Café Ministry in Southeast Asia

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The following is a brief report from a venture in Southeast Asia in which an NHIM intern is participating.  Please join us in praying for this important ministry.

We have implemented a café as a social enterprise for the benefit of our primary ministry project, which is working with young women coming out of, or at risk of, sexual exploitation.  The café strives to be a place where all people are welcome and viewed as equal.  It has areas dedicated for families and children, as well as areas with Internet access for business and tourist clientele.  The café is a place for customers to enjoy quality food while also housing a facility for the project of working with young women in disadvantaged situations.  It provides the opportunity for employment and vocational training for project participants, in a manner deemed appropriate.  It is the goal of the café to financially support the project indefinitely into the future, as all profits of the café go to the project, once outstanding loans are paid off.

As the first quarter of 2012 came to an end, we felt thankful to God for how the purposes of this enterprise were coming into fruition.  The efforts of building the foundation of our work here is starting to become evident in sustainable long-term viability. The solidification of our operational foundation is evident in the building of capacity among our national staff as they take on greater roles in the responsibilities of operations and management, and as their skill level continues to increase.  This is also seen in the building of our customer base, which is increasing at 20+%  year on year.  As a result of these developments, we can now forecast that by the end of 2012 our operations will be self-sustaining.  Having the core operations of the café on the cusp of long-term sustainability ensures the future benefits of the project, as mentioned above.

In this quarter we have continued to make improvements to the café through continued decoration, advertising, and progressing in our plan to open in the evenings, and open an upstairs dining area/meeting room.  We have developed an online presence that we hope will increase the awareness of the café to locals and tourists.

When the renovation of the property was implemented, it was decided to build a second floor onto the back section of the café to be available as an activities/meeting room for the project.  This room received use in the first quarter as a hosting facility for a medical team from France that offered services to our employees and project participants and staff.  This group included a dentist, eye doctor, and general practitioner.  They stayed quite busy, and by the end of the day they had pulled 13 teeth just from our staff – that is an average of one tooth per staff member!

At this time the café employs two project participants as staff.  One of them, after beginning to work with us at the end of 2011, has now moved out of the shelter and into her own accommodation.  We continue to try and find the balance of having professional grade expectations of these workers while also being understanding of their difficult past circumstances that impact how they function today.  This is not an easy balance.  We are approaching the issue as a team, leaning on the cultural understanding and wisdom of our Christian managers that oversee these staff members.  On one hand we want the café to provide job and training opportunities for the project; on the other hand we must retain a very competitive and high-level operation.

In the coming quarter we look forward to accomplishing some long-sought-after goals:  hiring an Administrative Manager and extending our hours into the evening.  By hiring a national to serve as Administrative Manager, and by building the competency of our Kitchen/Production Manager, we aim to create a strong leadership structure within the café that can be sustained by nationals.   Our hope is that the evening hours, which we will soon be open, will provide the extra revenue to make the venture profitable.  Our location is excellent for evening traffic, right at the end of the night market, which is popular for foreign travelers to walk along in the early evening.

Eighth Well Underway in Samburu

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Today NHIM was able to transfer enough funds to begin digging our eighth well in the Samburu area of northern Kenya.  Barring any difficulty in drilling, the funding is now in place to complete the drilling process, but more funds will be needed to purchase and install a pump and generator for the site.  Please pray with us that this project will come to quick fruition, bringing water – physical and spiritual – to a thirsty people.

Only Three Responses

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“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.  Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.”  2 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)

Joe Hardman, a dear friend and NHIM Board member, and I were discussing responses to certain situations.  Joe shared an experience when he first went into the military.  An officer informed Joe, in no uncertain terms, that there were only three responses he should make to an officer: ‘Yes, Sir’,  ‘No, Sir’, and finally, ‘No excuse, Sir’.

I am wondering if that might not be a good model for our responses to God. When God makes His will known to us, our response should be ‘Yes, Sir’.  When we have stepped outside of His will and He says please don’t do that again, our response should be – ‘No, Sir’.  When we are confronted with our sin, the appropriate response should be, ‘No excuse, Sir’.

In the military, these 3 responses can save the soldier a lot of grief, discipline, and even time in the brig.  I truly believe if we would practice these 3 simple responses in respect to God, our relationship with Him would be greatly enhanced.  We could save ourselves a lot of grief, discipline, and time in God’s brig.  The use of a soldier’s responses for a spiritual application is appropriate.  The Apostle Paul advises Timothy to be “a good soldier” and “to please his commanding officer”.   Lord reveal your will to me for this day and I’ll say “Yes, Sir”.

~ Brother Roy

Springtime for the Soul

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“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?”   Jeremiah 12:5 (ESV)

 Spring in Kentucky is beautiful and welcomed with joy. It is exciting to drive through the countryside here in central Kentucky and see the pastures change from their winter brown to the rich verdant green of spring. The horse farms are alive with energy. Brood mares who have been sequestered much of the winter now bask in the warm spring sun. The yearlings, ‘like birds out of prison’, run for the sheer joy of running. There are few sights more beautiful than seeing one of these magnificent animals at full gallop with the wind blowing through their mane.

The exuberance of these young steeds experiencing the freedom of spring is a picture of a soul released from the bondage of sin.  May spring cause us to re-dedicate ourselves to sharing the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ to those held fast in the wintery grip of Satan. With the Lord’s help, we must be determined to minister the Word of God here at home and to the ends of the earth. Let us take it as our sacred charge from the Lord Himself when He said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We truly believe, “He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). May we long for real freedom for all people everywhere. We press the claims of Jesus knowing that, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

While we work and pray in earnest for the lost held in the soul chilling grip of Satan, many of us as believers experience, at times, the cold winds of doubt.  We fall victim to distress, discouragement, and the winter blahs of the soul. Perhaps we even ‘grow weary in well doing’.  God’s Word to us for curing these blahs is Is. 40:31  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  May this be springtime for our soul.  Let us be renewed in Him to rise above discouragement and all else that hinders us. Lord, as we strive to meet the challenge of the Great Commission, may we not only “go” but “run”, and not be weary!

~ Brother Roy

Celebration of Missions

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Roy had the honor of serving as ‘Keynote Speaker’ at WGM Northeast Celebration of missions on April 27 and 28.  The meeting was held in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania ( home of Phil the weather forcasting groundhog).  It was a great couple of days sharing about world missions.  WGM enjoys strong support in that area. There were also several people there that had served on NHIM teams. How blessed NHIM has been across the years to have served with so many dedicated believers.  On Sunday April 29, Roy preached at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Greenwood, PA.  NHIM has many friends there and the chance to renew friendships was such a blessing.

God’s Guidance System

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I recently purchased a new car.  It came equipped with a built-in GPS.  Although the technology has been around for some time, I am still amazed at how the GPS works.  The car has a tracking device in it that allows satellites to keep a precise location of the vehicle as it travels.

As I was contemplating the amazing ability of the GPS to keep track of my location, Psalm 139 came to mind.  I thought of verse 14 which informs us that man is “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  God nestled within man’s being a tracking device that is called the soul.  God’s ever-watchful eye knows our location.  Verse 3 tells me  that the heavenly father “compasses my path and my lying down, and is acquainted with all my ways.”  Peterson in the Message says it beautifully; “I’m never out of your (God’s) sight.”

How amazing to think that God knows where we are. His knowledge goes far beyond His ability to locate us geographically.  He knows where we are spiritually.  The GPS in my car let’s me know if I make a wrong turn and will re-direct me when I lose my way.  So it is with God’s guidance system.  Our conscience alerts us to wrong turns and the Holy Spirit will re-direct us to the best route back to Him.

God knows where we are!  A little advice from the ‘wisest man’ who ever lived:  “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Pro. 3:6).

~ Brother Roy

A Samburu Update

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Peace and grace.  In Samburu land, we have just held a women’s conference with 380 participants.  The speaker was Claudia Moore from Kentucky, a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary.  The Samburu Well Project is doing well.  We have seven wells – five with diesel generators and two with solar power pumps.  The pastoral Samburu people are rejoicing with gratitude to our mission partners, because  they have clean, safe drinking water.

Please pray for reliable transport for the water well ministry.  I am finding it very difficult to travel to different regions to plant churches and drill wells without reliable transport.  Some areas are very insecure to travel by public transport. Pray for a 4-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser that is reliable and useful for the wells project.

The camel project is also doing well. We have assisted 5 families with milking camels. These families are grateful and say thank you to the mission partners.

Blessings,

~ Michael Lolwerikoi

A Church out of the Ashes

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Someone once said, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and how this was true for Shoemaker Ridge Church. When Roy returned from his first trip to Shoemaker Ridge, he shared with me the pictures he had taken. These pictures displayed the scenes of burnt rubble, trash, crumbled ceiling, smoke-charred walls with windows broken out and glass all around this current Shoemaker Ridge Church.  As he showed me pictures of the devastated structure, my heart was also devastated. These ruins had been a church.

Once it had been a sacred place where the presence of the Lord had dwelled.  At one time a congregation had gathered each Sunday to worship.  The people had prayed, sung hymns of praise to the Lord, and listened to the message of holiness as it was preached from the pulpit. This had been a place where sinners had been saved, Christians had wept tears for loved ones as well as for themselves, and gave praises to Him for answered prayers.  No doubt people had worshipped the Lord “in the beauty of holiness”.   Now…nothing left but the ashes of what used to be.  Without a vision the people perish and they had perished.

However, one man had a vision of rebuilding this structure into a dwelling place for the Lord.  He shared his vision with others.  Just as in Isaiah 41:6 & 7, men encouraged one another to put their talents to work for the Lord.  The place of worship was restored on Shoemaker Ridge.  On Easter Sunday, in a matter of months after seeing the devastated building, we worshipped again in the beauty of His tabernacle.  He had raised this church out of the ashes and once again, people came to lift up His name above all names at Ridge Chapel on Shoemaker Ridge.  With prayers and supplications, this time Ridge Chapel will not perish.

~ Sue Lauter

A “Miracle” on Shoemaker Ridge

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In recent months, NHIM has worked along side of Pastor David Spencer in opening a church on Shoemaker Ridge. The church is located in Lee Co. in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.  A few months ago, David called me and asked for help in restoring ministry on the ridge. A fire had closed the small church over 20 years ago. David began to visit the ridge and discovered that approximately 85 families lived on the ridge and had no church. As the burden for the people on the ridge increased, so did David’s determination to open the church.  His burden became a burden that NHIM shared.  Space does not permit telling the whole amazing story at this time, but I want to share just one ‘miracle’ at this time.

Joe Hardman, a NHIM Board member, accompanied me to the mountains to look at the project and take some financial help.  While we were there, David, showed us a newly discovered problem.  The sewer line from the two small bathrooms simple ran to the hillside beside the church and emptied raw sewage over the hill.  An adequate sewage system had to be in place before the work could proceed. The money we took was enough to cover work already completed, but we didn’t have the funds for the septic system. On Sunday after our Saturday visit to the ridge, Joe and his family and Sue and I were eating lunch at a local restaurant.  Joe and I were discussing our dilemma and committed to pray and ask the Lord to help us raise the needed funds.

When we were finished eating and stood to leave, a man seated behind us motioned for me to come to his table.  He apologized for eavesdropping and then told me that the story of Shoemaker Ridge had touched his heart.  He then told me that he would pay to put in the septic system and he did! Is that not miracle? The church opened on Easter Sunday afternoon and NHIM Board Chairman Matt Kinnell, Joe Hardman, Sue, and I joined in the celebration of the resurrection of a church on Resurrection Day!

~ Brother Roy