"Go Tell It On The Mountains"– Joining God in His Great Work of Redemption in Thailand – December 17, 2016

I love this time of year in Thailand. It is a time when the weather is cooler and it is the time of year when the hearts of Thai people are open to hearing the greatest story ever told.

One of my favorite Christmas songs as a child was “Go Tell it On the Mountains.” I love this song but it has come to have a much greater meaning to me than I ever thought possible. You see, I am just an ordinary man just like most of you reading this… but my life is nothing along the lines of ordinary because God has taken me and my family on an awesome journey that allows us to “Go tell it on the mountains” of some of the least reached peoples in our world today. What a great joy it is for us to share the message of Christmas with people who have never heard it.

The last few weeks have been some of our busiest weeks of the year but also some of the most fulfilling. We love to tell the story of Jesus and we like it very much when friends and partners come to help us do that. We are so grateful for the awesome team from FBC Tuscaloosa who was with us from November 12 – 18. During this time we were able to tell the story of Jesus in an Akha Unreached People Group (UPG) village, a Mien Unreached People Group (UPG) village, and a Hmong Unreached People Group (UPG) village, as well as, provide English teacher training to 3^rd year students at Rajabhat University who are studying to be English teachers when they graduate. We are so thankful for teams like FBC Tuscaloosa who continue to come back to Thailand to help God’s Work move forward. Thank you Vial, Nancy, Pat, Leigh Ann, Ken for your heart for Thai people. Here are a few pictures of our time with the team from FBC Tuscaloosa.

We are also very grateful for new teams that come out. We welcomed an awesome team from Gulfport, MS who was with us from December 7 – 14. During this time we were able to tell the story of Jesus in two Muang Unreached People Group villages, with about 40 children that study English with us each Saturday, with about 40 youth who meet with us each Friday night, with about 50 university students at our Soccer Outreach, and were able to visit and pray for some of our leaders in our church. We were very blessed to have this team serving with us. Thank you Pastor Israel, Bobby, Shane, Mike, Doug, and Christi for opening your hearts and loving like Jesus loves. Here are a few pictures of our time with the team from Gulfport.

God is using English and Soccer in mighty ways to reach the hearts of young people and build His church in one of the most needy, yet fascinating places in the world – Northern Thailand.

It takes a lot of time and resources to build relationships of genuine trust with people but we are thankful to God for allowing us to be a small part of His plans to draw people to the cross and to a personal relationship with Jesus.

Thank you for praying for us as we seek to lead others to Jesus and disciple them. Thank you for coming on mission trips to help with God’s work.

Thank you for giving through NTIM so that we can serve here and insure that the gospel reaches into some of the least reached people groups in the world.

Thank you for sharing with others about out work and being an advocate for us and for the unreached people groups that we are targeting.

Our ministry with university students has continued to grow and blossom and we continue to covet your prayers.  

Your Servant to the Nations in and around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the team

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED for Main Thailand Christmas Program – Prayer Update December 16, 2016

It is Friday afternoon in Thailand and we have been busy for several months planning, coordinating, and preparing for our main Christmas outreach here in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

These past several weeks we have had an awesome team from Tuscaloosa, AL and another awesome team from Gulfport, MS come and help us with outreaches in our city and many villages. I will send an update on these soon but before we do that we believe it when the Bible says, “… The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much.” James 5:16  We also believe the Bible when it says, “Go into all the world and make disciples….” Matthew 28:19.

We need your prayers. As many of you read this message in the USA, it will already be Friday evening here in Thailand and this main evangelistic event here at Baan Athitaan Church will be going on. Please take a moment and pray for us and maybe even forward this message to others who will pray.

Prayer Example: “Lord, we thank you for loving us enough to send someone into our lives to tell us about Jesus. We thank you for using NTIM to establish a beachhead to reach many unreached people groups in and around Northern Thailand. We thank you for the work you are doing through Baan Athitaan Church and pray for your special blessings on their main Christmas event. May you lead them, bless them, and use them to accomplish your work of redemption on the earth. We pray these things in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Amen.”

Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession.” 

Your Servants to some of the least reached peoples in Southeast Asia for Jesus’ sake,

Michael for the team

 

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  Donations can be sent to:
Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM),

P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA 
or given online at our main website:
www.gontim.org  

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God's World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.   

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED as VOLUNTEERS from Tuscaloosa, AL join God in what He is doing in Northern Thailand – Prayer Update November 11, 2016

It is Friday afternoon in Thailand and we have been busy for several weeks planning, coordinating, and implementing one of our strategies that God has led us to use over the years to reach some of the least reached people groups in the world - that strategy is: utilizing Christian volunteers to help our NTIM team better engage the “lostness” that is here in Northern Thailand. But this is not done in a vacuum but done with recognition of our need for God’s people to pray for an opening of the gospel.

We believe the Bible when it says, “… The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much.” James 5:16 We also believe the Bible when it says, “Go into all the world and make disciples….” Matthew 28:19.

Not only do we believe the Bible but we also love the Thai people. Our family has lived here in Thailand for the last 17 years because we love the Thai people and we want them to have a chance to hear about Jesus and to be able to decide to follow Jesus. We are here because we want to be here and because we believe that it is God’s plan for us to be here and it is an issue of obedience for us. We enjoy it very much when friends and partners in ministry come to help God’s work here in Northern Thailand.

As I write this prayer request, there is a team from a partner church in my home town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama in transit from the USA and scheduled to arrive here in Chiang Rai tomorrow morning, Saturday, November 12.

We need your prayers. What we will be doing while this team is here is strategically significant to God’s Work and we will be specifically engaging both the Hmong unreached people group as well as the Mien unreached people group as we bring the light of Jesus into various villages.

Please be in prayer for us in a special way over the next 10 days.

If you want to have some additional information on praying for the Hmong UPG please click on a prayer update that I wrote two years ago on praying for the Hmong UPG. http://conta.cc/2fWlGhQ

If you want to have additional information on praying for the Mien UPG, please click on an update I also wrote two years ago on praying for the Mien UPG.

Part 1 - http://conta.cc/2fWl9MD

Part 2 - http://conta.cc/2fWiz9G

Prayer Example: “Lord, we thank you for loving us enough to send someone into our lives to tell us about Jesus. We thank you for using NTIM to establish a beachhead to reach many unreached people groups in and around Northern Thailand. We also thank you for this team of volunteers who are on their way to Thailand to work with the team of missionaries and nationals that are there. We pray that you might be pleased to use all of them this week as your hands and feet to declare your glory and to make your ways known to thousands of people they will be interacting with this week who do not know you as their personal Savior and many of them have never even heard the gospel. May you lead them, bless them, and use them to accomplish your work of redemption on the earth. We pray these things in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Amen.”

Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession.”  

Your Servants to some of the least reached peoples in Southeast Asia for Jesus’ sake,

Michael for the team

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  Donations can be sent to:
Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM),

P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA 
or given online at our main website:
www.gontim.org  

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God's World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.   

Here is a video summary of our work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBYHjbnn8zE#t=60  

Making A Difference In Thailand - Update Oct 27, 1016

As I sit down to write this thank you letter, I am reminded of what I shared with our NTIM board in our last board meeting and that is…..GOD IS AT WORK changing lives and allowing us to join Him in reaching into some of the least reached people groups in the entire world. 

Just in the last few weeks we have seen 3 high school students, 3 university students, and one recently graduated university student follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. Four (4) of these seven (7) new believers are what we call 1^st generation believers and the first person in their entire family to become a follower of Jesus. One is from the Muang Unreached People Group. One is from the Issaan Unreached People Group, and the rest are from either the Hmong Unreached People Group or the Akha Unreached People Group. Both of these baptisms have been downloaded to our channel on Youtube so if you would like to see them, please email me at pray4ntim@gmail.com and I will send you the link.

I can confidently say to each donor that gives to NTIM that when you give to NTIM, you are giving to an organization that God is using in extra ordinary ways to make disciples of some of the least reached people groups in our world today. I can confidently assure you that NTIM is committed to using the donations you entrust to us to go directly to the work on the field. Not even one percent of your donation goes to administrative office type expenses in the USA or any executive salary in the USA but 99+% of your donation is sent directly to the field and the field missionaries and nationals handle both the actual work of the field and most administrative issues. I am pleased to inform you that none of our board members neither wish to receive a salary nor do they receive a salary for their services given to NTIM but all of our Board Member services are freely given because it is one way that we can serve the Lord and join God in doing our part of the great commission. Even though my family personally receives support on the field, all of my services as the Vice President and Director of Field Operations are done as a volunteer just like the rest of our Board Members.

We know that each of you are concerned about the integrity of funds for your donations and with all the bad news out there these days, we don’t want you to lose heart in giving because there are good non-profit organizations out there like NTIM that are doing tremendously good work for Jesus and for His Kingdom and they need your support. Our Lord Jesus encourages us to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven and giving to NTIM is one of those ways you can do that. Thank you for partnering with us and trusting us enough to freely give so that God can continue to use NTIM, Grace Language School, Baan Athitaan Church, and other partners to reach some of the least reached people groups in the world.  If you have internet access and want to see a short summary of the work of NTIM, here is a link to our work:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBYHjbnn8zE

When God called us to Thailand, He was calling us to a ministry that is committed to taking the gospel of our Lord Jesus to where millions have never heard. He has called us to invest our lives in making disciples of all the nations, and we are beginning to see God move in mighty ways.  We are writing you today to say thank you for the donations you have already made. Thank you. We are also writing you to ask if you would consider becoming one of our monthly key financial ministry partners through Northern Thailand Impact Ministry. There are about thirteen monthly supporters that give to NTIM on a monthly basis but we are asking God for at least twice that number. Would you consider being a monthly partner with us?

Giving through NTIM is one way that you can store up treasures in heaven and allow us to be your representatives to the nations in and around Northern Thailand. Thank you for your investment in the past and thank you for considering giving in a greater way in the future.

Until the people in and around Northern Thailand know Him,

Michael L. Johnson, Vice President and Director of Field Operations for NTIM

www.gontim.org

URGENT PRAYER FOR THAILAND - Oct 14, 2016

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this prayer update to you today. Please, please, please pray for and understand the deep sadness that every Thai person is experiencing as we face the reality of the loss of a truly great king. 

One of the editorials in the Bangkok Post today expresses my feelings well so please let me take a moment and share those words with you:  

“No words can describe the sense of loss, the grief and anguish, that Thais of all generations feel today as they mourn the death of beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. 

The monarch was Father to the nation. His wise counsel took the country out of several deadly turns, his fortitude and devotion to human development were an inspiration to all. Regardless of differences and disparities across Thai society, His Majesty was a solitary constant, a guiding light for Thais rich and poor, young and old, rural farmers and urban residents alike.”

 

It is because of these sad feelings in the heart of every Thai person and because of our love for all Thai people that we write this update and ask all of our Christian friends and loved ones to join me in praying for the 66 million Thai people today. 

Please join me in praying for the hole in the heart of every Thai person. Please pray that God would bring comfort and strength to all.  

Please pray for the forces of evil to be kept at bay during this transitions time in place in order that we all would be able to live in peace and in freedom as we have in the past. Please pray for all of the Christians in Thailand during this time to truly reflect the deep respect that we have for the beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX.

Thank you for your love for us, your love for the country of Thailand, for your love for the Thai people.

Your Servant to the Nations in and around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the team

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Financial support can be given through NTIM....

Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA Main Website: www.gontim.org

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God’s World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.

GOD IS TRULY CHANGING LIVES IN NORTHERN THAILAND - SEPT 22, 2016

GOD IS TRULY CHANGING LIVES IN NORTHERN THAILAND. I just finished meeting with Nong Fang and also met with Nong Ploy earlier today in preparation for a baptismal ceremony this coming Sunday. Both of these young women are the first persons in their entire families to become followers of Jesus. We first met Nong Ploy several years ago when she began studying English with us at Grace Language School. Grace Language School is one of our key platforms that we use to reach into our community here in Northern Thailand. 

One of our teachers at the time, Kara Conner, had a very strong impact in her life and she and Pii Phet (Phuangphet Sombatjaroenkit) led Nong Ploy to Jesus several years ago. Nong Ploy has been studying the Bible with Pii Ja (Sutasinee Srijai) and with others since Kara returned back to America and she is now ready to follow the Lord in believers baptism.

We first met Nong Fang about a year ago when one of her friends from Happy Home began to invite her to church and then this past May 20, Nong Fang gave her heart to Jesus. Now she is ready to follow the Lord in believers baptism. What a great joy it is for me to join God in BUILDING HIS CHURCH.

Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not stand against it." - Matthew 16:18

Let us be careful not to build our own kingdoms but to be intentional in joining God as He builds His Church and His Kingdom. Please also join us in prayer for Nong Ploy and Nong Fang as these 1st generation believers take this next step of baptism and as they continue to learn how to walk as salt and light before their families and friends.

It takes a lot of time and resources to build relationships of genuine trust with people but we are thankful to God for allowing us to be a small part of His plans to draw people to the cross and to a personal relationship with Jesus.

Thank you for praying for us as we seek to lead others to Jesus and disciple them. Thank you for coming on mission trips to help with God’s work.

Thank you for giving through NTIM so that we can serve here and insure that the gospel reaches into some of the least reached people groups in the world.

Your Servant to the Nations in and around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the team

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Financial support can be given through NTIM....

Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA Main Website: www.gontim.org

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God’s World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.

Building Bridges To The Heart of University Students – Joining God in His Great Work of Redemption - July 24, 2016

God is using English in mighty ways to reach the hearts of young people and build His church in one of the most needy, yet fascinating places in the world – Northern Thailand. Yesterday, July 23, Grace Language School joined God in beginning the process of redemption for about 60 university students from Rajabhat University, most of whom have never had a chance to hear the message of the gospel.

One of the professors at Rajabhat University asked if we would be open to putting on an English camp for about 60 of their university students that were majoring in early childhood education. The professor had heard about some of the English camps that we have done and approached us about two months ago about doing this camp on Saturday July 23. We have been planning and preparing for this day for quite some time and it was such a great joy to have my wife Hope, our two sons – Joshua and Caleb, our daughter Liz and her husband Dallas, some close friends from our home church in Birmingham – Tim, Ellen, and Lisa Katherine Lupinacci, and our awesome staff at Grace Language School to help us with this camp.

Our reason for existence is to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to be the light of Christ in a place where some of the least reached people groups in the whole world live with very little knowledge of Jesus Christ. But God has called us here to build bridges to them so that they might have the chance to hear the message of love and forgiveness that can be found in Jesus Christ.

It takes a lot of time and resources to build relationships of genuine trust with people but we are thankful to God for allowing us to be a small part of His plans to draw people to the cross and to a personal relationship with Jesus.

Just two weeks ago today, another university student at Grace Language School gave his heart to Jesus. Please pray for Pong as he grows in his walk with God. Like most of the people we see come to know Jesus, Pong is the first person in his entire family to follow Jesus.

Thank you for praying for us as we seek to lead others to Jesus and disciple them. Thank you for coming on mission trips to help with God’s work.

Thank you for giving through NTIM so that we can serve here and insure that the gospel reaches into some of the least reached people groups in the world.

Thank you for sharing with others about out work and being an advocate for us and for the unreached people groups that we are targeting.

Our ministry with university students has continued to grow and blossom and we are in need of an additional truck for the ministry. One truck that is used for multiple purposes is not able to get everything done that needs to be done. Would you please pray that God would provide us with an additional vehicle that would be used for reaching the nations for Jesus.

Your Servants to the Nations in and around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the team

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Financial support can be given through NTIM....

Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA Main Website: www.gontim.org

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God’s World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.

GOD HAS RESPONDED TO YOUR PRAYERS…

We serve an Awesome God who listens and responds to the prayers of His people. Thank you for praying. It is a little after 9:00 PM Saturday evening here in Thailand and I am pleased to announce that the government of Turkey is back in control and the airport it up and running and it appears that Caleb will be able to leave as scheduled. Coincidence?????? Some will say yes, but I prefer to believe that God has chosen to respond to the prayers of His people in a very dramatic way. God is Good.  

Thank you so much for your partnership with us and being a blessing to our children.

Your Servants to the Nations in and Around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the Team

URGENT PRAYER ABOUT CALEB JOHNSON

It is 9:00 AM Saturday morning here in Thailand as I write this. We awoke this morning to the news that Turkey is under a military coup and their airports are shut down with no flights in or out of Turkey. Most of you know that our 17 year old son – Caleb - went to Scotland for a special study program for the Summer and he was scheduled to leave out of Scotland in two days (Monday) headed back home to Thailand with his first leg of the flight through  Turkish Air  through the capital city of Turkey. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW. Please pray for us as we attempt to make alternate plans to get Caleb home. Thank you for standing in the gap for the Johnson family. 

Your Servants to the Nations in and Around Northern Thailand,

Michael for the Team

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Financial support can be given through NTIM....

Northern Thailand Impact Ministry (NTIM), P.O. Box 26115, Birmingham, AL 35260 USA Main Website: www.gontim.org

NTIM is a non-profit 501(c)(3)charitable organization based in the USA. We are committed to connecting people in need with people who care and are focused in the heart of Southeast Asia where poverty is high, education is low, needs are great, darkness is everywhere, and the love and message of Jesus is needed to transform lives.

Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving People in God’s World through acts of love and compassionate is what NTIM and our ministry team is all about.