Stories

Over 450 young Karen refugees gathered from all over the United States at Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, Michigan from July 17-20, 2019. This special group of young people experienced nurturing and inspiring speakers, and were revived by the stories from fellow Karen. Read on to learn how Doh Htoo experienced God's providence while canvassing in Iowa.

“They’re here! They’re here!” the children cried. They had been waiting all summer for the Rise High day camp. In August, three college students and a newly married couple traveled to Houston, Texas, to help the Reach the World Next Door staff and local church members present a three-hour program for six days at an apartment complex full of refugees.

On a recent, cool, summer evening, I sat down with Pi Lampai to reflect on our recent mission trip adventures to Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Through laughter, tears, and a mixture of Thai, Laotian, and English (sometimes even in one sentence), stories and experiences unfolded. May this shortened interview with Pi (Thai for “sister”) Lampai inspire a deeper passion in your heart for serving others as it did in mine.

Recently, a small committed team from America and Canada partnered with the ASAP-sponsored Samraong Adventist School to represent Jesus to a Buddhist community. They chose to hold public evangelistic meetings, something many think does not work among Buddhists. The teachers at the school were thrilled by the response.

Imagine fleeing your home because of persecution, only to be hunted down in the country you thought would be safe. This is the reality for many refugees living in Bangkok, who struggle for daily survival with the little that they have. Read how ASAP's new Bangkok Refugee Assistance Project (BRAP) is helping families in these situations.

Students at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School (RMES) in Berrien Springs, Michigan, invited ASAP staff to visit them and share stories about God's work in Asia. Inspired by what they heard, the students of RMES rallied to give of what they had to further the mission!

In 2002, Christians in Eritrea began experiencing persecution in their country, and the church went underground. One Eritrean, Bemnet Meried, felt called by God to work to reach his people. Now his ministry is yielding a blessed harvest.

Judy Aitken, Founder of ASAP Ministries, fell asleep in Jesus on December 10, 2018. The following article is adapted from the life sketch shared during her memorial service at Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on December 21, 2018.

God has a beautiful plan for all the nations living in Houston. It seems very apparent that His plan this year is to build a solid base of church members who will reach out. Next year, on-campus students at Reach the World Next Door will have the privilege of working alongside a maturing ministry to the least-reached!

Not long ago I was one of the rebellious ones. My teen friends and I often got into fights, especially when we played soccer and something went wrong. School was the last place I wanted to be and finally, the principal suspended me for fighting.

Out of his comfort zone meant not only a new country and language and school, but a new way of honoring his parents. Read Saeng’s moving story of a refugee boy who became a church planter who became….Well, you’ll just have to see.