It's Harvest Time in Myanmar

As the daughter of a farmer, I am well aware of the cycles of soil preparation, seed planting, cultivation, irrigation, watchful care and finally, the long-awaited harvest. My Daddy taught us to “make hay while the sun shines,” which means understanding the season your crop is in and acting wisely to maximize and protect the harvest. What I learned on the farm now serves me well in Firefall International.

The sower by Vincent Van Gogh

A few days ago (after returning from our amazing journey to Myanmar), we learned that 450 people have received Jesus as Savior and Lord in the House of Glory network as of December 1, 2022.

Firefall partners have been sowing the precious seed, the Word of God, for nearly 20 years across Myanmar. We shouted for joy as we learned of this miraculous harvest of souls. We had the joy of watching five people baptized less than two weeks ago.

8 Upcoming Christmas Outreaches

Pastor David shared the 2022 Christmas Outreach schedule with us today. There will be 8 outreaches touching a minimum of 1,220 lives, beginning on December 8 and ending on Christmas Day. There will be a meal, singing, drama presentations and a clear presentation of the love of God through Jesus Christ. Many teams of joyful servants undergird each outreach.

Our goal (and giving opportunity) is partnership with the House of Glory vision to give a delicious meal, a small gift and a Bible in Burmese to those who show an interest. The cost per person is $7 USD.

We would also like to replenish our “storehouse of seed” (Bibles) so we may freely share them when evangelists and church planters in Pastor David’s network call and request them. The total amount needed is $8,500.

Update on Giving

We are currently 33% to our giving goal, with $5,570 remaining.

Thank you for praying about how many $7 “seeds” you wish to sow this Christmas in Myanmar. Thank you for praying for a continued and fruitful harvest as the miracle of lives turning to Jesus continues.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:6-9

A Christmas Cuppa with Nancy

Today’s cuppa is an oldie but goodie called Constant Comment. When I began my love of hot tea some 50 years ago, this was something special indeed. The flavors of orange and clove are particularly tasty in the chill of winter. As for the name of this tea, I fear it might be seen by my husband as descriptive of me, always ready with words, words and more words!

In the stillness of early morning or late night, I enjoy lighting a candle and turning my thoughts to the Incarnation, a fancy word for Jesus leaving the glories of heaven to clothe Himself with flesh and come as a helpless baby to live among us for 33 years. As I hold my fifth grandchild, now three months old, I am once again amazed at the humility of our God coming as He did.

In this Advent season, I am pondering Jesus coming to the unlikely. I am drawn to four people or groups in particular:

1. The Shepherds – Luke 2:8-20

An angel announces the birth of Jesus while they are simply doing their job, watching over their sheep at night. Shepherding was considered a humble and smelly occupation, not one high in society’s ranking. Yet, the glory of God shone on them, along with an angelic pronouncement and a heavenly host announcing the gift of salvation, Jesus Christ. The shepherds received the message and moved quickly to visit the baby and worship Him, sharing the news as they went.

2. The Woman at the Well – John 4:1-30

The encounter of Jesus and this woman of questionable repute from a tribe despised by the Jews is amazing. Each time I read it, I am impacted by the deep love of Jesus for her, for me, for us all. He chats with her about thirst, worship, her past and reveals Himself as the Messiah. She leaves her waterpot and goes into the city to tell others about Jesus.

3. Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

In this short account (no pun intended), we see Jesus calling out this despised turncoat tax collector in the eyes of the Jews. Jesus not only sees him up in the tree, but invites Himself to the house of Zacchaeus for a fellowship meal. The result of this encounter is a changed man, including the fruit of repentance, resulting in fourfold restoration for the community to witness.

4. Mary Magdalene – John 20:1-18

In this passage, we see the resurrected (but not yet glorified) Jesus encountering a longtime supporter and friend who had seven demons cast out of her. He calls her by name and she realizes the man speaking to her is Jesus, her Lord. He appoints her to be the first to go and tell that He has risen from the dead.

My Christmas prayer for all of us “unlikelies” who have been called by Jesus is simple: May we take some time to remember His coming to us and may we share His love and good news with a world waiting to hear Him and see Him.

Joy to the World,

Nancy

Christmas Outreaches & Ways You Can Help

In Myanmar, planting seeds of the gospel and the harvest of souls to eternal life can be a long process requiring extensive teaching of God’s word and watering of the Holy Spirit. Many of these seeds are planted through Christmas outreaches. Christians are allowed to celebrate their “annual festival” and invite whole villages to attend.

A few weeks ago, we received this testimony from Pastor David about the harvest of seeds planted a year ago in a Christmas outreach.

We followed up with eight Buddhists by teaching them for three whole days. They had been touched with the gospel since last Christmas outreaches. Our cell leaders continue to share with them personally as the Holy Spirit opens their heart day after day.

Eight of them (two men and six women) accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord on the last day of our teaching. Then five of them decided to take water baptism as they decided to follow only Jesus all the rest of their lives. Some of them are from very strong Buddhist families.

The group at the baptism

Though they asked many questions of creation and salvation, we could explain through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. Now, we continue to follow up every night by teaching more Bible and about the Holy Spirit.

Thanks a lot for your support in prayer for this harvest. We could invest more of our time to share the gospel and teach the Word of God as you support us for our daily needs. We will reap together here and in heaven too. We could not implement this harvest without your partnership!

We are preparing and praying for the upcoming Christmas outreaches in December, too.

Let’s surround these outreaches with prayer

Planned Christmas Outreaches

1. Women’s group outreach to Single Mother’s Home (30-35 mothers and children) — Eliz, the Reading Room Director has been building relationships with these women by lending books for the children. The House of Glory (HoG) women’s ministry will provide a meal, presents, a fun celebration and presentation of the gospel. Cost $500

2. Reading Room Students, Families & Friends — Food, presents, decorations and presentation of the gospel to the needy families in the community around the Reading Room. Cost $300

3. Visitation to 50 homes by the HoG Women’s Ministry — This outreach would target individual homes of widows, the very poor and sick providing a special meal and presents while opening hearts to the gospel. Cost $250

4. Village Outreach — This is a village where there is a Firefall sponsored well, there have been soccer outreaches, a ministry to children and a church plant. There will be a festive celebration with decorations, songs, skits, a meal, presents and gospel presentation. Cost $200

5. Nepali Village Outreach — One of HoG’s first church plants in a village of workers from Nepal where there is a Firefall sponsored clean water well. House of Glory has been collecting offerings in their Wednesday night cell meetings and will pay for the cost of this outreach.

6. Vietnam House of Hope Children’s Outreach — We also will sponsor a Christmas outreach in Vietnam through Minh’s House of Hope ministry to children and their families. Cost $500

Give online or send in a gift and note the specific need if you would like to sponsor one (or more) of these outreaches where seeds of the eternal gospel are planted in the hearts of people who have never heard the good news of salvation in Jesus.

You can also see the impact of last year’s outreach.

We love you and thank you for our partnership in the harvest!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

Jim & Nancy

2,000 Hear Christmas Message in Myanmar

Christmas, the festival of the Christians, is a perfectly acceptable time to engage a Buddhist, Hindu or animist about your beliefs and customs of celebrating. There is a measure of curiosity and openness during a festival that is a window of interest to share about the love of Jesus Christ and His coming to earth as a baby. Pastor David leads his congregation wisely to invest in outreach at this most opportune time for evangelism. It is our joy to partner with them!

Children from the reading room sing and dance at a Christmas Celebration

This year, House of Glory held eight outreaches during the month of December in various villages, the reading room, at Sister May's farm and on the property where the church will be built in the year to come. One thousand Evangelistic Bibles in Burmese were made available for those interested. Many chose to pick up a Bible after hearing the story of Jesus and listening to the songs. Delicious food was served and small presents were given to each attendee.

Honoring students and parents at the Reading Room

Pastor David shares:

"I could share about Jesus and His birthday by explaining why He came to the earth as a human at this Christmas time. I could explain His divinity as well. Other gods in the world were illuminated from man to god, but Jesus became man from God to save us sinners. I could give them examples of religions which could not save, as compared to Jesus alone through His resurrection power, so they might compare. Their sincere interest in the good news made my message go 90 minutes long!"

Delicious meals were served to hundreds in eight locations last month

Thanks to your prayer and giving, 2,000 people heard about Jesus this December in Myanmar. God's Word will continue to speak to hearts as they read and remember the message shared with love and passion. Cell leaders and church planters will return to these neighborhoods to continue to build relationships, have Bible studies and bless the communities. Phone numbers were given out in case of questions.

New believers gather for preaching, prayer and fellowship

Jim and I are humbled and amazed at the servanthood, the sacrifices of the church body and the spiritual hunger displayed by a large percentage of those in attendance.

Hunger for God's Word is beautiful in any culture

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Matthew 24:35

Let us pray for a mighty harvest of souls from the seeds sown in these outreaches. What a privilege for Jim and me to labor with you in lifting Jesus up as He draws sons and daughters to Himself.

With love and thanks,

Nancy