TWO URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS FROM NORTHERN THAILAND – May 5, 2014

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus from Northern Thailand. We are seeing God’s hand at work right here in the heart of South East Asia changing peoples lives. Today we come to you and ask for you to join us in prayer with two very important, urgent and specific requests.

PRAYER REQUEST 1: CLARITY ON GOD’S LEADERSHIP WITH A PIECE OF LAND we are looking at purchasing.

As many of you know, God has been at work in the hearts of God’s people and God’s churches and NTIM has received over $135,000 designated for the purchase of Land. We are well on the way to having the finances needed to purchase much needed property but we need your prayers for the piece of land God has designed for us and then the follow up of construction.

We have been very active in looking for a piece of land and have found only one piece of land that we are interested in at this point but the owner does not want to break up the property and sell only 2 Rai (2.5 rai = 1 acre) to us but wants to sell all of the property (total of 6 Rai) to one buyer. We all feel good about this piece of land but do not have the necessity nor the money to purchase all 6 Rai of land. This land is within 2 kilometers of our current location and would be only 2 kilometers from Rajaphat University where we have a very large university outreach. It is also only 5 kilometers from Mae Fah Luang University where we also have a very large university outreach ministry. We feel good about this piece of property but WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

Many times God’s will is very clearly spelled out in His Word. However, other times, like this time, we need to make a decision based on our perception of God’s leadership with regard to this property. We are at a place where we are asking you to pray with us that if this is the property God has for us, that God would work in the owner’s heart to be willing to sell the land in two parts and allow us to buy the 2 Rai of land that we need. We want to ask you to pray first and then, after we have all prayed, we will contact the owners and see if God has changed their heart. I am reminded of the passage in Proverbs 21:1 that says, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

PRAYER REQUEST 2: WISDOM IN PREPARING AND TEACHING GOD’S WORD ON SUNDAYS AT BAAN ATHITAAN CHURCH here in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

As I write this update, I just finished delivering my 2nd message yesterday in our new series of messages called "Transformed by God's Word." We are looking at some of the most important and critical verses in the Bible that should be a regular part of our thought processes regardless of our cultural background.

Sunday a week ago, we looked at doing everything without grumbling and complaining from Philippians 2:14. Here is an audio version of the message if you would like to listen. It is in both English and Thai. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut2LhSeUiow

Yesterday our focus verse was Psalm 19:14 which is really a prayer that says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Here is an audio version of that message if you would like to listen. It is in both English and Thai as well. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVzzOiBOtQ8

It has been good to get back into the habit of memorizing and meditating on God's Word in a fresh way.

Please pray that God will give me insight into His Word, insight into how to apply it to my life, and insight into how to communicate it with others on Sundays over the next couple of months.

Some of you who do not know us well may not know that our work here in Northern Thailand is very culturally diverse with over 23 distinct, identifiable people groups that make up our church body and makes our church truly a "community church" in Northern Thailand. I really do need God's insight and wisdom as I seek to teach God's Word to over 23 different cultural/ethic/people groups and lead out flock to be the salt and light of Jesus in this very needy part of God’s world.

As I reflect on God’s Work here over the last 12 years in Northern Thailand, I am reminded that God has chosen to use a small group of people living in Chiang Rai to start a new work of making disciples of hundreds of people, most of whom are 1st generation believers. Most of these1st generation believers we have seen come to Christ are normally the first people in their entire families to become followers of Jesus.

What started as a small group of 8 believers in our home some 12 years ago has blossomed into a growing, thriving, community focused and purpose driven church made up of people from over 23 identifiable people groups and involved in outreach/evangelistic ministries related to teaching English, caring for those affected by HIV/AIDS, caring and ministering to various children’s homes, reaching out to the community and neighboring countries, and most importantly very committed to making disciples of all the nations God brings across our path.

We are very grateful for the partners and friends that God has surrounded us with including our partnership with various churches, and individuals all over the world who support NTIM, the Johnson family and their team of Thai partners in Northern Thailand.

Would you please take a moment and pray for our two urgent requests of 1) Sensing God’s leadership regarding land, and 2) Praying that God will give me insight as I teach God’s Word to over 23 different people groups each Sunday at Baan Athitaan Church.

Thank you for your love and for your prayers.

Until the nations in and around Northern Thailand know Him,

Michael

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58