Aug 2003
GATEWAY TO ASIA
Beloved Partners & Friends
This comes to you from the city/nation of Singapore, gateway to Asia. What a magnificent city and what incredible pride Singaporeans have in their nation. The cleanliness is amazing and every road and highway is planted with flowers and superbly tree lined. There are no potholes or broken roads at all, no dilapidated buildings and some remarkably inspiring modern architecture. In the midst of what may only be described as beauty, there is law and order. In the two weeks that I have been here, I have seen one traffic policeman and no regular police. Discipline is seriously implemented - there is the death sentence for having more than 15 GRAMS of drugs and caning by the state (hurrah!!) for other social misdemeanors. There are heavy fines for smoking in all but designated places and chewing gum (another hurrah!!) - of which national law forbids the sale - is not even seen let alone strewn on the streets or stuck under tables in restaurants. Despite such laws and regulations, there is no sense of oppression or that big brother is watching you even amidst the heightened security. Everything is executed in a spirit of respect and decency that would bide well for westerners to learn.
Certainly, we have entered the "day of Asia." God is moving in this part of the world and this ministry will be working in Asia in the future. The task is enormous, the fields are white unto harvest and the labourers are truly few. What incredible opportunities to impact the world are awaiting those who will throw their lives into the battle for the Kingdom. God has given me some wonderfully exciting visions that need to be fulfilled. He has given us a mandate for Asia too. There is an enormous need even here in Asia to raise up a new generation of men and women who are passionately in love with Jesus who will be the leadership of the future and preach and teach the pure uncompromising Word. This means more Bible Colleges with the SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE and this means more partnerships to execute God's purposes through fully equipped intercessors.
Thank you partners and friends for your faithfulness and belief in the work that we are doing - you keep supporting and we will keep doing so that together, we build His glorious Kingdom and see multitudes won to Christ. Your bank account in heaven is gaining interest every day and you are not even aware of the fact. Let us build eternity together. These are powerfully exciting times and the work is exploding.
WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT IGNORE THE SUFFERING IN SOUTHERN SUDAN
By Chuck Baldwin July 25, 2003
Let me say up front that I believe we have no business sending U.S. troops all over the world for so-called peacekeeping efforts. Such activity almost always amounts to nation building, nothing more. It sacrifices American lives on the altar of political and commercial appeasement. It is morally and historically wrong. Unfortunately, this has been the policy of practically every administration, regardless of party, since World War II.
That President Bush is leaving American servicemen in Iraq to be killed one or two at a time is shameless and heartless, to say the least. Building a new Iraq is not the job of the U.S. military. If politicians, diplomats, and CEO's want to seize oil wells and develop a commercial Iraq, let them move over there and put their own fannies in the fire!
However, the Bush administration is not content to let our troops remain targets in Iraq; now it wants to send additional troops to Liberia. Once again, the purpose appears to be nothing more than nation building. Or is it?
The question begs to be asked: what is the commercial attraction of Liberia? Is it diamonds? Is it precious metals? What do the global elite find appealing in Liberia? One thing is sure: the U.S. doesn't send troops to any country for strictly humanitarian reasons! Why do I say that? Just look at The Sudan.
There is no country on earth that has witnessed more abuses and atrocities than has The Sudan. Over the past two decades, the Muslim government in Khartoum has murdered over two million people. Most of the dead are women and children. The reason they were killed? They were Christians.
Furthermore, slavery is very much alive and well in The Sudan. Children are sold into slavery by the thousands. Women are bought and sold as sex slaves in equal numbers.
Beyond that, death in The Sudan is extremely tortuous and heinous. Children are forced to watch as their mothers are raped and disemboweled and their fathers are crucified. The cruelty committed by The Sudan's government soldiers against innocent people is incomprehensible to those of us in America.
Yet, the Bush administration has shown absolutely no interest in sending U.S. troops to help stop the carnage in The Sudan. Why? The Khartoum government makes Saddam Hussein look like a choir boy. If deposing a murderous regime is justification for invading a foreign country, certainly The Sudan qualifies. Beyond that, The Sudan is rich in oil, almost as rich as Iraq. So, why do the oil giants who control America's politicians not clamor for a "just war" against The Sudan?
The reason is simple: major U.S. oil companies are already operating in The Sudan, and they are protected by Communist Chinese troops. That's right. U.S. oil companies in concert with Communist China control the oil fields of The Sudan.
Therefore, with the blessing and protection of China, the Khartoum government wages an unrestricted and unchallenged war of genocide against the Christians of southern Sudan. And all the while, the U.S. government looks the other way.
The moral high tones used by the Bush administration for justifying an unconstitutional war in Iraq and soon in Liberia becomes nothing more than dull cacophony when one takes a look at its policy, or lack of one, toward The Sudan.
CONTAINER ARRIVES IN MALAWI
It was a real blessing for the Malawi team to be able to give to another
organization in need.
MALAWI SCHOOL
A roofing team was recently in Malawi and what a wonderful job they did!!
It was the same team who roofed the Academy in New Sudan. Our grateful
thanks to Jerry Baugh, Mark Katzer and team from Indiana who once again
rose to the challenge and accomplished the job. THANK YOU!
We are now starting work on the electrical. Praise God that a number of
years ago we purchased a transformer in South Africa. It was approved
by the Malawi electricity board and now six years down the road it has
saved us thousands of dollars because they have so increased in price.
The electrical project will cost approximately $30,000 and if anyone would like to donate towards that please make a note on you check. We are beginning to look for retired teachers who want to do something for the Kingdom. It would be a three year contract. We plan to open in January 2005.
DEATH OF A WARRIOR
We were shocked by the sudden death of our friend Ake Soderlund in Finland earlier this month. He opened Finland to us and has been Michael’s translator on every trip we have made there as well as being a wonderful host. He served the Lord in Africa for most of his life and has left a wonderful legacy in his children who have followed after him in the service of the Kingdom. While we grieve for his family and loved ones, we rejoice that he now walks the streets of gold and stands before the Throne of God in awesome praise and worship.
Our love and sympathy to Pirkko and to Pertti and Heidi and family at this time. There is no doubt that dynamite comes in small packages and he was explosive for the Kingdom.
UPDATES
We had a glorious time in Canada with friends and supporters. The camp meeting at Good Samaritan Church was so refreshing and it seems that it is hard to find those Pentecostal Camp Meetings any longer. Our grateful thanks to Carol Schwartz who has been sending out the newsletter and helping out as and where she can. Pat Lasher is now going to be handling that as well as book and tape orders and our postal address is included in the newsletter heading.
Bwana is now in Singapore as you can see for the editorial and leaves for Indonesia on Wednesday. From there he flies to Finland to join with our Finnish friends. He also has the opportunity to go to Lapland and Lithuania this year. God is surely opening doors wide and as the ministry expands we need more faithful workers to help. God has given us a wonderful team in Finland, England, Canada and Malawi and Frank Vandyke has now joined the team in New Sudan. Sometimes the task seems overwhelming but it is God’s work and just as He supplies the funds as and when they are needed we believe that He is able to do the same with staff and teachers.
Please remember Bwana in prayer as traveling, living out of suitcases and preaching every day as well as trying to keep abreast of things in Africa can be exhausting.