STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Why do you do what you do?

2011-09-06T10:24:00.000+10:00

Here’s a story from a couple* of our field workers who are in North Asia.

“Why do you do what you do?” This question was asked by a local man when he saw the efforts we were making to help poor children have a hope and a future. Other locals have asked the same question when they attended our Youth Concerts. You would think this would be an easy question to answer, but it actually caused us to search deeply concerning our motivation for what we do. We were surprised when a Muslim woman answered this question for us.

In a previous update we mentioned we had a concert with about 100 people attending, 40 of whom were drunk (adding much colour to the meeting!) We recently held another concert and were blown away by the attendance. Over 300 people squeezed into the hotel meeting room and the place was pumping. The worship was incredible with many unbelievers experiencing the presence of God. R* shared a message on, ‘How I know God is real’ and we were overwhelmed by the response to the altar call.

After the prayer time a lady came up to R* and said, “I am medical doctor and am also a Muslim. I work so hard to try to help people, and I am tired and frustrated. I don’t seem to be making a difference. There are too many things that are out of my control. But I can see what you are doing. You are trying to set people free”.

So that seems to be the answer to the question, ‘Why do you do what you do?” We do it so we can preach the gospel to the poor, proclaim liberty to the captives, restore sight to the blind, and set free those who are oppressed.

*The country these Field Workers are located in is classified as closed. Therefore, names and location have been withheld for security reasons.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Field Visits

2011-08-29T17:14:00.001+10:00

Karen Peyroux is the Field Coordinator at ACC World Missions. Karen assists from the initial stages of enquiry to returning home after service, and provides information to those wanting to support the field workers. She is the main contact for all the ACC Field Workers, both long and short term.
Following the Pan Asia Conference in Phuket, Thailand, Karen conducted a field visit to the AOG World Relief team in Vietnam.

Nicolette Beets (Program Manager, ACC International Relief) and I (Karen Peyroux, Field Coordinator, ACC World Missions) were blessed to be able to visit Paul & Deb and Kelvin & Rebekah in Vietnam from Saturday night 6/8/11 to Wednesday afternoon 10/8/11. Kelvin & Rebekah picked us up from the airport and welcomed us into their home. On Sunday, we went with them and Paul & Deb to the International Church in the morning, and to Hoi An in the afternoon, a lovely town reflecting in its architecture the era of the French colonisation. In the evening, Paul & Deb came over to Kelvin & Rebekah’s to relax with us, which was very touching, because they deserved to have the night by themselves before a busy week with 2 teams from supporting churches, as well as us.

On Monday, we rode on the back of Kelvin & Rebekah’s motorbikes to get some breakfast – pho (but with a couple of markings above the o which we don’t have in our English language, and it’s pronounced similarly to ‘fur’), which is a noodle, meat & vegetable soup, then to the AOG World Relief Vietnam office to meet some of the staff, see where their offices were etc. It was great to see the office first-hand so that when I skype-call Paul, Deb, Kelvin or Rebekah, or when they skype-call me, I can picture where they are calling from! It was also lovely to meet the Vietnamese members of staff and learn a bit about what roles they do. My understanding and appreciation for what they do was increased, including how they liaise with government departments as they carry out projects in the various provinces. We then went to a school in a village about an hour away to give out stationery packs to students in the child sponsorship program. I was impressed with the orderly ceremony for handing out the packs. One student opened with a song, then the principal called out students in groups of 10 to line up. Paul & Deb chose 2 people from either their team or the visiting team (and also Nicolette and myself) to hand the packs to the children, then we lined up behind them for a photo to be taken. The smiles on the faces of the children were beautiful, and they carried their packs carefully. I used to be a school teacher in Sydney, and sadly saw many students not appreciate their school books and not appreciate their access to schooling. So it was lovely to see these young children value what they had been given, and they seemed to realise the difference this (and other aspects of the child sponsorship such as school uniforms, access to health care, etc.) would make to their lives. In the evening we went to a session of the Shine program that 2 Vietnamese young ladies ran, on skin care and make-up, but placing emphasis on the natural beauty of the young ladies attending the course. This was run in the office of a facility which looks after women and their children. The young ladies’ children were looked after by a team from one of Paul & Deb’s supporting churches in the facility, so that the Mums could focus on the course.

On Tuesday, we went to another village about an hour away where the people who had been chosen to receive piglets were being trained in how to care for them, what to do with the offspring, etc. Paul & Deb and their staff also helped the people complete surveys of what their life is like now, and will do a survey again later to see how their lives are impacted positively by being given the piglets. Then the truck with the piglets arrived and Paul & Deb’s team, the visiting team, and us, took turns at giving the piglets to the people, in cane baskets. Then each recipient was photographed and one or two were videoed. The people receiving the piglets had huge smiles on their faces and secured them to their bikes before going home. One lady who was not on the list of recipients turned up wanting a piglet, but of course they could only be given to the ones Paul & Deb & their team had already chosen. But someone took her details and she may become a recipient of a piglet at another time. That night, our last in DaNang, we went with Kelvin & Rebekah up a building which had a magnificent view over the river. When I went to bed, I reflected on how happy Paul, Deb, Kelvin & Rebekah are in serving God there. Paul & Deb have been there for about 13 years, and Rebekah had spent 2 years there when she was single. Kelvin & Rebekah have only been in Vietnam for a few months as a married couple, and Rebekah has fitted right back into the swing of things, and Kelvin is picking up everything so fast – language, driving, etc.

Our last day, Wednesday, we went to another village, about an hour and a half away, to visit another school and hand out stationery packs. Many of the children’s parents watched eagerly from outside the room, to see their children being presented with the packs. We all then walked across to another school where there was an outdoor “driver education” track for children, which Paul & Deb’s team had supplied plastic cars, bikes etc. for the children to ride and be taught road rules, safety etc., which is definitely needed there because the way the adults ride their bikes in front of cars or 4-wheel drive vehicles, they don’t seem to realise that a car hitting them could kill them. That day, Paul & Deb also presented a traffic policeman uniform to one of the boys which he put on and stood in the middle of the traffic school and blew his whistle – very cute! This school had previously received a water filtration system, and a tap and bubblers with fresh water for the students to drink. The principal and another staff member were interviewed and videoed about the difference the clean water has made in the school. A boy drinking a glass of water from the tap was also videoed. We were then driven back to the AOG World Relief Vietnam office and caught a taxi with one of the teams to the airport. Nicolette and I then parted ways, with her flying up to Hanoi to meet up with her fiancé (who had only proposed to her the Friday night immediately after the Pan Asia conference, that is, the night before we flew to Vietnam!) and some friends, whilst I flew to Ho Chi Minh City then onto Melbourne, to be greeted enthusiastically by my wonderful husband Noah!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Baseco

2011-08-23T16:18:00.004+10:00

“John 1412 Worldwide Ministries Inc” is a Strategic Partner with ACCWM, with Mark & Christine Pedder living and working with people in the Baseco Slum, Philippines.
Baseco consists of around 1/2 square km of reclaimed land, with an estimated 16,500 families. The average family consists of 2 parents and 4-6 children. The largest family Mark & Christine personally know have 21 living children, and their neighbour has 18. A realistic estimate of the Baseco slum population would be more than 100,000.
Mark and Christine are making a difference, person by person, family by family. They are developing local leaders, helping children with education, supporting families who need support, micro-enterprise, medical assistance and building homes. They summarise what they are doing as....helping people in the name of Jesus.
Here are some recent blog posts from Mark.

Kids Church…you have to be there.

It’s not always the easiest thing to get to children’s church in the rainy season, but still they come. This is literally the main path to Kids Service…these children are all leaving at the end of the program.
On any given weekend we would have at least 600 children involved in Kids church…singing, dancing, hearing about Jesus…and having fun.
How good is that…unless you have faith like a like child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

The church grows when we GO…
In the book of Acts, there are a number of things that simply never stopped…one of them was church growth. Individual believers were always being added, new churches were always being planted and new areas of mission were always being opened up.
We can theorise and write books on why, we can complicate the whole thing…but one of the main reasons these things constantly happened, is that the church and individual believers simply never stopped GOING, they never seemed to settle into “church”.
We have a lot of new people in church, a lot of new bible studies starting, and people being baptised every month…not because we are amazing people, but because we never stop GOING OUT WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL.
Not rocket science, very simple.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Determined to make a difference

2011-08-15T17:35:00.001+10:00

John & Christine Santostefano are Career Ministry Field Workers in Europe. Based in England since 2006 with their three daughters, they are passionate about seeing churches throughout Europe instilled with a sense that kids are valuable to community, significant to God and capable of massive impact in their world.
Travelling to various countries throughout Europe, they provide training events for children’s ministry leaders and run children’s outreach events.
Recently in Marhanets, in central Ukraine, 60 delegates from the surrounding region made it through the icy roads to attend the third training event for children’s leaders.

It was during a break from training that John was approached by Natasha, and through an interpreter, Natasha shared her story.
Natasha lives in the nearby town of Nikopol, where she and her husband Anatol (and their two sons) have planted a church. As is often the case in church culture, the majority of people attending their church were women, with many husbands having limited involvement. And although attracting children in a Ukraine town is relatively easy, keeping them connected and growing within the church is more of a challenge.

Two years earlier, Natasha had participated in one of our training events. Going home she was both inspired and determined to make a difference with the children of Nikopol. Applying the principles she had learnt resulted in many children from her community coming to Kids club and experiencing God. But it didn’t stop there! Excited with their new found faith, these children brought their parents along to church – not just their mothers, but their fathers and siblings too!
With lives being impacted, Natasha has reason to be proud of her achievements, yet she is not happy to settle for a few good results. She desires more training, more new ideas and a greater outworking of God in her local community. Natasha is living proof of someone determined to make a difference.

There are many other children’s leaders like Natasha, not just in Nikopol or Marhanets, Ukraine, but also in Madrid, Spain, in Slavošovce, Slovakia, and in every European nation. By training, resourcing and partnering with people who have a passion to make a difference, we help develop skills and realise their dreams of impacting each child they come in contact with. We have an amazing opportunity to give children across Europe the best chance of a positive future and living a life of purpose.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

8 Baptisms!

2011-08-08T11:15:00.000+10:00

Mark & Sarah Brown are Associate Field Workers in Philippines. It’s wonderful to listen to their excitement as they shared about recent baptisms in their church.

Last Sunday we were excited to baptize 8 people in water at our church! We had spent the month preparing with weekly classes looking at the Biblical principle of water baptism. On the day, we showed pre-recorded videos of their testimonies, and then after their video they would be baptized in a 150 gallon water trough we had brought with us from California! (got the idea from Net of Life church!

We hope you take a moment to read this personal testimony of one of the individuals who got baptized.

"My name is JennaLyn Salita or you can just call me Jenna. My parents both came from the province of Cagayan Valley. Since they were about the ages of 13 and 14 they both came to Manila with their families. My life before I met Christ: I was born and grew up in a Roman Catholic family. That's why I believed in different saints. That when I'm sick, I would pray and touch them. If I needed something, I would ask the images or statues and it will be given to me. That is my mindset when I am young. Further, way back in my childhood I was short tempered and easily got irritated and fond of yelling as if i was mad at everyone around me. I also had the attitude of jealously - meaning there were things I liked which I saw other people had but I didn't. Even though I wanted them my parents could not afford to buy them for me. Though they did buy me stuff, I still complained about even those things. That is how I lived.

For some time I began to attend services at a Baptist church. I was fond of singing and the stories they were telling me. On the contrary, I didn't understand the importance of those stories and lessons. Until one time I was invited by a friend to join them at their youth service at their church. And there they introduced to me Jesus. How he loves me, how he loves us and sacrificed his life to save me and every one of us. It was then, in 2007, I was a sophomore student in high school - I admit that I'm a sinner, ask God to forgive me and believe in him and confess that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. Now that I'm a Christian I want the world to know how God changed me and how I live my life today. I am thankful in whatever circumstances happens. Because God has a plan for me and every one of us. He knows what is the best for us and thats why I know how to be satisfied with what I have and with what is given to me. For the best time is in God's time. I learned to share my blessings with others, especially the good news that was shared with me about Jesus. For I know that this is not just a blessing but the most precious gift we can ever have - our salvation."

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

It’s all about the one

2011-08-02T16:54:00.001+10:00

Kelvin & Rebekah recently joined the AOG World Relief team in Vietnam, as Career Field Workers.

During our second week here, our whole team was visiting a neighboring province in celebration of National Children’s Day. Amongst the festivities, we were told about a family in the next town who had recently suffered incredible hardship.
They were a family of five: father, mother, two children and the mother-in-law. The father became ill last month and within a few days of a high fever he had become blind and deaf as result. The mother is now left to become the sole bread-winner to provide for the family whilst also trying to divide her time to care for her husband, two children, and mother-in-law – all of whom need her assistance.
As a very poor family, they could not afford to seek the help they need but when our Government Partners told us of this case, we went to the family home to see what could be done. After seeing the incredible need, we have arranged for the family to go to Da Nang to meet with the doctors there and will cover the costs of all medical treatment. The family was in tears when they heard this and so were we. This man’s wife wrote what had just happened on the palm of his hand and he literally jumped up with excitement. Before he was sitting cross-legged and hunched over feeling helpless, and now has a new lease on life.

Since arriving in Da Nang, he has had preliminary appointments with the doctors at the Eye Hospital. It appears that he has sustained some damage to certain nerves in his brain. We are seeking further clarification of his condition from doctors in Australia. It appears his condition is operable though he may never gain full sight/hearing back ever again. Stay tuned for a further update – we are pr*ying there is great news to follow!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Changing the community

2011-07-26T10:40:00.001+10:00

Frank & Michele Heyward are Associate Missionaries in Uganda and the Directors of COME Uganda.
COME Uganda is changing the community through Development Projects such as child education sponsorship, adult education, medical relief, hospital care and counselling, infectious disease sensitisation, and Missions by supporting open air evangelism, building churches, supplying bibles, pastor sponsorship and ministry training.

Four years ago when she was 14, Janet was coerced to go to a remote forest to marry Eric who worked as a charcoal burner.
Within a year Janet had a baby they called Suuna. From birth Suuna never put on weight, and always looked malnourished. Soon after producing Suuna, Janet fell pregnant again and gave birth to Alice, who now looks much older than her brother. Then once again Janet fell pregnant, and the family moved to Lukwanga to live with Eric’s mother.

In April the community brought Janet to Hope Medical Centre unconscious. A very drunk Eric came just as the Dr was putting her into a taxi to take her to Mulago Hospital. The Dr at Casualty in Mulago admitted Janet who was by that time having convulsions. Janet recovered and gave birth to a healthy baby girl they called Betty.

During their time in Lukwanga our Community Health Worker, Deborah, has been counselling and encouraging the illiterate family. As a result Eric gave up alcohol and cigarettes, Janet has been taking better care of the children, and they have been given seed money to commence a small shop to sell produce. The grandmother still drinks and smokes but all have become Christians and now regularly attend church.
....one at a time!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

One Day to Change the World

2011-06-22T14:50:00.000+10:00

We are excited to announce the 2011 launch of One Day to Change the World!

One Day equips you to be a catalyst for change – in your church, your community and your world. This is achieved through:
• Awareness
• Advocacy
• Action
• Impact

Join us this year in making a difference. Through One Day, thousands of people have already been greatly assisted. With your partnership, thousands more will receive access to clean water, education and vocational training, livestock programs, micro-enterprise and many other initiatives.

Last year, One Day supported over 30 projects in more than 12 different countries. There were over 12,000 direct beneficiaries who received life-changing assistance.

Why don’t you find out more and register online at www.acci.org.au/oneday or by calling us on 1300 997 502. Follow this link to download your event guide and see how you can get involved.

We are so excited to partner with you – changing the world one life at a time!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Adventures & opportunities

2011-06-20T11:38:00.004+10:00

Stuart & Alison Bury are Associate Missionaries in Peru. In a newsletter they sent earlier in the year, they described what they had been up to. Here’s a portion of what they were doing at the time.

A God filled adventure to the Jungle
Micah, a mission friend of ours asked Stuart if he would accompany him on a river trip to visit a dozen or so village churches. Micah tries to visit on a monthly basis to do evangelistic preaching, encourage the church leaders and motivate them in their correspondence course in biblical studies. Stuart was in his element, walking hours on end through mud, sharing with brothers and sisters, getting lost in the jungle, preaching, travelling by dug-out canoe. It was a God filled adventure!

Opportunities
For Stuart, the last 6 months has been flat out filling in for one of our church pastors, Nicholas, who was on home assignment in the States. When Stuart first started, his first thoughts were “How am I ever going to lead this group when I can hardly understand or be understood”. He came home from every meeting feeling frustrated with himself. Now, at the end of the 6 months, he is revelling in the opportunities to pastor, disciple and train leaders.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

The Value of One Life

2011-06-15T10:41:00.000+10:00

Here’s a story from a couple* of our field workers who are in North Asia.

“Hi, my name is Lily. When I was born, my parents thought I was so ugly that I didn’t even look like a person. I was also very sick. They didn’t want me so they took me down to the railway lines and left me on a railway track. After a while an old lady heard me crying. She picked me up and took me home. Because I was so sick and she was so poor, she couldn’t keep me. So she sold me for $1.50 to a family who couldn’t have children.

This family looked after me and raised me. Growing up I was always a sickly child and in my early teens I became very ill with leukaemia. I was dying. When I was 15 I heard about Jesus and was prayed for by some believers. I was instantly healed of the leukaemia! I gave my life to Jesus and my parents became Christians as well.

I am now working as a campus worker in one of the universities. I am also attending the Emerging Leaders Training Program. Through this program I have been really lifted up in my spiritual life. I was very ignorant of the Biblical truths that were taught. I now feel better equipped for my ministry and have fresh faith and vision for the future”.

*The country these Field Workers are located in is classified as closed. Therefore, names and location have been withheld for security reasons.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Building lives

2011-06-06T11:46:00.002+10:00

The River Team had five community development students from Rajaphat Chiang Mai (university) working with them as interns over their summer break.

The students were involved in community development work, going out with The River Team to various locations. While doing home visitations, seeing team members bathing the elderly and the sick (many of whom have AIDS), cleaning their homes and eating with them, the students were filled with questions, “How can you do what you do?” Nit, a team member with no formal education, but who carries God’s presence within her, answered, “The Lord lives in me!”

These students also chose to attend the daily prayer, worship and teaching times with The River Team because they felt drawn to the warmth and openness of the team.
They learnt community development is not just about building roads, hospitals and other facilities, but about building lives! It’s all about making relationships with the community and truly loving and serving the people. They know that there was something very different about the way The River Team works and they know that it’s because all of the team have a vibrant relationship with God. They discovered that The River Team is not about positions or making money, but about walking in His love and grace.

Having completed their uni requirements, they said goodbye, presenting The River Team with a plaque (picture) and then turned up the following day to help out with the kid’s club program.
They were all truly impacted by their time with The River Team!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

2011-05-31T12:14:00.003+10:00

John & Kay Symons are Associate Field Workers in Kenya, Africa. John works under Bishop Isaaka Wawire in Mbale, teaching in the East Africa School of Mission (EASM). He developed a Cross Cultural Ministries and Linguistics curriculum for the college, which he is now teaching.
Kay, along with schooling their children, also helps teachers in the local primary school with methods of teaching English literacy & is on the board of Care Compassion Children’s Home which is run by the church they work with. Kay also helps the international students at EASM develop their English, to help them with their studies.

The New Academic Year
The new academic year has started at EASM this month. Seven new students have joined the first year of the course, while eight continue into second year, and about a dozen are going on into their third year. Students come from the western provinces of Kenya, as well as a number of surrounding African countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.

New subjects are being offered this year which means more curriculum writing for John as well as a fairly solid teaching schedule. Waking up and wondering what he’s going to do each day is not one of his problems!

New & old buildings on EASM land at Kegoye

Building
EASM owns a plot of land at Kegoye, near Mbale and this land has enormous potential. The intention is to build and relocate the Bible College from its current rented premises as soon as possible. Following this, there are further plans to develop a community centre, which would include space for a clinic and church, as well as continuing to farm some of the land to provide food for students.

The land is very fertile, so it was quickly utilised to grow produce. Maize and beans were soon being harvested from the property!

The building process has begun, with the erection of a ‘tin shed’ dormitory and classroom building. The finishing touches are being applied to this building, with boarders and classes expected to be using this building by the beginning of June.

Already on the property is an old, partially finished three bedroom house. The previous owner began but never completed the building. What he built however, he built well. An engineer has pronounced the old structure usable, and a quote as been made by a builder for repairing weather damage, complete unfinished walls, installing a floor and a roof. The building will be used as an office for the principal, a library, a guest bedroom for any visiting lecturers, a staff room, and a kitchen that can be used by staff and students alike. We’re anticipating with excitement what the ‘after’ is going to look like!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Reading with Understanding

2011-05-26T10:43:00.002+10:00

In a recent newsletter a couple* who are Career Ministry Field Workers in East Asia shared some wonderful stories of lives changed.

They focus on justice and equal access to the truth, summarising their work as ‘providing equal access to the Gospel’.

The scriptures are presented as untrustworthy because those in authority claim the Bible has been corrupted. The Quran has been wrongly interpreted to keep people in bondage, despite many verses pointing to the need to read the Bible and have faith in the Word of God.

To overcome these injustices and false teachings, they are preparing and distributing scripture portions in a language the people can understand. This opens doors, helps to explain difficult concepts, which helps people accept the scriptures as uncorrupted and receive them as the true world of God. They find it a joy to see people soaking themselves in the Word and spending any time they can in reading and memorizing as much as possible.

A community leader joined the distribution and teach team as an ‘apprentice’ so he can do the same outreach in his own village!

Genealogy of Jesus in Arabic

They are opening the Quran in conjunction with the Bible to show what it actually says about Jesus and the Bible. A series of studies on are being prepared to assist with this.

A recent conversation with a friend culminated with the young man suggesting he should read the Bible and asking where he could get a copy, which they were able to provide him with one!

*The country these Field Workers are located in is classified as closed. Therefore, names and location have been withheld for security reasons.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Providing physical & spiritual healing

2011-05-16T14:53:00.001+10:00

Yvonne Woods (Career Specialist Field Worker) has been serving in South Africa as a nursing instructor for 10 years at the Africa School of Nursing under the African School of Missions. Yvonne trains future nurses and uses her nursing to serve the local community through a mobile clinic and a fixed primary health care clinic. Along with providing medical services for the poor and unemployed, Yvonne enjoys being able to minister God’s love to each patient. Here’s an update from a recent newsletter.

We now have a Doctor, Dr Piet van Rensburg, working with us on Monday mornings in the clinic. He fits in well with the team of nurses and really seems to enjoy being here. We are so appreciative of all he does. He is able to do procedures on patients that we would have had to previously refer to hospital. He helps us further develop our skills, he has also given us insight on what and how the local people think. I now check to see if they have been bewitched, many believe a family member or someone else has cursed them, or they believe abdominal pain is due to a snake in the stomach, leg ulcers or swelling is a result of being cursed. My consultations take on another dimension as I address the spiritual as well as the physical needs.

We continue to see the Lord move in the hearts of our patients. Each Wednesday, there are a handful of people who want us to pray with them to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus. There is such a spiritual hunger on the farm where we do the mobile clinic. These people are desperate for Bibles and are so happy when we are able to provide them with one.

Last week a young woman came to the fixed clinic to speak to one of our nurses. She told Zandile that she had been watching her for years now and wanted to know why things were different for Zandile. How come she coped so well with life and it never seems as if difficult circumstances got her down. It was so exciting for us to hear how Zandile shared that it was because she had committed her life to Jesus, and God gave her the strength and wisdom to cope with life. The young woman said her life was in a mess and she also needed to give her life to Jesus. Zandile and Val spent quite some time with the young lady counseling and praying for her.

Zandile first started helping in the clinic part-time in 2006, she was such a new Christian and so eager to learn more about God. Now her life is a shining example in her community, that people seek her out to ask why she is so different. This is a result of her hunger for God and the discipleship and support that Zandile has received from the registered nurses in the ASM clinic. Often we hear Zandile singing in Swazi to the Lord as she goes about her work, she is a joy to hear.

: Zandile in the fixed clinic

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

PAN ASIA Conference August 1st – 4th 2011

2011-05-09T12:17:00.003+10:00

Ps Alun Davies invites you to join us, along with senior pastors, mission directors, mission teams and field workers to hear of the amazing work that is taking place in the continent of Asia.
Discover new ways to partner with us to make a lasting difference to over 4 billion people living in this largely unreached region of the world.
Why not bring a short term team from your church with you? We can assist you with organising ministry in the region before or after the conference.

Venue: Mercure Resort, Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand www.mercurepatongphuket.com

Pan Asia Conference 2011 brochure now available.

Start: Monday 1^st August, 6pm for drinks and food on the hotel rooftop.
End: Thursday 4^th August, final session begins at 7:00pm (so we recommend you arrange departure on Friday 5^th August, after breakfast!).

Room Rate: $70 per night (2000 baht), including breakfast for two adults.

Conference registration: $100 per person, payable by cheque to “Canberra Christian Life Centre” and sent to P.O. Box 6742, Charnwood ACT 2615.

Further inquiries: Please email Huibri Martin at panasia@canberraclc.com or call +61 2 6101 6933.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

A different way to live

2011-05-03T10:56:00.000+10:00

In a recent blog, Tim & Bronwyn Perry who are in Northern Thailand as part of The River Team, shared about Yingwhit.

: Yingwhit with his gas burner

This is Yingwhit, a member of The River Team who was previously a Buddhist Monk. Yingwhit now lives and works in a very remote hill tribe village as a cross cultural missionary within his own country. He is from the Hmong tribe, a tribe with its own distinct language and culture and works with the Karen tribe, a tribe with another distinct language and culture. Though both of these tribes (and many others) live in Thailand, neither has language or culture in common with the ethnic Thais.

Yingwhit is currently seeing numbers of families coming to Christ through his community transformation work in that village and many of the surrounding villages that have also requested that he work with them. He is also seeing many miraculous healings in these communities.

In the picture above, Yinwhit stands in his small bamboo hut demonstrating the environmental and time saving benefits of using a simple gas burner rather than cutting local timbers to light fires side the hut to cook each and every meal. So far Yingwhit is the only one in his region using such technology, but others will follow as they watch Yingwhit benefit from the gas cooker.... Just as they followed when he modelled how to build a toilet, how to plant and use vegetable gardens and how to farm fish.

Below are just a couple of the faces of lives that have been transformed thought the work of Yingwhit and the church he leads in remote Northern Thailand. Please pray for him as he continues this often lonely work, in harsh conditions, and bears so much fruit!

: Transformed lives in Northern Thailand

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Rolling up the sleeves

2011-04-28T15:50:00.002+10:00

We visited a kindergarten school in Dai Loc District which had NO toilet facilities at all. All the kids were squatting in the field opposite the school to go to the toilet.
A partner church, Sonrise Church in Western Australia, was impacted with this very basic need of needing toilets so they raised funds and came and helped to build a new toilet block. The school was so touched by not only the willingness to do something for them, but also that this team, including the Pastor of the Church, would come and roll his sleeves up and physically work on the building.
When asking the Principal about whether there was any local church close by, they said yes, but they have never been here. Our hope is to link them together to see the local church working in this community.

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

30 Million Baht

2011-04-19T11:02:00.004+10:00

In December, our River Team went out to the streets to celebrate Christmas with the communities we have become so much a part of! Stages were set up on the streets, school ovals and other public grounds. The Hang Dong City Mayor’s New Year’s greetings and endorsement of our River Team were proudly applauded and photographed by the parents and even community leaders!
The River Team excelled this year in presenting “30 Million Baht”, a drama which was an absolute show stopper! The normally unruly street crowds were totally captivated by the life-like story line about a typical Thai family, whose life was being destroyed by gambling, greed and alcohol. The family then discovers that Christmas is not just another Western festival, but a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to open the way into TRUE LIFE and FREEDOM!

The above was from a recent newsletter received from Erik and Mariaana Klar & The River Team.

The River Team and their work continue to expand. In Hangdong, The River Team does more than 1500 home visitations a year! English is taught in 8 schools. Young people are being trained and mentored in hospitality skills at our River Convention and Training Centre. They also receive hands-on training in reaching communities. Tradesmen work on building projects and empower others. The River Cafe in the market place is about to be opened and will include “Personal Development” Courses for young people! The River Church continues to develop and is developing in its effectiveness as a “sending” Church! So far the River Church has given in excess of 100,000 Baht (AUD $3,500) towards the start of the NEW WORK in the south!!

Lives are being changed on the mountains. The humble “coffee hut” of Huei Hia has facilitated the start of a network of villages, where young people are discovering their destiny in God! Some are already in training in Chiang Mai!

If you would like to find out further information about this or any other stories, please email us at ACC International: info@acc-int.org

Philippines Partnership Summit 2011

2011-04-11T10:09:00.005+10:00

Click on image to enlarge