The Harvest Truly is Great
By Diana Pen (Riesenberger)
For the holidays, my church hosted our third annual Adventist Southeast Asia Projects (ASAP) Benefit Concert. This year's proceeds went to one of ASAP’s greatest needs—support for national church planters and lay pastors. Our members, especially our young people were very excited to share their talents for the concert. We had piano performances, a couple violin groups, among others, and our youth group played the hand chimes. Even before the concert we had great fun decorating the programs!
Something most of us don't think about is how the US economy affects the economy of other countries. When introducing the concert, I shared an important fact. There is a great growth of believers in South East Asia — but now the missions and ministries are being cut back financially, which means not being in a position to hire new workers. This can cause the existing missionaries to be over-extended as they are wanting to shepherd the new church groups. I believe this is a serious matter of prayer, because Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest,” (Matthew 9:37, 38). In this verse, I do not hear Jesus saying, “Make the laborers work harder!” So often our ministers and missionaries become sick physically and in their personal spirituality because they become exhausted in ministry due to the great needs. Jesus calls us to pray and that is what we did.
Before the concert we had group prayer with the kids, and their desire for sharing Jesus and helping those who were less fortunate touched my heart. We talked about what the greatest work on earth was. We thought of lawyers and doctors, some said missionaries. I asked them to think about the few things we would take to heaven. Would we take our houses? Our toys? Our favorite clothes? The children quickly told me, “No, we are only taking our characters and people we shared Jesus with.” I reminded them, too, that no matter what job God leads them to do someday, we are all called to be missionaries for Him wherever we are.
After most of the music, Martin Kim, Communication Director for ASAP, shared statistics from a study that were very sobering. It took global percentages and applied them to the world if the population were 100 people. He shared that 43 live without basic sanitation, 18 live without an adequate water source, 13 are hungry or malnourished, 14 can’t read, and only 3 have an internet connection. Half would struggle to live off of $2 per day or less. Then Martin shared a story about Aung Aung, a national worker, and how God is using him to bring the gospel to the unreached in Myanmar. A national worker’s stipend in Myanmar is $90 a month. How many of us could easily spend that in going out to eat with our families two or three times! In thinking of these statistics in relation to the great need of sharing Jesus to a dying world, I personally prayed that the Lord would change the selfishness of my own heart and help me think of the eternal worth of even one soul.
The concert attendance was small compared to the last two years, but I was encouraged when our elder was about to give the prayer for the offering. He said he was excited because God was about to do something great. He shared how though our turnout was smaller, Jesus seems to love doing something miraculous in situations that seem impossible to us, like with the loaves and fishes. We prayed earnestly for the offering and for the missionaries in Southeast Asia. And the Lord truly blessed the donations that evening — we raised over $7,000! With those funds, national missionaries and their families can be supported as they minister to their communities. Over six national missionaries can be supported for a whole year! And, I believe God will do great things through those workers.
Here are the stipends of the church planters or lay pastors based on country:
$80/month in Laos
$70/month in Vietnam
$150/month in Cambodia
$90/month in Myanmar
$100/month in Thailand
Jesus himself said, “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Is the highest job status on earth to be a doctor? A lawyer? A surgeon? God does not see as man sees... our worldly thoughts of status and worth are so different than His. I pray that God strengthens His church workers as they do what I believe is the greatest work anyone on earth can have — preparing people to meet their soon-coming Savior!
Diana Pen (Riesenberger) has been a part-time missionary for the last two years in Southeast Asia. She has served as a teacher, fundraiser, and graphic designer for ministries in Cambodia and Thailand. Her husband, Seyha Pen is active in supporting the church through youth and outreach ministries. Please pray for them as they seek the Lord’s leading for their lives and ministry.