What is Happening Around the Globe!

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice! ”

Paul, servant of Christ Jesus

The Kingdom of God is worldwide, and He is doing some amazing things on every continent.  We here at The Crossing are making an impact in lives of many different nations with the Love of Christ.  Through the missions ministry, we as a congregation,  partner with missionaries around the globe.  We help sustain them in work through financial giving and prayer.

Please be in prayer for all of our missionaries and their families as they continue their partnership with Christ to expand his Kingdom in the hearts of those overseas.

Seth and Megan Philip in Japan

Who: Seth and Megan Philip
Where: Nagoya, Japan
With: Mustard Seed Global Fellowship (msgf.com) since January 2009
Task: Planting a church amongst the Unreached in Japan
Home: http://sethmegan.blogspot.com/
Background: Ozark Christian College, Lots of Language and Culture Traning

Dear Crossing,
My wife and I are very excited that you are partnering with us and Mustard Seed Global Fellowship in Japan! Living in Japan, I am reminded each day that there are people that still have not heard about Jesus. Whether it is our teachers at school, people on the train or one of our friends, most do not know that there is a God who made them, loves them, died and rose again for them. Unfortunately, sharing Jesus with the Japanese is not as easy. Most Japanese do not know English so we have to learn Japanese well enough to explain the deep truths of God’s word. Additionally, Japanese often know little to nothing about the Bible, church, Jesus, or Christianity. Starting from scratch has its advantages but it also brings a difficult challenge. Our team believes that the most important aspect to our ministry is prayer. As Paul asked other Christians to pray for him, please pray for the work here in Japan. Ephesian 6:18-20 “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Greetings to you from Central India Christian Mission

This is a prayer request to pray for our Preacher Bro. Ashawan and 35 seekers from Hathpura village of the Shahdol area in central India.  
 
Two days ago on January 23, the church in Shahdol was having a gathering and Bible study / prayer meeting.  Our son-in-law Josh went to take part in that.  However, we received a phone call from our preacher informing us that the police and members of an extremist group called Bajrangdal had come to the church and accused us of forceful conversion.  He also suggested it would be best for Josh not to come.  Josh was about to reach the church and already had reached the town.  We were able to stop him in order to avoid the complications for the church family and himself.  Later the police took the 35 seekers from the village and forced them to sign a document saying that they were under a forceful situation to accept Christ.  They also took our preacher Bro. Ashawan to the police station and he stayed there almost 18 hours.  
 
Bro. Ashawan has not been arrested, but he is under search.  We are doing our best to find a solution.  I am keeping in touch with Bro. Ashawan and the church leaders on a regular basis.  A couple of my friends in the government are trying to help us resolve this issue.  Please do pray for the solution.  

Anya’s update 1/20/10

“See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”  *Isaiah 42:9

So tomorrow I get on a plane to Seoul, South Korea. From there I continue on to Los Angeles where I will spend a few days with the parentals. I will then make my way from LA to Cancun, an overnight bus to the Mexico border, across the Mexico/Belize border, and then finally a water taxi to our base in San Pedro. I can’t believe that Outreach is coming to an end. I also can’t believe what a horrible job I have done of cataloging it. I am in the process of creating a photo album of pictures from Thailand with descriptions that you can access on this blog so you can get a taste of it.

KIVA

What is Kiva?

KIVA is the first person – to person micro-lending website that empowers individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

In August of 2008 The Crossing donated $1,000.00 to KIVA entrepreneurs, following our “Try the Tithe” giving series. In an update we wanted you to see how our continued efforts are benefiting these entrepreneurs. Here are two stories of people our continuing donations have been able to help:

Rukany Atilio (picture above) sells vegetables in the market. However the market is quite a distance away and Rukany knew if she had a motorized bike she could deliver more vegetables faster and she could make more money.  Through KIVA Rukany received a loan and is now able to get more of her produce to market faster and fresher.  She is in the process of repaying her loan and once it’s paid off her plans are to continue saving so she can build her own house.

Word’s from Chad and Alicia Edwards

Dear Friends and Family,

Would you give us the best gift ever this next year by praying for us to have CLARITY to see where God is leading and the COURAGE to follow Him in faith and obedience?

In clarity, we pray that we will finish well.  After 14 years working with the Yong He Church plant, we believe God is preparing us and the church to transition to complete local leadership by the end of our next term. We continue to seek God?s wisdom and direction as we equip the Taiwan brothers and sisters to take the baton of leadership and impact their community as Christ?s disciples. More than anything, we desire for God to show us this process one step at a time for our church, team and family. May we respond in faith as he makes our paths clear.

We also pray for the courage to start new.  As the church is turned over to the nationals, this means we are also seeking God for what is next for our family and for our team. A new work? A new group of people? A new city? All these changes and transition can tend to bring out some fears of the unknown.

Where should we go? How will the kids respond to change? How will we respond to change? We have some new ideas about future roles and continue to seek God?s confirmation and leading. Change and transition are good things, but we will need much strength and courage to face this new journey that lies ahead.

Thank you so much,
Chad and Alicia Edwards

Update from Matt in India

 

 

Hello,

Our outreach in Jaisalmer was very interesting. It’s a very small city, yet very big on tourism as it is also known as The Golden City. It is very unreached only having one church in the whole city of Jaisalmer. Working with this church indeed built my patience. We always had to work around their schedule, not ours, and they tried to force us into doing things we do not do. They even called us un-spiritual because we smile during worship and we do not speak in tongues. However, my team and I decided to act on love and unity with the church instead of trying to argue with them.

As I mentioned in my previous letter, The Golden City is home to the Rajaput, the warrior class. It was very tough talking to them and reaching them for Christ, but it was cool talking to the kids. They were always interested in the stories of Christ. There was a group of kids we would sit on a hill with and tell them biblical stories. In general, people in India like things in story format.

There was one believer’s house we went to and enjoyed fellowship with, and they were the only people in Jaisalmer I saw smile. (Everyone looks angry and unapproachable!) They had to be one of the families that have inspired me the most. They live in the slums and don’t have much more than a hut, and they have four kids. One night, we were singing Christmas carols to their kids and giving them sweets.

After we sat and gave some encouragement and were about to leave, they gave us the sweets that they had for Christmas! Those are expensive for them because they live in the slums. They save them every year for their kids! After that we didn’t have much in our budget for Christmas, but they gave us 300 rupees, which is worth a days worth of food and groceries. They have very little but wanted us to have much. They inspired me so much because of where they were and how willing they were to give, and how they had hope in the place they live in.

Well I’m off to Ujain where a lot of high caste people live including the gurus, Sadusand, and Brahmans. Please keep me in your prayers.

Yours truly,

The Indian Man: Bubbles/ Mati Rodric

Anya in Thailand

This past month, we have been staying at an orphanage in a city called Mae Sot, doing different kinds of ministry: dramas, dance, manual labor, volunteering at a school, etc. But today was the day to say goodbye and move on to another location. First, in order to get our visas renewed, we had to cross over into Burma and re-enter Thailand. After that, we had some free time before we all met back together for a Christmas celebration dinner. I had a hamburger and fries!! We’re staying the night at a hotel and heading up to Chiang Rai on a bus early tomorrow morning. I want to write more but my roommate is trying to sleep so I’ll say goodnight. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Learn more about Anya’s time in Thailand at her blog here.

Merry Christmas from Thailand!!

I hope this email finds everyone enjoying their holiday season. I’m totally bummed not to get to spend Christmas with the family but it is exciting to be a part of what God is doing here. I’m attaching my December newsletter with highlights of the last few weeks. I also want to share about some decisions that I have made recently and how I hope that you’ll be a part of that!  

My Future with Destination Paradise
So the time has come when I have to make decisions about my future as far as working with YWAM Destination Paradise. As you know I will begin my internship in late January back on the boats, going through the skipper training program which I hope will lead to earning my captain’s license. I will be staffing both the January and April schools on the boat and could potentially be part of another outreach during the summer as a leader. I honestly can say that I feel very at home in this organization and feel a strong calling from God on my life for DP. I didn’t expect this but I’m so excited for the opportunity. I want to be a part of this organization because of what it has done for me as well as what it has done for others. In the first three months of this school, I felt my heart come alive. I have never felt more fulfilled or more sure of God’s love in my whole life. I feel like I’m free to be me. I don’t need to worry about the opinions of others because God’s opinion is the only one that should drive my actions. I have also seen DP help others find freedom in Christ. The stories that my fellow teammates have told about their pasts would break your heart. But God has led them through it and made their hearts new. I have also been blessed to watch them go and touch the lives of others on outreach; I have watched friends love on people here who the world has deemed not worthy of love. DP’s motto is so true. DP is touching a few who go on to touch thousands.

The Edwards Family

Dear Partners

We are enjoying the last two weeks of our home service with our families. It’s hard to believe the time has gone so fast. We will soon be trying to figure out how to get all the things we have accumulated back to Taiwan. We still need a few more boxes! : ) We again want to thank you for making our visit back to the states such an encouraging one. Your prayers and generosity have truly been a blessing to us. We hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. 

In Christ

 Chad & Alicia

Matt “Bubbles” Update in India

Hey Everyone,

 So far, my time here in India has been a fun, tough, and adventurous rollercoaster ride!  As my lecture phase is coming to an end, as well as my stay in the city of Jaipur, my next journey begins with our outreach.  There will be two teams of 5, one going to Jodhpur and my team going to Jaisalmer.  I’m leaving the 3rd of December to “The Golden City”(aka Jaisalmer ).  There, my team and I will help with any needs of churches, perform skits and songs, give messages and testimonies, etc… We will be also be approaching some of the Hindu and Islamic areas.  Jaisalmer is one of the hardest places to bring the love of Christ (they oppose Christianity and Christ very much here).

Oh, here is something that’s funny.  I’m heading to the desert, ironic, and it’s the closest city in Rajashtan , India to Pakistan.  Another people group there is the Rajput.  They are the main ruling class.