“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse [in America]: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Colossians 1:2)
The songtheow is now installed. Praise the Lord! All the metal is stainless steel. It is very nice and should be able to be used for Christ for a long time. Its first use was the Sunday night before New Year’s. My interpreter wasn’t going to be at church that night, so I told everyone that we should go to the first church we started in Thailand for the night service. So, we drove 85 kilometers to Bible Baptist Church. That night, Kijito, a young man from Japan, came to the service. Pastor Uk and another missionary from Mexico, Bro. Sanchez, had been working with him for a year. Bro. Sanchez had been on deputation to go to Japan as a missionary but, in the end, was not able to get into Japan, so God put him here for a year. Kijito came that night, and he spoke English quite well. I sat beside him and shared my Bible with him. Pastor Uk preached the Gospel that night in Thai and English. He did his own translating. As Kijito was hearing the lesson and reading the Scriptures, he was asking me many questions. I quickly realized he was hungering for salvation.
When the invitation started, I didn’t want to disturb the others, as there were several visitors there that night, so I asked Kijito to
step outside so we could talk. It was drizzling rain, and I said, “Let’s sit in the back of my truck.” There, sitting in the new songtheow, I simply began answering his questions. When it clicked with him, he exclaimed, “That’s it! That is what I’m looking for! How can I get Jesus Christ to save me? I want to be saved.” I said, “Just ask Him.” Kijito, with a puzzled look on his face, replied, “Just ask Him?” I said, “Yes,” and showed him Romans 10:13. There, sitting in the new songtheow, he bowed his head and called on the Lord Jesus Christ to save him. What a beginning! I’m not sure if you would call that an inauguration, christening, or what; but one thing is for sure—our God is still in the saving business! Amen! Kijito has left for Taiwan now, but he sent a text back saying that he can’t wait to get back to Japan to tell his people about Jesus. Pray for God to direct His path.
Pastor AJ reports from India that more than 70 children came to a special Christmas service they had the Saturday before Christmas. The children went home and told their parents what they had learned, and on Sunday, over 200 adults came to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
Please keep praying that we will be able to go to India soon to ordain AJ and charter the church. I can’t wait to see them again!
Here at True Vine Baptist Church, the people are growing in the Lord. They have been memorizing Bible verses and learning to use their Bibles. They are having fun going out and passing out tracts and inviting others to come. They want everyone to have Jesus like they do. Nannalin, a 14-year-old young lady, was saved a few weeks back and is asking for all of us to pray for her family to be saved also. Tip, a lady saved at the beginning of December, has memorized all the books of the Bible and 25 verses. The week after I gave her a Bible, she reported to me that the one I had given her was so much easier to understand. I thought in my mind, that’s what happens when you’re reading the words of the One Who lives inside you. I had given her what is referred to in Thailand as the Thai King James.
Thank you for all your faithful prayers and support!
Yours for His harvest,
Andrew Long
Romans 10:14
