MISSION REPORTS

From the President of Mid Atlantic Christian University
July 2010
 

Family, We are back! Did you miss us? Gene Langley and I had the privilege of visiting Ezekiel Fish, founder of Good News Mission, in Mae Sot, Thailand. Ezekiel is a 1990 graduate of Mid-Atlantic Christian University. He and his wife, Ah-Cha, are doing a marvelous job in Thailand and Myanmar. It took 36 hours to travel to Thailand and 55 to travel home. I hate traveling, but I love ministry much more than I dislike the traveling. At Mid-Atlantic we love missions! Graduate Ezekiel Fish is proof of that love. Good News Mission has built on its 10-acre +/- campus the Maesot Biblical Training Center (MBTC). Basically, this is a Bible college. They have had just under 100 graduates. The program is very challenging academically and results in a certificate. The school is accredited by the Evangelical Council of Thailand. Ezekiel was born in Burma (now called Myanmar) and later moved to Thailand. After receiving Jesus as his personal Savior at the age of fifteen, he soon felt the calling and began to seek God's will for his service to Him. In 1987 he left his wife and four daughters in Thailand to further his Biblical education at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. Graduating in 1990 he returned to Thailand to continue to serve there. In 1994, with only a dream given by God, a will to serve Him, and a few bamboo huts, Maesot Biblical Training Center was established. Through God's grace and generosity expressed by the gifts from dedicated children of God in the USA, there are now permanent buildings more suited to a Bible college. During his 36 years in Thailand, with his foreign missionaries and native fellow workers, they established over 87 churches in 126 villages among the Lisu and Lahu tribes. Weekend evangelism trips by all the students and teachers is a continuing answer to the great commission and part of the hands-on training received by the students. In the past 16 years, over 376 young people and adults have come to study at Maesot Biblical Training Center. Some of the graduates are serving in full-time ministries in the local churches while others are serving in Bible Training Centers and Orphanages in other areas. Less than 1% of Thailand is Christian. 5% of Myanmar (Burma) is Christian. They also work with Christian leaders in the neighboring countries of Myanmar, India and China. They distribute Christian literature, teaching materials, and thousands of Bibles each year. There are over 500,000 Lisu Christians waiting for Bibles in Burma, India, and China. Gene Langley preached Sunday morning on the campus. The sermon was translated into at least two languages. That night we traveled to the 49th parallel, and I preached at a mountain church. After church we met with church leaders and the minister in a bamboo home. On Monday we visited Myanmar to view a site for a future Bible training center. Tuesday and Wednesday Gene and I taught Leadership at a gathering of over 50 MBTC alumni/graduates. In Thailand church choirs are a big thing. The Thai love to sing. During the break after singing Ezekiel would say, “Hurry, Elder Gene, Dr. Clay, or they will sing again.” The lessons were translated and were very well received. They hunger for Bible and Leadership development. I was very impressed with each church leader. The churches teach tithing and giving. They emphasize that they are not to be dependent upon the American church for support, but to be independent. This is a very Biblical model of mission. Parts of Thailand are very poor, especially in the mountains. Often the preacher is paid in rice rather than money. Gene and I were treated like kings. Each day a family was responsible for feeding us. The food was great. Both of us gained weight while in Thailand. If you would like to know more, visit the web site at www.goodnewsmission.org. I strongly recommend this as a mission that deserves your support! It is a joy to represent you as I travel. If you would like to join on a future trip, please let me know. Please know that the ripple effect of your work with Mid-Atlantic is found in 45 states and 13 countries. Keep serving Him! Keep serving at Mid-Atlantic. Serving Those Who Serve, 

Clay D. Clay Perkins, Ph.D.

Mid Atlantic Christian University

Contact Info:  Ezekiel Fish, Director — ezekiel.fish@goodnewsmission.org or ezek_f@hotmail.com
Forwarding Agent & Field Representative:  Gene Langley,  3144 Martin Johnson Road, Chesapeake, VA 23323, ChesRangerRet@aol.com
Gifts & Donations:  Make checks payable to “West Park Missions Account” please write
“Good News Mission” in the memo area of the check.
Mail checks to: West Park Mission Account, c/o Gene Langley,
3144 Martin Johnson Road, Chesapeake, VA 23323