Aug 4

Written by: Keith
8/4/2011 7:21 PM 

:) Hello saints,

It is beyond my capability as a writer to paint the canvas with as much thankfulness, detail, and heart as the trip deserves. But perhaps a few vignettes of what I've learned will do justice.

1. Be a Warrior and a Farmer

Sharing the gospel is entering the battlefield. Every nonChristian I talked to is a rebel against the King of all creation, and has made intellectual and moral and spiritual fortresses against His reign and rule. I am an ambassador of the Lord, commanded to calling this person to relinquish his plans to establish his own kingdom, which he has struggled and fought to built for his entire life. In however long it takes to present the gospel (sometimes 5 minutes), I am pleading that this person repent and leave practically all they have ever learned about the world, themselves, and all they love and value for Jesus Christ. It's a marvelous and difficult task.

Yet, it is not up to me to grow the seeds that we plant. My job: scatter on all soils. And, by God's grace and sovereignty, reap for that which we did not sow. I'm amazed, and beyond-words happy that God let us see His work in causing two people to go from unbelieving to saved, confessing Christ — even against their parent's wishes. Their names are Nick and Ruby, both of whom I'm sure you've heard much about from the other team members. Nick is currently learning about the Fundamentals of the Faith, reading the Word on his own (and even asking the team members questions), and going to EBCT. Pray that he would continue to learn about his great God and Savior, and bear fruits of obedience and faith, loving EBCT and the saints there and growing in knowing God. Ruby understands the gospel perfectly, professes faith in it, and is attending EBCT (and I would add more but I didn't get to talk to her as much). Pray that she would confess Christ to her parents even though they hate Christianity, and hate everything in reference to Christ (Lk 14:26), considering Him as worthy despite shame and scorn, and that she would live out her faith in light of the great suffering that her Savior took for her.

2. The Word is True

I know and believe and hold that the Bible is the Word of God, inherent and true and a perfect depiction of reality. This trip gave even more evidence for my belief. The Scriptures speak of men as depraved, blind, deaf, of flesh, without ability to understand things spiritually appraised.

When Romans 1 says that even though they knew God they did not honor Him as God, and that they suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness, and that they worshiped and served the creature rather than the blessed Creator, I now remember conversations, remember the arguments, hear their voices, see their faces. When Jesus says in John 4 that he is sending His disciples to reap for that which they have no labored, I think of all the contacts that have already heard the gospel, been to a church, and are being drawn by God from unbelief towards Christ. When Philippians 1:29 speaks of suffering for His sake being granted, I think of Matt and his family, and his losses, which he counts as not even worthy to be compared with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). Within itself, the Word of God is a perfect framework. This trip showed how He made it able to withstand rigorous scrutiny and that has an answer for all realms of life. I love the Word!

Even more than that, the truths of Scripture pushed me to keep preaching the gospel even when my emotions didn't follow suit — God must get His glory, hell is a very real place, the gospel is the power of God for salvation, there is joy to share in while seeing Him work, no act of obedience is done in vain, Christ commands us to make disciples, the church must be grown in faith and in numbers, Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, I am a beloved ambassador of Christ. It was the weight of these truths, and strength from God that carried me through

4. 'The Lost' Made Tangible

This has always been an abstract concept. 'The Lost' is like a stamp on an unknown face, a grouping of peoples who don't know Christ. But how do I pray for them? To believe of course. But it's hard to love people that you have no tangible experience with. Now, that barrier is gone. I have friends in Taiwan that are 'The Lost.' And here at home, I have many too. Pray that they would be found, just like we were. There are millions robbing Him of His glory, and headed to hell because of it. How can we sit and do nothing?

5. Prayer is a Joy

It was amazing to see God work after we prayed. He is not a distant, uncaring, uninvolved God. Rather He is close, personal, and very much involved in the salvation of souls. We prayed, and He answered. You prayed, and absolutely mind-blowing things happened. We didn't pray for certain things, and He still worked! Thank you all for laboring for the cause of the gospel with us, reading through my very, very, very long and verbose prayer updates. >.< Sorry; I hope you found them somewhat enjoyable. If not, more credit to you :) You got to pray for us! :D What a privilege to speak with the infinite God! Thank you Christ. What a joy to pray and see Him answer!


****

Here were my prayer requests from my support letter. They still stand, even in America!

1. that God would raise up more short-term and long-term missionaries
Matthew 9:37-38 — 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

2. that God would save those in Taiwan
Romans 10:1 — 1Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

3. that my teammates and I would speak boldly for Christ
Ephesians 6:19-20 — 19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

4. that the word of God would go forth
2 Thessalonians 3:1 — Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;

5. that God would create opportunities for the gospel to be preached clearly
Colossians 4:3-4 — 3praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

****

While my missions trip may have ended, the mission is not complete. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:10). This is my last email to you all. Words of thanks are not enough. :) I thank God for you all, and pray that you work and pray for the King's coming kingdom. Amen, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.

Longing for the King to come and reign,
Keith Fong
Eph 2:1-10
keithfong25@gmail.com

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