The year of 2012 is about to close and we are rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to MTM. The year of 2012 has been another tremendous year for this ministry. MTM conducted 13 different leadership conferences in Malawi, Kenya, Egypt, Indonesia, India & Nepal. Some conferences were only one day conferences while others were 5 day conferences. The average attendance has been approximately 89 church leaders per conference. Only heaven will reveal the impact these discipleship conferences have in building God’s kingdom on earth.

MTM sincerely wants to personally Thank each of you who support this ministry. Thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support in this past year. Also, Thank You to the many churches who support MTM through their offering schedules. Another very special Thank You to all those who gave of themselves and came and served the Lord through MTM as guest teachers. It is our prayer that God would reward each of you openly as only He can. It is only through your ongoing support that MTM can accomplish the work God has called this ministry to do. 

I wish each of you could hear the gratitude that we repeatedly hear from those pastors and church leaders who attend these leadership training seminars. Over and over we will hear things like …

1. Thank you for making a way that I could come to the training … I have never had the opportunity to attend a leadership conference before.
2. Thank you for coming to our very remote village. We have never before had an American Bible teacher come to our village and teach us.
3. Thank you for coming to us who are very poor.
4. Thank you for teaching us things in the Bible we have never heard before.
5. Thank you for giving us your teaching materials and allowing us to teach others also.
6. Please come back again and teach us more of your faith and practice.

All those very special “Thank You’s” really belong to each of you who make it possible for MTM to conduct each of these conferences. And please be assured there are so many more ways that these dear attendees express their appreciation. But perhaps the greatest reward is when these attendees are renewed and revived by the Spirit of God and are inspired to continue to take the gospel to their own unreached people.  Recently in Nagaland India, one native attendee, was greatly discouraged in ministry and was planning to quit. But after attending a MTM leadership training conference God greatly encouraged and blessed this attendee and brought a revival to this individuals heart. This individual later testified that they will continue in ministry unto their own people for God’s glory. BLESSED BE GOD !!!

 LOOKING INTO 2013

 The 2013 schedule is all packed out for the full year. Still, there remain many unaccommodated requests. Presently we are considering requests well into 2014. Truly the hunger for discipleship teaching is staggering here in Asia. Recently some Asia church leaders were requesting we place a IGo-MTM Bible school in their country and conduct ongoing discipleship teaching. In many ways we feel we are presently only seeing a small portion of the larger picture that God has for IGo-MTM. We continue to seek a long term family to serve as an assistant director for MTM. This would allow us to accommodate many more conferences. Please do continue to lift this ministry before the Lord in prayer. Click here to see the 2013 MTM Schedule

 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 faithful contributions to this ministry. Every dollar of your contributions will be used to facilitate a leadership training conference of native leaders. The IGo staff families giving leadership to this ministry receive their support from other sources.  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 among the unreached. Contributions of any amount may be sent to the address below or click this Donate Link to contribute through the MTM website and Pay-Pal.

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The Full MTM Ministry Team. L-R Front Row – Joel & Martha Martin, Joanna & Derrick Martin, Back Row – Raymond Burkholder, Josiah Troyer, Glendon Graber and Chad Miller. The young people were all IGo students. They went to a total separate village and did ministry there while MTM conducted three different conferences in three different locations.

We were privileged to travel to Nagaland with Raymond Burkholder, director of MTM, to teach pastors and church leaders at three short Bible Conferences.  MTM’s primary ministry is to equip pastors to teach and evangelize their own people.  Raymond and Joel taught lessons on The Holy Spirit, Missions, The Power of the Word, and The Sermon on the Mount.  Our first conference was in Samzurim, a village in the plains where rice farming is the main occupation.  From there we traveled to Tening, a village atop a mountain which the natives told us is “the end of the earth”.  We tended to agree with them after bouncing and jolting for six hours over virtually nonexistent roads over many steep mountains.  This village had never had an American Christian come to them and therefore, they were greatly honored to have us come.  We were delighted to be the first.  The third conference was held in Kohima, a very large city built on several amazingly steep mountains.  Villages and cities were built atop mountains for protection during their headhunting days. Today they are only accessible by challenging, winding, narrow roads with steep drop-offs and heavy traffic. The people of Nagaland are generally shy and reserved.  However, they received the Bible teaching with great appreciation and treated us like royalty.  Their hospitality was beyond what we expected or deserved.  Three times a day we were served a feast of at least 6-8 different dishes.  We were never allowed to carry any of our bags.  They loaded us with farewell gifts and begged us to return someday.

The church leaders have a real desire to build the church and add souls to the kingdom.  Their worship service was much like ours in many ways and we were blessed to worship with them.  Like the Mennonites, the Nagas greatly enjoy and excel at singing beautiful four part a-capella hymns.  It was a tremendous blessing to find people half way around the world worshipping the same God that we serve.  We truly learned to love the Naga people and will never forget this rich and wonderful experience.

 EDITORS NOTE;  The above article was written by Joel and Martha Martin. Joel & Martha came all the way from New Holland Pennsylvania, USA. Joel served as a guest teacher for MTM. Joel is a minister at Blue Ball Mennonite church in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  A very special thank you to Joel and Martha for giving of themselves unto the Lord for ministry through MTM. May the Lord reward you openly for your wonderful labor of love among the Naga people. 

 CLICK HERE FOR MULTITUDES OF PICTURES AND A MUST SEE VIDEO 

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Where Is Nagaland In North East INDIA?  The MTM Ministry Team Will Be Flying To Dimapur

The MTM ministry team will include IGo students as well as a guest teacher from America. Brother Joel Martin, as well as his wife Martha, will be coming from New Holland, PA. Joel will be helping with the leadership conference teaching. We will be conducting two different leadership conferences at two different locations while in Nagaland.

The IGo students are Derrick & Joanna Martin, Glendon Graber, Josiah Troyer and Chad Miller. They will be also ministering in a different region of Nagaland. They will be ministering by serving the people while working on their mountainside farm plots as well as ministering in churches in the evenings.

Please do pray for the full MTM ministry team. Pray that the Lord would make us a divine influence for His honor and glory as we minister to these dear people. Thank you for your prayers.

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Matthew and Heidi Musser hosted the Burkholders and us, which gave numerous opportunities to discuss the potential for IGo to develop a support program for the destitute children of Nepal and India.  The MTM conferences are often attended by pastors who are ministering to the poorest of the poor.  We anticipate partnering with Christian Aid Ministries to minister to these children in the coming year.  We were especially blessed to have David Brown join our team with his background and experience in a similar program in India.  Note;  Click the picture link below to see pictures of the Musser Family as well as David Brown. 

Our full MTM ministry team. Front Row, L-R – Barb Yoder (Val’s wife), Paula Thayer, Galen Schrock, Hollie Diffenbach, Priscilla Sinha, Naomi Burkholder, Joanna Smucker. Second Row – Val Yoder, Andrew Yoder, Landon Nolt, Pastor Anand Sinha, Aaron Sinha & Raymond Burkholder

It is always a blessing to have our IGo students along on these trips since they represent what is being taught by their lives and actions.  Our young people accompanied several Christian Nepalese young ladies to pass out literature to a large group of Muslims exiting the temple.  The Nepalese ladies have committed themselves to wearing a head veiling similar to the Muslims so as to remove as many hindrances to witnessing as possible.  The modesty and veiled heads of our Western students undoubtedly created even more interest in the Muslim crowd.  Much literature was passed out before the Islamic leader perceived what was taking place and forbid the congregation to accept any more.   

The Full Pastoral Leadership Group At The Kathmandu Nepal Conference

 Please continue to pray for Brother Raymond as his schedule overflows with requests to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the 10/40 window.  The Nepalese church leaders are asking that a training center be established in Nepal where the doctrines and practices that are taught in these conferences can be developed more fully in a setting of longer duration.  We need the readiness and wisdom to enter through these “windows of opportunity” before they are closed by Maoists, Hindus and Muslims.

 Editor’s Note;  The above article was written by Val Yoder. Brother Val serves as administrator for IGo Ministries here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It truly was a joy and great blessing to serve together with Val & Barb in building God’s Kingdom in Nepal. 

MORE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS   

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It was really great to spend some very special family time in in a cabin in Virginia. We did have a surprise when the transmission failed on our maxi van on the way home. But thanks to some dear brothers we were on our way home a few hours later with another van. Then there was a very special trip to Alaska for Naomi and I. We flew to Anchorage and then after ministering in the Sterling Harbour Mennonite church we toured Alaska for several days. We toured the Kenai peninsula region and then drove on north to Denali National Park. We had the blessed opportunity to se Mt McKinley on a near perfect day. Mt McKinley is the highest mountain in north America at 2o,320 feet above sea level.

We also had the blessed opportunity to do MTM Public Relations work in many different churches. We are always very humbled at the great interest and support of the Lords work of MTM. A very special thank you to all who pray for us as well as support MTM. Freely MTM has received and freely MTM will give unto others through Bible teaching. We were also privileged to do a week of revival meetings at Hartville Conservative Mennonite Church in Hartville Ohio. We truly had a wonderful week in allowing the Lord Jesus to wash us with His Holy Word. Blessed Be God !!!

PRAYER REQUEST:  October 24-31, MTM will be conducting a leadership training conference in Kathmandu Nepal.  My dear wife Naomi will be traveling with me as well as Val & Barb Yoder. Val will be serving as a guest teacher for MTM. Please do pray for us as we teach native pastors and church leaders of Nepal. Thank you for your prayers.

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The island of north Sumatra (Indonesia) is made up of two provinces. They are Aceh in the far northern tip and directly below it is North Sumatra. Aceh is the home of the 4 million Acehnese people and they are all but unreached (for the gospel) Muslims. Just to the south of them in North Sumatra are 6 million Bataknese people and they are primarily Christians. Their provinces border each other, they speak the same Bahasa Indonesian language, they are both citizens of the same country, both are basically of the same culture and there are peaceful relationships between them. But still the Acehnese are unreached for the gospel and the people group just south of them is flourishing with Christianity for more than 100 years … HOW CAN THIS BE ???

It is in this context that God called MTM to conduct a leadership conference among the Bataknese people in North Sumatra August 6-8, 2012. As we drove through these regions of North Sumatra there were huge churches abounding on both sides of the streets … absolutely amazing when you consider that Indonesia is the largest Muslim population nation in the world. There were approximately 35 Bataknese pastors in attendance for the leadership conference. They came from many regions of North Sumatra. They were very open and a blessing to minister to. They were open and honest in confessing that wealth and busyness has caused them and their people to not reach out to the people group just north of them. They openly confessed that they have been drinking at wrong sources and the living water is not freely flowing. My heart was deeply touched … there were tears, there were commitments made and there were those that were saying … “here am I Lord, sent me”. IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT GOD HAD MTM IN NORTH SUMATRA FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS !!!

The Full Conference Group In North Sumatra

Please do pray for these Bataknese pastors. That the vision God stirred in their hearts at this conference … they could cast the same vision upon their churches and bring them along as well. Ultimately that many Bataknese missionaries would be sent out from North Sumatra to Aceh for the cause of Jesus Christ to the Acehnese. Blessed be God !!!    Raymond Burkholder (MTM Director)

Our Native Coordinators Testimony;  MTM teaching just like a ring bell to me, calling me come home to  where intimacy with God is every thing and above all priorities, and also the teaching correcting our concept about mission. I was studied in a bible college where you have purpose to have a big crowd of new believer crowding to your church. And make your church become a mega church and you become the big pastor, but the MTM teaching directing us to see Antioch church and found out that we are so selfish! So thank you for MTM teaching.

 NORTH SUMATRA CONFERENCE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS

PS; The Burkholder family will be in America August 28th to October 9th, 2012 for our yearly Thai visa renewal. We will also be doing IGo-MTM presentations in different churches. Click here to see our schedule. 

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Our Full MTM Conference Group In Kathmandu, Nepal

Reflections From the MTM Leadership Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal (June 28-July 3rd, 2012) … Written By Merle Flory

Spending five days with Brother Raymond Burkholder from MTM , plus IGO & Ransom Ministry teams and Lindford and Kay Bontrager in Kathmandu, will impact me eternally.

The MTM Teaching Team – L-R; Rosa King, Kay & Linford Bontrager, RKB, Merle & Judy Flory and Naomi Swarey. Rosa and Naomi represent IGo-Ransom Ministries.

Also Part of This Ministry Team Were IGo Students On Ministry Trips – L-R Back Row; Judith Schlabach, Brian Shirk, Justin Hoover and Katelyn Dye. Front Row – Allison Weber and Noel Mast. Absent from this picture is Matt Musser.

This was called an “Anabaptist Conference” by special request of the Nepal native coordinator, Peter Rai. As Peter explained to his Pastors at the end of the conference, “we have had MTM for the last 2 years bring us revival meetings, this time we wanted to go deeper”. I will assure you they were not disappointed. Brother Raymond and Brother Linford took God’s Word and those pastors on a journey together to a whole new depth of understanding. Every day as they were preaching, I could hear and see one word in bold letters, PRACTICAL! From God’s Word, the Brethren taught what 2-kingdom truth of Jesus looked like in shoe leather. The New Testament principles of Brotherhood, Suffering love, Modest apparel, God’s headship order, including the sister’s glory veil, warnings against worldly wealth and modern technology were laid out very passionately, hour after hour. After the session on modesty and adornment, focused toward the sisters, Bro. Raymond gave the men an opportunity to stand to their feet in approval to the Biblical principle, and that they are willing to support them in this walk. I am pleased to share with you that every man but one, was on their feet. Several came forward and gave testimony to the scriptural teachings and their passion to embrace them. To God be the glory!

Both the boldness and humility demonstrated by Bro. Raymond and his IGO/Ransom team reminded me of our Lord Jesus who taught us to esteem others better than ourselves. Brother Raymond told Linford and myself before the conference started that we will learn many things from these dear Nepali brethren. His prophesy came true in many ways. One was when a group of their Elders opened up their hearts to us about what could have been a misunderstanding in our teaching. They demonstrated to us more about brotherhood in 30 minutes than I think we taught them in 5 days. We literally watched God come down and stamp his name all over this conference in the last 30 minutes. No man on earth could have planned it or put it together. I would say in parting with the Nepali elders, we were standing on Holy Ground and that the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. As God gave us an opportunity to humble ourselves before them and gave us the grace to embrace that humility, we became a band of men that I believe will impact the world and our churches for eternity.

It is a blessing to watch Brother Raymond put others out front of him, training both young men and other Pastors like myself, how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world.

In closing, I would say, at this MTM conference among our Nepali brethren, we found faith kind of like Paul found at Rome. Faith that is worthy to be spoken of throughout the world. Like Paul in Romans 1:8, I want to say it like he did, ” FIRST, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for them all.” That means to God be the Glory both now and forever, wherever He is allowing weak men like ourselves to labor in His ripe fields. Thank you, Jesus.

Merle & Judy Flory, Ellensburg, Washington

 The Following Article Was Written By Rosa King & Naomi Swarey From IGo-Ransom Ministries

A brightly colored tent with a small number of girls under it, this was the opportunity that God gave to us in Nepal… the opportunity to teach young girls what God has taught us about how He wants His daughters to live. A highlight of this conference was partnering with Raymond in teaching, building on what he taught and hearing him confirm what we were teaching, as he shared on the role of women in God’s headship order.

As usual, on these trips there is a great need for flexibility, and we experienced God’s hand at work as we surrendered the schedule to Him… taking one session at a time and trusting Him to show us what/when He wanted us to teach next. God’s guidance and work in the girls’ lives was especially evident as He led both of us (and also Noel Mast, one of the IGo students) to share the testimony of God’s grace and redemption in our lives.

The Following Article Was Written By Linford & Kay Bontrager

There really is no way to sum up our experience in Nepal. This was our first time to participate in an MTM Conference. The Lord Jesus was sweetly in our midst and we all were richly blessed. Praise the Lord! It was a blessing to have IGO students along. They added a rich dimension to the ministry and fellowship. Their quality of behavior and character spoke volumes.

God orchestrated an amazing time for the MTM team. Merle and Judy Flory from the state of Washington, who we had never seen before, were wonderful in being used of the Lord to teach at the conference and minister to the team. The teaching sessions of the conference were shared by brother Merle, brother Raymond, and myself with my wife at my side giving wonderful support. Raymond gave us rich spiritual leadership helping us to connect to each other and to the Great Shepherd of the sheep. The presence of the Holy Spirit made all the difference.

Subjects taught included but not exclusively: Brotherhood, Two kingdom principle, Suffering Love, Non-accumulation, anti-covetousness and greed, Contentment, God’s headship order, and the Separation principle,non-conformity, and modesty. Peter Rai, the Nepalese coordinator, specifically asked for these subjects to be taught. It was a first of it’s kind for MTM.

Ministry leaders, pastors, and others were gathered together worshipping and taking in the word of God with great joy. The Nepalese people’s passion, zeal, and commitment to evangelization is remarkable! We as westerners can learn much from them. God is doing a work in their lives. Many must count the high cost of becoming a Christian. Several, I learned of, lost large amounts of properties when they converted to Christianity, especially those who left a Hindu heritage where their father or themselves were a priest in the Hindu temple or if they came from a royal line. Baptism seals their commitment and identification with God’s people and the way of truth; they are committed to the cause of Christ. They are hungry to learn more of God’s ways and how to practically live out Biblical principles. The good that came out of this conference we pray will be multiplied and bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.

These dear people are on the very front of the front lines. They are serving in oppression and poverty. They are taking the gospel not to exciting frontiers, but to their very own people. The vision of MTM is to train and equip native leaders, who have no chance to attend seminary, to go and reach their own people. Some of the attendees traveled long distances. There were several from the foot of the Himalayan mountain range who were referred to as “cavemen”. They live in caves coming from the low caste of Hindi system. One of them, Kumar, brought several others along that he is mentoring who are young pastors in surrounding unreached people in his area.

We praise God for the privilege to have been involved in this part of global missions. God is raising up a bride for Himself from all tribes and people groups of the world. He is being glorified presently, but will in a much greater way be glorified when His beautiful, spotless, pure, and multi cultured bride will be joined together to Him. We are looking forward to seeing these dear people in glory if not on this side again. Thank you Lord Jesus!

Linford & Kay Bontrager, Goshen, IN

Editors Note; A very special thank you to each teacher and IGo student who made this MTM conference a great blessing. We have observed time and again that our witness for Jesus Christ is greatly multiplied when we take young people with us who are living demonstrations what we older teachers are teaching. This truly was the case with this conference. Blessed be God !!!  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS

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The Full Ministry Team Along With The Native Brothers & Sisters Who Hosted The MTM Conference in Nawanshahr, India

The IGo-MTM Ministry Team. All in the back row L-R, Katelyn Dye (second from the left), Abbie Weaver (third from the left), Ryan Miller (seventh from the left), Timothy Martin (eighth from the left), Elizabeth Myers (nineth from the left), Lou Ann Martin (tenth from the left).  Missing on this picture is Rosa King. These are all IGo students and they were partnering with MTM in ministry in Chandigarh India.

Front Row; Clarence Miller from Millersburg, Ohio who served as a guest teacher for MTM (fifth from the left), Lee & Joyce Mummau (sixth & seventh from the left) served as the team leader & teacher for MTM. After my father in-law suddenly passed away, Lee volunteered to take my place while we traveled to America for the funeral. Read the post below for more about that story.

The Article Below was Written By Brother Clarence Miller.

Chandigarh activities Wednesday May 23 -May 27 Sunday noon, 2012

The IGo Team consisted of Ryan Miller , Team Leader, Tim Martin, Luanne Martin, Kaitlyn Dye, Abigail Weaver, and Elizabeth Myers. Rosa King represented the Ransom Ministry and the MTM teachers were Clarence Miller, Sharon Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, Ohio, and Lee Mummau, IGO, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Lee’s wife, Joyce was along as well.

We arrived in Chandigarh, Northern India on Wednesday noon May 23. We were met at the airport by Pardeep Kumar and his brother, Sandeep. They had us help out in the work of Sandeep’s church in the city starting Wednesday evening through Sunday Morning May 23-27. We went to poor churches in the area, participated in Bible study and also in their Sunday morning service. We were expected to be able to share something when called upon. Pastor Sandeep, his wife Achila and his church staff spend much time and effort in ministry in Chandigarh.

The Nawanshahr Punjab India Conference Monday, May 28 – Thursday Noon May 30, 2012.

Sunday afternoon we were taken by van on a 2 hour trip to Nawanshahr where the conference was held. The IGo, MTM and Ransom Teams all stayed at the Hotel Paris on the outskirts of Nawanshahr. We were told it was the only hotel in town. It was very modern, somewhat expensive and had several floors including an elevator and good air conditioning. We were very grateful for this, with the heat.

The team was transported by van on a 10 minute trip from the hotel to the conference at the Transfiguration Anglican Church in town. Pastor Eleazer ,a friend of Pardeep’s, is serving there. He is tall and is a very energetic, flamboyant individual with long flowing hair and full beard and mustache. He, his pastors and the volunteers did a fine job of showing us hospitality and respect. We all felt very welcome there.

There were 140 pastors and women registered. Some brought their children. It was very warm, reaching over 105 degrees. Pardeep Kumar-our coordinator, did all the interpreting with the exception of ½ of an evening. He has a wonderful ability to see where your thoughts are leading. He made it very easy to speak. Pardeep had just come off an 8 day crusade in Central India a week before the conference. He said he was pretty tired from that. In spite of that he seemed tireless! He was also prompt, respectful, and a true servant to us. He arranged for our transportation, our motels, and exchanged money for us. He really did a great job of looking out for our wants and needs. His wife Sashi was along also. They are a very special couple, and are very free in showing their affection for each other. She was able to interpret for the IGo team in their women’s and children’s classes.

Breakfast was served 8:30 AM at the conference. There were 2 morning sessions, Lunch at 1:00 to 1:20. A 2 hour break from 2 to 4 and 1 session after the break towards evening. Lee and Clarence took turns teaching the 3 sessions during the day. Clarence taught on some of the incidents on the Life of David and gave an introduction to Philippians. Lee taught Hebrews- on the superiority of Jesus Christ. 6:30PM was open meeting time when non registered people also attended . These meetings were evangelistic. Over 350 attended Wednesday evening. Lee Mummau preached these messages Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening. There were numerous responses his messages on bitterness, forgiveness and salvation. Dinner was then served after the evening meetings sometimes after 9:00. This made for late evenings.

One part of the Wednesday evening Service was used to honor the teams. Pastor Eleazer was in charge and Pardeep interpreted. He gave each of us a small trophy from the church in appreciation for our being there. He also mentioned that other stateside people come to their area. One difference with our group versus these other groups was that we did not use hand cleanser every time we shook hands like they do! And we also gave genuine hugs of friendship. This was a great blessing to hear.

The pastors and their families came from the surrounding towns and cities. Some used their own vehicles. But many came with public transportation: by bus or train. Many of the pastors have full time deliverance and healing ministries. They will go and preach in unreached areas. A miraculous healing often takes place or they will cast out demons in Jesus’ Name in a small service. Word of this spreads and curious onlookers come and hear the message of Christ’s love for them. People become saved and churches are started. One of the pastors started out by showing the Jesus film, he is now also an evangelist. One pastor remarked that a lot of their messages are from the Gospels.

There was a very energetic praise and worship time at the beginning of each session. Gopal Masih and his family from nearby Ludhiana were in charge of this. The heat did not deter people from being very enthusiastic. As in other parts of Indian Christian Worship the music and singing was at full volume! The team along with Pardeep Kumar and his wife Sashi left for Chandigarh Thursday afternoon after lunch. We arrived in Chandigarh at 5:00 in the evening. We all flew out of the Chandigarh airport on Friday morning June 1.

I am thankful I had the opportunity to go on this trip. It was a journey of faith for me and a commitment to the Lord. I knew the heat would be bad and I certainly wasn’t taken by surprise at the furnace like quality of the air. The humidity was low. The church was not air conditioned but had over 20 fans running that made it somewhat bearable! I was not aware that Bro Raymond would not be making this trip until I landed at the Chiang Mai, Thailand airport. Both Raymond and Lee met me there and told me about the death of Raymond’s father in law; that he, Naomi, and Jana would be flying to Lancaster PA on Monday evening instead of flying to Chandigarh, India! He did say that Lee volunteered to take his place but were not sure if their Indian Visas would come through in time. If Lee’s visa did not go through, I was to do the conference by myself!

I was very relieved and happy and thank the Lord that Brother Lee’s visa came through in a timely fashion and that he was able to go in place of Raymond. I believe it was a direct answer to prayer. Lee and Joyce provided very good leadership for us. Lee’s outgoing friendliness paved the way for us in building beautiful cross cultural relationships. It was good to see how brothers and sisters of another culture and people group work in building the Lord’s kingdom. New friendships were made which I will treasure. It was a blessing to see the IGO team at work! They did very well in their activities and made many new friends including the children. They are a gifted group and worked well with each other. May the Lord receive all honor and the glory.

EDITORS NOTE; The above article was written by brother Clarence Miller from Millersburg, Ohio. Brother Clarence serves on the ledership team of Sharon Conservative Mennonite Church at Belin, Ohio. Brother Clarence willingly volunteered at a very short notice of time to come and serve as a MTM teacher. This was after another brother, who was planning to come, had to cancel due to the illness of his father. Thank you so much brother Clarence for being available to serve the Lord in this way. May the Lord reward you openly for your labor of love unto the nations.

The Full Nawanshahr, India MTM Conference Group 

MORE PICTURES. BUT SINCE I WAS NOT THERE … SORRY NO CAPTIONS! 

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Maybe that is the best way to explain why there has been no update for such a long period of time on this website. Since the last post, I have made two different roundtrip travels to USA. One trip to conduct revival meetings at Sharon Conservative Mennonite church in Ohio and another trip for my wife’s fathers funeral.

Upon my return from the revival meetings trip in April month, I was consumed with perfecting my Genesis course that I teach here at IGo. I was also very much preparing to travel to Chandigarh, India for the next MTM leadership conference. This conference was a partnership with IGo student ministry trips (6 IGo students) as well as Rosa King representing IGo Ransom ministry. Also part of this ministry team was Clarence Miller serving as a MTM guest teacher. Clarence is from Holmes county Ohio and is one of the leadership team at Sharon Conservative Mennonite church where I had just been for revival meetings.

Just a few short days before our scheduled departure, Naomi’s father unexpectedly took ill and passed away. Now we were all  making plans (including Jana) to travel to America instead of myself planning to traveling with the ministry team to India. While my wife was grieving over the loss of her father and making plans to travel to the other side of the world, I was scrambling to purchase tickets as well as pass on the responsibility of the leadership of the ministry team to another brother. Brother Lee Mummau (IGo staff) volunteered to go to India and teach as well as lead the MTM team in my stead. But he did not have an India visa and normally it takes a week to acquire an India visa. But once again the Lord was orchestrating the circumstances. Brother Lee and his wife were able to get their visa’s in a few short days and were able to join the ministry team (three days later) in India in adequate time before the MTM conference began. We clearly seen the fingerprints of God in all of this. Blessed be God !!!

So while the ministry team traveled west to India, we headed east to America for the funeral. Our travels were all uneventful and we were blessed to be able to attend Aaron High’s funeral. He was 89 years old and it truly was a blessing that he could go home to his reward. A very special thank you to all who blessed us and encouraged us in so many ways. A very special thank you to IGo Christian Fellowship (our church here at IGo) as well as Faith Mennonite Fellowship who financially blessed us and made it possible for us to go home for Dad’s funeral.

Upon our return to Thailand, I headed directly into the classroom to teach Genesis here at IGo. We are now at the end of the second week of a three week term. We have a great group of students this semester and I am immensely enjoying our journey through the book of Genesis.

Back Row L-R: Galen Schrock, Brian Shirk, Tim Martin, Justin Hoover, Darren Baumen, Glendon Graber, Ryan Miller, Leon Hulse, Matt & Noah Musser. Middle Row; Allison Weber, Lou Ann Martin, Abbie Weaver, Janelle Snader, Katelyn Dye, Wilma Schrock, Juanita Zook, Heidi & Ellen Musser. Front Row; Stephanie Jantzi, Joanna Smucker, Noel Mast, Elizabeth Myers, Jessica Troyer, Brittany Lavy, Judith Schlabach, Paula Thayer, & Hollie Dieffenbach

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The Full Conference Group At Pokhara, Nepal

Once again I have been blessed of God to contribute to the teaching of God’s word to hungry souls. We had a group of 45-50 students in Pokhara, Nepal that just soaked up the word like sponges!! I would like to share a story which was a highlight for me. In late 2008 we had gotten word to join in prayer for a young Nepal man who was very violent. He was in a cage for 15 years and they handed his food to him. If he was allowed out he would destroy things and harm people. A group wanted to pray for him but his father refused. He had tried all of their heathen options with no results. After a time the group returned and the father was glad for prayer. Through the power of God the son was healed and in his right mind. PTL!!! Bro Raymond and I had the privilege of seeing him attend the conference in 2009.

This Is A Picture Of The Son (on the left) Taken Back In 2009

In the meantime his father has now also become a Christian – he is now 65 years old. Because of what God has done in this family many in the village have come to Jesus Christ. There is now a group of 20 or more believers meeting in the village as well as reaching out to more villages in the area. It was a special blessing to me to see the peace and joy on the father’s face as he drank deeply of the living water at this conference. He can speak English so I was able to spend some time with him personally and hear some of his story.

The Father Of The Son Taken At This Years Conference

He is a very influential man in his village and wants to see God’s name exalted in his area and beyond. This is typical of what is happening in Nepal and throughout Asia as a young church catches the vision of taking the Gospel to their world. MAY WE ASLO GET THE VISION!!!

Editors Note; This article was written by Harold Carpenter from Sturgis, MI. Harold has been serving as a guest teacher with MTM for three years now. Our dear brothers and sisters in Nepal just call him Papa Harold. Thank you Papa Harold for making great sacrifices in serving the Lord in this way and in your sincere desire of seeing the gospel go to the utter most regions of the earth.  

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES

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