Christmas Eve Services

Christmas Eve Services

The excitement of Christmas here in Vietnam is not for presents, toys, or something that you really could never use, but it is for the opportunity to openly share the Gospel with someone. As Christmas approached, we were saw so many people make decisions for the Lord, it was as if the door to reap the harvest of souls had been propped open. This trend continued into our Christmas Eve services. There were about 150 in attendance and so many came who had never been to Church before or heard of Jesus and the Good News He offers. The youth had been preparing for months for this service and they did a wonderful job clearly presenting the Gospel message and the Christmas story. We also had a Korean missionary, who has been in Vietnam for almost 15 years, preach the gospel message and the outcome was tremendous. There were 11 who prayed to receive Christ on this night. 

Distributing gifts and candy after the service.

During the invitation, the Christians that brought their friends or family members gently come to them and share the Gospel clearly to them again and ask if they wanted to make a decision. As the invitation was being given, one person walked up immediately, then a little boy who had been sharing Christ with his friend came up along with his friend to receive Christ. I looked across the room as so many believers were sharing with so many of their friends. The youth pastor who had been witnessing to all the construction workers at the Church was talking to one of them and his family. The man finally gave in and came forward and as he came to the front he clapped and celebrated as he was so excited. His whole family joined along and Pastor Cuoc gave an amazing example saying, “Today you are not only working on the Father’s house, but now you will live in His house for ever.” So many started coming up to make a decision and as I looked around I saw an elderly woman holding a little girl's hand. I could see the desire for a new life in her eyes as she looked upon the altar call. I wondered why no one was speaking to her and asking her to go up, then I grabbed her hand and pointed to the front, with teary eyes she shook her head yes. I began to walk her up front to the altar and she just passed me as she held the little girl’s hand oh so tight as they gave their hearts to Jesus. 
    
Following the services we were able to hand out a DVD of the entire Bible to almost everyone. A brother in the Lord and his wife donated 100 DVDs for us to hand out and they were an awesome blessing to so many. We accompanied that with a brand new New Testament Bible and bags of candy for the kids. What an awesome time in the Lord! 

A Powerful Start to Christmas Week

“From a good thing to a God thing”

— Matthew 1:19-24

This year as we prepared for several different outreach events, we became excited to see something we have not yet seen in this area before - Christmas trees, lights, decorations, and even Santa outfits. We thought for sure this would be the best holiday outreach yet because so many have become interested in the Christmas holiday. The Sunday prior to Christmas, we had an amazing outpouring of God’s presence upon our hearts as I ministered through the Word of God. God had laid upon my heart a message concerning Joseph. Here is a little taste of it. 

Shaun and Lien Miles, Christmas in Vietnam

Joseph was engaged to Mary. Package deal. The Lord favored her to bring forth His son into the world. Future Wife goes away and comes back pregnant. Let us be real, this is 99.999% of the time bad news. Joseph was going to do a good thing, by divorcing her quietly but God interrupted and wanted him to do a God thing. Big difference sometimes between a good thing and a God thing. The difference is revelation from God concerning His word in your life. Let us look at the differences in Joseph's life between a good thing and a God thing

How will you be able to tell when you have transformed situtions in your life from a good thing to a God thing. In Joseph's life, it became all about the Savior and not him. Joseph is mentioned only one other time after Jesus's birth and it was when Jesus was in the temple preaching and His parents came looking for Him. The rest of his life is relatively unknown, but the decision he made to make a good thing into a God thing made it all about Jesus. When you think of Joseph, you think of Jesus the Savior of the world, That is a God thing! Can that be said about you? When people think of you do they immediately think JESUS?

When we finished preaching, the invitation was given to those being moved by the Lord to come and make the good things in their life God things.  We also encourage those who did not know the Lord to come and pray to receive Him as Lord and Savior. The response was amazing.  Truly the Lord is moving in this place. 

Preparing the Pastors for Their Harvest

Rice fields in Vietnam ready for harvest

In a nation that is completely littered with rice fields, the harvest time comes in several different seasons. From what I have observed, however, the largest harvest season is the one we are in right now. As I ride Pastor Hai’s moto-bike around to different events, I have watched as these vast fields of green grass, like blades, stretch toward the sky. It is a beautiful sight to behold when the wind is gently blowing upon it, causing the blades of grass to sway to and fro. I have watched this past month as these bright green blades begin to turn light brown, a sign that they are ready for harvest. Just last week as I was riding to a near-by city, I watched as the reapers were coming through with their tools, machines and livestock to gather what they have sown. What a beautiful sight to anyone who has ever seen the laborers reaping their rewards. So it is in this Season of Christmas across this nation. It is time for the laborers to reap their Harvest. 
     
After Typhoon Haiyan went through the Philippines, it was headed right toward Central Vietnam. What most people do not know is that at that time Central Vietnam was already experiencing severe flooding. In one of the poorest areas of this poor nation, any type of natural disaster is catastrophic in nature due to the fact that the people live in shed-like houses and eke out a meager living from their farms and rice fields. So when the flood hit, it wiped out all of their crops and put them in a bad spot for weeks to come. Then along came the Typhoon headed right for them. The largest storm ever recorded in history was about to make land fall when all of a sudden it turned sharp north and completely missed the region. The only effects Central Vietnam received from the storm were rain and of course it was the one thing the area really did not need. 

Christmas Outreach heading to Central Vietnam

So just like the fields that were turning shades to give an indication that it was the time for the harvest, so it was for the people of God. We needed to act and to act fast. We were able to partner with two Pastors in the region and gave them the necessary supplies to go meet the needs of the affected people. They were able to go and share the Gospel with them as they gave them 10-lb bags of rice that would feed their family for about 14 days. They then began to share with them that they would be offering more assistance to them, their friends, and other family members who are in need this Christmas. They were invited to come and partake in the Christmas celebration, which included the presentation of the Gospel, after which they would receive their gifts, supplies, food, and a New Testament Bible.  

We raised support to send to these pastors 50 food bags for 50 families, and 100 gift bags for their Children along with 320 New Testament Bibles. Working together with the National Pastors we will be able to reap a harvest for the Lord this Christmas and truly it will be the largest Harvest season to date. 

Experiencing theTrue Meaning of Christmas

Christmas for so many will come and go and the only thing that has been altered is their bank account and blood pressure. However here in Vietnam, the Church has seen fit to use the Christmas season as an opportunity to reach those who have never heard the Gospel. We were able to participate in one of these events last week due to the kindness of several Korean business men, who live and work in Saigon, and donated gifts and goodie bags to the Church to distribute.

The Church saw this as a great opportunity to spread the message about Christ and His birth and was able to get approval from the local authorities to have a public outreach. Over 200 people showed up who had never previously been to Church or even heard the Gospel message. The Lord really blessed that night with a mighty showing of His gospel in many forms from dance routines, dramas, song, and the preaching of His word. It was an amazing time of Christ-centered outreach that blessed the people in every area. It was estimated that 30 people or so prayed to receive Christ at the invitation.

After the event, we were able to hand out the over 200 bags (donated by the Korean businessmen) consisting of food, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, flip-flops, silver ware, soap, back packs, and candy.  It was truly a blessing to all of us to see the kids running around as though it was Christmas morning, and the adults looking through their bags in total disbelief over generousisy of any individual. 

I have been blessed to be in ministry for over 12 years and I can remember some amazing times from the Christmas celebrations I have seen over the years, especially when we were blessing those who are less fortunate. I remember the trip to the projects that first Christmas when I was a youth pastor and seeing God do some miraculous things in the life of the youth group and those to whom we ministered. I remember going to Mexico and seeing extreme poverty like I have never seen before and watching God bring true joy in the midst of it. I remember year in and year out as a Pastor giving away Christmas toys for hundreds of families in our area and sharing the gospel with everyone of them. I will also remember this one. For it never ceases to amaze me how rich the Gospel message is when it is accompanied by generous love. When the Maker is honored the power of the Holy Spirit is welcomed, and when He is welcomed much is accomplished. Read this from Proverbs:

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. ”

— Proverbs 14:31

Reaching out to Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

The Bible is clear about reaching out to help the poor and needy especially when it is in our ability to do so.

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them." (Proverbs 3:27)

The Lord has called us to be rescuers to those who are poor and helpless, especially since He has given us the ability to do so. Those of us living in the US cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to be one of the poorest of the poor in a Third World country like Vietnam.  They have areas of impoverished people groups that are unmatched in the world. One of those areas is found in Central Vietnam.  

As you know, Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines with such force and destruction that it simply ravaged the lower Islands. It was headed right for Central Vietnam at a high rate of speed but miraculously transitioned to a Northern direction which left the blunt of the wind off the shores of Central Vietnam. However the rains still fell in excess throughout the region. Any other time the rain would have been gladly welcomed, but at this time, flooding had already been a problem before the Typhoon came near. This left this poor region in a shambles. Made up of rice fields and poor farmers, Central Vietnam’s economy depends on the land, so when floods hit, severe famine results for those who live in the area.
 
This is where we step in as the Church to "Rescue the poor and Helpless."  We have been partnering with pastors in this region to send food through them to those most in need.  We also see this as an evangelism effort, as they will use this opportunity to share the Gospel and then invite them to a Christmas celebration in December.   Our goal is to not just rescue the people impacted by the typhoon, but from Satan himself and the grips of Hell. 

Christmas Care Package going to those in Central Vietnam impacted by the recent Typhoon.

Our goal is to be able to provide a Christmas Care Package containing food and a Holy Bible to every family who attends this event.  The food supply bags will include 10lbs of rice, nine bags of noodles, one bag of sugar, one bottle of oil and a Holy Bible. These supplies will be enough food to last a family of 4-5 a whole week, but the gospel and Holy Bible will last them an eternity. We are also putting together Christmas gift bags as a blessing to the children that will include a book, pens, pencils, stickers, and candy. The cost of the food care packages with the Bible is around $10 each and the children’s gift bags cost about $2.50 each.  Our goal is to have 100 families attend this Christmas celebration and hope to hand out 300 gift bags to the children.
 
Please pray for this effort and that everyone attending this special Christmas celebration truly hears the Gospel and sees God’s love in action with these care packages.

We thank you for your prayers and if you feel led to help us financially with the Christmas Outreach Packages or with our Transportation Fund, please visit the Get Involved/Support Our Work page here.

We love you all so much and we are so grateful to partner with you in bringing the gospel to this great land. We will be sending out an update on all we have experienced thus far real soon, so keep looking for it. God bless you each for your roles in "rescuing the poor and helpless" in this generation with the love of God and the good news of salvation.