Copy
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...Mark 16:15
View this email in your browser
THE FOREIGN MISSION MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE FOR MARCH 2020
Dear Monthly Readers,  God's Peace!

The events that have taken place in the world during the last month have brought about great change for each of us. We as the Body of Christ certainly need each other, feel each others pain, and want to be in prayer for one another. In virtually every country your Foreign Mission works in, people are affected to some degree by the Corona virus. 

It is a time unlike anything most have us have faced before, and the believers worldwide must unite in prayer. We must remember the King is still on His throne and He surely knows about this virus. We know and trust that as believers covered by the Blood of Jesus, clothed in robes that are made white by the blood of the Lamb, we are safe and secure. The best is yet to come for all believers, no matter what takes place here on earth! 

During this time, we as a mission are forced to adjust our modes of operation just like everyone else. It has not changed too much, other than the actual travel portion of our work. We sincerely ask you all to please continue partnering with us. Until this virus situation is behind us, the Foreign Mission will proceed by: 

* Spending time in prayer. These events cause hunger, chaos, unrest, and fear. Pray for peace and wisdom going forward.
 
* Spending more time having Bible studies with pastors around the world on Google Hangouts. (Church gatherings are not permitted in most places where we work, so we cannot have sermons via the internet at this time.)
 
* Sharing more spiritual writings. Currently, the Weekly Diner is sharing a series from Christian Monthly: The Children's Page on a weekly basis so children abroad can be blessed by it as well.
Holy Week and Easter articles will be shared also.  

* Continuing to monitor and distribute earmarked donations you are sending in for the Bible Fund, Emergency Medical Fund, Poor Families Funds, etc. 
 
* Addressing the normal day-to-day situations and assisting our beloved pastors and friends abroad in whatever small way we can.

* Continuing to support our full-time missionaries that are living where they work: Pastor Frank Famiyeh in Ghana and Ryan Ruotsala in Guatemala.  
UPDATES FROM THE FIELD

Each year in India, we hold a service for the people with leprosy. Below is a plea for help from a faithful pastor who has devoted his life to serving them. Our beloved Pastor K has passed on this letter to us:.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings of God’s peace from India. My name is Pastor Nehru; (picture below) and my wife and I were blessed with two sons. My younger son, Babu, had suffered with severe headaches since 2010. We took him to several hospitals, and he received treatment for a few years. Then one day in 2013, he suddenly went into a coma. The hospital did many treatments and scans. This continued until 2016, when the doctors suggested they could perform an operation on his head. He lived for thirteen days after the operation and died on the fourteenth day.

To pay for these medical costs, we have taken out several loans; and we are struggling to pay for these debts in addition to grieving the loss of our son. Our eldest son is studying.
Meanwhile, I have also become very sick and am suffering with a spinal cord problem. I underwent an operation on December 1st, 2019 and am continuing medical treatment. I must take costly pills regularly as part of the treatment. We are struggling financially; please pray for me and my family.

I am serving the community of lepers in about fifteen villages and conducting church services in three villages. They need a separate place of worship, a church building. Please pray for them.
I humbly request your kind help for our family. I am so thankful to the ALCA FM for extending help to the community of lepers in January when the team visited us here-- as arranged by our beloved Pastor K.

Thank you,

Pastor Nehru
 
Follow-up on Pastor Nehru:
Today I gave the first help for medicine to Pastor Anand Nehru; he is so thankful. We also presented four Holy Bibles to give to the leprosy people; thank you.  -Pastor K
BLESSINGS FROM GENEROUS HEARTS


 
The cement plastering has been completed for pastor David's church in the Vizag area. He is so thankful to the FM for the generous donation for this need. The church building still needs white cement wash on the walls, which should be done later. Please pray for him and churches in that area.

Let us continue to plead for the special mercy of our Lord during the days of the Corona virus all over the globe. It is a warning to the world for many to turn to Him in repentance. Let us pray earnestly.


You can donate anytime to a variety of special causes by clicking here.   

NEWS FROM THE FIELD


Pakistan
From Pastor John Feroze:
God's peace. This girl just came back home after surgery; she is from a very poor village near Lahore. We visited her home with our prayer team, shared the Word of God with her family, and prayed with them.  I also shared greetings from FM Board. They are very thankful to you all. Thanks for your help and prayers. 

(This help was provided by the Emergency Medical Fund) 

India
(You may have read in the news about anti-conversion laws becoming more strict in India. Here is an instance that has impacted us at the FM. We know, and have served with, Pastor Abraham on our trips to India.)

Pastor Abraham's church in his village was ordered to be removed as the government took over the site. We know Pastor Abraham and have served in his church on our trips to India.
On March 3rd the government officials (along with the local politicians and fanatics) plotted together to remove the church building, which has existed for the past three years. Church services had taken place regularly on Sundays and during the week. Daily, in the morning and evening, Pastor Abraham would spend a few hours in prayer at the church. God has been blessing his work.

The officials and local fanatics warned Abraham to remove the church immediately, otherwise they threatened to bulldoze it with machines. On the 4th and 5th, they took off the roof and demolished the walls built of brick and cement. It has now been destroyed.

It was very sad to see this scene. On the 7th, I was with Pastor Abraham and his family. I prayed with them and encouraged them. We stood on the debris and prayed there too.

The site had been purchased three years back, leveled with soil, and the church building was constructed with donations. It cost about 350,000 rupees; and the government is now going to take the site and use as they wish. This is all so unjust. There are fanatics who don’t want God's work to be done there. It broke Pastor Abraham’s heart to see his church being torn down; but he is praying that the Lord will reveal a better plan for His house in the village. Please pray for Pastor Abraham, and let us continue to plead for God's mercy as the opposition rages towards the Christians in India.

BIBLES TO THE NATIONS

Each month we attempt to distribute Bibles around the world through your donations to the Bible Fund. This month, Bibles were distributed in India, Pakistan, Kenya, and Liberia.  
The Bibles pictured were sent to Liberia. Some have been given out already, and distribution will be completed during the Easter church convention if it is allowed to go on. 
To take part in sharing God's Word through sending Bibles click here
Other Highlights & Events

* We are holding bi-weekly online Bible studies. What a joy to have people from many different countries join us all at one time! This is extremely important now, as they are not allowed to have church services. 

* We are excited about our new, recently completed website!  Check it out here!  The web address is the same as before: www.themissionsite.com.    

*New volunteers are coming forward to help the Foreign Mission. For this we are so thankful! 
Praise & Prayer and Upcoming Events
 
*  The Ashburnham ALC confirmation class went to Guatemala on February 21st. We are so thankful all went well and that they made it home before the virus struck in Guatemala. 

*  Please be in prayer for our full-time missionaries in the field, as well as those that we know and love around the world who labor so faithfully in the Church.

*  Some mission trips have been rescheduled for later dates, but no plans will be definite until this virus has passed. 
"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."  
(Psalm 107:1 KJV)

Upcoming Trips 

                         
Would you like to join us?  
Trips that are happening in the coming months!  

Most of our trips are on hold for right now for very obvious reasons.   Check back here in coming months. 

Please pray for God to send laborers for trips in the future, if it be His will that we go.
 
 
CLICK HERE
F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K
Website
Email
News Blog
Support Options
Email or click DONATE link below for regular support options. 
Click Here to Donate

Top 5 List

Are you looking to donate for a specific, most-needed cause? Ask for the administrator top 5 list!
Click here to contact via email.
 
Church Building Fund: We have a small, specially donated church completion fund set up. So far, several church roofs have been completed. The FM believes it best for the local congregations to put their own prayers, sweat, and treasure into their own church so that each congregant takes personal interest in the church.  We do, however, enjoy helping such congregations finish their building-- hence the fund. We have many current needs for church buildings!  
 
Emergency Medical Fund:  This fund is very helpful when we have a pastor, his family, or a church member suffering with a disease that can often be cured with just a small amount of money. Hospitals in most countries will not medically assist anyone unless money is paid up-front. Prayerfully, God has and will continue to use this fund to save lives and restore the health of those in need.
 
Poor Family Fund: Help in situations where a family is not able to feed, educate, or otherwise support their children due to death, injury, sickness, or poverty. Each situation is closely monitored.

The Bible Fund: We get many requests for Bibles. It is such a blessing to give the WORD of LIFE!
Click here to donate.
May God Bless Your Month! 
Mailing address for DONATIONS:
The Foreign Mission of the ALC
1601 NW 4th Avenue
Battle Ground, WA 98604

Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE:
The Foreign Mission of the ALC
63 Poor Farm Road
New Ipswich, NH 03071
 
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
The Foreign Mission · 63 Poor Farm Road · New Ipswich, New Hampshire 03071 · USA

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp