| Prayer Partners: Thank you for your steadfast support! The Lord led and provided to open Castaway Baptist in April of 2023. Having received word of a Bible burning in the village and false accusations aiming to discredit our witness, Satan came at us with all he had this year. But we are moving forward and bearing fruit in the power of Almighty God! Dad, Mom & Aunt Bob Visited Cambodia: Dad and Mom had never left the U.S. until 12/2023. Aunt Bob, a seasoned traveler, served as guide. As is the norm with first-time visits to developing countries, great blessings and great challenges came as a bundle. Dad and Mom, now back home, are climbing out of foodborne bacterial infections. They weathered challenges like soldiers for Christ. Dad Preached: Dad preached a sermon entitled, “Why Jesus?” Many other gods are worshipped in Cambodia. Why choose Jesus? A few highlights: Using an excerpt from John chapter 1 as a chair passage, first the deity and eternality of Christ were established.  “For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” Acts 17:23 To illustrate and apply the walk of faith by example, Dad shared our family’s testimony. Most attendees were the first in their families to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. So probably the most relatable part of Dad’s story was that he also was the first in his immediate family to believe in the Lord. Giving his life to Christ back in 1975 ignited a spiritual war in his family. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:34-37 Dad stood for Christ for decades, endured persecution, prayed for his parents’ salvation and continued to be a faithful witness to them. In their final years, the Lord moved miraculously. Both prayed to receive Christ. Leading into the altar call, Dad clarified that ‘serving the Lord is not easy, but you will see miracles!’ Praise the Lord for Victory in Christ! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 Dad & I Shared the Gospel Door-to-Door: For example, we shared the gospel with a woman and her daughter. She said that every time she has tried to worship Jesus, she gets sick. So she runs from Jesus and offers sacrifices / worship to demons out of fear. Remember that Satan was cast out of heaven for seeking to exalt himself above the Most High (Isa 14:12-14; Rev 12:9). Satan controls through fear. Cambodian Buddhists live in fear of evil spirits, appease them through worship in an effort to avoid curses and to gain “luck.” This is similar to how Americans buckle under satanic societal pressure, choose to say “positive and encouraging” things that send people to hell, rather than the offensive, life-giving gospel message of repentance. Satan coerces through fear of job loss, etc. Dad and I shared that Satan will continue to control her by fear until she repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. At that point, the Holy Spirit, who is stronger than Satan, would come to dwell in her heart and protect her. In other words, surrender to receive Victory. We prayed with her. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 Christmas Dinner with Church Family: The faithful and their immediate families were invited to our annual Christmas dinner. The restaurant features a buffet and traditional Cambodian performance. 31 people came. Some heard the gospel message for the first time. Praise the Lord!   “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 Youth enjoyed their gifts. Praise the Lord! And thank you to all who support Castaway Ministries!   Those willing to serve faithfully in 2023 received more for Christmas…  … and showed their appreciation to the Lord by sharing the gospel message with sellers. Praise the Lord!  “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 Any of us could die at any moment. Click Here to find out how you can know enduring peace, God’s purpose for your life and be sure you will go to heaven when your brief time on earth is up. Ways to Partner: 1. Pray for: – Conviction, eyes to see and ears to hear for the LGBTQ. – That seeds would bear fruit, that the Lord would raise up Cambodian evangelists. – Revival for the U.S. church – that we would stand for difficult truth in these days no matter what the cost. – Financial support to keep me in the field doing what I am called to do. 2. Click to Donate via PayPal (tax deductible)! 3. PayPal charges a small processing fee. If you would like to avoid the fee, please send a check to: Castaway Ministries 99 Indian Mill Lane Clearfield, PA 16830 Praise the Lord Jesus Christ! And Thank You for your support! |
Tag Archives: false accusations
November Ministry Highlights
| Prayer Partners: Thank you for your steadfast support! It Takes Guts to Serve the Lord: Recently while preparing messages, it became apparent that the Lord was trying to reveal something to me. Sunday after Sunday, He kept leading to call the congregation to “expose the truth.” I did not know what I was asking them to reveal. But I reluctantly followed the Lord’s orders. Click here for Sermon Video – “The Transfiguration” => https://youtu.be/X2ckQvtvAfk?si=CwTuMTOZcgOokh2T “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11 People began to open up. The Lord revealed offenses against Him, against our church and against me, dating back several years. For example, a woman in the village burned a Bible we had given her grandson. Satan has used this same home as a channel for accusations against Castaway Baptist, such as, “Christians are crazy.” In Cambodian culture, to say that someone is crazy is a brutal accusation. It made people reluctant to come to church. When Rebekah left two years ago, she told the neighborhood and nearby church that I abused her (not true) in order to divert attention from her own sin, adultery. Note below that adultery is a biblical justification for divorce: “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew 5:32 The village has now been corrected. Praise the Lord. God’s Word identifies our accuser as Satan (Rev 12:10), the father of lies (John 8:44). He shoots the messenger in order to discredit / disprove the message. Since high school, I have been reluctant to confront accusers. I would rather crawl under something and hope that “God will work it out.” But all of that has changed in recent years. The Lord has made clear that He will not continue to enable my cowardice (Heb 10:38). He has taught me to stand up for myself and for Him like a man. This week, the Lord led to several houses and a church. We confronted our accusers, fought lies with truth. We all grew through it. The Lord led to stand and fight like a man for the cause of Christ. PRAISE THE LORD! “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 Some have sought to provoke benevolent giving through a variety of schemes. For example, a church member suddenly becomes disinterested in attending… until someone gives them a sack of rice. Later, another scheme… “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 Satan’s goal in this case is to derail the Lord’s leadership and church resources toward pleasing people. The Lord has led to let them go, rather than play their game. We now have a points system that rewards those willing to faithfully serve and stand for the Lord. It encourages obedience to God and discourages manipulation. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 Bunrong: Few are willing to work hard like Bunrong. Usually the same Scripture that I will expound upon in by preaching at 10:00, I give him to teach the children’s simple version at 8:30 for the youth. He checks understanding by asking questions or playing a game. He also leads worship. I meet with him during the week to disciple and prepare him for success. Bunrong has shown tremendous spiritual growth. Praise the Lord!   “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” Proverbs 11:3 The Lord Sent Them Out 2-by-2: After Bible study and cleaning the church on Saturday morning, typically our youth go into the village to share the gospel.   “… I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 Evangelism: How Do We Do It? Our approach is simple. Typically we approach a house and small talk. Then we proceed with the simple gospel message, being sure to make clear the requirement for repentance and coming judgment for the unbeliever: ‘God created all things. The first man and first woman sinned against Him. All have sinned. Jesus came to die on the cross, paid the penalty for the sins of the world 100% in full with His blood, and rose again. We must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to receive everlasting life in heaven. He will return to judge; we must be ready.‘ In addition to the gospel message, within a Cambodian context, most important to clarify is that “do good & get good” (karma) cannot save a person (from everlasting hell). A human being does not have power to cleanse his own sin / save himself through good works. If they ask questions, we answer them. If the Lord leads to do so, we pray with them. “… I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 Growth through Persecution: This season, we have seen tremendous fruit (ex. boldness to stand for Christ) through persecution. Praise the Lord! “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14 Life Is (Should Be) Evangelism: Anyone can stand for Christ in a church building surrounded by fellow believers. But few are willing to stand alone for Christ in the market, at the restaurant and auto mechanic. My Dad taught me to be willing to do the latter. He prays for opportunities to share the gospel daily and follows the Lord into them. It is not uncommon to find my Dad standing in an aisle at Walmart contending for the faith… defeating Satan’s lies with Bible truth. Even in the midst of tremendous trials and persecution, the Lord provides fulfillment and abundant blessing. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!   “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 Christmas Prep: Speaking of Dad (and Mom and Aunt Bob), the family will be here on the ground in Cambodia in mid-December, Lord willing. I am looking forward to sharing the gospel in Cambodia with my Dad. Youth set up the Christmas tree, and we have already begun singing Christmas hymns.  Any of us could die at any moment. Click Here to find out how you can know enduring peace, God’s purpose for your life and be sure you will go to heaven when your brief time on earth is up. Ways to Partner: 1. Pray for: – Conviction, eyes to see and ears to hear for the LGBTQ. – That seeds would bear fruit, that the Lord would raise up Cambodian evangelists. – Revival for the U.S. church – that we would stand for difficult truth in these days no matter what the cost. – Financial support to keep me in the field doing what I am called to do. 2. Click to Donate via PayPal (tax deductible)! 3. PayPal charges a small processing fee. If you would like to avoid the fee, please send a check to: Castaway Ministries 99 Indian Mill Lane Clearfield, PA 16830 Praise the Lord Jesus Christ! And Thank You for your support! |
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