A letter from Paul Friesen in Southeast Asia
May 2010
Stories from the Field
One of the greatest privileges I have as a mission co-worker is hearing the stories of men and women who serve in very difficult circumstances. This past March while conducting a four-day leadership retreat for the United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam, I had such an opportunity. Fifteen leaders from various districts south of Danang attended the retreat. Some of these leaders work among ethnic minorities, the poorest of the poor, while others serve in more urban areas. All are committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and leading new believers to maturity in faith. And so, with earnest prayer and great anticipation, I prepared for our time together.
We began each morning with worship — singing, prayer and a meditation from Scripture. To complement the training sessions, I asked these leaders to tell their stories. In particular I was interested in learning about how they were called into ministry and about the difficulties they face in living out that call. The following are two stories from the field.
Pastor Son has eight children, few resources and does evangelism among two ethnic minority groups. Until recently he has used a bicycle to cover an area over 50 kilometers wide. The land is dry with limited access to water, but a recent drought has made life even more difficult. The absence of rain water has impacted the harvest and led to a shortage of food. People come to Pastor Son asking for help.
Although the motorbike he purchased on payments makes it easier for Pastor Son to engage in his evangelistic ministry, it also depletes his financial resources. Furthermore, governmental officials do not approve of his activities. While learning the languages of two different ethnic minorities has opened the door for sharing the gospel, Pastor Son is not allowed to live in the villages where he serves. Local officials directly oppose his efforts and when people do respond to the gospel they are persecuted by being forced to work without pay. Because of opposition he travels into the area at night and then leaves before morning. Pastor Son asked for prayer that God would bless the people both physically and spiritually. He prays that God will provide him with resources to repair his home and pay for his motorbike.
After listening to another pastor, named Muo, share about his difficulties, I asked him why he continues to live out his call. This is his reply: “I know that I am not qualified to be a pastor; many other people are more qualified and more educated than I am. But I know God called me to shepherd His flock. I know this because God revealed it to me. When I try to do things on my own, I fail. But when I pray, God leads me. Even in the midst of persecution, God gives me peace and confidence. Even when others want to destroy the chapel where we worship, we continue to follow Jesus.”
Serving together,
Paul Friesen
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 129
