Sharpening One Another / Ps Lau Tak Siong

Solomon gave us an important principle of strengthening one another in that we can sharpen one another. This was what he said in Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

There are many pastors, leaders and evangelist who serve the Lord very faithfully in His vineyards in Asia, especially in the remote and unreached areas. Their heart is so passionate for God but many are not fully equipped having not had any proper training which is vital for them. They also need encouragement as many face many challenges in their work. Have you ever wondered who will encourage or sharpen these brothers and sisters? Some of them live in outlying villages with no opportunity to attend any seminars. Many have no internet or not much opportunity to learn or refer online. Right from the beginning Asian Outreach Malaysia realised the importance of training and equipping the pastors and leaders in the poor nations of Asia and praise God, we have been able to conduct many training programs. Over the years I have had the privilege to work alongside with AOM to conduct Advance Leadership training to sharpen the leaders of Asia, mainly in India, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar.

It has always been such an encouragement for me too to see their response to the training and I come away from these trainings carrying so many testimonies that have made me want to go the extra mile for them. I don’t only sow into their lives but they are also sowing into mine. Every training has encouraged and strengthened me so much and it is not a hardship for me to leave my family and my comfortable home, the long hours of travelling, the difficulty in food and accommodation I have had to endure to these places to equip and train these pastors and leaders. Indeed I count it a privilege for me to work with these men and women of God and to see them so passionate for God. Recently I had the privilege to meet Ps Joseph again who had attended my seminar four years ago.

   

Ps Joseph who is in his late fifties is one of those always beaming with joy and the hunger for the Word of God. He is still faithfully serving the Lord despite the failure of both his kidneys. Through prayer and faith, Joseph is a walking miracle. The doctors had to discharge him as soon as possible because he continued to preach the Gospel while warded in the hospital. Four nurses turned to Jesus during his stay in the hospital. Many unbelievers in the hospital have heard the Gospel because of this man who is not afraid to share his faith to anyone willing to listen. As a result, the hospital authorities reprimanded him saying, “You are a patient not a preacher while warded”. But he continued the sharing of the Good News that they had to discharge him. Today, he is still faithfully serving the Lord despite of his illness. 

Ps Prahbu also attended the Advance Leadership training over the last several years and is currently working among the Dalit community (or frequently called the “untouchables”). He has been facing many obstacles and challenges but he continues to serve God faithfully. He has reached, transformed and saved so many souls among the Dalits through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They may be poor in material things but certainty filled with the joy of the Lord. 

These are just two of the many examples of leaders that have gone through our Advance Leadership training in partnership with Asian Outreach Malaysia. There are many more I have encountered over the years. I have received so many emails requesting me to come again to undertake training with them.  We that live in the towns and city are blessed to have excess to all the latest online resources but not for these poor foot soldiers and evangelist in the remote and small villages of Asia. When properly equipped and trained they can make such a huge impact on the believers and pre-believers enabling them to win so many more souls for God. Being equipped helps them to step out boldly to share and to overcome objections to the faith.

For those of us who use tools for gardening or knives for preparing food, we do realize that after sometime the axe or knife gets dull and need sharpening. What more, the brothers and sisters who serve faithfully in tough places. Your prayers and sacrificial giving have encouraged and strengthened the pastors in India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. There are still many more that are yearning for training. In challenging times like these, they need to be fully equipped with God’s Word and how to use it when faced with these difficult challenges in their work and ministry. My prayer is that you will join us to sharpen the lives of these pastors/leaders and evangelist through the Word of God so they will be effective in their witnessing and sharing of the Gospel.

Romans 10:14 “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?”