May 2018

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

It is with a sense of great thankfulness to God that we can look back 40 years since QMBC first commenced in March 1978. During the early years we had some 30 volunteers who gave of their time and talents to the work. We should also acknowledge the deputation work undertaken by Beres Northcott (the founder), Lucy Moorhouse and others, in substantially boosting student enrolments in earlier days. Over the 40 years we have enrolled hundreds of thousands of students, and we trust and pray that the lessons sent to them will continue to bear fruit for eternity. Recently, there has been a serious drop-off in student returns. Please continue your fervent prayers for a recovery. There was a man in OT times named Jabez. It is said of him that “he cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! . . . And God granted his request” (1 Chron. 4.10). Perhaps we need to be more earnest in our prayers.

One of the things the world is clamouring for right now is peace. Some believe that peace is within the reach of man, and to this end Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are planning to meet within the next month at an as yet undisclosed location in an endeavour to stave off the horrors of a nuclear holocaust on an international scale – World War III. Little do they realize that they are but pawns in the hand of the One “who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Eph. 1.11). Even Nebuchadnezzar was made to realize that the Most High “does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth” (Dan. 4.35).

Bible-believing Christians are left in no doubt as to where the world is headed. The Lord Jesus said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places . . . if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive” (Matt. 24.7-22). But to Christians to-day, he speaks peace to us. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14.27). When the Apostle Paul was in prison, he encouraged the believers to pray, and then added, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4.7).

Earlier this year, Papua New Guinea experienced some devastating earthquakes, resulting in widespread destruction. We have many students who reside in the areas affected by the earthquakes, but unfortunately we have not been able to receive any information on their situation, nor do we know what they may be suffering as a result of all the devastation, as no mail is getting through.

Another urgent need for prayer is the lack of overseas mail over the past month. Both during and since the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast, all the overseas mail has been held up somewhere, and we have only received a handful of letters. This is a cause for great concern as the students will be worried about not receiving their lessons, but it is something that is out of our control. We have contacted Australia Post who are not aware of any delays, but are looking into the matter for us. We ask you to please pray earnestly that the mail will soon flow regularly again.

Praise Points

• For the Lord’s unfailing faithfulness in every aspect of the work over the past 40 years
• For dedicated volunteers, both past and present
• For the continued provision of funds to meet every need

Prayer Points

• For our students in Papua New Guinea who have been affected by the earthquakes
• For all the other overseas students whose mail we are not receiving, particularly from Thailand and Hong Kong
• For finalisation of our online lessons

From our Students

Please take time to read the enclosed excerpts from some of our students’ letters and answers to assignments, which we are sure you will find interesting.

From students doing the basic courses:

Peter, age 33, Thailand:

I apologise for using pencil to answer the lesson you sent to me, this is as much as I can afford for now. Please bear with me. I want to use this opportunity to thank you for this lesson, because through this lesson I come to know more about the word of God. This lesson and reading the Bible is drawing me closer to God. I’m asking you to always put me in your prayers as a prisoner.

Joseph, age 42, Thailand:

My heart is filled with joy and hope for having you as my prayer partners. In this my situation, I tell my heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself…I have learned a great lesson in the question of Balak King of Moab and the answer there in Micah 6: 6,7&8. I chose to follow Jesus for the rest of my life in this earth and thereafter. [Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6: 6,7,8.]

Cosmas, age 39, Thailand:

Doing your lessons is truly fun and educative. I really find them interesting and could not wait too long to get the next set of lessons. I cannot thank you enough for the impact of these lessons on my personality. May God reward you greatly…it is a sad thing to notify you that I used to keep the lessons till a particular time about three years ago when a resolution was made in prison, aimed at reducing the little liberty we enjoy as prisoners to a level of uneasiness. That moment, we lost a lot of our belongings. For example, a lot of books were seized and thrown away and a periodic check has been going on since then to ensure prisoners don’t keep items exceeding their requirements. So, I lost the set of lessons I had done earlier and since then, I am sorry to say I don’t keep the lessons anymore after completion. Thank you for the stamps worth 30 baht. May you be blessed in all your endeavours.

Ugochukwu, age 23, Thailand:

Since I came to understand the love of God, by sending His only Son to die for my sake and my sin at the cross, I gave up my life to Him and am learning to know Him more and more through these lessons. The Lord Jesus now lives in my heart and I am very happy, more than I used to be before when I was in the world.

Ikechukwu, age 49, Hong Kong:

A very good friend of mine got saved some three years ago. When he brought the good news to me, it then dawned on me that my good character cannot save me. I decided right there and them to totally give my life to Christ and take Him as my personal Lord and Saviour. Ever since then, joy flows like a river through my soul – and I will never go back to sin again.

Goyada, age 36, Papua New Guinea:

I am very sorry for not sending you the lessons you sent me on 7/2/2013. I got my lessons just last year. I am very happy to do this lesson of QMBC. Father God in His Word is teaching me many wonderful truths in my lessons. I would like to ask you if you would allow me to do my lessons in the fastest way because it takes years and years to do my lessons.

Manivanan, age 49, Thailand:

Thank you for the certificate, magazine and wonderful life lessons. The Love Dating and Marriage lessons were largely shared with the younger inmates who are still single. The contents were so interesting because they show a true way of valuable relationships between man and woman. We accurately understand our faults and improper entanglement which end up with disappointment in our past.

Peter, age 32, Thailand:

I was born in a Christian home [in Nigeria], but didn’t have a strong faith in Christ until…I found myself in this situation. I came to Thailand years ago and had a problem with drugs the same year and found myself in prison. Of a truth I don’t use drugs, I was only trying to see if I can change the situation of my family, never knowing that I was trying to make things worse . . . I have been asking forgiveness of sins and healing and to know Jesus more. We are now one in Christ Jesus. Please I need you to assist me in prayer.

From students doing the Panorama courses:

Mrisho, age 27, Hong Kong:

Thank you all for continuing to help and support me. Thank you for the small dictionary. I hope and pray I will improve my English as I continue with the lessons . . . I am asking for prayers for my family and myself. I am not feeling well these days . . . but I thank Jesus I can pass the days through him. May all be in peace in this life with our lovely family and friends. Amen

George, age 37, Solomon Islands:

Lord Jesus, live in my heart, because I have faith in God’s Word through the lelp of the Holy Spirit. My life has been changed – I am loving and sharing the words of God with other Christian friends. I’m saved! My sins are forgiven. I can overcome temptation. God hears and answers my prayers.

Tracy, Victoria:

Our conscience alone without God will lead us in our own way. We need Jesus’ sacrifice, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to know God’s way of right and wrong. Jesus is our sacrifice – he was the perfect sacrifice for us, and as we receive and accept this, we now make a sacrifice of praise.

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