LCC Missions News
- August 2010
Samaritan's Purse
does more than just the shoe boxes!
The
story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear
picture of God's desire for us to help those in desperate need
wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a
hurting man whom others had passed by, Jesus told His hearers, "Go
and do likewise." For over 35 years,
Samaritan's Purse
as an international relief agency, has done it's utmost to follow
Christ's command by going to the aid of the world's poor, sick, and
suffering. We reach out to hurting people in countries around the
world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus
Christ. Here in Australia and New Zealand, Samaritan's Purse has
been independently run since 1995. We form part of the larger
international network, but focus on our immediate
Southeast
Asian and Pacific neighbours, including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam,
Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well as to
indigenous Australians in the Kimberley's and Northern Territory.
Through our
Operation Christmas Child shoe box program: Send a message of
love, hope & joy to children in our region. Our emergency relief
programs: Provide desperately needed assistance to victims of
natural disaster, war, disease, and famine. We offer food, water,
and temporary shelter and give people a chance to rebuild their
lives. Our community development programs: Build schools, wells,
install water filters, initiate feeding programs, improve sanitation
to prevent disease, and offer vocational programs to help people
break the cycle of poverty and give them hope for a better tomorrow.
As our teams work in crisis areas of the world, people often ask,
"Why did you come?" The answer is always the same: "We have come to
help you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ."Jesus said, "Love
your neighbour as you love yourself" (Luke 10:3) and so we do,
regardless of their background. "We love because He first loved us"
(1 John 4:19).
DID YOU KNOW...
Step 1
Along with their shoe box gifts, children are offered colourful
storybooks that explain the Good News of Jesus Christ in their local
language.
Step 2
Samaritan’s purse provides local churches and ministry
partners
with a 12-lesson Bible study course that introduces children to
Jesus, shows them how to receive Him and follow Him, & equips them
to share their faith with family & friends.
Step 3
Children who complete the Bible lessons receive a personalized
certificate and a special New Testament with favourite Old Testament
passages.
Just one of the
thousands of Mercy Ships stories!
"I
saw God at work during my time as a volunteer nurse with
Mercy Ships in Togo," says
Darwin nurse Jenny Ward. One occasion she remembers well. "We had a
four-month-old child being prepared for surgery to correct a cleft
palate. Such children are always hard to feed, and often need to be
put onto a special feeding program to fatten them up before surgery.
This child developed breathing problems and needed to go on life
support. As the nurses were getting things ready the medical officer
placed his hand on the baby and prayed. Straight away the child's
oxygen level came to normal and life support was not needed.
Improvement followed quickly and the surgery went ahead." Jenny
first heard about the work of Mercy Ships when she was 17. "I was
interested then, but could not afford it." Now after 15 years of
nursing, she has just returned from three weeks service as a
volunteer nurse onboard the world's largest charity hospital ship in
the West African nation of Togo, one of the world's poorest nations.
"Those around me at home were very supportive of my decision, but
many had never heard of Mercy Ships. I knew nothing about Togo. When
I was accepted for service as a volunteer I had to look at a map of
Africa to find where the ship was. Not an easy destination for
making travel arrangements either.
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BACKGROUND:
GBA Ships.
Serving others
with ocean-going ships began in 1970 with the purchase of the
original Logos. Since then the ships (Logos, Doulos, Logos II
and now Logos Hope) have visited 500 different ports in 160
countries and territories and welcomed 40 million visitors on
board. Our goal is to bring knowledge, help and hope to the
people of the world. The ships visit each port for several
weeks each and open the gangways to hundreds and
sometimes thousands of visitors each day. On average, over one
million visitors have been welcomed onboard every year! The
floating book fairs offer over 6,000 titles, providing many
visitors their first-ever opportunity to purchase a wide range
of quality literature. An international crew and staff of
volunteers live and work on the ships. Teams from the ship go
into surrounding areas to supply aid and community care. In
each port, the ship’s crew partners with local community
groups to bring hope and show love to people whatever their
circumstance, culture or background.
www.gbaships.org |
I
flew via Darwin, Singapore and Paris to Togo's capital Lome, and
returned the same way." Jenny describes the work being done by
volunteers, all of whom pay their own way to be involved, as very
important. "The people of Togo and other West African nations have
to live with poverty and famine, poor governance and a lack of
educational opportunities. They also live with many traditional
beliefs and superstitions that often result in people suffering from
disability or disfigurement being regarded as cursed. That results
in their being abandoned, rejected or isolated from family and the
rest of society." "This experience has helped change my perspective
on looking at the needs of others. I have grown to love the people
of Africa. After seeing the people we cared for and considered their
circumstances and their poverty, I have been able to look at people
with a greater sense of compassion and love, in line with the values
set by Mercy Ships. I believe love crosses every border and pulls
down every barrier." Jenny hopes to be able to continue travelling
once or twice a year working as a nurse. "I would like to serve on
the Africa Mercy again one day," she concludes.
Story by Amos
Bennett.
Youth Ministries
Australia -
Wave Makers Perth Report
by
David Huddleston
Praise God for the way He moved amongst the 60 or so youth leaders
who gathered together for the recent
Youth Ministries Australia (YMA)
Wave Makers intensives at Lifestreams Christian Church in Perth.
Matt Fricker and I were greatly encouraged by the passion and
commitment of those present - what a joy to share meaningful input
and discussion with people who want to go after God's heart as they
invest in an emerging generation in WA - we're praying that God will
continue to fan His flame in this regard and that Matt will have
wisdom in following up those who have expressed a desire to go
deeper and explore a growing involvement with YMA.
LCC MISSION NEWS ARCHIVE
Operation
Christmas Child
is a
unique project of Samaritan's Purse which brings joy and hope to
children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled
shoeboxes. It provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be
involved in a simple, but hands-on, project which has the power to
transform children's lives. In 2009 our teams in Australia and New
Zealand delivered over 300,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to South
East
Asia and the South Pacific. Globally, Samaritan's Purse distributed an
estimated 7.6 million shoeboxes to children in 105 countries. As each
shoe box gift is delivered, it is treasured by the child who receives
it and is a lasting reminder that he or she is precious to God.
Lynwood
Christian Church's Involvement
Since
1999 we have produced 2,652 shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse! This is a
testament to Lynwood's desire to reach children with God's Word and
serve Him in a practical way. The Shoebox Ministry team has seen it's
numbers dwindle, although the enthusiasm for this ministry remains
strong. Please pray for guidance for the future of this ministry here
at Lynwood after this year's outreach. We encourage individuals
to fill their own boxes (these will be provided from the church office
when available) and/or get involved on the two or three packing days
we will hold in August/September. Any queries, please see
Linda Russell.
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Here is a
sample
of videos on YouTube of Samaritan's Purse...
|
|
 "Boxes
of joy in Papua New Guinea"
Follow the shoe boxes that originally came from Australia up
 along
the river to the village of Miri, Papua New Guinea.
|
 "Music
Video: Love in a Box"
by Melisa Bester
Melisa is a long time supporter of Samaritan's Purse - features
footage
from Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
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..... WARNING:
Please be careful of what YouTube recommends you to watch after
these clips - many are anti-christian .....
LCC Missions
Supported
James &
Kathleen DORN
Philippines
Church planting among the
Mandaya people.
(From left to
right: Melanie, Joshua, Kathleen, James, Jodie.)
Audio Update
4th July 2010 at
Duncraig
Christian Fellowship
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BACKGROUND:
New Tribes Mission
helps local churches train, coordinate and send missionaries
to these tribes. Of the world's 6,500 people groups, 2,500 are
still un-reached. The NTM missionary team learns the tribal
language and understands the culture, so the message of the
Gospel can be presented in the language and the manner the
people will understand. They translate God's Word, teach
people how to read and write their own language, and teach
through the Bible chronologically, laying a foundation for the
Gospel among people who have never met the God of the Bible.
Missionaries disciple the new believers, equip them to lead
their church, and help them reach out to other villages within
their own tribe and to neighboring tribes.
www.ntm.org |
Vaughan and Cathy PIRIE
Thailand -
At present in Pak Phanang
Come to Thailand by
joining our “Serve Thailand” program for 1- 3 years. As a “Serve
Thailand” worker, you will receive training and support that will
help you to discover where God can use you in the future.
For more
information click
here.
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BACKGROUND:
Overseas Missionary
Fellowship International
(formerly the China Inland Mission and Overseas Missionary
Fellowship) was founded by James Hudson Taylor in 1865. We
serve the church and bring the gospel to many of the countries
in East Asia, and we have a pioneering ministry in the rest.
We help place Christians with professional skills in China and
other Asian countries, and share the love of Christ with East
Asians worldwide. In 2006 OMF International began praying for
900 new workers to reach the gospel neglected frontiers among
East Asia's peoples. Now in 2010, 449 of those workers have
been provided by praying for the remaining 441 you can play a
part in reaching East Asia's millions.
www.omf.org |
Dave and Judy
HUDDLESTON
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
(Back row - left to
right: Scott, Dave, Judy and Tim.)
(Front row: Liam and
Caitlin.)
Youth Ministries
Australia is currently partnering with the Churches of Blacktown in
Schools group [COBIS] to assist with the placement and equipping of
schools workers in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. Within this region
there are Christian students feeling alone and isolated; Christian
teachers feeling overwhelmed, and disengaged young people who may
not receive biblical teaching and modelling any other way! State
High School workers serve the school community to which they are
assigned providing religious instruction, but in so doing
sensitively address the social, emotional and spiritual needs of
staff, students and families. The harvest is plentiful - the workers
are few!
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BACKGROUND:
Youth Ministries
Australia
was founded in 1979 by Bill and Faye Hodgson as the youth
ministry arm of Campus Crusade for Christ Australia. From our
beginning we have served the local church in equipping those
with a ministry amongst youth in building Jesus-centred church
and school-based ministries. YMA’s National Ministry Leader is
Dave Huddleston. Dave lives in Melbourne with his wife Judy
and their four children. Dave has a background in both local
church and high school youth ministry. He and Judy have also
lived in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney and have been associated
with YMA for 18 years. They are passionate about seeing
leaders raised up to influence this generation for Jesus.
www.yma.com.au |
Tarsha's Legacy
Centre
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Patrick &
Carol Kelly are from Perth, Western Australia - "While visiting
Cambodia in 2003, we felt called to serve the people. Subsequently,
we left our senior management positions in the corporate world to
pursue a lifestyle of service and life has never been the same, as
we see our vision to equip, empower and enrich the lives of the
Cambodian people, come to fruition... A large number of those
we serve are children. Many of the poor children of Cambodia, become
street children who are classified as those children who spend most
of their time either living or working on the street. They are the
very poorest of the poor and are trapped in a poverty cycle. The burden of
working from such a young age and the huge responsibility of
providing financial assistance to the family income, basically robs
the children of a childhood. Consequently, we have taken on the
challenge of equipping and empowering poor parents, as well, and
breaking their 'poverty mentality' mindset, so that the whole family
lives an enriched life. In some instances, this necessitates
building homes, providing safe drinking water and effective santitation facilities, medical care etc."
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BACKGROUND:
Tarsha's Legacy Centre
-
With an acronym like TLC (which could also stand for Tender
Loving Care) is bound to equip, empower and enrich the lives
of Cambodian children in a loving, caring environment. Patrick
and Carol Kelly have been involved in a huge initiative - to
re-locate and house people who were being evicted from an
inner-city slum area. A Khmer pastor, Sara, has a huge heart
for his people within the slum and together with Patrick and
Carol and and his wife Shansi, Pastor Sara has been looking to
God for an answer. Out of all this has come the purchase of a
90 metre x 10 metre block of land not far from Phnom Penh,
where 18 small (6m x 4m) homes have been built. A whole new
community has been formed. Further, a school has been opened
on the property. Called 'Tarsha's Legacy Centre' (in
remembrance of Natasha, a young Tasmanian lady who lived a
short earthly life, but whose passion for the poor lives on)
this school serves not only the new community but also
children in the immediate district. Shansi heads up the school
of 90 children, together with a great team of staff.
www.patrickandcarolkelly.com |
Australian
Missionary Tidings (AMT) - 
