You and I went—you were with me in spirit—to Nepal and Myanmar: two of the most difficult mission fields on earth . . .
In Nepal, the two “Evangelism Through Education” children’s programs we began there were so inspiring, the people there took it upon themselves to go above and beyond: even with their meager resources, they opened another 12 centers across the country! This is how desperate they were to mount an outreach to their people!
But they were so short of funds, they had to shrink the program—do away with the daily meal, offer a small snack instead—and instead of certified paid tutors, they brought in volunteers who “like to teach.”
My immediate question was: Are the children learning according to the required standards? Can we prove that they are just as smart as the best students? We don’t know yet, came the answer, but we hope so.
Of course we couldn’t risk the children’s futures on a substitute plan that failed to deliver on the “miracle” we are seeing in the tested programs. So—on the strength of your generous support for World Link—we quickly brought tested and certified teachers to ensure the results.
Our partners in Nepal are thrilled that we are onto a sure strategy, and we are now walking on solid ground! They are grateful that their stepping out in faith has met with our approval—and our support of the program—to achieve the desired eternity-shaping results!
You can rejoice! You were a key player in this drama—establishing a powerful program which is being greatly used by God!
But then came Myanmar—even more of a challenge . . .
It seems almost impossible even to get there. Airline access is extremely limited. I needed two 10-hour flights to get to Kathmandu, then backtrack to Bangkok, and transfer up to Yangon. Finally there, I saw for myself that the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning is justified.
The governing military junta is serious about holding on to power, meeting with stiff opposition from those who want to take control for themselves. The junta has dictated that American money has only 50% of its international value. The locals themselves are very cautious about venturing outside of the capital city, where they’re likely to encounter those who want to “appropriate resources” to fund their cause.
But in the midst of all this pain, I see a perfectly ripe field for the hope-giving gospel!
The people of Myanmar have been ravaged by earthquakes, coups, Covid-19, and other natural disasters. They wonder: Why is all this happening? How long will these horrors last? We’re caught in a downward spiral of adversities—What’s next? Where can we find HELP?
Some hope the U.S. will invade the country and take over the government. They seriously asked me if President Trump might consider Myanmar as a candidate for invasion! (I assured them I had no access to him.) But with the believers there, we got down to the most productive business of determining what God does in situations like theirs. We talked about how we have seen the Lord move in other needy countries under seemingly impossible conditions.
And here’s the message of faith I delivered: You most certainly qualify for God’s interventions.
To be part of what God will do, we set out to look at what God has taught us to do (based on the seven factors of our ministry paradigm), and how our ministry strategy is working in other countries. The believers of Myanmar were happy to hear that there is hope. They are eager to get going. They are ENTHUSIASTIC!
The country is “tall and skinny” on the map. We’ll launch a total of 100 churches in the north, the center, and the south simultaneously. This initial campaign will reveal a lot about the various people groups, their response levels, and the fruit we can expect.
In the north, our target is Mandalay, the nation’s second-largest city. It’s suffering guerrilla attacks from the opposing forces. The airport has been bombed by drones, so to enlist workers we’ll have to go in by land—an 8-hour trip one-way.
Too hard? Conditions too harsh? No. To me, all of it sounds like the ripeness of a field that is eager to hear from God, and to discover what God can do for them in these desperate times! This country is ripe for the gospel—a great candidate for God’s invasion!
We have a superb team, starting with Neil Ty and Chhuana (not a typo!)—they were seminary classmates years ago. Neil has great expertise after the planting of 315 churches in the Philippines. We’ll also have the help of Jonathan, our most successful Philippines church planter; he will help us discern the quality of potential church planters.
Our brothers and sisters in Myanmar are excited to have such experienced and successful people on board. More importantly, they delight with us in the thought of seeing a beautiful and brand-new crop of churches in the region.
We’ve already shipped the first books for Bible teaching and doctrinal training. Because of the proven record of the program, hopes and expectations are high!
By faith we declare that the training will yield productive disciples—the only kind that Jesus tells us are true disciples.
In John 15:8, He says that the bearing of fruit is what glorifies the Father—this is what proves we are truly His disciples. You’re experiencing this yourself! Your fruit-bearing results from teaming up with the Father and the Son in making more disciples—this is what you and I are doing in all the fields worldwide!
The Spirit draws me time and time again to Christ’s teaching in John 15, as He was sharing with His disciples at the Last Supper. We know how important this teaching is because the Apostle John spent 12 chapters on the narrative of Christ’s ministry and five entire chapters on the Last Supper alone!
Here, Jesus carefully lays out His last set of instructions—vitally important to us in living our faith and achieving the harvest results He longs for us to achieve.
In this crucial teaching, one word is fundamental in the relationship of a disciple to Jesus: menō in the Greek—it means to ABIDE, or REMAIN.
A very special professor from back in the day, Dr. Edwin Blum, explained it succinctly and best:
The disciple’s part is to remain, or abide. The word remain/abide, a key word in John’s theology, is menō which occurs 11 times in this chapter, 40 times in the entire Gospel, and 27 times in John’s epistles.
What does it mean to remain? It can mean, first, to accept Jesus as Savior (cf. 6:54, 56). Second, it can mean to continue or persevere in believing (8:31 [“hold” is remain]; 1 John 2:19, 24). Third, it can also mean believing, loving-obedience (John 15:9–10).
Without faith, no life of God will come to anyone. Without the life of God, no real fruit can be produced: Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 5:5–6.
A disciple’s continual abiding with Jesus (If a man remains in Me)—and the indwelling of Jesus in a believer (and I in him)—result in abundant fruit (cf. v. 8).
We’ve been emphasizing this to our workers, Christ’s disciples in the fields, as they evangelize and plant churches. The priority: remaining in fellowship and communion with the Lord—He is their constant source, and ours. Abiding in Him is the only way He can use us to produce much fruit.
It’s not just true of workers out in the fields. This is about you and me too. We can only bear fruit as we abide in Him.
In this spring season, this season of renewal, let’s be intentional about remaining . . . abiding in the fellowship of the Son . . . so that we may bear much fruit in this already productive year.
And as God works, we may be surprised . . .
I’ll share with you one small surprise I’ve experienced lately. As I press on in my travels, encountering the ministries that God has raised up in various countries through your prayers and giving, I have found myself weeping.
I’m not typically prone to crying spells, but sometimes, memories slip in and take hold, and my emotions let go . . . memories of people—children, particularly—suddenly march before me.
In one town in Nepal, I have photographs of children. I remember the first 30 children—we had enough funds for only these few. But as I was sharing these images with a friend, it suddenly hit me . . .
There were 100 kids in that village. They all wanted to be in the program, to learn, and to receive that crucial daily meal.
The beautiful children in the photos were on the outside. In the street. I had started taking photos of the children in the program, but as I kept wandering the area and clicking away, I didn’t realize the shift . . .
I was now taking pictures of those left behind.
It was a devastating moment for me. I felt I had no right even to take their picture. Now my mistake was coming back to haunt me. But perhaps the Lord has used my error to deepen my resolve, and inspire all of us, to keep giving, keep serving, to bring more and more lost souls into the fold.
Yes, as the young people say these days: “It’s a lot.” The sheer numbers of children and adults in need can seem overwhelming. Certainly more than I can handle! But this is the spiritual challenge: to stay tuned, and to keep working—because the God we serve can handle them all! El Shaddai, the Almighty, is able to sustain all His creatures.
So by faith I say to those who still long to come in: “SOON! You will be with us SOON!”
Please join me in reaching them. Not only in Nepal, but everywhere.
I am grateful we have the privilege of serving the Lord together. I hope to hear from you soon.
Dr. Manny Fernandez
P.S. Every day, challenges and opportunities sail in from harvest fields around the world. Your prayerful, generous support empowers me to “keep on keeping on.” His truth is marching on! Let’s stay in step, in the train of His glory, as He leads us—as always—to victory! And the victory will be with us for eternity. Thank you in advance for giving as the Lord leads you today!