Torch

JULY 2003

MECHANIC - CARPENTER -AVANGELIST

Evangelist Mkala Mwakesis and his family

1984 was a life changing year for Evangelist Mkala Mwakesi from Mombasa, Kenya. A trip to Singapore brought new insights for ministry through the training he received from Ken Anderson and others at the Haggai Institute. Audiovisuals gripped his heart for the first time, and he proudly returned home with a Torch Kit in his baggage. He only made it as far as Customs. Officials placed such a high value on his Kit, he could not afford the duty. Eventually, it just went into an auction. He returned to his evangelism outreach work, and for the next 12 years honored the Lord through many offerings of his time and talent.

In 1997 a missionary sister from his local church secured the gift of a new 16mm Film Projector through a church in the USA. With it came a new copy of our PILGRIM’S PROGRESS Film. He wrote, "Now I can see that God has a purpose in everything."

He had been so interested in media ministry he had sought extra discussion time with Ken in his private room. Yet all this zeal was put on hold until God answered his prayer in a most miraculous way.

Audience at film showing

He began immediately to present the Gospel through media in villages and schools throughout his southern coastal region, and God blessed with bountiful results. One report listed 12 showings to 1,115 people with 84 individuals reported receiving Christ as Savior. He shared that the Pilgrims Progress film has been a great encouragement to me in my ministry to youth and through our outreach crusades. Finally he wrote may God bless your ministry very much. May each of you reading this profile who pray and support InterComm also receive this expressed blessing for making ministry friends like this a reality.

We are excited to announce the opening of a new InterComm website, www.showtheworld.org. A radio advertisement campaign, which InterComm initiated on June 23, directs listeners to this new opportunity.

The website:

Describes the need for assistance in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Explains what InterComm is doing to facilitate that endeavor.

Offers visitors an opportunity to make online support donations.

We invite you to visit showtheworld.org today and provide us with your comments on this new initiative. Include this new outreach tool in your daily prayers.

Mark 16:15 says:

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. . ."

WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN TELL THE WORLD

ON BEHALF OF MANY SOULS

Some of the children reached through the Torch Kit Outreach!

Rev Paul Lal Syn Thang of Yangon, Myanmar writes: "The Torch Kit has been a great blessing

as well as a most useful tool for winning souls to Christ here. We work in mainly unreached areas where media is not available at all among the most uncivilized people living in the rural mountain

areas of southern Myanmar. It’s our unspeakable joy to witness to the salvation of many souls through hearing the Gospel message presented in the media shows. All of the showings have been so exciting with many people being deeply blessed. Therefore, on behalf of many souls here, I would like to say, Thank you, very much to all who sacrificially contributed prayer and financial support to equip me with this media."

He reported 30 showings, 1,690 viewers with 24 accepting Christ.

AGE APPROPRIATE

AVangelist Jane Njeru of Embu Kenya writes: "Young children have clearly understood the Bible stories of JONAH and JOSEPH. Teenagers have recommitted their lives to Christ and chosen not to indulge in cults after seeing THE ENEMY. The African stories, SLIPPERY PATH and DECEITFUL HEART have helped many teens who are struggling with parental relationships. PILGRIM’S PROGRESS has encouraged adults to be strong in Christ, determined to fight the battle of faith to the end. My only grandchild, nearly 4 years old, loves to visit me and watch the Bible stories. We are praying that she will receive the Lord early and become a Timothy. The Lord has graciously given me many opportunities to share the Gospel, as I minister. Audiovisual tools have surely transformed my ministry. May God continue to encourage you as you continue to equip workers with these exciting tools for evangelism."

She reports 33 showings, to 740 with 112 decisions for Christ.

LISTEN WITH RAPT ATTENTION

Evangelist Samuel Tachie-Menson of Cape Coast,

Ghana writes: "We thank God for the addition to our ministry of the Torch Projector, which is surprisingly easy to operate. The impact is very great. The viewers attention is captured as soon as it starts. They listen with rapt attention. The operator has absolute control over the audience, because of the necessity they have to listen, to know, and to understand the message. Salvation decisions are, therefore, very genuine. Thank you for providing these wonderful tools."

8 showings, 737 viewers, 204 responding for salvation.

HEARTBEAT

by Ken Anderson

The opening sequence of our film, TASHI FROM TIBET, portrays a group of Tibetan refugees under air attack, being bombed and strafed. A close up shows a man seeking shelter alongside a large rock. That man - Kalsang Bhukar - became my good friend.

He had attained wealth in the transport business prior to fleeing for his life. No, he did not own a fleet of semi trucks. Instead, he had a large herd of yak pack animals who made constant trips to India and back again. The sturdy animals carried Tibetan goods to India, bringing back primarily a large supply of kerosene so vital to life in the capital city.

We were having dinner one evening, and I noticed him ordering steak. Our friendship was becoming so close I could speak candidly to him on almost any topic. So I asked him about Buddhist’s abstinence from meat. "I am not Buddhist!" he laughed. "I have nothing religion, no kind."

I shared the Gospel with him. He listened intently, making no comment. God gave me peace in my heart to leave it at that. When Tibetan refugees came to India, with its enormous population, they often found it difficult to secure housing. Kalsang was fortunate to find an abandoned chicken house, which his wife fixed up into a quite nice little home for husband, children, and Kalsang’s brother, Kohtar, whom we shall meet in next month’s HEARTBEAT.

Kalsang’s wife - Shamira - was a member of the royal family, daughter of Tibet’s former Prime Minister. Educated in England, she spoke excellent English, so we had some good conversations together. I spent a night at their home, sharing the same room with Kalsang’s brother. I experienced some mild

panic as I realized Kohtar was having a severe attack of malaria, in a house swarming with mosquitos. I lay awake all night, swatting the fever-laden varmints. I’m sure I heard one take off from Kohtar, fly the short distance between our beds to land on me.

The next day I returned to my mosquito-proof bedroom at the Dr. Geoffrey Lehmann residence wondering how soon I would be coming down with malaria. "Not to worry," Geoffrey chortled. "It’s the dry season, and mosquitos don’t live long enough to digest enough infected blood so they can imperil another person."

After I had been home from India a couple of months, we received a letter from Kalsang, politely requesting the privilege to visit us in the USA, and at the same time attempt to get refugee status.

Kalsang came, and we were able to offer him a job at our studio. He was an excellent worker. He would do anything we asked. It was at his suggestion that he do some clean-up in one area which Mrs. A supervised. One day he came to her and asked, "Mrs A, I am puzzled. What is the difference between junk and stuff and things." His English expanded rapidly.

He faithfully attended our church and our pastor established a warm friendship with him. He opened his heart to the Lord Jesus and asked for baptism. As a word of witness, he said, "From the well of my heart, I believe in Jesus."

There are not many Tibetan Christians in the world today. We pray their number continues to increase through the ministry of TASHI FROM TIBET in various languages.