August 2018

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

As we write, the ABC is conducting a programme on “Truth Telling”. Indeed, lots of people today want to know the truth about many things. We contend that the Word of God – the Bible – is the only source of real truth. While it doesn’t give the truth about everything, it does give the truth that is essential to our eternal well-being. God has graciously enabled us by various means to satisfy ourselves beyond all reasonable doubt that the Bible is what it claims to be – the Word of Truth. When being interrogated by Pilate, Jesus said, “I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” And Pilate’s response to this was, “What is truth?” (John 18.37-38). Just prior to this encounter with Pilate, Jesus had said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14.6). It is vital that we receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. He warned, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8.24). So we continue to send out our QMBC lessons, fully confident that they present the real truth. (If any of our readers would like to know more of how we can be sure that the Bible is true, just ask us, and we shall be happy to send you some material.)

In our last Prayer News we requested special prayer for the mail which had not come from Thailand for some time. The very next week, we received a total of 57 letters from Thailand! We see this as a definite answer to prayer, and thank you sincerely for praying for this specific need. It seems that the mail, particularly from Thailand, is now being accumulated somewhere along the line, and processed in bulk. While this does affect our work flow, we are nevertheless grateful that it is eventually getting through to us again.

We have had a few problems recently relating to banking matters and courier services, but once again God has overruled and the difficulties have been sorted out. We have also been arranging for painting quotes for the outside of the building, and a new sign. DV these will be completed in the next month or so.

Some of our past workers at QMBC have recently been called Home to be with the Lord. Mrs Betty Strachan and Mrs Mabel Evans were faithful and esteemed volunteers at QMBC, whose labour over many years is still very much appreciated. Just last week we heard that another past worker, John Elvery, was called Home. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families at this time.

Praise Points:

• For the backlog of mail from Thailand, received in answer to prayer.
• For the testimonies from some of our students, and their desire to serve the Lord.
• For recent difficulties overcome in regard to the day-to-day running of the office.

Prayer Points:

• That those students who have been inactive for some time will respond to follow-up letters and continue with their lessons.
• That younger people will be encouraged to join the work.
• That the proposed work on the building will be completed satisfactorily and without incident.

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:

From Australia:

I was saved as a child but didn’t follow Jesus till recently. He never abandoned me though, and when I would ask for help it always came. Now I am following Jesus on a daily basis and I ask Him to guide me with every decision. I praise and honour Him always.

From Australia:

My sister who is in Queensland sent me a photo of your courses you’ve been sending to my nephew. And it brought back memories of me as a high school student in the Philippines – patiently waiting for the postman to receive new booklets from you as well as certificates with beautiful, hand-written lettering of my name. I’ve now enrolled my son and hopefully he will enjoy the journey completing the courses too.

Daniel, age 31, Papua New Guinea:

I’ve been blessed with these lessons and I’m gaining new strength when I go through them. These courses help me know many things about the Christ, and Jesus does so much with His love upon me. The lessons have inspired my life and I showed them to my church and youth fellowship. I use [them] to share the gospel in the streets, town and in the bush where the villages are. Many people have been blessed when I shared these studies.

Miriam, age 32, Hong Kong:

A lot of people are blessed through your lessons, and thank you for always making sure we remember Jesus. I tell you that it’s not easy to talk about Jesus in this land since Buddha is their God. Sometimes I want to give up, but with the lessons always reminding me of the Son of God, Jesus, I can’t. So please I encourage you to never stop and never give up on us. Remember we need you more than you’ll ever know. I love you with the love of God.

Prarthna, age 40, Thailand:

I came to know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour two years ago when I ended up in this prison. Before that I claimed to be a Christian and believe in Jesus, but never read the Bible and was still living the high life for myself, chasing earthly lusts and actually being a full time slave to sin. Since God arrested me though, things have changed in a revolutionary way for myself and my life…the Bible explains me in such great detail, blowing my mind with insights. Through Christ I am finally knowing what it means to have peace and joy inside. Even in this dungeon jail reality, with Jesus living in me I can feel happy much of the time. I’m so grateful that He saved me from myself because I really was riding a train one-way straight to hell. Now I live in light and the future looks bright.

Barry, age 38, Thailand:

I am a happy man now. I have been able to read and understand the Bible. Before, I read the Bible like a novel without understanding anything. I never knew that any and everything one may need on earth is right here in the Bible. 2 Tim 3:16 “All scripture… is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction”. So I can say that I now enjoy my Bible reading because the Spirit, since I gave my life to God, has been revealing many things to me. I thank God that He made me to know Him.

Dennis, age 41, Hong Kong:

I am blessed to have a chance to study the H Course [Love, Dating & Marriage], as I come from the country that is troubled with the disease [Aids]. Maybe in the future God willing I could be of good use in the society. I sincerely ask all to pray for one another, young and old alike, especially for the poor, the sick and my troubled family so as to overcome this temptation, as they are vulnerable to people who want to take advantage. Thanks so much, may the grace and love of our Lord be with you all always.

Justine, Zambia [past student]:

[I want] to thank Queensland Mailbox Bible club for the inspiration I got when I was doing the lessons whilst on death row. I was sentenced to death in 1999 of the treason I did not know about but after taking the course I came to understand that God wanted to meet me in prison because I couldn’t hear His voice outside. The lessons may seem small to the one who thinks they are for children but they have made me to be where I am today… I completed in 2008 and was running a small church in the rural part of central Zambia…I have said all this to show you the impact the lesson have had on my life and they have helped me to influence others in my area of influence. You may be a volunteer there but God will reward you abundantly because it’s not a small thing for one to be delivered from death row to becoming a pastor, because of believing in the lessons you prepare. God bless you and continue to protect you all.

From students doing the Panorama Course:

George, age 37, Solomon Islands:

One time in 2003 when I was far away from the Lord, [I threw myself into the sea.] I was in the water for two and a half days without food and water. On the third day I was rescued by near neighbouring friends. I realized that the Lord’s protection and love saved my life so that I could have eternal life. I called to the Lord for salvation that through him I should be saved and not by my own effort. My life has been changed through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is now centred in my life. Through him all things have been made easy. I now enjoy family which I could not do before.

Daniel, age 47, Thailand:

On a particular day I definitely consecrated my life to the Lord Jesus, to trust, obey and serve him the best way I know how while life shall last. I asked him to enable me to live a life of faith, love and devotion. God wants me to know that I am saved and that he will always take care of me because he sees me in Christ.

John, age 35, Thailand:

Before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, everything I liked to do was bad for me. But when I made Jesus the Lord of my life, all those desires changed. The real me, my spirit, was reborn. The change in my spirit brought changes to my mind and body. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, when you accept Jesus as Lord, you become a new creature.

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