by Dennis & Mai Spencer | April 19th, 2016
SUNDAY WORSHIP IN SUOI BANG
TRUSTING IN THE LORD
We re-filed our petition with the local authorities to meet at Tam Trong’s house in Suoi Bang, as instructed by the province officials last month. The province official did follow through with his word and called the Suoi Bang officials to remind them, by law, they needed to respond to our petition within 15 days. However, this deadline has passed and we still haven’t heard from the local authorities in Suoi Bang. Feeling confident he had done everything requested of him, Tam Trong told Pastor Nhan he wanted to invite the church to once again meet at his house for Sunday Worship (picture above) and Tuesday Discipleship classes. Most of the families we have met from this farming community are receptive to hearing the Gospel. And, those who do ask Jesus into their heart truly have a desire to know him more intimately. Many travel several miles on bikes or motorcycles at night (after working all day) to attend Sunday Worship and Discipleship classes. Please pray God’s protection will be on these precious families as we wait and trust God to work everything out in His perfect timing.
MONTHLY EVANGELISTIC BIRTHDAY OUTREACH
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS
Our monthly evangelistic birthday outreaches continue to produce fruit for God’s kingdom. The last Saturday of each month at Children’s Church we celebrate every child who had a birthday that month (picture above). These “birthday” kids are asked to invite one of their non-Christian friends to Children’s Church to help celebrate their birthday. Pastor Nhan shares the Gospel that evening and gives an invitation for non-believers to ask Jesus into their heart. Thuy prays (picture below) with Pastor Nhan to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Thuy has been attending Children’s Church since then and has also signed up to attend VBS. Cam On Chua (Thank You Lord)!
THUY ASKING JESUS INTO HER HEART
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Our women love getting together each month to worship the Lord, study God’s Word, and share a meal. Women from Binh Chau, Suoi Bang, and Tan Thang come together for a sweet time of fellowship to pray for and encourage one another. Phuc, Nhung, and Kim are doing such a wonderful job leading our Women’s Ministry.
PRAISE REPORT
Mrs. M’s husband dropped her off for Sunday Worship at the Binh Chau Church a couple of weeks ago. This is highly unusual for someone who works for Caesar. Please pray God will continue to soften this man’s heart and use his wife to bring him to the Lord.
VBS 2016 DATE IS SET
This year’s VBS at the Binh Chau Church will be on June 7-9th. As you recall, all the kids will spend 3 days and 3 nights at the church. We already have 102 kids signed up to attend and are praying for 130+, as we averaged over the last 4 years. Pastor Nhan has spent the last couple of months training 10 of the high school youth to help teach the kids at Children’s Church and VBS. Plus, 5 of these kids were able to attend a 2 day VBS Teacher Training Conference in Saigon last month. Pastor Nhan told us these youth leaders are quick learners who have a servant’s heart. They are so excited to be given this opportunity to serve at VBS. This will be the first year (out of 9) we won’t need to bring VBS teachers from Saigon to help. We praise God for the spiritual growth in these youth leaders.
VBS 2016 SPONSORSHIPS
Our Jesus in Vietnam Focus Team will have tables at CFC on Sunday, April 17 & 24, plus May 1, seeking sponsors for our VBS this summer at the Binh Chau Church. The cost to send a child to VBS is $50 as they stay at the church 3 days and 3 nights hearing God’s Word taught, learning Bible verses, hearing the Gospel, playing games/activities, enjoying 4 hot meals a day, plus snacks and prizes. Plus, you will also have the opportunity and blessing to provide a bike (cost $75) to be given a child at VBS for Bible verse/verses memorization.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray God will provide a Youth Pastor for the Binh Chau Church, a house mother for the orphanage/love house, and a Vietnamese missionary for our church plant in Suoi Bang.
Please pray God will use this year’s VBS to bring many non-believing children to faith in Jesus and give them a desire to attend Children’s church so they might grow in their walk with the Lord.
Please pray for God’s protection for Pastor Nhan, Phuc, Kim, Tam, Lam, Mr. Ba Phuoc and Nhung Nhan and His strength to overcome the many attacks of the enemy in recent months.
Please pray for Nhu (and her father), a 15-year-old girl, who was beaten by her father for attending Children’s Church recently.
Please pray God will give us wisdom, discernment, and ears to hear the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we return to serve Him in Vietnam for 6 months.
“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:9
Jesus in Vietnam Ministries, is a compassion ministry founded by Dennis and Mai Spencer. Vietnamese families suffer from deprivation, lacking sometimes even the necessities of life. In obedience to the many Scriptural commands to help the poor they are enabling families to survive in difficult circumstances. When shown mercy these families are very receptive to the Gospel. The Spencer’s also focus on children, who are the future church of Jesus Christ in Vietnam.