MBMSI - Vision for Mission

Vision for Mission

Vision for Mission is a newsletter from Randy Friesen, General Director of MBMS International. Randy highlights recent worldwide stories and events that will help you build a vision for mission.
Click here to have Vision for Mission emailed to you each month.

July 2008

I visited last month with "PK", our evangelist to the Khmu. He shared in more detail his experiences in jail a year ago in Southeast Asia. His arrest stemmed from a church meeting that he had attended. In prison, his roommate was a notorious killer who routinely confiscated anything of value from new prisoners. When he found out that PK was a Christian leader, his cell mate gave him his bed mat and blanket rather than have PK sleep on concrete. As PK worshipped and prayed, the Lord called him to fast for the first 6 days.

June 2008

The recent earthquake in the Chengdu region of western China has filled our TV screen once again with images of devastation and suffering. Thousands of people have lost everything they own and those they love the most. We have had a team in the area responding through the distribution of clothing, plastic tarps, water buckets, and essential survival items.
Read more...

May 2008

I've been reading the life story of Annie (Dyck) Buhler this week. She served with MBMS International in Colombia and Panama for almost 40 years. Her gifts were in education and discipleship. Annie's adventure in mission led her to the jungle on the border of Colombia and Panama where she supported our church planting efforts in that challenging region. Her good friend Herta Voth (who also served with MBMSI for many years in that region) remembers her as a gifted servant who lived generously and with humility. Annie finished the race well. Although Herta is officially retired, she continues to run a good race.

April 2008

CBC television (a Canadian network) recently ran a story in follow up to the tsunami rebuilding work in Southern Thailand. They profiled a number of Christian groups working in the area including the Mennonite Brethren. The story suggested that the beauty and cultural history of Thai Buddhism are now being eroded by Christianity - a foreign belief system. More than that, the story implied that conversions are being bought or manipulated by unscrupulous missionaries in exchange for rebuilding work. One of our workers, Rob Griffioen, made a clear statement that our compassionate aid in the name of Christ is never done to manipulate conversions. He went on to state that biblical conversion is an experience of someone's free will response to Christ's offer of forgiveness and freedom.