Giving Thanks Where Thanks is Due

This year marks our tenth anniversary serving the people of India. The memories of the people, and the things that God used to shape us while there, are as fresh as the day we first arrived in Andhra Pradesh. There are times when something will trigger a memory that will bring sadness or joy to my heart. God has accomplished so much during these years.

Mani

There is a young lady named Mani who captured our hearts and we have grown to love. She had a disability from polio where her left hand had been rendered useless. She may never receive a marriage proposal, yet it never defeated her. We have watched her grow into a beautiful young lady, and she has never slowed down or allowed her disability to stop her from accomplishing the things she wanted to do. 

We have watched young pastors grow and mature in their faith and ministry, as they continue to carry the good news of Jesus Christ to their people, regardless of the obstacles.

I’m sure each of you have your own experiences and people that God has given you. They are like precious pearls of great worth, for they have great value to you. God used them to make you who you are today. And as you continue on in the journey of this life God has called you to join Him in, He will give you many more.

Today, I want you to reflect on the goodness of the Lord. Find a quiet place and just reflect on the people and the experiences that He has given you to bring to this place. Give Him praise and let the tears of joy flow. Shout thanksgivings to Him, and may today  be a day gratitude and praise to the Lord.   

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"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise." (Psalm 51:15) 

Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated

                                 

God’s Timetable

From God’s perspective, His timing is perfect because He sees the entire plan. From the human perspective, God’s timing can be frustrating because we so often see (in our minds) so little progress toward the fulfillment of promises made in His Word.

The Apostle Paul, in Antioch on a Sabbath day, went to the Synagogue. Given the opportunity, he said: “The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance." (Acts 13:17-19)

God kept his promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua, but He chose to do it in 450 years! More than 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ promised, “. . . I will build My church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16: 18b)

Jesus also told the disciples gathered in the Upper Room the night he was betrayed and arrested, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2b-3)

When Peter and John and the other disciples heard Jesus make these promises, they most likely thought that He would fulfill them in a few years. They never dreamed that He would take millenniums!

Making disciples of Jesus Christ and establishing local churches in any cultural setting is not easy, and often takes much more time than we anticipate.

But the Apostle Paul reminded the church of Corinth that, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)

Jesus is building His church throughout the world through His disciples, and He is taking His time in developing them. His promises are true and will be fulfilled . . . according to His timetable, not ours.

--Russ Sharrock

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Now scheduling speaking engagements for October-November 2013! If you would like Russ & Alice Sharrock to come share about the work of Asia International Mission at your church or home group click HERE to make arrangements. We would love to talk to you. 

Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 

                                   All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated



 

Exciting New Ministry!

Large segments of India’s urban slum and rural tribal populations do not have access to safe and reliable healthcare. The following statistics indicate the severity of India’s situation: 

-Over 600,000 children die each yr due to pneumonia & diarrhea

-130,000 cases of leprosy diagnosed each year

-50% of world’s cases of leprosy found in India

-Only 38% of India's children below the age of 2 years are immunized.

-One in every 100 children in India between age group of 0-14 years suffers   

 from acute  respiratory infection.

-Almost one in every five children in India below the age of 14 suffers from diarrhea.

-58% of India's children below the age of 2 years are not fully vaccinated. And 24% of

  these children do not receive any form of vaccination.

 

Asia International Mission has prayerfully voted to begin a new medical ministry in Bangalore, India

to bring medical assistance to these under-resourced populations through a new medical clinic and an ongoing mobile medical ministry. Mobile vans are optimal delivery tools as they can reach all corners of a slum community and can travel the vast distances to support tribal villages.

By bringing healthcare to their doorstep, AIM wants to ensure that the greatest number of patients is served without hindering daily livelihood. The medical teams traveling on these vans will treat primary health conditions and dispense free medicines to care for both acute and chronic disease.

Patients, based on their lifestyle, history and current complaints, will be screened for parasitic infections, chronic diseases and asymptomatic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Regular de-worming medicines can be provided to patients with parasitic infections to prevent anemia, and nutritional supplements given to those that demonstrate severe malnourishment.

Asia International Mission is working hard to bring decent medical care to children, families and communities affected by poverty. Whether your gift meets the most basic medical needs of children, or helps keep mobile clinic stocked and running, you can feel confident that your gift is providing care where it isn’t otherwise available.

Please prayerfully consider partnering in this new outreach. Your gift will change and improve the life of a child or adult through proper care, and an opportunity to hear of the hope and healing power of Jesus Christ.

Please go HERE to donate now. Or you may send a check to:

                                                                               AIM

                                                                               PO Box 1597

                                                                               Stillwater, OK 74076

Make sure to write medical ministry on the memo line.

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Prayer Request

Adivasi tribal Christians in the village of Tamsai--in the state of Orissa--gathered for a worship service at the Yehovah Nisih Prayer Church were attacked by a group of about 20 Hindu radicals who shouted, “there is no place for worship meetings in the village for Christians!”

Church member Bharat Patel said his left ear was injured, and that three other members suffered injuries, one of them a severe cut on the head. The hour-long assault ended when area Christian leaders intervened and took the victims to the police to report the incident.

Please pray that God would change the hearts of the Hindus extremists, safety for the congregation, and the healing of the injured people. 

Pray for the Unreached Bedar, Hindu of India 

Population: 17,000
World Pop: 17,000
Main Language: Panjabi, Eastern
Main Religion: Hinduism
Bible: Complete
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%

Asia International Mission is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. 

All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of donations are used as designated