A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY

The year of 2010 was a monumental year for MTM. A total of 9 different Bible conferences were conducted in 5 different countries. It is very humbling to realize that the countries where MTM is conducting conferences is right in the heart of where the unreached of the world are geographically located. India has more people unreached with the gospel than any other nation in the world …. and MTM conducted 4 different conferences in India alone in this past year.

Your prayer and financial help is making it possible to fulfill one of the great gospel opportunities of our day….discipleship and Bible training as a means to equip native Christians to reach out and win their own unreached for Jesus Christ. More times then not it is our lives that speak more then our teachings. Native Christians will tell us that they have seen the principles that we live in the Bible….but they never knew anyone obeys them. I am convinced that God has open a door for us as conservative Anabaptist people to witness forth a faith and practice that out of love for Jesus makes practicfal applications to the Bible. It is Gods heart that this witness for Christ would reach unto the utter most of the world. This really is what MTM is all about….and a very special thank you to all who make this possible.

Looking Ahead Into 2011

The MTM schedule for 2011 is already all packed out. We have a total of 9 different Bible conferences scheduled for the year. These conferences are scheduled in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, & Myanmar. Unfortunately MTM is unable to accommodate all the invitations that come our way. The year is scheduled full and there are 12 invitations we are unable to accommodate. The invitations just keep coming out of Africa, Pakistan, the Philippines, Lao, Indonesia and many out of India. Please do pray for us as we seek the Lord in regards to which invitations we are to accept.

Thank You For Your Continued Support of MTM

MTM is a faith-based ministry. MTM’s ability to disciple and spiritually equip native Christians to win their own unreached people to Jesus Christ is largely contingent upon your contributions to this ministry. All of your faithful contributions will be used to facilitate a training school of native students in equipping them to take the gospel to where it has not yet been preached.

Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support. By Gods faithful grace, MTM will teach faithful men who shall be able to teach others also ….so the gospel will be preached where it has not yet been preached. Contributions of any amount can be sent to:

IGO
PO Box 116
Ephrata, PA 17522 USA

Please be sure to earmark your contribution for MTM. A tax deductible receipt is avalible upon request. Thank you in advance for your prayer and financial contribution.

For Christ & The Nations,
Raymond Burkholder
IGo-MTM Director

The post A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT MTM appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

We had Bible conference for Pastors and church leaders for 3 days. amazingly 200+ delegates participated. Raymond’s teaching from book of Acts has given delegates a challenge. I personally experienced God’s power in him. Raymond is a good motivator and I should say he is a great inspiration to modern missions. I praise God for his life and commitment. Description of Differences between Jerusalem church and Antioch church is really a eye opener to many delegates. One of our delegate testified that he wants to go to north India as cross cultural missionary. I personally decided to raise as many leaders I can and send them to tribal villages and some parts of north India. We had very keen listening from all the delegates.

David Yoder’s message has opened many eyes. some of our delegates have told me that they started looking things with the lense of love and they have been seeing good relations being grown in their family and churches. What a wonderful thing to know?.love is the center for our ministry. In a love angle everything being seen gracefully.lot of times we are so busy and forget that we should love our congregation .new decisions were taken by delegates.

Ricky has pictured book of Philemon in a unique way. I had many calls from pastors asking me that full notes. Life of Onesimus has really strengthened many and to move with more passion for the perishing souls. Amazing thing is that Ricky’s life is a real blessing to us. Ricky’s commitment to stand even in the midst of his dear brother’s death and to finish work in India is living message to lot of our Pastors as they are going through lot of misery and opposition. it is a real challenge to pastors in India as we go through lot of challenges in ministry. his personal life was a model to us. many pastors have called me said that they were strengthened by his life performance.

We had also women conference for 3 days as Pastors conference being held in other venue. We had 50 selected women from local churches. Rosa and Heidi were real blessing to them. godly virtues were taught to them. I know most of them have become responsible wives and mothers. I know that women have key role to play in family and church. Some women have taken decisions to cover their heads. Our children and youth really blessed by this wonder ful team.

We had revival meeting s with our church. Every message has touched people there were many new commitments taken. some have decided to reach their neighbors for Christ. We had a one of our young women’s father got saved as a result of Raymond’s message and prayer .her name is Ruth joyce(this name was given to her in remembrance of Lee and Joyce because this young girl was saved and baptized as a result of their ministry here).pray for her father. recently we had a prayer meeting at their house and her father gave me word that he will be continue to coming to church .as a result few were healed even. Amazing thing is that 10 people took baptism as our team was eye witnessing. it was big celebration for us. apart from this we had many tribal church visits and a new church was dedicated.

It was one week but left some years of memories. I thank my god who called me and being faith ful to my family and ministry .yes… He is faithful .yes…He kept his word.

Keep us in your Prayers,
Pastor.Ch.Abraham Samuel,
Amazing Grace Association
South India

Editors Note; Pastor Abraham is a our native coordinator who invited MTM to come and conduct the Bible conference. Thank you Ps Abraham for a wonderful job well done. Blessed be God!

MTM Teacher Testimony;  My trip to India with MTM can best be summarized as a life changing experience. With the obvious gratefulness for our coming illustrated by beautiful garlands of flowers and royal hospitality, we were soon immersed in a beautiful culture of bright colors and hungry hearts. Eager faces, fervant worship, Spirit led preaching, lifted hands and hearts, and tears of commitment, characterized our fellowship with brothers and sisters who under great poverty demonstrate the power of the gospel in feeding the hungry, caring for the orphan and praying for the sick. It was a tremendous blessing to be part of the MTM team and to experience many answers to prayer as we were channels of God’s love and grace to these dear people. To God be the Glory!     Dave Yoder (Pastor at Central Mennonite Church, Dover DE)

More MTM Teacher Testimonies;  What a rich experience… to be able to travel to India and speak Truth to women in a culture where women are often looked down on and misused. A common theme that ran through the conference is that as women made in the image of God and redeemed by Christ Jesus, we have worth and value and God has a role for us to play in our families, churches, and communities. There were approximately 50 women of all ages from surrounding village churches at this women’s conference. Their eager smiling faces looking up at us as we taught and the friendship they extended to us was a real encouragement. It was also a blessing to hear some of the testimonies of the women who attended… women who were encouraged and made new commitments to follow God and be faithful in doing what He is?asking of them. We also witnessed the baptism of a few of these sisters a few days after the conference. We thank God for our sisters in India.   Rosa King and Heidi Gingerich  (IGo Ransom Ministries, Chiang Mai Thailand) 

The Dear Church Leaders Who Attended The Chinthaluru MTM Conference

CLICK HERE FOR MANY MORE PICTURES

The post MTM to Chinthaluru, INDIA appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

It is so easy to read the Acts account of the early church, read books and hear stories of great missionaries of yesteryear, even watch them videos of great missionary heros, study the history of missions, and yes, even study the apostle Paul’s many missionary sacrifices …. BUT NEVER GET BEYOND THE CALL !!! It is time the church of Jesus Christ step out of the boat of her comfort zone (as Peter did) and truly follow Jesus Christ and His call ….going beyond the call into reality. I fear the church has hedged herself into her comfort zone of safe haven securities. Her safe haven of fellowship and doctrine, her safe haven of insurances and protection, her safe haven of her own financial institutions, her safe haven of social interactions, her safe haven of business and enterprise when using a pay stubs template, her safe haven of entertainment and fun, her safe haven for my family and future generations. And these things are not necessarily all wrong. But Peter stepped out of the boat of all that safe haven (and so did Paul) …. to follow the call of Jesus Christ into reality. MOST GREAT GOSPEL NEEDS ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT SAFE HAVEN !!! Jesus told Peter to launch out into the deep to catch a great draught of fishes…they are not to be found on the safe haven of the beaches. Jesus said, follow me and I will make you to become fishers of men. My prayer is that we, like Paul and like Peter, would also move beyond the call into the realm of reality …BEYOND THE CALL …all for the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

MTM To Vishakhapatnam, India

November 23 through December 1, MTM will be conducting a Bible conference in south east India in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This will be a repeat conference with this native coordinator. MTM will also be partnering with IGo Ransom Ministries. Rosa King & Heidi Gingerich will be teaching a singles ladies class on the subject of Godly femininity. Brother Dave Yoder (Delaware, USA) as well as Ricky Wright (Georgia, USA) and myself will be teaching approx 175-200 native pastors and church leaders. We will also be preaching some revival meeting services as well as other village ministry activities. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT.

The post Beyond The Call appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

Brother Emanuel (Mannie) Troyer traveled all the way from Cleveland, North Carolina to serve as a second teacher. Most all of the believers were from Cairo but due to security reasons we traveled north to Alexandria to conduct the conference there. Many of the conference attendees were church leaders but not all. There are so many needs among Gods people in Egypt. After most every service Manny & I were called upon to pray for the sick, there were many anointing’s with oil. There were those who were delivered from demon possessions. To this very day Egypt is known for its sorcery and witchcraft and there are generational oppressions as well as possessions of evil spirits. In one service a demon stuck up his ugly head when Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood was being preached. It took four strong men to carry this man out of the service so we could continue. Many others who came seeking for deliverance were delivered. Blessed be God through Jesus Christ alone !!! Please do pray for the believers in Egypt.

We were also very privileged to have a vision team of young people from Global Impact and IGo join us for a few days at the conference. Our witness for Jesus Christ, with a faith and practice that obeys the scripture, is always greatly enhanced when we have young people with us that are living out what we as older teachers are teaching. When these dear young people sang at the conference, I believe every camera, video recorder and phone was out to capture this spectacle for Gods glory in Egypt. A very special thank you to all these dear young people whom God used mightily for His glory. Our native coordinator repeatedly spoke of the godly character and modest dress of these dear young people. He said they were just like Jesus. Blessed be God !!! What an open door of witness for Jesus Christ unto the uttermost is ours as conservative Anabaptist people …. let us continue to walk through this open door that God has set before us.

After the conference we also conducted three days of revival meetings at our native coordinators church in Cairo. After a bit of sight-seeing in the regions of the pyramids we traveled to Israel. There we visited with CAM staff as well as with Delmar Penner and Brian Shenk. Both these young men were part of the vision team that came to the conference in Egypt. They are also on our IGo internship program stationed in the West Bank of Israel. We also did some visitation of some holy sites in Jerusalem.

Please Do Pray For Our Brothers & Sisters In Egypt !!!

Egypt & Israel Pictures With Captions

The post Making Disciples In Egypt appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

We are rejoicing with the birth of two new grandchildren in one month’s time. Blessed be God. Mike & Laura Burkholder give birth to Judson Luke September 8th. He weighed in at 8 lbs 5 oz. We praise God for a healthy grand son as a gift from the Lord.

Judson Luke Burkholder

Saturday morning, October 9th, my son Duane calls and tells me we are new grandparents. An absolute total surprise for we knew they were not expecting. But they have been on an adoption list. Here Duane & Ann had just received a call that a newborn baby girl had just become available. They were given 15 minutes to make their decision. With great excitment they accepted Alexis Chantel Burkholder into their family.  She was born October 6th and weighs in at 5 lbs 14 oz. She was born several weeks premature and has an IV in her head in the picture below. But she is doing great and has no know health issues. Blessed be God.

Alexis Chantel Burkholder

BURKHOLDER HAPPENINGS IN THAILAND

October 23-29th Jana will be teaching English at a Thai Bible camp among the Karen hill tribe people. October 20-29th Lorida will be traveling to Pokhara, Nepal on an IGo student ministry trip. She will be working with coordinators there who afore time we have worked with in MTM bible conferences. October 11-27 Raymond will be conducting a MTM Bible conference in the middle east. Naomi will be keeping the home fires burning as a house keeper and weekend cook at IGo. Please be in prayer as the Burkholders of Thailand will be scattered unto the utmost for the cause of the Gospel.

Thank you much for all your prayers.

The post DOUBLE BLESSINGS INDEED appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

The apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4:11-12, As we die for Christ’s sake, His life is revealed in the life of others (paraphrased). Brother Wilmer Shenk (from Dublin GA) and I clearly sensed death to self over and over again as we entered into the dark continent of Africa. But in this death, the life of Christ was revealed in many dear African souls. Blessed be God !!! Just to list a few deaths to self, I missed a flight due to delays, the rented truck (which was extremely expensive) left us sit in the middle of the night on our 125 kilometer (78 miles) journey to the village, after getting it running again with a flashlight & a leatherman tool, we ran out of gas, we had to push the truck into the village the last 2-3 kilometers arriving at 3:00 Am Sunday morning, only after the third attempt (and third generator) were we finally able to show the Jesus film, as we finished my projector was going up in smoke, my laptop charger was burned up, Brother Wilmer was ill most of the week, there were mysterious men in our room in the middle of the night, there was a weird disturbance in the ladies dorm (right next to our room) in the wee hours of the morning, and the truck left us sit again as we departed the village to return to Blantyre. Not even mentioning the fact that this village had non of the convinces that all us soft Americans think are normal. Just click on the link below and take a look at the pictures.

But it was in this death to self ….that the life of Jesus Christ was revealed in others. Church leaders came for 5-6 days pedal bicycle ride (700 kilometers) from Mozambique. Others came from the extreme northern regions of Malawi (585 kilometers) by bus. This Mgona village has a population of more than 6000 souls. The night we were finally able to present the Jesus film in Chichewa language, perhaps there were 2-3000 people present. The Jesus film was never shown before in this village …..there were 41 new commitments to Jesus Christ that evening. Truly life in Christ comes to others as we die to self.

But that is not all. God came and totally changed the direction of the conference. We never really had a leadership conference …. but rather we had a revival conference. As God began to blow upon us by His Spirit …. church leaders (men) came to the front and fell on their knees in brokenness and sincere repentance. There was much mourning and weeping. This happen after two different services ….. Blessed be God alone !!! Many came to the room where Wilmer and I were staying for one on one confession and counseling. Some came to life in Jesus Christ for the first time. “Lord prepare me, Lord prepare me, for my heart to serve you”. Truly, the life of Christ revealed in others has a price tag on it !!! I would have to say that the price tag was very small indeed ….one soul is worth more than the whole world. Blessed be God.

Perhaps the most staggering thing about this MTM, was not at all the opportunities to die to self…..and the life in Christ that came forth …. but rather that out of 70 church leader brethren, there were only four (4) Bibles present. Can we even begin to imagine being a pastor without owning a personal Bible? But so it is in Malawi & Mozambique. And it is not at all that the Bible is not available in their Chichewa language ….they simply can not afford them. These dear people are all sustenance farmers (all their effort & time is consumed in farming to live). They have no other means. If one has a Bible…he shares it with others. They copy verses out of the shared Bible and use them to preach from. Wilmer and I were so burdened with this fact that the Lord laid it on our hearts to provide sufficient funds to purchase 60 Bibles …. to be distributed among these church leaders. A special thank you to those of you who support this ministry and made it possible for MTM to help with this great Bible need in south Africa.

Church Leaders On Their Knees Before The Lord …. Preparing Their Hearts To Serve Him

Click Here For Pictures & Captions

The post Ambuye!e!e konzeni, Ambuye moyo wanaga utumikile inu appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

August 22-29 Steve Robinson & I (Raymond Burkholder) experienced the great privilege of teaching a MTM leadership conference in Yangon, Myanmar. This was now the third conference that MTM has conducted in this country in the past two years. This has resulted in beautiful relationships and friendships. We certainly count this a very special privilege and blessing. Our max attendance was 125 church leaders from most every state in Myanmar. Some of them had traveled several days to attend the conference. As I hear their stories of sacrifice and ministry, I am so challenged. They have so little but they do so much for Jesus Christ ….while many of us have so much and we do so little for Jesus Christ. To whom much is given, much is required. May the Lord help us all be faithful?

The post So Little … But So Much !!! appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

The greatest highlight was simply to be with our dear family. We were able to travel to Harrisonburg, VA and be with our eldest daughter Krista. Then later in our stay Krista traveled to PA to be with us. Michael and Laura live in Lancaster county and we were able to spend much time with them and their two boys. Then through a special gift from the Lord, Naomi and I were able to fly to SC and spend three days with our son Duane and Leann and their three boys. How we thank God for our dear family which we often miss so much.

We were also very blessed to be part of Bill Coutain & Brenda Yoders wedding at Belleville, PA. Bill called me only three weeks before the wedding and ask if I would marry them. We certainly felt very blessed and privileged to have a part in this special couples wedding. Bill Coutain is a Grenadian and was a member of the Limes Mennonite church in Grenada where we served as a missionary pastor for 12+ years. It is such a great blessing to see Bill walking with the Lord and choosing a godly wife as his life companion. God bless you my dear brother Bill !!!

Then there was an early 60th birthday surprise party my wife and family pulled off on me. Even though my birthday is not until September 3rd….my where have the years gone? I was overwhelmed as all evening friends dropped in to bless me. I certanly am not worthy of so many wonderful blessed supporting Christian friends …but I certainly am very grateful. Thank you Jesus. A very special thank you to all who made this event a blessed suprise.

Out trip from America to Thailand was very eventful to say the least. It all started when we went to check-in at JFK. Our flight was delayed for 11 hours. So rather then check-in and board…we checked in twice ….once with the airline and then into a hotel. The next morning we departed and not real long into the flight we experienced very turbulent flying. In all of our years of travel we never experinced anything like this. The flight attendents were urgent that all passengers were seated with their seat belts fastened….and they were also urgent that all the window shades were pulled down and the cabin was darkened. Later the flight attendent told me the reason they do that is so the passengers would not freak out with all the flexing of the cabin (which can be seen) and the aircrafts wings. The flight attendent said with such extreme turbulence the wings of our Boeing 777 aircraft flex from 29-35 feet. If we would not have experienced what we experienced I would admit I would hardly believe that….but after that experience and the way we were thrown around every which way … I REALLY DO BELIEVE IT !!! Blessed be God that he took us through that experience safely. I guarantee you most everyone was praying. While Lorida & Janna were praying outloud…the Muslim lady beside Lorida said “are you Muslim” … Lorida repied, “no, I am Christian”… her response was only “oh”.  This Muslim lady she was leaning forward grasping ahold of the seat in front of her in the emergency landing position. She was terrified indeed. When we finally landed in Kuwait City, Kuwait, we discovered the first avalable flight to Bangkok, Thailand was 21 hours away. So we checked into another hotel and slept and waited. We also took a walk on the beach with temperatures around 120+ degrees. It never rains in Kuwait city. It is all desert and sand with absolutly no agriculture commodity. All food is imported.  The country is very small and very oil rich….thanks to America. After 63 hours of travel time we safley reached Chiang Mai, Thailand. How we thank God for taking us safley through the whole experience. Blessed be God.

A very special thank you to all of you who daily pray for us. We clearly sensed you prayers.

The post THE BURKHOLDER’S TO AMERICA & BACK TO THAILAND appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

This MTM conferences was just that way. It was a three way partnership with IGo-MTM, IGo Ransom Ministries as well as the IGo Bible Institute students on their ministry trip. The MTM teaching team was Levi Brubaker, Marvin Kauffman (IGo board member) and Raymond Burkholder. Levi also had his wife Emma with him and I also had my wife Naomi with me. Brother Marvin brought his daughter Marilyn along as well while his wife and son stayed in Thailand. Rosa King (Ransom ministries) & Vera Champ (IGo student) served as teachers for Ransom ministries. They taught a young ladies class on godly femininity. The effectiveness of this class was truly touching. There is a great need for women to understand their great worth in Jesus Christ in the midst of a culture that tends to looks down on women. Then there were also six IGo students who served at the MTM conference in testimonies as well as singing. Other times they were serving in orphanage ministry as well as other various aspects of ministry.

L-R Back Row, Naomi & Raymond, Emma & Levi, Annette Beiler, Vera Champ, Marilyn Kauffman (Marvins daughter), Kelly Rohrbach, Rosa King & Jewel Stoner. Front Row Kneeling, Marvin Kauffman, Michael Ropp & Delmar Penner.

All The Conference Delegates And The Full IGo Ministry Team

Click Here For Many More Pictures With Captions

The post Are You Really Christians From America? appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.

IGo First Semester Students

L-R Back Row; Jeffty Miller, Darren Sommers (first term only), Bryan Martin, Andrew Rank, David Brown(first term only), Delmar Penner, Michael Ropp, Peter & Marcia Penner.

L-R Front Row; Krista Roth, Kelly Rohrbach, Melanie Beachy, Vera Champ, Annette Beiler, Jewel Stoner, Anna Carlisle & Beth Atkinson

Following Each Term Means Ministry Trips.  June 23 thru July 2 MTM will be partnering with the IGo students in ministering in Kathmandu Nepal. MTM will be conducting a Bible training conference with Church leaders while the IGo students will be ministering in various different ministry aspects. Levi & Emma Brubaker traveled from Lancaster PA to go along to Nepal. Brother Levi will be serving as a teacher. Brother Marvin Kauffman will also be going along to serve as a teacher while his daughter Marylin ministers with the IGo students. Rosa King who is part of the IGo Ransom Ministry will be teaching a ladies class on women finding their true worth in Jesus Christ. This trip will also be special in that my dear wife is also going along.

The other two IGo ministry teams will be ministering in Tibet and Malaysia. We all would appreciate your prayers for these ministry trips. Thank you.

The post IGo Second Term / MTM To Nepal appeared first on Macedonian Teaching Ministry.