“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (I Corinthians 15:34) Our theme for 2017 is “Providing the Word of God to Every Believer in All Nations.”
We have just completed the first printing of a leather-bound Thai King James Bible, and it is beautiful! This is the first time the whole Thai King James Bible has been printed in Thailand. July 4, 2006, was the first time a BEAMS Thai King James Bible was shipped to Thailand. That means the Thai people have only had a real Bible for 11 years.
We printed 1,050 of the new leather-bound Bibles for preachers, pastors, missionaries, and full-time workers in Thailand. Thank God for the people and churches who have given so that those who have never seen a copy of the Word of God in their language might have their very own Bible.
I have enclosed the update on BEST Ministry, showing the Scriptures that the Lord has allowed us to distribute in the last 12 years. To God be the Glory!
Saint Jomhong returned to Thailand from the Philippines with his new wife. This fine young man, whom I have known since he was five years old, completed his studies in Texas with a master’s degree in 2016. He is now ready to start reaching his own nation with the Gospel. I thank God for his faithfulness to the Lord for over 20 years. Please pray for him and his wife as they start establishing churches in Southeast Asia.
After a busy month in June in Thailand and Cambodia working with Dr. Curtis Hall, I boarded a jet to fly to Nagaland in Northeast India. I had made a commitment to teach the beginning of a new doctoral program at Chil Chil Baptist College in Imphal for Dr. David Wajunima, the pastor. There were 25 pastors from all over India attending all-day classes for two weeks. All of these men were currently serving in churches or as missionaries on the field.
I preached the first Sunday for Dr. Wajunima, and the Lord blessed with many souls accepting Christ. We had 10 surrender to full-time Christian service in the 3 different services that I preached. Chil Chil is an unusual place: no electricity, no running water, and no internet—but a lot of rain and flooding. The Spirit of God moved in, and these 25 men were very open to the teaching of the Word of God on missions and local Baptist church growth.
After returning to Bangkok, I preached in three different churches over the weekend. Then I made the 30-hour flight back to the States on the July 10.
I traveled to Milford, Ohio, for a “Summit Meeting” at Bearing Precious Seed. Most of the local church-printing ministries were represented at this conference. Oh, how we need local New Testament Baptist churches to get back to printing the Word of God and getting involved in the distribution of Scriptures all around the world.
The following week I traveled to my sending church, First Baptist Church of Hammond, to participate in the FBMI Candidate School, conducted by Dr. Mark Bosje. What a blessing to invest and encourage the next generation of new missionaries who are just starting their journeys! I got to spend some quality time with my pastor, John Wilkerson, and was able to enjoy the annual FBC Youth Conference, with teens from all over the world in attendance.
While in Northwest Indiana, I was able to stop in at one of our supporting churches in Portage. Pastor Brian Cassada and his good folks have been a real blessing to us in helping with the cost of printing the Bibles in Southeast Asia.
I was able to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to preach for one of my former college students and good friend, Pastor Terry Hunter. He is a very successful Spanish church planter. Pastor Hunter and his good people gave a very generous gift toward printing the Word of God in Southeast Asia.
Into all the world,
Bob Bowen
Philippians 4:13
