Courage Road

***narrative journal***


It was an old white-washed Toyota Corolla, a model probably from the early 80’s. Our hired driver was a ******* man with a kind smile and teeth stained by red Koon-ya (the country’s version of tobacco). Instead of pants, he wore a sarong, which was the country’s type of kilt. We loaded our bags into the car and set off into the night. Once we were out of the city we found ourselves on a road forged in the midst of trees.

I tried to make out anything beyond the road. But it was pitch black, and with our headlights on we could only see a few feet ahead. The car jolted up and down against the unpaved road. Slowly, we made our way, twisting and turning to avoid the countless potholes. Through the trees I could hear the distant sound of ethnic music, blasting from what sounded like an old stereo system.

“Ajon, I hear music.” I said. “Where is that coming from?”

“A village,” he replied. “Maybe they are having a wedding.”

At 50-years old Reverend Ajon was both my friend and guide. He was a stout, rounded native who never seemed to be lacking any joy. As a seasoned pastor and missionary, I was learning much, just by watching him.

In the back seat I reclined and put my hand out the window, cupping my palm against the wind. I was bouncing up and down like a pinball. I gritted my teeth. The car’s suspension system felt like it was put together with steel bars.

I looked out the window and let out a soft breath. The stars were shining brightly against an unadulterated, crisp black sky. It was almost majestic. This country was poor, but it didn’t have all the big industries to clog the air. The sky was stellar, immovable- a constant reminder of my Creator who had brought me so far. For some reason, I felt an indelible peace. With every pothole we passed I was getting closer to seeing the victims of the cyclone.

I began to pray silently.

“Dear God, please, please let me help the people affected by the cyclone. Please use whatever I have to give… I can write. I can report. Whatever. Just let me help…”

I repeated the prayer again and again. I just wanted to help. When I was in Laos a month ago, I learned that the Laos government’s number one enemy was Christianity. Now I was traveling in *****, where the number one enemy of the state was journalists. I was no martyr and I was just as scared as anyone else. But one thing I wanted to be was obedient to God and faithful to those supporting me.

A week before I was at my desk in Bangkok, working at my computer when Dalma said to me:

“Eric, maybe it’s better you come back as soon as you can. You know? The last journalist who went was put in prison for 12 years.”

“Really?” I said.

I felt the blood fall from my face. I imagined spending the next 12 years in prison. I had heard stories of Christians put in stocks, without a bathroom, eating porridge everyday from a bowl. I imagined life as a 34-year-old hapless, middle-aged man. Bangkok was comfortable, and something in me wanted to stay. But then, I thought of all the people who were supporting me back home. I remembered why I left America. I had a mission.

Courage. Trust God. He brought you here for a reason.

I tried to keep proactive words ringing in my head. I decided to be steadfast and resolute- if God opened up a door for me to enter any highly restricted areas, I’d walk through it- no matter the consequences.

“You okay bro?” Ajon turned back from the passenger seat. We were still driving down the road with nothing in sight.

“Yes sir,” I smiled. “I am fine.”

We rolled up on a government checkpoint. As we slowed to a halt, I pretended to sleep. I put a hand on my digital SLR next to me in my bag. In the trunks I had a camcorder, with tapes and a tripod. An officer with a rifle bent down and peeked through the window. He muttered some words in *******. Since we all looked like natives, he recorded our information and waved us past. As we sped through Ajon and the driver muttered something to each other. I took a look at Ajon. He was cool as ice.

The dust from the road blew against my face, encrusting in my hair and clothes. The grains of sand were almost palpable. I shut my eyes and imagined a sandy beach in California. I imagined myself running across the shoreline with the wind in my face. I was surfing a wave, in the next moment I was laughing with friends.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I awoke some hours later, but the time was 2 am.

“We’re here bro.” Ajon said from outside the car.

I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and pushed myself out the car. We made it.

****

An Undisclosed Location

***video log***

Through the Border

***work update***

This is the first Through the Border that I had the chance to write and design. It will be released in December. For future publications I have created a template for a new format that will include more earthy tones and a more professional feel. Hopefully, it will debut sometime in the beginning of next year.

On a side note, I'm super thankful that I get to use my meager skills to in some way, give a voice to the people.

Workers Trained for the Harvest

***report***
***to be published in December's TTB***

Last summer’s 2008 Beijing Olympics proved to be a visual spectacle. Spending billions of dollars and enlisting the skills of over 15,000 Nationals, the Chinese nation won international recognition for its creative genius and economic affluence.

Behind the enchanting exhibition, China’s Communist government intensified its persecution against Christians by beating, imprisoning and evicting church leaders and their families. Many Christians suffered as China sought to present itself to the world as a controlled and united country.

One circulated account is the story of Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan, an outspoken evangelist known for sharing his faith and passing out literature while riding his bike. Days before the Olympics, one report cites that Public Security Officials used iron bars to beat Bike’s eldest son for 25 minutes. PSO then evicted Bike’s wife out of their home, throwing their furniture out the window and onto the street. During the games, Bike, his wife and a coworker were imprisoned.

Since the summer, the number of human right violations against Christians has increased as the government has made a concerted effort to put a stop to the house church movement. While the underground house-church movement remains nearly impossible to monitor, some speculate the growth has escalated to numbers reaching over 60 million people. Like in many nations in the ARNA, in China, Christianity is deemed as a religion that threatens the unity of the state. While the government allows for state controlled churches, it is illegal to make converts.

Through its China and Beyond (CAB) program Ethnos Asia Ministries works to carry out the vision to “strengthen the church in China to fulfill her calling for world mission.” Working mainly in the Southwest China region in the Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hainan, Guanxi, and Guangdong provinces, CAB has implemented the School of Workers (SOW) program to equip the nationals for ministry.

The SOW training consists of a two-part program, where participants learn everything from Bible basics to prayer to evangelism to spiritual gifting. After taking the first session, participants are required to go out and convert as well as disciple five people. Once a leader reaches 5 disciples they are allowed to return for the second session. After graduating from the second session they are then required to get 10 more converts and disciples. Afterwards graduates can teach their own SOW programs. With basic training and a simple faith, believers leave SOW training ready and energized to put what they learn into practice.

Filled with the characteristic zeal and a simple faith, SOW trained believers have been telling others about Jesus. A woman named Yude (pronounced “eedee”) from the Lisu tribe left the first session and returned in six months with 80 converts. She is now the pastor of a church movement that has been graciously increased and includes over 1,200 people in 35 house groups. CAB co-director Margaret Austen states the explosive growth in the house-church movement has created a tremendous need for trained teachers.

In 18 months SOW program has met the call by training over 200 Chinese from seven provinces. “[The SOW program] has proven itself. Time and time again. We need more and more SOWs,” Austen said.
SOW administrators project that in three more years, 30,000 nationals will be trained through the program.

SOW graduates serve the tribal people of China- many of whom live in mountainous regions that have not been visited in over 20 years. For many of these tribal believers having a Bible is a luxury that very few can enjoy. Bible couriers testify that in one village, tribal Chinese tearfully received a single Bible. The Bible was soon divided into parts so that it could be circulated throughout the village.

“It is our desire to conduct SOW in the whole of Southwest China- in every city and to every tribe,” said See, director of CAB. “[We want] to train leaders so that they can train their own people in their own language and share the Gospel.”

As EAM works to strengthen the church in China, key leaders foresee a new struggle more pervasive than government persecution. As China continues to develop, believers face the temptation of turning away to materialism.

“The danger in China now is materialism in the church. Communism is no longer the danger,” said Austen. “Let us pray that their commitment [to the gospel] remains the same.”

As government persecution persists, one Chinese pastor is not praying for God to remove the persecution. When visitors promised him that they would pray God to take away the persecution he gave a surprising response. The pastor asked the visitors to not ask God to remove the persecution.

"Because where there is no persecution the church sleeps,” he said. “It’s only when persecution comes that the church wakes up and does what it’s called to do.”

A popular Chinese proverb says, “Pure gold fears no fire”. While believers in this restricted country continue to undergo trials and intense persecution, their circumstances has allowed them to receive a treasure greater than gold.

1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Through its School of Workers program EAM will continue to equip the body of Christ to serve the unreached people of China. Pray for the strength of believers in access-restricted China.




Pastor Bike, his wife and coworker were arrested two days before the beginning of the Olympics. According to the China Aid Association, they were kept under house arrest at a resort so that they could not speak with media. They were released 21 days later with testimonies of how they shared the gospel with officials and guards.

Working Late (video log)

***video log***

Christian Manhood & Muay Thai

*** personal journal ***

I believe in Christian manhood. It’s one of the foundational principles of my life. To me, it means that as a man, I am called to use my God-given strength to provide security and protection to my family.

In my mind being a man of God means I can never use the strength he gives me to bring pain or unnecessary harm to those I love most. Instead, I am called to sacrificially lay down my life for my family, just like Jesus laid down his life for his church.

Today, I think too many fathers have copped out on their strength by emotionally or physically running out on their families. Or on the opposite end, many fathers use their strength to abuse their wives and kids.

Here in Asia, I’m finding joy in learning to be patient before God, as he molds my character and prepares me to be the kind of man who can love his family right.

I think the things I am witnessing here (poverty, spiritual battles, political struggles, personal struggles and so on) have been melting me into God’s hands. In His hands God is shaping me and molding me to be the kind of man that he wants me to be.

As melted clay, I’m finding a new love for God’s word, which I can only describe as fire. God’s word changes my consistency from soft clay to a hardened vessel, capable of being filled with God’s spirit- for his name’s sake and for the benefit of others.

All this said, I don’t have a family of my own yet, but someday if God wants it, I’ll have one.

Probably my favorite memory with my father was from when I was around 2 and my brother was around 4. We used to wrestle on top of my parent’s bed. WWE style, we would go 2-on-1 against my dad. As we play fought with punches and choke-holds my dad would pretend like he was losing the battle, and then suddenly erupt like the Incredible Hulk. When we got tired we would lie down and would hug and kiss my dad.

When we got older my dad taught us to play ball, and showed his passion for Jesus by teaching the word from our home. Everyday dad came home around 3 o’ clock and ate at the kitchen table. I grabbed my basketball and went to the backyard so he could watch me shoot hoops. Knowing he was watching always helped me to work towards the next level.

I know it’s not Father’s Day, but I’m a big hater on corporate driven holidays. In my opinion, every day should be Mother’s day, Father’s day or Valentines day. The Bible says that God is our Father in heaven and he watches us everyday. His love and keen interest in our lives should motivate us as followers of Jesus to move our faith to the next level. As we grow in knowledge of who he is we can bear goodness in our lives.

I am thankful for an earthly father who modeled Godliness to both me and my brother.

Here in Bangkok, I can’t resist the urge to go out and exercise. It’s been my way to purge stress and find enjoyment by sweating it out. There aren’t too many ballers out here. So every morning I’m in the city, I wrap my wrists and strap on gloves to learn Muay Thai (the national sport of Thailand).

It’s not hoops and it’s not the same as wrestling as a toddler with my dad, but to put it simply: I love it!

Link if you feel like checking out the sport: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJfo0n98vdU

Some Prayer Requests and Blessings

***if you would like to pray with me***

• With the ongoing political instability in Thailand, the social psyche is still on pins and needles. I'm realizing that I need to be a better follower of Jesus and share him with the Thais. Pray that I will make it a priority to learn the Thai language so I can better connect with the people here.

• On October 22-25, I spent time with the Thais at a youth camp. During one session I was able to share with app. 50 Thai youths about 'Carrying your Cross Daily' and also about the 'Dangers of Materialism' (I spoke through an interpreter). I learned some preaching lessons as I thought I came down on them a little too hard. But this week I heard some feedback and supposedly, they were actually blessed! (It must have been God). Thank God for using me to minister to the Thai youth.

• I was in Communist Laos from October 25- November 2 visiting house churches throughout the country. My trip definitely left its mark on me in a way that will probably change me forever. In some unexpected ways, God broke down walls in my heart and taught me some really hard lessons. So thank God for the tough lessons and also for the way he's working in Communist Laos (I will post a report on the Christian movement in Laos sometime soon).
  

• I'm producing my organization's Through the Border, which is an eight-page ministry publication that will be released in December. So I'll be super busy in the next two weeks. Pray for a truck-load of grace as I write stories and prepare the design.
  
  
• Lastly, when my situation here doesn't work out as I plan, pray that I can really trust that:

  
  "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose". Romans 8:28
  

To all my friends, family and supporters, thank you for all your continual support. My experience here is the sum of God's grace as well as all your prayers. And if I don't get a chance to say this later, Happy Thanksgiving!

Your friend,

EJ