Will you scold him?

It just broke my heart. The words of our new friend. "Will you scold ‘him`, if my friend comes to Church? What he meant was. My friend is still not ‘clean’ from his addiction, will you still welcome him into the Church. He could have said: "Will you point the finger? Will you shame? Will you condemn or judge? Will you belittle the weak one?" 

                                  

In a sense I was shocked. Immediately seeing the consequences of a Church who lives by the structures of religion and not a Church who reigns in life and in the grace we ourselves have received.

                   

The background to this story is that Ingvar gave this our friend a hug the other day. To affirm this guy who had just fallen again and was full of self shame and self condemnation…. Ingvar just told him: "I know you are a good man. We just love you".

I see again the father of the prodigal son. We have spoken, preached and taught and tried to live it over and over again. But as Ingvar just said to me. It’s not our church they are against, it is a religious spirit or a religious stronghold in peoples minds to generations of indoctrinations which is behind this lie saying: "You are not good enough to come to church. You have to change first (by your own power) or do merit enough". 

This mind set is so strong.

The son who was lost in the parable of Jesus in Luke 15, wanted to return as a slave in his own home. But the father welcomed him as a son. This son who already lived like an orphan, was welcomed with open arms and was affirmed by the father. God help us not to be the ‘staying-at-home’ son.

Whether we live in Thailand, Laos, Sweden or elsewhere: "Let’s receive the homecoming sons, love them and walk with them to freedom at the cross". 

Hugs Anna

Have a blessed 2021

We look back on a very good year with growth in Streams of Grace Church, CHILD SAFE and UBON MUSIC CAFE. Thank you all who have been cooperating in differant ways. We are now moving into 2021. 

As you understand, we are very grateful that since 2013 we are one-place missionaries in the pioneer area of ​​Ubon-Pakse and not travel missionaries in different lands of Asia. 

Many are calling the year 2020 The Different Year. The "normal" became for us all, in differant way, the New Normal, which we can not control.

We missionaries are often facing many difficulties. We are constantly facing challenges, which we must solve with God's help. And God is an expert in crisis management.

Many people prefer to forget 2020 and dream of a better 2021. But remember…. so many in our world have stopped dreaming of a better future. They have given up…. and just trying to have food in their stomach and to make time go by.  

                        

                

Dear friends, let us not try to forget 2020 as soon as possible. Let us use what we have learned and dependence on God that we have received. We have seen: 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though ...... Psalms 46: 1-3

Thank you for 2020 and let us 2021, share to people around us The Living HOPE… which is available for us all even in times of crisis,

We are grateful for health and strength.

God Bless Ingvar(Fred) and Anna

Have a blessed Christmas 2020

Klick here for our Side-by-Side Christmas Letter 2020

2 very blessed weeks

We have had 2 very interesting weeks. On Sunday the 6^th Dec we had baptism. On Sunday the 13^th Dec we celebrated Stream of Grace Church 2 years, plus the Christmas celebration.

Child Safe and Ubon Music Café …. is active and helping many in need.

Have a blessed Advent 2020.

Ingvar (Fred) 

Streams of Grace.... with steps forward.

When we worked in Chiang Mai (with 8% Christians) we noticed that much of the foundation of the Christian faith was laid in the Church and also in the community. This helps the new Christians.

But that is certainly not the case here in Ubon-Pakse with 0.2% Christians including Catholics. Many basic biblical truths are missing, which take time to grow under  God's direction.

We have lately had several who has became believers and wanted to be baptized. But when the baptism approached yesterday the 6th of December some ... wanted to wait. It will also be a spiritual battle.

It is a fact here that many from a Buddhist background never feel good enough. But the truth is, we can never be righteous enough with all our good works. Grace is our only salvation.

During the week we built a baptismal tank on the roof of the Church.

And yesterday there were 3 who took the step to be baptized. It was a great time of joy.

         Click here to watch a 3.26 long video.

Have a blessed week

Ingvar (Fred)

......even more.

For 3 days ago I stopped by at a Cafe here in Ubon. I just sat down and these words came very clear to me. I quickly wrote them down on a napkin:

When all are looking for Jesus let us shine Him out to the people .... even more today.

Ingvar (Fred)

MISSION... a blessing for the senders and the recievers.

You did not choose Me,

but I chose you and appointed you

that you should go and bear fruit,

and that your fruit should remain,

that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:16

Mission is not my good idea. No I am sent by Jesus and by the Body of Christ the Church. I am His ambassador. Therefore, when difficulties comes up the most important is that we are standing firm with Jesus in the center? Not me. An ambassador never thinks he or she can make it by herself or himself.    

We are reaching out in MISSIONS to pioneer areas and unreached areas. And when Jesus is the Centre, we have victories.

Jesus said:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

                           

Do not give up dear brothers and sisters home in “Christian" countries. Let living and active Mission inspire you. People are crying out for light, for the Good News. We are Ambassadors reaching into new dark areas with the Kingdom of God.

Let Mission bless you.

Ingvar (Fred)