Another Hero...of the Cross

Holding our Rope and Pulling         04.02.2017    A three-times a month publication from Don and Kathy Williams Your Free Methodist Missionaries Serving in Asia Another Hero... ...of the Cross Lumbang, Myanmar...out of a remote mountainous, northwestern village came a beautiful story of redemption for a people loved by God.  Standing in the middle of the muddy road beside the sign pictured to the right, we took one of many pit stops on our way back to Kalay a couple weeks ago.  It was here that PaKep told the following story:  Many years ago a villager was the first to come to know Christ in Lumbang.  After sharing his testimony the village headman said, "If you believe in Jesus we will throw you in the lake."  He went on to say, "You said Jesus died on a cross."  So the headman put the first convert on a cross and threw him into a lake.   The villagers and headman returned the next day expecting to see the Christian dead.  Instead he was still alive.  The village headman said to the Christian, "Your God is alive so we will believe in your Jesus."  On that day most of the village came to Christ.   We learned PaKep's father-in-law was the headmaster at the high school in Lumbang before retiring (building on the hill pictured to the left).  From this village many people became highly educated going on to be respected and influential Christian leaders in Myanmar.  Many graduated with degrees in engineering, education, and are involved in government today.  Over 50 people who grew up in the village now live in the USA.   PaKep's father-in-law wrote a book in the Chin language telling about this event in the village.  It's entitled, "The Hero of the Cross". Riding through the mountains in northern Myanmar reminded us of the many people still sitting in darkness.   The Light and Love of God through Jesus has yet to come to them through modern-day heros of faith. Would you join us in praying for the church planting efforts of the FMC in Myanmar?  Their Church Planting and Development (CPD) budget is woefully lacking funding though there is a clear vision and readiness to plant five churches in each of the next six years.    Please pray the CPD of Myanmar will be fully funded in 2017 with commitments from churches and individuals who have a heart for the lost in Myanmar so the church planting efforts may proceed.  If you want to make a commitment and contribute to Myanmar's CPD please check out the link here:  CPD of Myanmar.  If you just want to learn more about the FMC in Myanmar check out the link here:  FMC in Myanmar. The vastness of the countryside and opportunity in Northern Myanmar Chin State Please be in prayer for PaKep's father-in-law who was admitted to the hospital in Yangon a month ago on the day we began our journey to Hakha.  He still has serious and life-threatening health issues.  Also pray for the family as this situation is taxing their resources already stretched thin. Gratefully, Don and Kathy Your Ms to Asia