To encourage.....

I have found 4 main ways to be encouraged and to encourage others.

1. They visit us. Especially in a pioneer area we become greatly encouraged when people are visiting us. Woow. They come to me  ….. out here!

2. We visit them. Last week we visited some new churches.

Yesterday I visited a new Church (1 year old) here in Ubon. I was blessed but ….. I saw 20 new believers were much encouraged.  

Sometimes we can be afraid of entering other peoples ”world”. Too often we think: We might disturb. Sometimes its good to focus:
         a) The leader of the Church. Listening to them, praying for them and blessing them.  


         b) The congregation. Preach, sing and bless the the members in the Church.                      
3. Networking. We meet in more neutral set-up. Somewhere between our different ”worlds” and lift up common issues. Practice the unity we have in the body of Christ. But, I have found that many dedicated servants of God are working so hard in their own work so they have no time for Networking.
   
4. They do the same. When I see they also bless and encourage others ..... I am most encouraged myself. 

Summary: I have found that one of the best Church Planting methods is to take time to visit others. Listening to them, read the word of God, sing together, pray for them and bless them. In order that they will also go out and do the same, is my greatest joy in life. 

Ingvar (Fred) 

The assignment for us is:

Today we have been to The Immigration Office here in Ubon

 and the assignment for us from the Thai Authority is: 

                                                    1 year Work Permit and visa:

                               

                 which says: Missionary, to teach and to spread the Christian religion.

It`s a great honor for us to recieve this Mission from God, from Swedish Churches, associations, individuals and from The Thai Authority. God's word says,  "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ..." Woow which mission. 

 

If God is calling you to become His Ambassador here in Ubon Pakse. Most Welcome:

                             

Here, we need many more Kingdom of God Ambassadors.

The Good News is that this assignment is not about us. 

It`s 100% about the Kingdom of God. 

Must say that Immigration here in Ubon is the most friendly we met. Everything just took 1 hour and 30 minutes and ... we feel honered to serve God and people in Ubon-Pakse. Ingvar (Fred)

Pray for Thailand

King Bhumibol who died 13 Oct 2016 (born 5 Dec 1927) was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty as Rama IX. He will be cremated in Bangkok tonight at 22:00.                      

We stand with you our dear Thai friends in the loss of the beloved King Bhumibol. He was a good King and he becamed a ”National Father”, a father-figure. This loss also callenges us men to be good ”fathers” wherever we live and work. Many here in Isaan and south Laos are missing their fathers.                              

During this last year many have been making merits in order that the spirits will be favorable with them. We Christians are grateful that Jesus have open the way for us, even when we are too weak to make enough good works.

Pray for Thailand (around 69 milion people) especially today-Friday-Saturday-Sunday. This funaral is the biggest I have seen. Ingvar

                       

      

Local Multipliers

Manage  Aman Khan  We are the fruit of Swedish Churches.... thank you for your prayers and contribution for our life.

These words came last week from Pastor Aman Khan, Odlabari, WB, India. I met Aman and his brother the first time 25-30 years ago in Barhaj, UP, India. Now he have been to Chiang Mai for an international conference. When I regretted that I could not meet him, he says: We are the fruit of Swedish Churches .... Thank you for your prayers and contribution for our life.

First we must say: Thank you for coworking and partnering with us in the work. To do missions is indeed a cooperation.

And with all humility we thank God for everything that the Swedish congregations has done and are doing in mission. Many have met God and have become mission leaders.

Some projects have failed, but many initiatives continue in specially 3 ways:

a) In the same way. The churches and the projects continue in the same way year after year.

b) With new local initiatives. The work did very well a specific time, but ... the grain fell into the ground and died. And new more local plants come up. It all becomes a multiplication in the Kingdom of God. 

c) Individuals. Many may not plant a new church or new projects but personally they carry what they have received, use it and some train others who train others .... in the community.

The best is when we convey the relationship we have with our living God. Then others also hear from heaven and .... they too become multipliers under the leadership of God. 

I looked again at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dknradmzdiQ

Projects and institutions comes and goes, but people who love God and the Church of God lives on. And they become local multipliers.

Ingvar (Fred

Where is the Centre?

I love when the Centre at Soi 11 is full of People. And like yesterday, we had in here a very important meeting. But I love it, ever more, when all are, like today, out there in the Churches and in the communities. Today, only I and the Lord are here.

We all need to have inspiration to do what we do, with the big picture in mind. If not …. we can drag on, but without joy and fruit. 

In 1 Cor 16: 9 can we read: For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 

The internal and the external adversaries will be there. But The Lord is with us and … we can come through stronger. 

Read vers 10:  .... for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

So the great and effective doors are:

1) For me? Yes I am part of  the centre, but I'm not the center.

2) For my coworkers, my team, my family? Yes we are part of the centre, but we are not the center

3) For my work? Yes it is part of the centre, but not the centre.

4) The Kingdom of God and God`s work is the centre. God = the I am, is the centre.

Only when The Kingdom of God and His presence is the center we can be inspired.

I will train others, who will train others, who will train others.. ... so there will be multiplication. And God our Centre will be reallity for us ... wherever we are. 

Ingvar(Fred)

Along The Mekong River

Yesterday I travelled 399 km along the Mekong River to Udon Thani. On Sunday I will attend a church in Udon Thain and ...go ba ck home by bus to Ubon.

I must say I enjoy working along this river,  on both sides. People are friendy, and ... need the Good News about Jesus

Ingvar

Word-of-God alive also today

We all need spiritual food. Not least working like we do here in Ubon-Pakse. Every day we meet many people who are "starving" from God`s food. Then it's best that I myselves first "have eaten". 

Yesterday I opened the Bible ... and the Word became alive:

Ps 32: 7-8

You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye. 

Thank you Lord for your living word today, here in Ubon-Pakse for me personally and .... for more and more people in Isaan and southern Laos.

I need many Word-of-God-hugs today too. Ingvar