SCRIPTURE UNION EAST & WEST ASIA

PRAISE & PRAYER UPDATES

September & October 2013

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The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

WEEK 1: HONG KONG & MACAU

Praise God for the two new council members, Mr Pele Lee (a youth pastor) and Mr Wai Ming Wong (a vice-headmaster) added to the SU Hong Kong Council.  Pray too for Elder Joseph Chan the new chairman.  Pray that our ministry will continue to grow through their faithful service.

We also thank for Matthew Wong who will be appointed the deputy GS for SU Hong Kong from 1 October.  May the Lord bless him in his new area of ministry.  Foster Lee is a newly appointed youth worker.  Pray that he will integrate well into the work.  Please remember to pray for Lily our part-time staff in SU Macau.  She is now planning for various programs in the next half of 2013.  Also note that Lucia and Alan will be doing ministry in Macau early October.

Council members, staff, volunteers and special speakers will be taking various ministry assignments.  Please pray for good preparation and effective ministry for Alan (8 Sept & 13 Oct), Matthew (12 Oct), Suhina and Shirley (13 Oct), Lucia (15 Sept, 29 Sept, 1 Oct & 4 Oct).  Pray too for Bible Talks by Dr KT Choi (6 Sept), Dr K Ho (4 Oct) and Rev YT Lau (11 Oct).

SU HONG KONG STAFF TEAM

From left to right:

Jennifer, Betty, Edward, Jenny, Alan, Lucia, Foster, Shirley, Matthew, Suhina and Simon.

SUEWA: David Leong who was our SUEWA Children Ministry Coordinator and SU Singapore Executive Director has recently stepped down from his official roles in Scripture Union.  Nonetheless, David remains an advisor for our children ministry in our region and will help us on a project basis.  Please pray that God will continue to lead him and bless him in his itinerant ministry.

WEEK 2: PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

SU Pen Malaysia is organizing a seminar on Christian Fellowships in Schools in Penang (14 Sept) together with the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, the Malayan Christian Schools’ Council and the Teachers’ Christian Fellowship. Pray that the seminar will encourage teachers, students, parents and church leaders to see the significance of our mission to the schools and be involved in it. Pray for the speakers and facilitators too.

The 100th Issue of the Vineyard Magazine (Chinese Children’s magazine) will be in print this month! There will be a Thanksgiving Celebration (5 Oct) to appreciate the faithful contribution of volunteers and staff over the many years. Please pray with us that the Vineyard magazine will continue to bless many more children.

The staff team will be going for their Staff Consultation (30 Oct-2 Nov) to finalize ministry direction and programs for 2014. Please pray for sensitivity to God’s leading and dependence on Him for the ministry.  Please pray also that the Lord will provide the right staff to come into our ministry. Pray that our needs can be widely known and those who desire to serve the Lord will see our ministry an important area of mission.

Remember to pray for the staff team as they take various ministry assignments.  One highlight is a trip to Johor Bahru (9-10 Oct) where Christopher Cheah, Lue Jun Yi and Collene Lee will meet with school teachers and pastors.  Pray for meaningful connections with local leaders, as well as a blessed time of fellowship and ministry.

SUEWA: Jason Fong will be conducting a 3G ToT program in Malaysia (10-17 Sept) soon.  In this program, Jason will be conducting six modules of teachings on Sexuality and BGR at a series of Youth Seminar in a local church in Petaling Jaya.  (3G stands for Girls, Guys and God.)  We will also have five SU volunteers from Brunei, Japan and Myanmar who will observe Jason in the 3G Seminar, and will also be trained as trainers for the 3G modules.  Please pray for God’s blessings on this special program.  Pray too that the 3G modules could be effectively “exported” to other countries in our region.

WEEK 3: SABAH & SARAWAK

SU Sabah produces Kawan Pelangi, a Sunday School material in Malay language.  Trainings are planned to promote this material with various churches.  Please pray for good responses and wide usage of the material, and that the participants will find the material useful and relevant.

SU Sarawak had ministered to some 12,000 students through the ISCF Camps, seminars and weekly meetings in the past year.  Praise the Lord!  Please continue to pray for the staff stationed at various locations that we will serve effectively: Yusuf Anyi (Kucing), Billy Paran (Sibu), Zeliman Rining (Miri) and Yahya Akaw (Limbang).

SU Sarawak is also asking for prayers that we will be able to partner with more local churches and find the needed funds to support the on-going ministry.

SUEWA: The SUEWA Office in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia is looking for an Admin/Finance/Secretarial personnel to serve with us.  Please pray that God would lead a suitable person to join us.  Interested persons can contact Jason Fong at 017 572 5846.

WEEK 4: KOREA

The National Ministry Workers Conference was held recently, which included a special lecture on “Changes in Korean Society over the Next 20 Years, the Crisis and Opportunities for Korean Churches and Preparing the Vision for the new generation”. We thank God that all the workers made and reviewed plans and strategies for the latter half of 2013 effectively. Please pray that SU Korea will have spiritual wisdom and vision for the coming years.  Please pray too for a coming national gathering and family camp for voluntary workers (11-12 Oct).  Pray that the board of directors, council members, and ministry workers who are scattered around the country will have a time of celebration and training as well respond to God’s calling.

Our Publishing Department is planning a retreat of editors of several BR Notes. There have been radical changes in the publishing world. Please ask to the Lord to give us wisdom and discretion to cope with all these transitions.  Pray that God gives us spiritual discretion to select and publish books that meet the needs of churches in Korea to overcome the all-pervasive spiritual complacency.  Pray too that God will give us wisdom and foresight in preparing and developing an E-book system.

SU Korea has a newly organized Ministry Department which is in charge of research, training, the next generation ministry and overseas ministry. It also has to lead and back up the 13 SU branches in the country. Please pray that all the staff of the department will be effectively of managing the various ministries.

SUEWA: Hans Wuysang has taken up a greater role (50% of his time) to serve our region.  Hans request for prayers that his command of English will continue to improve.  Please pray too for God’s grace, strength and protection as he travels to various movements in the region.

WEEK 5: PHILIPPINES & JAPAN

SU Philippines praise God for providing an Information Technologist to design the SU website. Please pray for him as he familiarizes himself with SU work and that God will enable him to create an attractive and informative website.

Light to My Path 2014 is scheduled to be released at the end of September just before our AGM. Please pray that this deadline can be met.  Praise the Lord that He has provided sufficient funds to pay the overdue love gifts for our note writers. Please pray for our note writers as they prepare to write the 2015 notes. May God give them the passion to write and at the same time listen to Him so that they too will be refreshed in the process of writing.

SU Japan GS, Tadashi Oyamada will be visiting the churches of Sendai city (21–27 Sept). This is area was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.  Praise God for the strong Christian presence there since the disaster. Uphold Tadashi in prayer as he shares God’s message in the churches and ministers to people who are still hurting and struggling to cope. Pray too that many unbelievers will be persuaded to attend these meetings to see for themselves that the Lord is good and that His love endures forever.

Hirotaka Shimada will be taking over from Tadashi as GS of SU Japan on early next year. Please pray for a smooth transition and adjustment for Rev Hirotaka as he familiarizes himself with the different areas of work of SU Japan. Pray too that Tadashi will take time to rest and catch up with family and friends before he moves on to his next area of ministry.

SU Japan is presently focusing only on Youth and Bible Ministry and is looking into the possibility of beginning Children's Ministry in the near future. Please pray that the Lord will guide us and provide the staff, resources and support needed.

SUEWA: Jason Fong is currently on a ministry trip to a restricted country in West Asia as well as to attend SU International Meetings in Basel, France.  Please pray for God’s protection and leading in his itinerary, that he will make meaningful connections and do effective ministry with the local people.  Pray too for wisdom in all the discussions and planning in the SUI Meetings.

WEEK 6: VIETNAM & LAOS

Praise God for the developing SU work in Vietnam.  A youth camp was held in Hanoi recently for some 240 youth. Jason Fong took eight sessions at the camp where he encouraged young people to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. Please pray that this camp would have been a turning point for these young people and that they will continue to want to glorify God in their lives.

In that ministry trip, a pastors’ training was also conducted. Please pray that these pastors will work hand-in-hand with SU to promote SU Bible resources, camps and trainings to their members. Pray also that they will prove to be a valuable source of volunteers for SU Projects in the future.

Various children ministry activities are also taking place in Ho Chih Min City.  These are the fruits of some children ministry trainings (conducted by David Leong) early this year.  Please continue to pray that children, youths and their family will be effectively reached by God’s Word.

A new team leader has been recently appointed in SU Laos.  Please pray for Khounkeo as he takes up this leadership role.  We praise God for the combined effort to train Lao and Thai youth in July recently. Other programs that were run include the training of camp officers required to teach at camp.

Pray also for Afeuy Soecho as she continues to serve in the different areas of ministry.  A Sunday School Teachers Training event has been planned for end August.  David Leong will be our trainer.  Please pray for the coordination and implementation of this project.

SUEWA: The region is facing financial difficulties due to the increase in ministry activities and needs.  A special financial task force met in Cameron Highlands recently to look into this matter.  Please pray for God’s leading as we find ways to increase donations and optimize our ministry work plans.

WEEK 7: SINGAPORE

SU Singapore praise God for the council election recently.  We thank God that Arnold Khoo (the eldest son of the late Dr Khoo Oon Teik, our first local Chairman of SU Singapore) is now in the council.  Pray for the new Council and staff team as they serve SU in Singapore.  Pray too for Alfred Yeo (Chairman) as he leads a Task Force in planning for our 60th Anniversary next year.

Please pray for Lim Teck Boon and the staff team as we plan for 2014. Pray for sensitivity to hear from God.  Pray too for boldness and faith to believe God for His provision and blessings on what is planned.  Pray for more churches to take up our Bible Reading materials and resources.  Pray also for more openings for us to engage with the schools.

Barnabas Loh (Youth Staff) requests for prayer as he goes into the Mission Schools to work among the students.  Barnabas serves in the weekly sports ministry at a local church too.  Pray for wisdom, favour and boldness as he ministers.

Flora Chew (Children Staff) asks for prayer as she plans for the year-end SUPA Camp with a team of volunteers.  Pray for God’s anointing upon her as she leads.  Pray for Flora as she ministers at the children camp in a local church too.

SUEWA: Jason Fong is preparing for a Youth Camp in Bali (1-3 Nov).  He will be teaching the 3G modules at the camp.  Please pray for God’s guidance in his preparation.  Pray too that God would use the teaching to empower the young people towards healthy and pure relationships.  Pray too that this camp will be a catalyst for SU Indonesia to further develop their work with the Balinese churches.

A previous SU International Event at Chennai

From left to right:

Jason Fong, David Leong and Hans Wuysang

WEEK 8: THAILAND

We praise God for a Bible Seminar organized by SU Thailand recently.  Koh Gim Lam and Hans Wuysang were the two main speakers. Please pray that the participants will not only be motivated to take time to read God’s word and reflect on it daily but will also be passionate about encouraging others to do so.

The SU premises were recently sold. Praise God that we were able to get a buyer for it. The SU Council is looking out for new premises for the SU office. Please pray that the Lord will guide them in this important decision.

SU Thailand Director, Yawanit Kasaetwatananond, will be stepping down from her post this year. Please pray that God will provide a suitable person to take over from her.  Yawanit will be moving to her new residence in October and a new phase of her life after leaving SU. Please pray that God will continue to guide and lead her in her new area of work/ministry so that she is at the centre of His will.

SUEWA: We are making special effort to plant SU in Timur Leste.  Hans Wuysang is coordinating this effort.  He has made a first exploratory trip to the country recently and is planning follow-up actions.  Please pray that God will guide him.  Pray for effective connections be made with local people.

WEEK 9: CAMBODIA

SU Cambodia is planning to translate and adapt Bible Bytes, a Bible reading guide written for Malaysian teenagers, for use with Cambodian youth. Uphold in prayer, Long Sitha and Sokun as we do the translation and pray also for more qualified volunteers to help us.

“Fill Me Up” is a program by SU Cambodia to encourage young people to keep a daily Quiet Time. Praise God for Pastor Prey Sokun who has been helping SU Cambodia to run this program. Please pray that there will continue to be good response to this program and that those who have gone through it will be diligent in keeping their Quiet Time and be open to what God wants them to do.

Praise God that SU Cambodia has been able to train a number of Sunday School Teachers under Level 1 of its SSTT module. We are now working on Level 2 of the module. Please pray that this new module will be effective in passing on skills and lessons that will motivate the teachers to excel in their roles as Godly Sunday School Teachers.  SU Cambodia has set up two children’s clubs. Please uphold SU volunteers Sarin and Mary as we minister to the children at the club in Setbo Kondal Province.

SUEWA: Pray for the coordination and production of this SUEWA Praise & Prayer Update.  Elsie Cherian (from SU Pen Malaysia) is helping Jason Fong.  Please pray that this update will generate prayer support for our ministry works in the region.  Pray too for the SUEWA.update Facebook Group which offers real time information on various activities in our region.  Please contact Jason Fong if you are interested to join this FB Group and pray for us.