This last year God has been faithful in every way. He has blessed our church with His
presence and favor.

From our opening service a couple of years ago with about 4 people we have grown to have up to 40 people on Sunday morning. However numbers cannot really tell the story of what God has been doing here. God has been touching lives! God has been saving people both from China as well as from Indonesia.

Some people that have come to us have no Christian background but have found the Lord in our church. One young lady in this category started coming a couple of months ago. Though she was from a strong Buddhist background and grew up worshiping idols, every time she came to church or attended Bible study the Lord touched her and left her weeping in His presence.Even though she didn’t know the most basic things about Christianity, she became addicted to His presence and will soon be baptized! Her husband is also being touched. He had been in church over the years, but was never born again, however since he began coming to our church
God has been opening his heart and spiritual eyes and he is also being changed.

Another Lady named Christine got saved when she was in college in Australia. But when she came back to Indonesia she backslid and married an unbeliever. But now she has come back to the Lord and
her family has come with her. Her husband is now a worker in the church and she is one of our keyboard players. A 16 year old girl from China recently began coming to church. She was very skeptical as she
had a difficult life in China and was under the strong atheistic influence there.  Now however after several months of coming to church and bible study she has begun to believe and is really getting on fire
for God! She has gone from being a skeptical agnostic to a zealous new believer in a few short months.

Another young man named Gary (along with His wife Grace) joined our church when I first started and have
become important pillars in our church. Gary helps lead worship, Bible study and has been learning to preach. When I came to Indonesia he was a believer but was not in church and was in a state of compromise. God
has really worked in his life and brought him a long way! He is an artist by trade and is very well connected with the Chinese community of Jakarta and has recently opened an art studio. As a result, greater doors are opened for me to share in a larger circle than otherwise would be possible.

There was an article in the newspaper the next day with our photo when he opened his art studio as I was also there to help pray and dedicate the studio. We now use his studio every Monday night for a prayer meeting as well.

Our home Bible studies have also been growing in number. We were about to cancel our Bible study in the
west part of Jakarta a few months ago because of low attendance, but we prayed and decided to continue and try a bit longer, then shortly after the breakthrough came!

Now new people have been coming and the presence of God sometimes comes so strong people are left weeping.
Some have been filled with the Holy Spirit, experienced deliverance and emotional healing in this Bible study.  In Our Mandarin speaking Church here in Jakarta God has been doing more than bringing a crowd together to meet on Sunday, he has been building a family!

I have started a monthly meeting with a group of 12 people that are being trained for leadership and we have all been growing closer to one another. We are a mixed group with people from very different cultural
and economic backgrounds (with some from China and some from Indonesia the cultural differences are great) but we all have one Lord! Please keep praying for our church here, that we can grow a healthy and
stable church here that will reproduce and be able to reach out to other Chinese all throughout Indonesia and Asia.

Rory Butler

You can support this ministry through, Praise Chapel Missions

The church is growing in different areas. Pretoria is a big city so we started satellite churches into different areas. We have excellent disciples which are involved in these satellite churches. Our building is getting too small for the Sunday morning service and we are thinking about going to dual services.

We just concluded a Bible Conference with Pastors from Praise Chapel in the USA: Kelly Lohrke, Eddy & Roxanne Vargas, Randy Emerson & Critter Martinez.

About 8 months ago we also opened up a pioneer work in Sebokeng. This is a very poor area on the south side of Johannesburg. It is about 1,5 hour drive from our church. Sometimes the people that the Pastor there is dealing with have nothing to eat. We started this pioneer church under support by faith.

One of our satellite Pastors recently collected old clothes from people of our congregation and people outside of the church everywhere- sold the clothes and gave that money as a Christmas gift to our Sebokeng church so they could buy some chairs. He was able to collect 700 dollars by selling the clothes. A totally new way to me to raise money for a pioneer church but it worked!

We also had Pastor Kelly Lohrke from Kansans City Praise Chapel, recently come for a revival and we have seen a large number of people giving their lives to Jesus Christ. There was a very powerful move of the Holy Spirit in that revival.

Every year now we also hold a Bible Conference and we are believing God for powerful new open doors in 2011.

Financially our church still needs a miracle. The people that we reach are of very poor financial backgrounds. A lot of them earn nothing at all—some 100 dollars others 500 dollars a month.  Thank you very much for your prayers your financial support.

Pastor Rudy and Fransien VanDiermen
rvdiermen@yahoo.com

Whatever Paul did needs to be repeated again throughout the whole world in our generation. We can gain insight into how Paul  pioneered national churches from a number of Scriptures.

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18: 1-4).

TENT MAKING MINISTRY

Paul, the greatest Apostle, is making tents! Why?  He is setting an example of the truth of self-support. This is the first Scripture that speaks about Paul working in secular employment while pioneering a church.  This story indicated that this was his “practice.” No doubt he had been doing this most of his ministry.

“I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me…We work hard with  our own hands…” (Acts 20:33-34, 1 Corinthians 4:12).

“Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you” (I Thessalonians 2:9).

In II Thessalonians 3:6-12 Paul said, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command and urge such people to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”

By Paul’s tent making he set a pattern for the young church. He is teaching that the Kingdom of God is not a  “Give to me, welfare, free food or free ride” program. The intention of God is that every man and woman work, supporting themselves and the church.

This is not to do away with full-time ministry. If your ministry is fruitful and is sufficient to support you then you should be supported and blessed. But if you must go begging to others outside the scope of your ministry for support then  something is wrong. Paul said in II Corinthians 11:8, “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.”

There are ministers today who want “perpetual support.” They have the idea that the answer for revival is to have someone send them money. They want this not only to get started in their ministry but indefinitely. Paul did not agree with this  “Dependent Missionary Mentality.” The idea that a church or ministry in a poor country could not support itself and must depend upon assistance from other nations was foreign to him.

One of the issues of life for individuals and churches is self-support. It is not God’s will that we would be supported all of our life with some kind of aid. I am not teaching this to nullify the need of support in the beginning stages of ministry, but to show the relationship of self-support to revival. This has been true from the beginning of creation.

Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his  mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This gives  the principle of self-support in relation to marriage and the family. The couple is not to be dependent upon their parents, financially  or emotionally. God’s plan is for them to “stand upon their own two feet” and have an “indigenous” family.  God will bless people who strive to work hard with His  help. God helps those who look to God, seek God, trust God and then apply themselves for blessing. “And God is able to make all  grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency  in all things, may abound to every good work.”   The words “all sufficiency” mean, a “perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed” (II Corinthians 9:8).

As long as the Children of Israel were in the wilderness God supplied all of their needs. But upon entering the land of promise the supply stopped, and they had to work the land.

Pioneering a church is like digging a well. In the beginning you need help and it is appropriate to receive some assistance for a time. Until the well is finished, you borrow water, but  when the well is down, will you continue to borrow and to take from the source of your help? Is it not right to release the ones  helping you to help others? The mentality “we cannot support ourselves” withholds blessings from  churches, ministries and nations.

MY HANDS HAVE LABORED

Paul, the great apostle, left us this example and testimony, “My hands have labored, to provide for my needs and not only for mine but those who were with me, I did this to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.” In Romans 15:16, Paul makes the statement,  “I am a minister of Jesus Christ.” The word “minister” here means, “One who discharges a public office at his own expense.”   There was a time in the United States when to hold a public office meant you were going to serve for the good of the public. You accepted the position  because it was a privilege to serve.  Paul said, “I am made a minister of Jesus Christ.” He is speaking  about a position he feels privileged to hold.  His purpose is not  to seek personal gain, but he is filled with the joy of serving.

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge: and to knowledge self control…” (II Peter 1:5). The word, “add,” comes from a Greek  word and it can mean; “to equip an army with all the provisions.”  Here it means, “to equip ourselves with all character traits necessary to carry out this office, at one’s own expenses.”

The question is, “God, what do you want me to do?”  Not, “What am I going to get?  What are the  benefits? How much  money and support are you going to give me?” Paul said, “I labored…”  He is not saying that those who preach the gospel should not be supported.  He gave  sufficient teaching that they should be well taken care of.  But, we must understand what a privilege preaching the gospel is. Paul regarded this as a sacred ministry.

He is saying, “I am a public servant of Jesus Christ. I will spare no cost to fulfill this task and bear this office at  my own expense.” He was willing to work and support himself to preach the gospel. Many preachers think to work a job while you pioneer  a ministry makes you a total failure, but you won’t find that in the Word of God.  Surely, Paul was not a failure.

What is it worth to you to preach the gospel? Are you willing at any cost? Would you obtain a job, work and preach like Paul?  Or are you looking for support?  Paul  said, “I am a  minister and I will bear any cost to fulfill that office and responsibility.”

WORLD EVANGELISM: A LAY MOVEMENT VS. THE CLERGY MENTALITY

There have been  notable periods in the history of the expansion of the church: the time of the martyrs, the time of the monks and the time of the Methodists.  During each of these three periods there was a phenomenal spread of religion.

The significance of each of these is that each was an era of lay activity. The Christian church was begun by layman. The apostles were all laymen.  The church has ever since owed its best growth to the cooperation of laymen.  The monks were lay orders.  The Methodists won their greatest victories by lay preaching.  Wesley was accused of “using lay-lovers or the rag-tag and bob-tail of society.” The reason Wesley had such success was he took laymen, trained them and  sent them out. They went all over the world preaching the gospel.  Most of them earned their own way, supporting themselves and their ministry like the apostle Paul did.

The clergy mentality says, “If you have to work a job while preaching you are some kind of a second class minister.  This is missing the mark of what preaching the gospel is all about and everybody will look down on you.” However, in the Word of God the office and laboring with your hands go together.  It is no disgrace.

If we are going to escape the clergy syndrome we must understand that ministry is a public office and a great privilege.  We do not enter the ministry for support, a large salary or what we can get out of it materially.

“PROMISE OF MUCH PEOPLE”

In the city of Corinth Paul faced strong opposition to the gospel message and it was there that the Lord encouraged Paul by saying, “…Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you,  because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10 NIV). It  s estimated that seventy thousand  people became Christians in  one generation, through the ministry established by Paul at  Corinth. It is important to note that this great work was started  by a man working a job, making tents.

In country after country men with a call of God upon their lives to preach the Gospel sit and wait. They are waiting for someone to “support” them and be their “sponsor.” They have been taught that they cannot make it in their country without outside  help. They have also been convinced that no one will listen to them and respect them in the ministry unless they are a “full time minister.” This “clergy mentality” holds them back. While they sit and wait  souls are dying and opportunity is everywhere  around them.

I do not believe the great Apostle Paul would wait for support even today, whatever the culture dictated. I believe he would go, supporting himself with his own hands when necessary to preach the Gospel.

Larry Neville has spent over 40 years pastoring in three countries and traveling world wide. His latest book, “The Global Revolution, the Gospel to Everyone, Everywhere by Anyone” can be downloaded as EBook at: Amazon

I was born in Tallinn, but my childhood home was in small place called Kernu, which is quite close to Tallinn. I spent my life there till I was 16 and went to high school in the west shore of Estonia, after which I came to Tallinn, to continue my studies.

I took my first steps towards Christianity in high school, when me and my friend decided to get babtized in a Lutheran church, I’m not even sure why I decided to take that step, probably because it felt like the “right” thing to do.

Three months after I was baptized, I was churchless. I was chilling in Tallinn and I came across a Praise Chapel outreach, I was invited to a Bible study, I went and I’ve been going since; it’s my third year.

I can say that I had a relationship with God for at least 1.5 years.

As I said, for me it was a right thing to do, firstly. I never had any doubt that God exists, but I just acknowledged the fact He does, personally I had never felt that, my heart hadn’t been touched, even when I was baptized, or who-everso-great prayed for me, I felt nothing. I wasn’t sure if there was even anything to feel, to be frank. I did my best to be faithful to the decision to follow Jesus, which was hard, still is.

Over time God has showed me a lot, and He has opened a lot for me. I can only be thankful to God, for doing all this, and for having a relationship with me. We have a great local church, it’s moving and helping a lot of us. Keeping us together and it gives us a voice to show love and spread the message of hope and love through different projects. For example Gabriel and I are starting free guitar lessons for anyone who is interested, this should be fun.

I hope that our church grows, I mean that all of us would grow spiritually, so God can really use us in the community, so we could help not just be here.

Personally, I’m just figuring out how God can use me.

I’m sure God will reveal it to me when the time comes. But I like to study the bible and to write music. Estonia as a community and country that is doubting in God. I think there’s a lot of room for music which asks those religious/ spiritual questions which everyone is asking, and to use the message of the bible in doing so.

(Ahti is planning on attending next year’s huntington park conference, if you would like to
help in any way please contact us – info@praisechapeleurope.org or on facebook.)

The majority of the year, you spend time wrapped in scarfs, beanies, boots and snow pants! This month of April is a month of planning and organizing ways to take advantage of the weather. We hope to see dramas, plays and possibly concerts take part in bringing people to Christ.

Not only are we working as a church together, we have been able to build contacts here within other churches and volunteer groups. Through various avenues we can work as a community of believers to reach out to the people of Estonia. We are eager to see fresh faces and to hear new testimonies of how God came in and changed their life.

We ask that you help support and pray with us that God will continue to give us opportunities and favor within the city of Tallinn.

Our goal through every outreach and every event is to see lost souls come to know Christ as their personal savior! -Romans 10:13-15

Greetings from estonia!

The snow is slowly melting away, the sun is starting to show itself and the days seem
to be lasting much longer.  Vanessa and I went for a stroll in the park very near to our flat and heard birds chirping, a sure sign that the season is changing.

The changing of the season is very descriptive of the position of our church. I feel God has given us a time of establishment.

This season will bring growth.

This is not just a prayer of mine but I feel it is something God has directly put into our hearts. We are not waiting idly for growth to come. We understand there must be action to draw in a harvest.

This season of spring we will be hitting the streets.

We are aiming to utilize our artistic abilities and do sidewalk
dramas and play music. After drawing a few people we will reach out and offer free prayer. I don’t believe in any formula, but I do know everyone responds to sincerity and to people who actually care. The winter season brings a
blanket of snow that covers the entire country. Underneath the snow there is still life, underneath the coldness and still white blanket there is something living. I see this country as being covered in a blanket of snow.

As the sunshine brings warmth and life to all these hidden things, I see the shining of the Son bringing life and
warmth to what is cold and hidden.

This past sunday I felt God give me a word for the church about really caring for others and stepping out of our comfort zone and being available. I challenged the church to step out of the comfort and into the available mode of life. We appreciate any prayers for our church!

Please keep praying and caring! God bless.

To know about Praise Chapel Estonia go to: praisechapeleurope.org

To Contact me: info@praisechapeleurope.org

Richard & Joyce Hill

212 Goldsworth Road
Woking, Surrey GU21 6NF, United Kingdom
01483 768 712

Webpage

One hour from the London Heathrow Airport is the Community of Woking where Richard and Joyce Hill are pioneering a church. A thriving regional centre, a cosmopolitan community just outside London.

Richard Hill, after he graduated from college he was traveling throughout Asia when he came to Hong Kong to visit a friend. That friend has recently received Jesus Christ as his Savior and was attending, Calvary Church of Hong Kong.  He invited Richard to join him at church, Richard went with him and that day received Christ in to his heart.

Richard committed his life to Jesus. He stayed in Hong Kong and served the Lord in Calvary Church. A while latter he met Joyce a beautiful Taiwanese TV Anchorwoman. They got married and together returned to England to pioneer, Calvary Church of Woking.

Today a community is being touched with the Gospel as they labor for God.

Visit Woking on Facebook

Webpage

Pastors Robert & Menlenda Menchaca

84 Friedrick Road
Rainham Essex, RM13

England

Sammy and Nomi Mores are the senior leaders of, Victory Church Fellowship in the Philippine Islands.

Victory Church is a, “Church Multiplication Movement” with over 700 churches planted. They continue to plant churches through out the Philippines.

You can learn more about the ministry at their website: Victory Church.

The Work in the Philippines can be supported through:

Global Harvest – Philippines
P.O. Box 1769
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729

My name is Valentina and I live in Estonia.

I am 19. I am from non-Christian family. I was raised to count on my own strength, but sometimes it happened that my strength was not enough. At some moments life did not go according to my plans. When I believed in God then I started believing that God can give me enough strength to stand. I had sometimes a strange feeling, that God leads me in the right direction. When I believed in God then I started to look on my life more simply. Problems started disappearing.

I gained a lot of new relations and a big interest towards life, even though life can be not so stable, but now I know that God protects and covers me. I speak Russian and translated our services in Estonia.  God has really touched my life.

With respect,

Valentina

Hello my name is Aleksander,

I’m 17 years old. I have been christian about almost two years. At the beginning of my faith walk I was just a Sunday christian. In my regular week I just tried to fit in the world as much as I could and then after long week I went to church and made a feel like everything is ok.

I was a sinner big time. But something made me come back to church every Sunday. I used to pray many times “God why don’t you just  take away those sins from me.” I was living at cycle of sin, conviction, regret and asking forgiveness for my sins. It went on like that for a whole year.

One day Pastor Robert Menchaca was preaching and everything changed at that day. Robert prophesied over me that I will be a preacher one day. He invited me to his church Praise Chapel and I got involved with that church.

Since then I started to grow in Christ really fast. I got rid of all my sin’s, I started reading Bible almost everyday, I really started to take time for God. God started opening doors for me that I never could dream before.

I got into mission work and outreaches. And guess what Robert prophecy came true, I’ve preached.

Nothing is impossible when you believe in God, he can change you, he can solve your problems even if you can’t see solution for your problem.

Gab & Vanessa Menchaca pastor Praise Chapel in Tallinn, Estonia.