May 2024
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
1 Peter 2:21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
We often look up to people that inspire, encourage and challenge us in our lives. Such persons are mentors that take us under their wings to give us advice and instruction. Moses took Joshua to encourage and strengthen him to lead the children of Israel into the promised land (Deuteronomy 3:28). Elijah took Elisha to be the next prophet in his stead (1 Kings 19:16), and after leaving his parents Elisha followed him wherever Elijah went (2 Kings 2:2). Paul adopted Timothy as a beloved and faithful son praying for him day and night (2 Timothy 1:3) and building him up to serve in the gospel (Philippians 2:22).
However, the greatest mentor and counsellor is our Lord Jesus Christ. He led by example in demonstrating sinlessness despite being tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:1), grace in speaking the word of God (Luke 4:22), compassion by teaching and feeding the 5,000 (Mark 6:34), zeal by driving out the money changers from the temple (John 2:14-17), and servanthood by washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:5). It was at the cross where he demonstrated the greatest example of all; love, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We are now called to be imitators of Christ (1Corinthains 11:1) so that others may follow our example. 1 Timothy 4:12. Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
As far as the work of QMBC goes, we have been disappointed that to date, we have not been receiving very much mail from overseas. In fact, we have received nothing from Papua New Guinea since August last year, and we have been unable to make contact with the people who forward the mail on to us here in Brisbane, to find out the reason. We recently received an email request from a teacher in PNG who enrolled 32 students with QMBC, and to whom we have sent the lessons. Because of the current situation there, we are not sure if we will receive their answer sheets back. Please pray with us regarding this situation.
The mail from Hong Kong and Australia comes in steadily, but mail from Thailand has been very spasmodic. We have only received four batches of mail from there so far this year.
For your interest, the following table shows a month by month summary of the weight of mail received in and posted out during the past year, from all countries. For the 2023 year, we posted out about 23.5kg more than in 2022, but that was still about 100kg less than before the pandemic.
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:
Nawarit, age 40, Thailand:
The first day I came here [prison] I lived without hope in my life. The Bible words of Matthew Ch 6:v9-13 and Ch 7v7-12 made me change forever. My first time to go to the church [in prison] we had only four Christians. Now we have 39 Christians.
Sutee, age 33, Thailand:
Thank you for the lessons. It’s very encouraging to get to know Him (Jesus) more and more, and [the lessons] also teach me how to stand firm and to live my life in the way to please the Lord. Thank you also for some stamps that you sent to me. They are very helpful in here. May God bless you and your ministry.
Immanuel, age 38, Thailand:
I was born in a Buddhist family. When I was 12 years old, I was taking holy orders as a Novice in a famous temple. First time I felt good and very happy. After six years I felt something lost in myself, so I resigned as Novice. Then I began a life as a bad boy, I was a drunkard, a drugger and a dope ring man. I was caught by the police, and now I am a prisoner in Thailand. Thank God for dwelling in the prison. I heard about the Lord Jesus Christ from a prisoner Christian friend. Then I received Him as my Saviour. Daily I am rejoicing in my heart and I am very happy. Thanks for the Bible lessons you send to me. I’m glad, and enjoy very much learning the words of God. And I will bring the Jesus story to give to the people.
Pieter, age 62, Hong Kong:
This teaching from God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is very precious to me. Lesson D10 was one of the most powerful, Spirit filled, truth teaching lessons I have received. By looking at all the current circumstances and issues that are happening right now, and studying the Holy Bible in the Book of Revelation, we come to see that we are at the end times. We must be ready, as He is coming soon.
Peter, age 42, Thailand:
I want to use this as my great opportunity to thank you for the Bible which you sent to me together with my lesson booklets. I really appreciate this Bible. It shows me that God has answered my prayers. I pray for God’s divine favour upon my life and that of my family members. I pray that Almighty God will bless you all and always make a way for you, and separate you all from trouble and from sickness.
Hiu, age 24, Hong Kong:
When I was arrested, I felt down and sad because I never thought I would come to prison – actually I just got trapped in Facebook’s job page. I tried to find the lawyers to give me some suggestions about my situation. The result left me feeling disappointed. In that time, I asked Jesus what I should do to be better, I didn’t know if I should plead guilty. One day [after] I received Jesus as my Saviour, my parents came to visit me. They really wanted me to go back home and take care of them as they have become elderly. It let me decide to plead guilty as I didn’t want to take any risk of my case. I believed Jesus would stand with me all the time and I promised myself that I can cross the hurdles. [We have no further information on his case at this time].
**************