Nov 2013 Report

Nov, 2013

Faith@Work Fellowship
through
Asia Seminary for Ministry
(Seminary without borders)
Training Nationals for Nfationals

Hi friend,

Training Nationals for Nationals in integrity and skills (Psalm 78:72)

We closed the year with some special times in Myanmar and Medan, Indonesia.

1. Training in Mandalay, Myanmar, 30 October to 7 November. A team from Singapore conducted Pastors’ Workshop, especially in leadership. Some pastors are working towards a Master degree. Plans are being made for the training to be done in May as well as in November, 2014. Please pray also for our point-man, Rev. James Biak Lian as he works on his dissertation for the Doctor of Ministry degree. His project will be on Church-planting in Northern Myanmar. As he is better equipped, we believe that the good Lord will use him to train his own people.

2. Myitkyina, Myanmar – Spiritual Conference, 21-27 Jan. 2014. This is a once-a-year meeting of the fellowship of some 30 churches, under Rev. James Biak Lian. We are praying for a good team to bring salvation and revival messages. The host church will be having its 25th Anniversary celebration. Please let us know of your interest so that we can pray and plan according.

3. Training in Medan, Indonesia, 18-22 November. Rev. Yap Beng Shin and Rev. Mark Tay were our trainers. We praise the good Lord for the graduation of some 79 already and we continue to thank the good Lord for more pastors and leaders to be trained. Below is the testimony of Rev. Mark Tay.

“It was indeed a wonderful teaching opportunity for pastor Yap and myself to be teaching in Betania Seminary in collaboration with Asia Seminary for Ministry from 17 to 22nd November, 2013.

Betania Seminary conducts a special 1 week intensive seminar for its students (Masters and Bachelors) 4 times in a year.
Both Rev Yap Beng Shin and I were privileged to be a part of this on-going ministry to train about 60 Indonesian men and women including pastors and leaders serving in various ministries.

Rev. Yap taught the students for 2 and a half days while I taught the remaining days. Pastor Yap taught his unique way of studying the Bible - the Mind Mapping Method. Using innovative ways (e.g.marking key words and phrases with different color pens and drawing symbols), he transformed the usual, traditional way of bible study into a revolutionary and exciting journey of digging God's Word more in depth and scope.

The students' enthusiastic response spoke volume of the success of this mind mapping method. At the end of the course, the students were equipped with basic skills to study and prepare sermons and lessons in order to enhance their ministry.

My session complemented Rev. Yap's mind mapping method. I taught them how to interpret Hebrew Narratives together with Rev. Yap's mind mapping, by using the book of Ruth for practical analysis. Judging by their rapt attention, their lively discussions and participation in question-and-answer session, they seemed to grasp the hermeneutical principles and the book of Ruth as well. Thus we killed two birds with one stone.

I will continue the Hermeneutics series each time dealing with a different genre of OT (Narrative; Law; Poetry; Wisdom; Prophecy), and NT (Gospels; Parables; Acts; Epistle). Each time I will use a suitable book for study and application of the principles of interpretation taught in class. In this way we will fulfill one of the purposes of ASM - to equip nationals to train others so that they in turn will carry out the great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that more pastors and trainers would join us in this worthy enterprise and ministry. The students are always looking forward for more of us to go over to their places to train them. Since 2009, ASM through Faith@Work has been faithfully doing this work in Medan and other Asian countries and Tanzania, Africa. To Him be the glory.”

4. Nepal’s report: Our vision is training nationals to nationals. We see this fulfilled as we train leaders like Dil Tamang who ministers among his people. Dil is our point-man in Nepal. Praise the Lord for the churches and individuals that have been supporting the ministry in prayer and other needs. This is what he reports (more photos are in our website):

”First of all, let me express our collective gratitude to you for your sincere prayers and faithful partnership with us all these years. I do not think it would have been possible for us to continue without your participation...

I am glad to inform you that altogether 57 new Oral churches are being planted in this year through the efforts of our church planters/missionaries. I could not go to all the churches to collect the reports, but could visit some of them, the bigger ones mainly and have taken some pictures. Please find the pictures herewith and let us thank God for His faithfulness and you deserve our appreciation for your faithful partnership and sincere prayers in this effort.”

5. Tentative Quick dates 2014 (approximate budget: S$35,000)

A. MEDAN, INDONESIA
(i). 17 - 21 Feb.
(ii). 23 - 27 June
(iii). 15 - 19 Sept.
(iv). 17 - 21 November

B. KATHMANDU, NEPAL
(i). 8 - 13 March
(ii). 28 Sept.– 2 October (Graduation of 30).

C. MYANMAR
(i). Myitkyina– Spiritual Conference, 21 - 27 Jan.
(ii). Pastors’ Workshop – in May to be arranged.
(iii). Pastors’ Workshop - 29 October to 7 November

BUDGET 2014 – As it stands, the budget will be about the same as 2013 (about S$35,000). We praise the good Lord that He has always supplied our needs all these years, through churches and individuals. As this is a Faith ministry, we look to God to supply our needs through His people. As the good Lord impresses upon your hearts, His ministry of Training Nationals for Nationals, please do let us know. We need prayer partners, teaching partners, resource partners and financial partners. Little is much when God is in it. Little here and there by many will spread out prayer burden and ministry.

Thanks again for your prayers and support in so many ways. May the good Lord give you and all yours God-blessed Christmas and a greater New Year in 2014.

Please visit FaithatWorks Facebook or our blog, for further news at http://faithatworksfellowship.blogspot.com/. Now the new website is: https://faithatworkfellowship.org.

If we can be of any help to you, please let us know. The good Lord bless you and all yours!

Yours always in Christ and for Christ,

Rev. Goh Seng Fong
(John 12:24)

Handphone: 98207783

+65-98207783

Name and Address: Faith@Work Fellowship, 9, Kalidasa Avenue, Singapore 789389

People involved in the Fellowship include: Rev. Tan Choon Seng, Rev. Tan Eng Boo, Rev. Yap Beng Shin, Rev. Simon N., Rev. Robert Chew, Rev. Mark Tay, Rev. Andrew Tan, Ong Beng Hong, Michael Lim, Amos Hoon, Jeff Tan and Daisy Koh.

Trainers include Dr Rev. Yap Kim Sin, John Ching and Ding Yew Soong.