“All learning is best facilitated by the asking of questions, one should question himself before he questions others. We search because we question and we find because we searched.” -Dr Wayne Sehmish
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5th August, 2008
This Post from Suzanne:
I have just recently arrived back from Australia.We had our annual Leadership Conference at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, and Wayne preached a number of sessions there.The Conference is attended by many Pastor’s around Australia, so it was nice to catch up with some of those Pastors that support us, and have opportunity to share with them about our work here in Thailand.Also, Pastor Jesda and his wife, plus three of our Thai friends were also able to attend.Pastor Jesda gave his testimony last year, and this year he taught the adult Bible Class on the Sunday morning leading up to Conference.He was again very well received, and a blessing to many people.His attendance at the Conference was also big help and encouragement to him. He gained many valuable insights.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:46)
Esau discovered that after the soup was gone he had lost that which he could not regain. He fatally followed the lead of his flesh and traded his birthright for a meal of pottage. Hebrews 12 tells us that though he sought this blessing again with tears, it was for him too late … Those who consume the soup of the world are destined to ever hunger yet never be filled. But when one has Christ he has all, he is full always; those who know Jesus never hunger and never thirst, He is our all in all, always.
Time has gone very quickly since the last update – but things have been quite busy, none-the-less!About 6 weeks ago Curtis went to his first birthday party here.It was one of his best friends, Obe, from school.While there, I had opportunity to talk with Obe’s father.He said that for some time now Curtis had been askingObe to come to church, so he asked if they could come visit our church the next day.The following morning quite a number came – Obe’s whole family, plus four more of his school friends – 9 people in total!Two of those children had never been to church before – not a bad soul-winning effort for an eight year old!
Well, as promised, I have been working on photos – just haven’t quite figured out how to get it on the website, but am still working on it.Thought I would go ahead and give a brief update and attempt to add some photos with this update.
We have now been in Thailand for a year and as with us all time has seemed to go quickly. We are thankful for your financial support and we are thankful and also much needful of your prayers to the Lord on our behalf.It is hard to explain, but there is a definite darkness and oppression here that we feel on a daily basis.This is a place that has mostly been Satan’s territory for a long time and we see that anybody here who seeks to advance the cause of Christ and His Kingdom is given unwanted attention by these principalities and powers...
I trust you all had an enjoyable and restful Christmas, and was able to have some quality family time.I really did intend to put up another post before Christmas, as promised in my last update – however we had an unexpected turn of events.Pastor Lloyd invited us to come home to Brisbane for Christmas.Needless to say, after that phone call everything moved very quickly.My mother, who was booked to come up and spend Christmas with us, was very gracious and understanding.We did organize for her to come to Brisbane and spend Christmas with us there – and have deferred her visit to later in the year.As it worked out, that was the best plan anyway, as the major surgery she had on her feet earlier in the year had caused her arthritis to flare up again and she was not in good health.I don’t think she would have coped very well had she come.Bangkok is particularly hard to get around, and I think she would have had a lot of difficulty.At least she has some time to recover, and will enjoy her visit so much more when she does come!
This week I received a family email from one of my sister’s.She said their family are still alive and kicking – not that too many of us were aware of that!I immediately thought of those of you that regularly check our website (or used to) …
I will back up to when you last heard from me, and try and give you a brief overview of the past few months.As I said last time, when Wayne went to Australia at the end of August he got the flu so bad he was unable to tend to anything.Curtis had his first school term break in September, so we decided to all fly back to Australia.It was a good trip in many ways.We were able to catch up with Sarah and Justin and numbers of the church folk.Wayne preached two Wednesday nights and the Sunday we were there, then we headed down south (to Canberra) to visit with some of my family, before flying back to Bangkok.It was quite relaxing and refreshing.
… they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Heb 11:13)
Where do you call home ? Home is for most people where their heart is, It is the place you are most comfortable, the place where you know people and they know you. Clearly the saints of Hebrews 11 were most comfortable with the thought Heaven was their home. Many of them had been cruelly dispossessed of their homes and possessions and were suffering daily for their faith in Christ. They had no earthly security only a sure and certain Heavenly hope to see them through each day. They had to find their security in the unseen rather than the seen.
April 3rd 2007 From Dr Sehmish " How much is one worth ? "
How much is a soul worth and what would you do for one? And then if that one came to Christ how much would you give of yourself to ensure that that one became a fruitful follower of the Lord? I first met Amnuay Khamsong three years ago. I was transiting through Bangkok and through another unsaved friend we met. Amnuay was only 18 years old then and was from the poorer region of Thailand called Esaan.
One of the greatest witnesses to Gods existence and working is changed lives. To see people who were once hopeless or in bondage to wrong attitudes or enslaving and destructive habits suddenly become free and happy and hopeful is remarkable and inspiring… Its happening all over the world at any given moment. People are experiencing the joy that comes when someone recives Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Saviour. Sins are forgiven, eternal life is gained and any life, anywhere can become renewed and purposeful…
This incredible spiritual renewal that happens when Christ comes within often leads to results and effects in other area’s of a persons life that previously would have been unimaginable. People have found education, prosperity, and friends that really care for them all because they have now become part of the family of God. I personally know many who say that they do not know where their life would have ended up had they not known Christ…these people are now respected, useful, goal orientated, happy and hopeful individuals. They have rescued their children and have changed the courses of their generations because they themselves have been changed and renewed by the amazing grace and power of God !
It is a hope that anybody can embrace no matter their race or place. All people stand on even ground at the foot of the cross. God is no respecter of persons and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come unto Him via His son the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not done that you have not yet realized your potential…God is waiting for you somewhere in the shadows of your life, waiting for you to hear His still small voice that beckons you to come… If you seek the Lord with all your heart you will indeed find Him. You can follow this link to read more about what the gospel is and how you can know the life changing reality of God for yourself.
If you are a Christian already you want to tell others about How good God is and how they too can know Jesus Christ as their own Savior. Its hard to keep something so wonderful to yourself. Thank God this message is being told all the time all over the world. Faithful Christians and missionaries are taking the message of Christ to peoples all over the world. People are being saved by God and churches are being established. A local church is a gift from God to the believer. It is a place to be with other likeminded people where God can be worshipped and where Christians can grow in their knowledge and understanding of God through the book He authored and preserved the Bible. Strong believers are like healthy sheep, they produce more offspring. Weaker believers usually have trouble producing anything but more weaker believers.
All over the world there are churches that are struggling to be the people and place they know they should be. They are doing their best with what they have but lack resources in their own languages and lack the teaching and preaching they need to go beyond first things to a more mature understanding of God and His Bible. If these churches were stronger they would do more. Ideally churches should produce more churches like people produce people but weak churches do not do that and in some places churches are closing down faster than they can be reproduced.
As I have traveled Asia I have been thrilled to meet believers from all over the continent, many of them struggling under oppressive governments and adverse circumstances. But I have also seen their need and heard their cry. They want to know and be taught more so they can become strong and understand God in a more complete way. I have seen their hunger as I have been able to open the Word of god unto them. I have seen people walk for days to come and hear and learn. I have seen sincere national Pastors cry and say we need help, we want to grow and equip our people better but we need teaching. Numbers of these churches were started by faithful, sacrificial missionaries who gave the people what they could whilst they were there but have now moved on.
Jesus visited some churches in the book of Revelation and commanded to them to strengthen the things that remain before it is gone. My ministry is essentially that, Preaching, teaching, and helping local churches to strengthen the things that remain. I am privileged to have opportunity to preach and teach Gods Word all over the world but Asia is my principal burden and Thailand in particular. If we are starting new churches but closing them down just as fast we are not gaining. We need church planters and faithful missionaries to go where there is no witness for Christ but the hour is here where we need some others to strengthen and equip these churches so they can be and do all that God intends for them to be.
Please pray for me if you too see this need. Pray for provision and wisdom and power and I seek to teach and equip and source resources for these churches all throughout the Asian region and in Thailand in particular. I am grateful to have a great local church standing with me and great people in that church who also have this burden, to not only reach the lost but teach them all things that the Saviour has commanded. You can visit my local church by clicking on this link. Thanks for visiting this site. Time is short but God is great. Lets do all we can while we can for night cometh when no man can work…
