November 2023
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
As we draw towards the close of another year, one thing is certain – there are no guarantees in this life. There is no guarantee that we will make it to next year, or to our next birthday, or that we will see tomorrow. The only thing that is guaranteed in this life is death (and taxes) according to one famous writer. Yet the Bible gives us a guarantee by God, of who we are and what He will do. Ephesians 1:13-14. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”.
After we hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, believe in Him and are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. He is the seal, the mark of ownership that we belong to Him. That is guaranteed. Rom 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”.
The Holy Spirit himself is the guarantee (earnest) given by God, and He ensures that what God has promised, He will do. God is obliged to give us the inheritance of blessings through Christ because He has already made the deposit. This is all based on redemption through Christ’s blood to forgive us our sins and finally purify and purchase a peculiar people. How we should show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light! 1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s”.
We are happy to report that just in the last month or so, the mail from Thailand and Hong Kong has been coming in more regularly. It seems that the problems caused by the pandemic are at last being overcome, and we have had word from Thailand that the restrictions in the prisons there have been lifted. We are no doubt starting to see the effects of this, and we ask you to pray with us that it will continue.
The mail to and from Papua New Guinea is still a problem. Just last month we received a parcel of lesson answers posted from there, the first since November last year! Some of the mail we have sent from here is taking up to three months or more to get to the students.
For your interest, the following is a breakdown of the number of students who have returned their lessons during the twelve months to October 2023.
549 students (from 19 countries) returned their lessons. This number was 15 more than when we reported on the figures last year, but it is still some 715 less than before the pandemic.
We are so thankful that one of our regular workers has taken on the task of marking the Panorama of the Bible Courses, and doing it very proficiently.
In June we were forwarded a note from Gary and Joanne Akehurst, from one of our old students who contacted them through their website….“this is Lucy from Papua New Guinea. I was once in your mailbox when I was a young girl. Now I’m married already with a beautiful daughter, she is seven now. I still have my certificate with me.” It is so encouraging to hear from time to time that our past students have never forgotten the lessons they learned through QMBC, and several now have their children enrolled with us.
Please pray for our workers, some of whom are not enjoying the best of health at present.
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 lessons:
Jonny (age 53) Hong Kong:
To God be the glory. I am well pleased with all the lessons I have been studying with you. But these ones you sent to me are extra-ordinary. All of them are powerful with a strong meaning, especially Consecration and The new power of the Holy Spirit. These are amazing.
Winnie (age 38) Hong Kong:
I am really enjoying the Word of God that you are sharing with me and I want to share the same Word of God with my siblings, parents, children, relatives and my friends. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that you are sharing with me, is not [only] for me to hear, but also to share.
Simangaliso (age 46) Thailand:
Thank you so much for the Bible studies that you are sending to me, to make me draw closer to the Lord. I’m really enjoying them. Please I want you to pray for me and my family back home in Zambia. My prayer request is for my family to be united and to love each other, and also to have faith in God.
Peter (age 42) Thailand:
It’s a thing of joy for me this morning to pick up my pen to write to you…it’s not easy here in prison, but with God all things are possible. God says, I will not leave you, neither will I forsake you. Even in the wilderness He will make a way for His people, if we can only trust and obey His word. Thank you for the stamps you sent to me with my lesson. I really, really appreciate it, and may the God of we prisoners remember you.
Chukwunonso (age 31) Thailand:
Indeed I am very happy to be a member of your ministry as I long to be guided more through the things of God and I strongly believe that your correspondence courses will enable me to study and know more about God. I wish to continue the study when I locate myself again in the free world…I thank you so much for the stamps you sent me, I sincerely appreciate your cares and efforts towards me. At least those stamps will serve me a lot by using them to write to my wife in Women’s Prison Bangkok. God bless your persons always. [Note: we send 30baht worth of stamps to the students as a reward for completing the various Courses, from Course ‘C’ up].
Martha, (age 52) Thailand:
I am doing well by the grace of God. Yes the ups and downs are many, but God told us not to fear for He is with us, not to be dismayed for He is our God, He will strengthen us, He will uphold us with His righteous hand. With all these loving promises from God the Father, I’m strong in Him. I want to thank you so much for the stamps you sent me, may God bless you so much and reward you in abundance.
Teeta (age 71) Kiribati:
I want to give you my thanks for your love and kindness. I love to learn more [about] the Church that Jesus built not men. I finished the questions that you sent over to me, and I am glad and happy to be your student. I love to study the Bible; it is sweeter than honey and my daily food to me.
Australian Student’s Parents:
Thank you for all the work you do in providing these valuable lessons for children. It was through QMBC that I gave my life to Christ back in 1990. It is crucial work.
Australian Student (age 14):
Jesus Christ is in my heart. I gave my life to Him on the side of the road after listening to a CD about the story of someone who gave their life to Him. I am filled with gladness at what Jesus has done for me. I have been a Christian for five years now. Thank you for these lessons, they encourage me greatly in my walk with Christ each day.
From students doing the Panorama of the Bible lessons:
Mzila (age 50) Hong Kong:
God is good, all the time. I have no complaints at all, and am still doing great through His mighty, powerful Name. Hope to receive my Module 8 soon. I wish to complete all my assignments before ending my sentence [in 2025]. I know once I’m free I will not stay long at home. I believe it is part of your work for doing God’s will, taking your time to help us, and to be our teacher.
Australian Student (age 18):
Thank you for praying for me on my mission trip. It has been a great blessing to me and I will never forget it. After training, we flew up to Injinoo [a small town on the western side of the top of Cape York Peninsula] for the actual mission trip. We had a great time there, building a shed and evangelising. We also did a lot of gardening and ran church services.
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