Participants:
Series Code: JFAN
Program Code: JFAN000096S
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00:00 (dramatic music)
00:21 - Hello and welcome to Jesus for Asia Now. 00:24 I'm Natalie Wood and my husband, Jon is with me today. 00:27 We have an actual miracle story to share with you. 00:31 Hello, love. 00:32 - Hi darling, how are you? 00:33 - I'm doing great and I'm really looking forward 00:35 to our story today. 00:36 - Yeah, actual miracle. 00:38 - Right. 00:39 So we wanna talk today about God's leading. 00:41 - Yes. 00:42 - And how he shows his will. 00:44 Sometimes it's not real clear 00:46 but this time it was very clear. 00:48 - Right. Oftentimes we move forward based 00:50 on our understanding 00:52 of God's will through his scripture his revealed will. 00:55 Oftentimes, as we move forward, 00:57 we see evidences of his providence. 01:01 And we call those the fingerprints of God, I do 01:03 (chuckles) 01:05 This time, we see a very clear miracle 01:08 and we have a picture of this miracle, 01:11 everybody can see this is a miracle. 01:13 - Right but first, we need the background. 01:14 Because we can, you know, if you don't know the history, 01:17 then the story doesn't-- - Make a lot of sense. 01:19 - really make a lot of sense. 01:20 - So where are we going today. 01:22 - We're going to Thailand, to Northern Thailand, 01:24 to our foundation up there called Love for Asia. 01:28 - Okay. 01:29 So a foundation, can you explain what that is? 01:31 - Sure. 01:33 Originally, when we first started working in Thailand, 01:35 we didn't need a foundation because we could get by 01:40 on a different kind of visa without a work permit. 01:42 But we saw that we needed to have some kind 01:46 of legal presence in Thailand 01:48 in order to hold property securely. 01:51 The team that we had, 01:53 they had no experience working with the government 01:55 but they just went forward in prayer and faith, 01:59 step-by-step with encouragement from others 02:01 and established a relationship with the government 02:04 and set up a foundation. 02:06 - Which is like what we have here, 501C3, 02:09 it's a nonprofit organization in Thailand. 02:12 And as soon as that foundation was able 02:16 to provide work permits, the government said no more 02:20 of the kind of visa that we had been using. 02:23 You have to have a work permit. 02:24 - It's almost like-- - It's almost like-- 02:25 - God held the door open-- 02:27 - God knew what we needed - until, right. 02:29 - and got us going in the right direction. 02:31 And then the foundation is now established so that many 02:35 of our missionaries can stay in Thailand, 02:38 based on that foundation. 02:41 - Wow. 02:42 Yeah, it was God's fingerprint all over that one as well. 02:44 - Absolutely. 02:45 Yeah, kind of a big picture. 02:47 It's like if you step back and look, 02:48 it's like, wow, this is perfect timing. 02:51 - So we have a video, introducing people to some 02:54 of the missionaries receiving work permits 02:55 through Love for Asia. - Yes. 02:57 But also introducing them to some of our staff there 03:00 - Yes. 03:01 - and the administration team - Yep 03:02 - at LFA. - Yep. 03:04 (ambient music) 03:13 - [Narrator] Thailand is the land of smiles, 03:15 but you have majority of Thai people is Buddhist. 03:21 And it's a big field for us to consider, 03:24 to share the gospel. 03:25 (ambient music continues) 03:31 - About eight years ago, when we came, 03:33 we were able to get a one-year visa and work here 03:37 for basically a year. 03:39 And then each year we had to go back to America 03:41 to renew our visa. 03:42 We continued that for about six or seven years 03:46 and then Thailand changed some of their rules or practices 03:50 and it became very difficult if not impossible to get a visa 03:53 for one year in America anymore. 03:56 - So it looked like a lot 03:58 of the missionaries were gonna have to leave. 04:00 Pretty much all the foreign missionaries we're gonna have 04:02 to leave Thailand. 04:04 (ambient music) 04:09 - But the year before those laws actually took place, 04:12 - We sat down together, 04:15 decided that we were going to proceed 04:17 with establishing a foundation here in Thailand, 04:20 so that Jesus For Asia could have a legal presence. 04:22 And so we started the process, 04:24 it took a year for the approval 04:27 through the government channels. 04:29 - So God established this foundation 04:31 at exactly the perfect time, 04:33 right when the missionaries needed it. 04:35 Otherwise they would have had to go home. 04:37 - With this organization it gives us an identity, 04:41 according to the law, the Thai law. 04:43 And with this we can do many service for the country, 04:47 for the local people and in the same time for the church. 04:50 Our main goal is to reach people and to help 04:55 in many possible ways that is open for us. 05:02 And with our organization, 05:03 our volunteers I can enter into villages 05:05 or areas that the Lord lead them and guide them. 05:08 We are here to support and to prepare whatever needed 05:13 for our volunteers. 05:15 - I was able to get a one-year work permit. 05:19 And with that, I can get a one year visa 05:23 and be able to continue my work here in Thailand 05:26 without even having to go back to America at all. 05:29 So it's been a great blessing. 05:31 - It's a lot of work on paperwork to get a work permit 05:36 and visas but by God's grace, 05:40 we can prepare paper for our volunteers. 05:44 - Thanks to the work permits that we we're able to get 05:47 through Love for Asia, 05:49 there's a number of missionaries that are able to serve here 05:51 in Thailand. 05:52 And they're doing work from education, 05:55 to medical missionary work, media 05:58 and other various work going on in different villages 06:01 and communities here in Thailand. 06:03 - It is a serious blessing to all of us. (laughs) 06:05 I've heard that repeated many times over 06:07 from Jesus for Asia missionaries. 06:09 (ambient music) 06:16 - We're enabling local missionaries who are natives 06:19 and we're enabling foreign missionaries because 06:21 of this foundation. 06:23 To me, that's a pretty awesome component right there. 06:26 We had the Thailand Adventist mission president sit down 06:29 with us at our office and has from his lips said, 06:36 "You guys are a real benefit and a real blessing 06:38 and we really love what you're doing 06:39 and thank you and keep it up." 06:45 It really is making a difference here in Thailand. 06:47 It really is going a long way and accomplishing a lot. 06:55 - On behalf of all the missionaries that are working 06:57 under Love for Asia foundation, 06:59 we wanna thank you for supporting this foundation, 07:02 that makes it possible for us to have a part 07:05 in spreading the three angels' messages here 07:08 in this country. 07:09 - I would like to ask for your prayer 07:11 for the ministry here that we can have wisdom to go forward 07:16 and to serve the Lord. 07:18 We ask for your support as well. 07:20 And thank you in advance for your help 07:24 that many souls will find Jesus. 07:26 (ambient music continues) 07:42 - So, anyway, that's what love for Asia, 07:44 it's just a little taste of what happens there 07:47 - under that foundation. 07:48 - Right, so we wanna talk about other things as well, 07:51 'cause Gop, when he was talking about what they do, 07:54 he was saying we can help the people here. 07:56 - And that includes other ways and during the time 07:58 of Corona virus-- - Yes. 08:00 - they've had a privilege of helping 08:02 in another way. - Yes. 08:03 - And that is through the food cabinets. 08:05 - Yes, it was a very strange idea 08:07 when they first mentioned it, 08:09 I said, how can we help the people that are struggling 08:12 through this crisis time. 08:14 They said, "Let's set up a food cabinet that they can come 08:16 and get food for free. 08:18 And I'm like, that's not gonna work. 08:20 But I've learned to not, you know, 08:22 express my negative opinions or my Western way. 08:27 And they set up this food cabinet and it's been amazing. 08:30 People are coming to church because of that gesture 08:33 of kindness towards the public. 08:35 - Right. 08:36 - And we have a little video that shows a taste 08:38 of what's happening there. 08:40 (slow music) 08:53 - There's a lot of suicides in Thailand because 08:56 of lack of food. 09:00 Mothers that can't get milk for their kids 09:03 so they commit suicide. 09:05 It makes no sense but when you're desperate, 09:07 nothing makes sense. 09:10 So I think, it really makes a difference, 09:12 it gives people hope, you know. 09:14 Even if they're not getting a lot 09:16 of food it gives them hope that somebody cares. 09:19 (slow music) 09:25 - I saw this program on the internet. 09:27 They called it "Sharing Happiness Cabinet." 09:32 So I think they developed this idea from the West 09:36 and they started to do it in the Central Thailand, 09:39 in Bangkok and in several places and it's gone viral. 09:42 So as a foundation, we would like to do the same, 09:46 but with the Christian way, we are motivated to do it 09:49 in sharing love so we named it "Sharing Love Cabinet". 09:53 We worked this with then Chiangmai church. 09:56 We have the space here. 10:00 It's a place where we can share what we have to others. 10:12 This is day one and we are so happy that lots 10:18 of people they quickly notice. 10:20 we just put the banner like 15 minutes ago 10:24 and now you can see they are in line to pick up the food. 10:29 Because we did not expect that there would be too much, 10:31 too many people like this, 10:33 we have to limit them to two pieces per individual today. 10:39 - When you help them, 10:40 even it's not enough to get them through, 10:43 it gives them determination and hope to go on. 10:47 And perhaps down the road, they will remember, 10:51 this church or these people that were Christian 10:54 gave me something, you know. 10:56 And it will matter God will bring it back to them. 10:59 God will remind him through the Holy spirit. 11:01 So, it's an outreach. 11:05 There's thousands of ways to do outreach 11:06 and this is a good one because they need food. 11:10 (ambient music) 11:26 - What's amazing is that even after three months 11:28 of this food cabinet going on the line was still, 11:31 30, 40 people lined up outside the food cabinet. 11:37 When they open gates in the morning 11:39 at eight o'clock they're lined up to get their daily food, 11:40 their daily portion. 11:42 - Wow. 11:43 - We've been able to help with that ministry 11:45 for several months ongoing. 11:47 So it's continuing to be - Yes 11:49 - a blessing to the community there. 11:51 - Right, absolutely. 11:52 - So, I'm really happy about that. 11:54 - That's thanks to the generosity of people here, 11:58 donating to the COVID relief fund. 12:00 - Right. 12:02 You know and it's neat because the local church is there 12:04 and they're helping also, 12:06 so different people are bringing food to put 12:08 into that cabinet, not just the LFA team 12:12 but other people as well from the church 12:14 and from the community, 12:16 I believe also there were businesses that were coming in 12:18 and bringing food - That's correct. 12:20 to be a part of giving. 12:21 And so, I'm sure that we've been able to give more than 12:24 two items per person or per family since then. 12:27 But that first day, I think they were really shocked 12:30 at how quickly people saw the sign and came for help. 12:35 - Right , yeah. 12:37 And so this is part of what the foundation does, 12:39 is it identifies areas of need 12:41 and finds ways to fill those needs. 12:42 And we have the locals working with the missionaries 12:47 and all together, and the church there altogether, 12:50 we're trying to let people know Jesus cares, somebody cares 12:55 and they're important. - Yeah. 12:57 What did the LFA team start out as 'cause it wasn't always 13:00 for the work permits. 13:02 Why did we have this team in Thailand? 13:04 - Well, the statistic is that the ties watch more television 13:07 per person per day, you know, like number 13:11 of hours per day than any other country 13:13 in the world. 13:14 And so we started out 13:16 with putting a team together to produce television shows. 13:20 Because you remember back in 2009, 13:22 we actually rented a channel 13:25 on a satellite that covered all of Asia. 13:28 And so we had for six months, a program, 13:32 a channel going out through all of Asia. 13:34 The problem was it's all in English. 13:36 - Right. 13:37 And when you travel around in Asia, 13:39 you realize how few people actually speak English. 13:41 And we're like, we need to develop programs 13:45 in the local languages 13:46 so that people can understand what the message really is. 13:50 And when we talk to people in Thailand, 13:54 they don't speak English. 13:56 - Right, they don't speak English 13:58 and they don't connect with programs that are produced 14:01 from a Western mindset. - Right. 14:03 - Because, you know, sometimes if we haven't traveled, 14:06 we don't realize how different their view 14:08 of the world is than ours. 14:10 And so to have people who speak their language 14:14 and have grown up like they have, 14:17 sharing the gospel, it's just a lot more effective. 14:20 - And so God brought a team together to do video production. 14:24 And then there was this call into setting 14:27 up the foundation. - Right. 14:28 - So we focused on that. 14:30 And also there's huge needs for translating books. 14:34 Many basic books are not translated. 14:36 There's over 73 languages represented in Thailand alone. 14:40 And so many of these languages don't have some 14:42 of the basic spiritual resources that we take for granted. 14:46 - Right. 14:47 - And so translation has been a big part 14:49 of what they've been doing. 14:50 But then we're like, we don't have a studio, 14:53 there's no studios available for rent. 14:56 We rented a home and we set up some of the team 14:59 in one bedroom and some of the team 15:00 in the other bedroom but no studio. 15:03 And so it's like, we were praying really hard 15:05 and then the Lord gave us the idea 15:07 of mobile production truck. 15:11 With that, we could go out and go to events, 15:14 go to church services and record those church services 15:17 and start streaming those. 15:19 - So this next video is about the production truck. 15:22 - Yes. 15:23 (ambient music) 15:32 - There's so much potential with what we're able to do now. 15:37 Our production is seeing a spike now in production capacity 15:43 for what our team has been able to do. 15:46 And also being that we are switching live, 15:48 it's also seeing an increased efficiency. 15:52 And so we're switching live from the vehicle 15:56 with cameras rolled out and cables attached 15:59 and communications to the camera man and everything. 16:04 And it's a full scale live production, 16:09 even if we don't actually get a broadcast signal up. 16:12 It also means more rapid release for materials 16:16 and the content that we're making for the people. 16:19 - We cannot go everywhere. 16:22 That's why through this CDs I think we can send out 16:24 or spread out everywhere. 16:26 And it's easy to spread out the message. 16:29 It also helps us to spread out the message faster, 16:32 because we cannot go every corner of the world. 16:35 So through this project, 16:37 I think it can help a lot of people. 16:43 - Instead of having just one place like we had here 16:46 with an evangelistic campaign, 16:49 now we can send the DVDs or CDs or whatever we have 16:55 for other places. 16:56 So then we have the material available for the villages 17:02 and then they have the opportunity to hear the message. 17:14 - I cannot put into words, my joy 17:18 and how thrilled I am to know that all 17:20 of these services are now on video 17:23 and they will be available to whoever wants them. 17:27 - So it doesn't matter if you are just one year old, 17:30 (foreign language) 17:34 or a hundred years old. 17:35 (foreign language) 17:38 - God has a very special plan for your life. 17:49 (Jon chuckles) 17:50 - Wow. That brings back memories. 17:51 - Yeah. 17:52 - Going up to Gail's place. 17:54 You know, she's a very remote place 17:56 and without the four wheel drive production truck, 17:59 we would not have been able to do that. 18:00 - No. 18:01 - And so, that's just an amazing blessing 18:04 and to have the series available and it was translated, 18:07 so it's available in English, 18:10 but also at the same time it's in the local language there. 18:13 - Yeah and that local language is Korean. 18:15 So it's not even Thai. - Right. 18:17 - So we've been able to purchase this little device 18:20 that allows us to broadcast 18:21 over an iPhone to Facebook. - Awesome. 18:25 - So we can be in some remote village 18:26 and as long as we have a cell signal, 18:28 we can broadcast live to Facebook. 18:30 - That's awesome. 18:32 - And of course, record it and broadcast it later as well. 18:34 We're just developing our library of sermons 18:38 that we can then share. 18:39 And a lot of people are watching it, 18:41 it's making a difference. 18:42 - Right, and they're putting them on YouTube 18:44 and I know we've had testimonies in the past too, 18:47 of people that have been impressed 18:49 to watch the YouTube channel and their lives are changing. 18:53 - People are coming to church because of that program 18:55 and there, and it's not, you know, a lot of people, 18:56 if they can't read and write, 19:00 they're only spiritual food is sub-school in church. 19:04 But if they have the video, 19:06 then they can feed themselves throughout the week 19:08 on spiritual messages and learn and grow 19:10 and maybe re-watch the sermon that they saw 19:12 on Sabbath just to get it in their memories 19:15 and get it in their heart. 19:16 - Right. 19:17 So it's amazing how media, 19:19 you think of it as just this thing, media 19:22 but it really can amplify the effectiveness 19:25 of the work that's going on, 19:27 but it also can amplify the gospel 19:29 for people that can watch things 19:31 that weren't present physically at that event 19:33 or whatever, they can watch it later. 19:35 - Right, it doesn't take the place of the preacher, 19:37 it amplifies the message. 19:39 - Right. 19:40 - But the problem with that production vehicle 19:42 and that's great, we really need it but it's limited 19:45 and we can only record when something's happening. 19:48 - Right. 19:49 - So like on a Sabbath, 19:50 or if there's an evangelistic series, 19:52 which happens maybe once a year or something like that. 19:55 So it's limited in its ability to, 19:57 and the kind of show the kind 19:59 of programming we can do is live. 20:02 So what we really need to do is have a small studio, 20:06 where we can record shows when we need to, 20:09 have the lighting set, the sound is good. 20:11 And then we can bring in like people 20:12 that have been converted to Christ that have learned 20:14 about Christ that are Thai. 20:17 Bring them in and they can share their story 20:19 about who Christ is. 20:21 Interview on different topics, different things like that, 20:24 Like health-- - Health programs, yeah. 20:26 spiritual health, you know, all the different kinds 20:27 of health and talk more, you know, 20:29 develop more of a program type-- 20:33 - Kind of abroad library instead of just sermons 20:37 or just evangelistic series, - Right. 20:39 more of the full range of everything people need to know, 20:44 to have happy lives-- - Exactly. 20:46 and to know God. 20:48 - So we've been impressed to build an office 20:51 and studio building. 20:53 - Right and for a number 20:54 of years we've been praying for this. 20:55 - Yes, for many years. 20:57 And somebody felt impressed to donate some land, 21:02 just recently. 21:03 And it took a while for it to go through the, you know, 21:06 the land management government type process. 21:10 - Okay. 21:12 - But finally the land transfer was finalized 21:14 into the name of Love for Asia. 21:16 - Okay. 21:17 - So it's held by that foundation. 21:19 And the people that donated it, 21:21 they run a children's home where they take care of orphans 21:24 and kids with disabilities and things like that. 21:27 Just a real heart for kids. 21:30 And we've got them on a little video talking about the land 21:33 and talking about why they're donating this. 21:35 - Okay. 21:37 ( slow piano music) 21:47 - In Thailand, there's very few Christians 21:50 and very few Christian resources. 21:52 And so we have been sponsoring a team 21:55 of media production people here, 21:58 for the last almost 10 years. 22:02 Right now we're in a small office 22:04 with very little space to shoot anything. 22:06 We have a mobile production truck, 22:08 which has been very helpful to gather sermons 22:11 from different churches. 22:13 But with that production truck, 22:15 we're a little bit limited because we have to wait 22:16 for a Sabbath and then we have to go out 22:18 and then we have to set up and film. 22:20 So there's very limited amount 22:22 of actual production that we can do. 22:25 So we've been praying for a TV studio. 22:28 Also the office that we're working in is rented 22:32 and so we've been praying for a studio 22:35 and office where it can be all in one property. 22:42 - We have noted that Jesus for Asia foundation is heavily 22:48 into evangelizing and media outreach. 22:51 So we thought that if we could donate some of our land, 22:56 which we kind of take to the kingdom with us anyway, 23:00 we thought if we donated some land, 23:02 this would kick start the work again 23:05 in a more serious manner. 23:07 Because it's real and our time is short. 23:10 We have to do our bit. 23:11 And this way we want to see a building on this land. 23:16 We would love to see it as quick as possible 23:18 with all the facilities for volunteers, for production. 23:23 And we want to, just wanna see the Lord's work move 23:26 (piano music) 23:30 - We figure we're estimating about $90,000 to build a studio 23:34 and office complex so that our team can be 23:36 in a place where they can do production, bring pastors in, 23:40 bring different people in to do seminars on health 23:43 and overcoming sin and how Christ works in your life. 23:47 Some creative stuff. 23:48 We got a really cool staff. 23:50 - The enemy now, as we know, 23:52 and as we see what the kind of events are 23:54 in the world today, 23:55 has lifted this game, he's becoming far more serious, 24:00 he knows he's time is short 24:02 and it is just a wonderful opportunity 24:05 to get the Lord's work moving even 24:07 at a greater pace (indistinct). 24:10 That's our appeal today that we can all get together 24:14 and really make this happen. 24:15 - We are praying that we can start building soon. 24:18 Please pray along with us and pray for this project, 24:22 not for our sakes but for the sakes of the people 24:25 in Thailand that are gonna learn 24:26 about Jesus through this project. 24:29 Thank you. 24:30 (slow piano music) 24:37 - Wow. That's very sweet. 24:39 I like how he said it, "we're jump-started again," 24:42 that's in a more serious manner, I just really-- 24:44 - "And time is short." 24:45 - Yeah, time is short. 24:46 - So they donated the land in early spring 24:49 and we were getting ready to clear the land, 24:51 because you saw it had some fruit trees 24:53 and they asked us, 24:54 can you please let us do one more harvest of fruit, 24:58 before you cut down all the trees? 25:00 And we said, okay, go ahead 25:01 and take one more harvest. - Right. 25:04 - So time came by, the rain came and the harvest set, 25:10 the fruit grew and they noticed something very interesting. 25:14 - The fruit grew some places. 25:17 - Yes. 25:17 - And not others. 25:18 - Right. 25:19 - Yeah. 25:21 - So there was on their property, 25:23 there was a bumper crop. 25:25 And on the property that they had donated to Love for Asia, 25:28 there was no fruit. 25:29 - No fruit at all. 25:30 - Zero fruit. 25:31 - Now we have a picture 25:33 and we wanna bring this picture up, 25:34 because we wanna make a point here. 25:37 If you look at the fence line, that's the fence post there. 25:40 If you look at the fence line, 25:42 you can see that there's a tree that kind of hangs 25:45 over the line. 25:47 And if you look more closely, 25:51 you can see the fruit on the one side of the fence line 25:55 and no fruit on the other side of the fence line, same tree. 26:00 - Right - Same tree. 26:01 - So even on the tree that hung over the property line, 26:04 there was fruit on one side, their side of that tree 26:07 and no fruit on our side of that tree. 26:10 But God says, this is my side, this is my property. 26:13 And when they saw that, 26:15 when the locals saw that they like, 26:18 we're sorry, this is God's property. 26:21 You take it, you do what you want to with it, 26:23 we're totally cool. 26:24 It was a sign from God saying this is mine. 26:28 - Yeah, yeah and now is the time. 26:31 - Yes. 26:32 That is a sign from him to us saying, 26:34 - Now is the time. 26:35 - Yes. (laughing) 26:36 - So there were some sections in that video, 26:38 where they were starting to clear the land. 26:40 - Right. Starting to burn it 26:41 and now it's completely cleared off, 26:43 they've removed all the trees 26:45 and they're getting ready to put field dirt in 26:47 and we need to start building. 26:48 - Okay. 26:50 - So we're stepping forward in faith. 26:51 I mean, but with a sign like that, you know, 26:54 we're stepping forward - You have to step forward. 26:55 in strong faith. 26:56 - Right, exactly. 26:57 - Knowing that this is what God wants and we want it to. 27:00 - Right. Wow. 27:01 That is a total miracle. 27:03 And you know, a friend shared with me recently that, 27:06 their husband who doesn't believe in miracles, 27:09 had to believe in miracles after hearing that story. 27:13 - Wow, in seeing that picture. - He was just amazed. 27:15 Well, I love it when We have stories 27:17 from the field to share with people. 27:19 And especially when it's awesome miracles, you know, 27:20 lives changed, I love those ones the best. 27:25 - Yes. 27:26 - But this was an awesome miracle too, 27:27 because it was so very clear - Yes. 27:29 - And thank you for sharing this story with us today. 27:32 - You're welcome. 27:34 - You know, when I see this miracle, 27:35 it reminds me of how much God loves all of his children 27:39 and how much importance he has placed upon this studio 27:43 and office building in Thailand. 27:45 If you would like to be a part of this ministry, 27:47 you can contact us at Jesus for Asia, PO Box 1221, 27:52 Collegedae, TN 37315. 27:56 Call us at(423)413-7321 or visit our website, 28:02 at Jesus4asia.org. 28:04 May God richly bless you until we see you next time 28:08 on Jesus for Asia Now. 28:09 (dramatic music) |
Revised 2020-11-04