking they were helping me, but I told them, “I am a Christian, and cheating is not right.” The failed exam made me lose one semester of scholarship, but God is good! Only 15 students from that class graduated on time, I was one of them. God really had the right time frame for me!

At 22 years old, I graduated from dental school and needed a job. God provided! After taking the oath, it was the tradition of the university to throw a party for those who passed the dental board exams. During the party, the Vice Dean walked up to the table where I sat, pointed me out, and told me he had referred me to a job at the nearby hospital as a dentist. I was happy, and obeyed, and began working at the hospital. I intended to stay in the Philippines. My Dad bought me a dental chair, and added to our home to fit a clinic for me. But God had other plans!

FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE USA

In the hospital in the Philippines, one of my patients was a Colonel in the U.S. Army. He offered to help me get a visa to the United States. It was not in my plans to go there, but, it obviously was in God’s! The visa was delivered to me; I did not have to step inside the US Embassy. A miracle? Absolutely — it was God’s plan!

In the United States I studied hard, and prepared for the Dental Licensure Examination. I passed, was licensed and was given a good job as a dentist. In my free time I attended a local church, and joined several Bible studies. I soaked myself with God’s word!

MISSION WORK IN THE NATIONS

In 1991, Russia opened its doors to the outside world. Four years later, I was invited to join a Christian group on a short term medical mission trip to Russia. This gave me an opportunity to witness, while using my skills – medical/dental – to serve the Russian people—physically and spiritually! It was a great experience to touch the lives of a people from a different culture and a different era!

But Satan was not pleased at my efforts in crossing the enemy lines and bringing unbelievers to the other side. After Russia, my Dad, who lives in the States, was afflicted with health problems while attending my brother’s wedding in the Philippines. I stopped my mission trips, closed my newly opened dental clinic in Miami, left my five hospital jobs to care for my father. I have only one father, but I can always find another job! During this time, I was able to witness to my family, and saw the fulfillment of Acts 16:31, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household,” and Acts 11:14, “He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.”

Later, God provided a job for me which helped me finance my trips as a medical missionary to other countries that needed my skills. I joined the CLF ( Christian Light Foundation) & CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) on several of their medical mission trips where I learned techniques in using my dental skills to witness and further the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the places God sends me. In addition to Russia, I have done medical mission work in the Philippines, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Jordan.My future goal is to go further into other closed countries in the 10-40 window, and share the Gospel with the undesirables of society – especially the poor and orphans, children during their formative years, from ages 4 to 14, which is called the 4-14 window.

WHY MISSIONS?

I am aware that I could have earned a whole lot more money with my dental skills, but Mat.28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – has a command which requires a response and an action!

Proverbs 30:8-9, “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion,” has taught me to be content with less and utilize my hard earned money to finance my mission trips. Dentistry is my tent-making skill as a minister of the Gospel.

People who have served the Lord within the 10/40 window have told me it is presently impossible to gain entrance into those countries as a full time missionary, and it is also difficult and dangerous to openly witness for Christ – yet, the people are so lost in pagan religions! The dental profession God has given me helps people physically, thereby opens their hearts and lives to witnessing and spiritual healing.

CONCLUSION

I would not have traveled to and served in all these countries without God’s guidance and provision. God orchestrated these things to fulfill His plan. My vision is to have my own private clinic which will help finance my medical mission trips and open orphanages.

Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” I will continue to use my God given dental skills to help people in other nations to the glory of God while I am still able. When my body starts to give way, I can still be of use to God through prayer, and helping to train young dentists who want to do medical mission work. All this has been planned by God. He made us, and if we obey Him, He will use us to His glory. My goal is to continue spreading the Gospel to every nation and race, till He calls me home!

From Allah to Jesus Christ – An Indonesian Muslim’s Testimony

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

The focus of the world’s attention is right now directed toward the senseless atrocities committed against innocent people by radical Islamist terrorists in Paris, France. From the intense debate in the media on how to define Islam and make sense of the actions of the radicalized Muslim terrorists, it is obvious that the public in Europe and the States at large, are ignorant of the cause and effect of the long term official disinformation and pressure of political correctness which has brought us to where we find ourselves.

Two weeks ago, Steve and I were blessed to meet two indigenous missionaries from respectively Malaysia and Indonesia through a Malaysian member of our local church. They both have compelling testimonies! Here, I am sharing with you the story of our visitor from Indonesia — a Muslim turned believer in Jesus Christ! What makes this story compelling, is that this man brings us into the mindset of a committed teacher of Islam who is introduced to Jesus by searching the verses about Him in the Quran !

In light of the events unfolding in Europe, we encourage you to pray that the Spirit of the Living God will reveal Himself – also through the scriptures of the Quran – to sincere Muslims who are searching for truth and the most coldblooded Islamic terrorists – alike!

FACTS ABOUT INDONESIA

The country of Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago state, consisting of more than 17,500 islands, about one third of which are inhabited. The combined area of all the islands and regions of Indonesia equals about the size of the country of Mexico. It also has the largest Islamic population in the world, with more than 80% of its 255 million inhabitants being Sunni Muslims. A little more than 30 million are Christians, among whom evangelicals are the largest group.

In the wake of the rise of radical Islam, the attacks on Christians keep escalating — burning of church buildings, disruption of Christian meetings, and violent acts committed against pastors and individual believers. In certain parts of the country the violence puts Christians under enormous pressure. Last year, more than 30 churches of various denominations were forced to close and/or were attacked.

The government allows people to exercise their faith, but it forbids “proselytizing” of Muslims, which actually is even more widely enforced in the neighboring country of Malaysia. In reality, this means that those who openly share their Christian faith among them face repercussions; the Muslims who convert are often seriously persecuted. Thus, as in other Islam-dominated countries, the church excludes Muslims in their mission efforts.

But God’s Spirit is not subject to mas restrictions! From across the world of Islam we hear testimonies of people without access to Bibles or Christians coming to faith in Jesus Christ by supernatural encounters via dreams and vision. Other devout Muslims, through studying the Quran in their pursuit of truth, have by revelation found the risen Jesus Christ!

Our Indonesian brother featured in this issue is an example of the many sincere Muslims throughout the world who hunger for truth, and willing to pay the price for it — even death! His family and friends rejected him due to his new-found faith! Pray that other seeking Muslims will, by revelation, find Him – Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM

Before I start presenting my testimony, allow me to share with you a couple of verses from the truth of God’s Word from 1. Peter 3:15-16, “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…”

The Bible declares that there is salvation only in Jesus Christ as it is written, “Blessed are those who have not seen Me (Jesus Christ) and yet have believed in Me. John 20:29

God rescued, called me and chose me to be His child and servant through Jesus Christ who was already sacrificed, not only for me but actually also for the whole world! He saved me, neither through events of extraordinary signs and wonders nor any amazing remarkable experience! From just a human perspective, it was impossible for me to accept Jesus Christ (Isa Al-Masih) – I would never have become a follower of the Messiah.

My parents were devout Muslims. For six years, from preschool age, I attended a pesantren— a school in a village which teaches children Islamic religious education. Then my parents moved, and I continued education at another pesantren, for an additional three years.

I was an eager student of Islamic studies and excelled academically. In 1987, I was selected to represent my city for the Al-Quran Recitation Competition, where I became the champion! In 1988, I won the competition of Islamic Calligraphy, i.e., the art of Arabic delicate handwriting (khat). At that same time, our team won the title of The Champion of Oratory Competition which made us teachers of Islam and qualified us to teach Islam to non– Muslims.

I continued my studies at an Advanced Islamic Learning Institute which prepares teachers of Islam to teach city-wide.As students, we were taught, and we believed, that Islam is the only right faith, as it is written in Al-Quran, “Truly the true religion according to Allah is Islam”. Our main mission was to seek out those who still had not yet embraced our religion, and introduce them to Islam by convincing explanations. Muslim clerics and Islamic teachers had taught us that, long ago, there were Crusades – wars between Muslims and Christians. Islam won, therefore God was on Islam’s side, according to the Quran verse which stated, “Truly the right religion on God’s side is Islam.”

I began preparing to preach Islam to those in my city who were non-Muslims; the largest group being a Chinese minority ethnic group. Although I was looking forward to it, I very carefully approached them and did not want to touch them, as I knew they enjoyed eating pork, which, according to Islam is the worst of all unclean food. A Muslim who touches pork, must cleanse himself/herself seven times with mud or red soil, then rinse with clean water seven times – only after that, he or she may be considered ‘purified’.

Still eager to preach to the Chinese, I opened the conversation with the following question, “My Friend, would you like to hear my story? I would like to ask you – What is your religion?”

One day I asked my Chinese friend that question, and he replied: “My religion is Christianity.” I continued: “Do you know that the Christian message was only valid two thousand years ago, at the time Jesus was still alive, but now His religion has been replaced by a new religion and a new prophet—that is Islam and its prophet is ‘Muhammad’.” To my astonishment, my friend answered, “Oh for me it is not a problem whether there is a new religion or not … for me, by FAITH I will surely enter heaven!”

His reply shocked me, because during all the years I had studied Islam, entering heaven is never something certain or normal for Muslims. For us, the world is like a race-track heading towards the Hereafter, and to enter it also depends on “Insyaallah” or God’s will! How could this Chinese Christian say that entering heaven was already secured for him? I asked him, “ Do you mean to say Heaven is owned by your Father?” He answered, “Yes. Indeed! My Father is the Owner of Heaven.”

I knew from the Quran that there is no other God than Allah, and that Allah has no wife, and certainly has no son! So how did this Christian Chinese dare to declare that God is his Father? I asked him again: “Who is your God? And what is His name?” Calmly he replied: “My Lord is Jesus (Isa)” – I got very irritated and mad at him. How did he also dare to say that Jesus is his God? So I told him: “To you be your religion, and to me my religion.” With that, I considered the discussion over, and returned to my village and my normal way of life.

I continued reciting the Quran and searched for the truth, either in my Islamic institution or privately. When I did my Quran recitation, the passing dialogue with my Chinese friend kept bothering my mind for a long time. It caused me to begin searching deeper for more truth about Jesus Christ to try to understand who he really was. Why can Christians confidently say that by faith one may enter Heaven?

I searched for any books about Jesus (Isa), and came across one titled The Road towards Allah. This book describes the situation at the end of the world. There will be wars, starvation, earthquakes, and chaos everywhere and many people will feel anxiously worried and anguished. In the midst of this, one very powerful force called ‘Dajjal’ will come forward. This Dajjal or Anti-Christ is very horrifying. He brings Heaven on his right hand and Hell on his left hand. Dajjal will go everywhere to search for people to fill his Heaven and Hell. In fact his Heaven is a Hell where its inhabitants will be tortured forever and ever! He will go everywhere to find souls to fill up his Heaven.

But, in the end comes the Savior Jesus who will fight that vicious Dajjal. I was surprised to learn who shall come to release the World from the evil Dajjal’s hand: he is ISA Al-Masih (Jesus Christ) as the Imam Mahdi himself—he will save the world from the Anti-Christ! After that comes Judgment Day, when the dead souls will be gathered to appear before the Righteous Judge who will decide who shall enter heaven and who shall be in hell—but none of the Quran Prophets will be able to defend these poor souls, not even Muhammad – they can only intercede.

I was stunned to learn that the Judge is actually no one else but Jesus—why is it Jesus who appears again, not the prophet Muhammad?

I was so intrigued to find out why Isa (Jesus) is the one who will decide those who shall enter heaven and those who shall be in hell. I gave myself to seeking Allah’s guidance in all my affairs; I did Islamic prayers five times a day, and prayed continually, because I did not want my sin and good deeds to carry equal weight.

For three years I was crying and seeking for answers, and then the answer came from al-Quaran, “Behold! the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of those nearest to Allah …” (Surah Al Imran 3:45). God had opened my eyes to see that Jesus is the Word of God, and He has authority in this world and Hereafter.

I contacted my Chinese friend who gave me a Bible. I approached it fearfully, but as I read on I found it very enjoyable and learned that the bits and pieces that were in the Quran were here in sequence and chronological order; the plot is clear, in perfect inter-relationships! In July 1991, after three years of my quest, as I read the Bible in its entirety, God gave me His peace and His salvation! In a vision I saw that Jesus has become my Atonement (kiffara) and He has taken the punishment for my sin – and also for all people in this world – so that we can have eternal life!

After I believed my sin has been paid for by God Himself – with the perfect life of Jesus Christ, I now have the faith that the King will come back to reclaim this world. Because now the King is not only the impartial Judge, but also my Redeemer and Savior forever! Halleluyah! Alhamdullilah! “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2 : 8-9 (NIV).

Andaman Islands Update – Varughese Mathew

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

A couple of weeks ago, Steve and I had a delightful visit from one of our Bridge partners, Varughese Mathew, longtime missionary in the Andaman Islands, India. This was his third visit with us.

We first met Varughese a few months after the December 2004 earthquake/tsunami which devastated the region around the Indian Ocean. He visited our home while on a fundraising trip in the States on behalf of his ministry, Indian Christian Fellowship (I.C.F.). Our supporters had began donating toward relief aid for the victims, so we were looking for a good indigenous ministry through which we could funnel the funds. Upon the recommendation from a trusted partnering ministry in Norway who had enjoyed a long standing relationship with the Mathews, we sent the donated funds through I.C.F. to help the most needy tsunami victims. Since then we have at times helped support the various parts of his ministry outreaches.

For more background information, click on the links to prior Bridge Reports:

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/pdf/january2005.pdf

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/pdf/march2006.pdf

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/pdf/november2010.pdf

ANDAMAN ISLAND UPDATE REPORT

Close to thirty years ago, a young man from Kerala, India packed up his life and, with his wife and baby daughter, moved to one of India’s most remote outposts, the Andaman Islands. In his youth, Varughese Mathew had had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ which brought him to faith, and changed his future goals from a pursuit of a self-centered, secure life, to a life laid down in serving others. “After attending Bibleschool and graduating from college with a degree in theology, the Lord asked me, ‘Are you willing to go to a place where no one, not even missionaries, will go?’ I responded, ‘Yes, Lord. I will go’”.

With meager means, living in a hostile environment for Christians—“Yes, we were beaten and shunned more than once,” —Varughese, and his wife, through hardship and persecution by devout Hindus, endured. They simply believed that the Lord who had called them, would also provide their needs. From their base, Indian Christian Fellowship (I.C.F.) in Port Blair, they established two orphanages, presently with a total of 160 children, 37 pioneer mission churches in outlying districts, and a training center from which local ministers are trained and sent out as pioneer missionaries to plant new churches.

A recent picture of some of the 160 children presently being cared for at ICF’s two children’s homes. In total, the Mathews have cared for app. 800 children and seen most of them mature into productive, well-adjusted adults of faith. The majority of ICF’s pioneer missionaries and staff are former orphans and neglected children of the Children’s Center.

TESTIMONY OF A YOUNG MAN WHO GREW UP IN CALVARY CHILDREN’S HOME OF I.C.F.

Praise the Lord – my name is v raja Sekhar. I was born into a Hindu family in Andaman Island. As a little boy I lost my parents. Somehow I was admitted into Calvary Children’s Home in the city of Port Blair. In the Children’s Home I grew up in a Christian atmosphere of love and care and came to faith in Jesus Christ. But as I grew older, I slowly walked away from God. I began drinking and taking drugs and exposing myself to a dangerous life.

Instead of rejecting me and expelling me from the Children’s Home, Pastor Mathew and his family embraced me and took me into their family. They removed me from my bad situation in the Andamans, and brought me to their homeland, the State of Kerala on India’s mainland. There, I was given the opportunity to pursue higher education, and I also got a chance to study theology. The time I spend in Kerala was a great turning point in my life. I was baptized in 2008. In 2013, I graduated from a good quality Seminary with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology.

Presently, I am working with Pastor Mathew in his ministry in the Andaman Islands. I am deeply thankful to God for everything He has done for me, and I am grateful to Pastor Mathew and his family for bringing me this far. I am looking forward to continuing to grow and move forward in the ministry according to God’s will!

THE I.C.F. GOAT PROJECT

In 2010, Varughese visited our home, again, looking for the more long-term needs for his mission. An entrepreneurial businessman, as always, Steve gave generously from our own finances in support of our visiting missionary. And – as usual – Steve also helped Varughese define, and establish projects and micro-businesses from local resources which would make his family and the mission financially self-sustaining. Steve inquired, “What about goats?”

During Varughese’s most recent visit a couple of weeks ago, he asked,“Steve, do you remember the funds you gave which helped us buy a piece of land and you suggested we start a goat farm?” He then showed us on the map their northernmost mission station, located in a remote region 220 miles due north of Port Blair. There they have purchased 10 acres of land, located next to a vast national forest. The property has a small building which houses the two ICF missionary families, and on the land they have now 10 goats and a number of chickens which are being cared for by a young man raised in the Calvary Children’s Home, with plenty of water and forest for the goats to roam and graze. Each goat gives birth to 3-4 kids a year. “We would like to expand the flock to 160 goats, one for each of the children in our care, which would make us and ICF fully financially self-sustaining.”

One goat costs $120.00. Would YOU help finance this project by buying one or more goats? Please mark your gift: Andaman Islands Goat Project.

FOLLOWING IS A REPEAT FACT SHEET ON THE REGION

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands constitute the remotest part of the Indian Union. This archipelago spreads along 490 miles in the Indian Ocean – the southern tip of these islands located only 91 miles from Sumatra – consists of 572 islands with a population of app. 350,000 who live on 38 inhabited islands in 537 towns and villages.

Most of the people are ethnic Indians, many of whom are descendants of freedom fighters and criminals who were sent to penal institutions built by the British during their rule of India. The Nicobar Islands are also home to six stone-age tribes, who, being isolated from, and hostile to, the outside world, have maintained their traditions unchanged for thousands of years. We know that Marco Polo encountered these tribes during his voyage through South-Asia. They are unreached by the Gospel. The islands inhabited by the six tribes are off-limits to the public, requiring special visitation visas by the Indian government.

The Bridge International

Linking God's People To Reach The Unreached

Category Archives: Asia

Update on Followers of Jesus Christ in North Korea

Yermek Balykbekov — The Gospel Prospering among Ethnic Groups in Central Asia

Reaching the Himalayas for Jesus Christ – by Dawa Singye Bhutia

From the Philippines via the United States to the Nations

From Allah to Jesus Christ – An Indonesian Muslim’s Testimony

Andaman Islands Update – Varughese Mathew