HEART OF ASIAN OUTREACH MALAYSIA / Peter U, Chairman

Two are better than one

We here in Asian Outreach thank you for your partnership with us that has enabled us to Connect, Equip and Empower our workers in the mission fields. Your partnership is so important to us as it is said in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.”  In calling you to himself, God has called you to reach out and be part of the Body of Christ. We learn from the beginning that we need each other and we liken this to our own bodies where every part of our body works to support each other. It is deeply satisfying to be used by God to help someone else.

It has always been our joy to share the work of the Foot Soldiers who are able to do the work they do because you have equipped them through your partnership. We have had some amazing reports from the mission fields and once such report is about Foot Soldier Ps Charles Edwin. Ps Charles had graduated from the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) School in 2005 and he was sent to the Theni Mission base to serve there. There he met his wife Poornima and were blessed with children. He then decided that a move to the city would provide better education for his children. So, he settled in the city of Coimbatore and started a ministry there.

However, city life was very expensive and his income was not enough for him to support his family. Then in 2019 COVID descended on India and things got worse. One day as he was praying the Lord spoke to him and showed him a mountainous area where he wanted Ps Charles to go and minister to His people there. A little apprehensive but wanting to obey he moved his family to a very poor, small rural mountain village called Kadambur which is where God had showed him.

Once he settled down and started his ministry the persecution started. The Inspector of police who was a strong supporter of the Pro Hindu party threatened him and gave him a stern warning about converting Hindus. Ps Charles remained calm but he was surprised that the local people and even the communist party there supported him. Things were still far from easy and sometimes on Sundays when Ps Charles was preparing for Church service the Hindu party would hold meetings and conference that same time and he was asked to shut down the service.

He persevered though and never gave up and today he has 40 members in his church. He has also started another church in Anthiyur village, 30 kilometers away with 30 members now. However, many of the members are from other small rural villages where public transportation is limited so some of them stay overnight in the church and Ps Charles provides them with simple meals. His income is not much but he has a big heart and he trusts in the Lord to provide their every need. He always feels that people he does not know support him in doing the work of the Lord, so how can he not give that same support where he can.

Though he faces persecution and hardships, he has never regretted the path he is on as he knows that people there need to hear the Gospel and be saved. His reward is seeing how their lives have been changed by the Gospel. He and his wife work hard to improve the lives of the people and he has started an adult education class as 90 percent of the villagers are illiterate. His wife, who has a diploma in tailoring has started a tailoring class and about 50 ladies have enrolled. She is praying for the provision of more sewing machines. She is also thinking of starting a cottage industry making shampoo, cleaning agents and detergents. Ps Charles and his family are such a blessing to their village and people there are coming to the Lord because of the love and care showed by this couple. They believed that He called them to this place and will see His plans to fruition.

God often stretches us beyond what we think is possible. He calls us to tasks that seem greater than our capabilities but God loves to stretch us beyond what we think possible. If God has clearly called us to the task, he will see that we carry it through. He will give us the grace, provision and the tools needed to accomplish the assignment. All he asks is our service and leave the outcome to him.

Pray Points

1. Pray for God’s provision for them to continue the tailoring classes and to start the cottage industry.  

2.  Pray for the safety of pastor, workers, volunteers and the believers.

3.  Pray for the Lord’s anointing and blessings over the life of Ps Charles and his family.