Teaching, inspiring, and encouraging followers of Christ
to serve God more effectively as Spirit-led leaders
March E-Newsletter
What Hope Looks Like
Spirit-Led Leader workshop participants, Palau, Thailand
Greetings!
Every day, I read the news looking for some signs that things might be getting better in Myanmar. Some days, there are a few encouraging developments. Yet, many days there are just more reports of new suffering, loss, or death. In fact, just before we left Thailand last month, we got word of 4000 new Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who fled their villages to escape the bombings of the Myanmar military planes. They are now all living in makeshift shelters under tarps along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Nevertheless, I’m feeling more hopeful these days. I feel this way, not so much because external circumstances are changing for the better, but because of what I’m seeing in the people themselves. I see it in the earnestness of the students I’m teaching online. I see it in my colleagues who are working hard to develop our school. And I see it among those who are putting their faith into action in and outside of Myanmar at great personal sacrifice.
Bible school student in role play during workshop
For example, this month I had the privilege of teaching over 40 Bible school students, pastors, and church leaders in Palau Oo, a remote Karen community in western Thailand. Each person I met had his or her own story of faith and God’s faithfulness. Thanks to the tireless work of missionaries and a Thai Karen Baptist Convention (TKBC) pastor over two decades, young people now have a safe place to live and learn, far away from bombings and the continual threat of violence across the border in Myanmar.

There, I met a man who grew up in one of the refugee camps, but who decided 20 years ago to not let his circumstances defeat him. He is now teaching students at the Bible school and earning a Master of Ministry degree online via Zoom. I taught church leaders who have had very little formal education, yet who are doing their best to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ. Most of them must provide for their own needs by tending goats, working with their hands, or earning income in any way they can. They are faithfully following the example of Jesus, “who did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
Students doing a prayer exercise (For photos and testimonials, see Jill’s blog post.)
One 17-year-old student had been a heavy drug user along with most of the other kids in his village, stuck on a hopeless path leading to destruction. Yet an evangelist traveled many miles to share the Good News about Jesus Christ and lead this young man to faith. His wise mother promptly sent him to the Bible school, far away from his drug-addicted friends. Today, he is free from drugs, surrounded by fun-loving classmates and caring teachers, and eagerly learning the Bible and the Christian way of life.
Materially, most of the people I met are very poor, and each person struggles with many burdens, fears, and heartaches. Yet they also have something very precious to live by. They have Jesus. They have each other. They have the Bible, and they take great inspiration and strength from God’s calling on their lives. Those who sacrificially share the Gospel with others offer hope to those who have none. Those who receive the Good News and follow Jesus find hope for their lives. Those who learn, work together, and build up their community are demonstrating their hope by their positive attitudes and constructive actions.
This is what hope looks like to me, as I witness Christians in war-torn Myanmar and those who have fled to neighboring Thailand living by their faith in Jesus Christ and in God’s work in their lives.

What does hope look like to you?

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
President and Visiting Professor
Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries
FHLGM staff member, Saw Newton, provides indispensable service as translator of Tim’s teaching materials, coordinator of all trip logistics in Thailand, and interpreter when Tim preaches and teaches, both in person and when Tim teaches online in Myanmar.
 We couldn't do this ministry in the same way without him!
Testimonials

« Hi Sir, Thank you very much for your [comments]. You have motivated me incredibly to become a spirit-led leader. I feel the touch of Holy Spirit by joining your wonderful lectures. May God bless you in turn.« 
- Thawng Bik (MIT DMin student)

« Dear Dr. Tim, we are safely arrived back to home. Thank you for your encouragement. We are really grateful for this retreat. I am also able to attend Men Fellowship at night. The rest of the family are sleep soundly and they feel great in both spiritual and physical. We also get a great deals of encouragement from your book that you have given us as a present. We are really happy and feel Christ’s love from you and your ministry. May God Bless you, your family and Faith Hope Love Global Ministry. We pray that May God Continue to use you and your ministry. We are absolutely complete spiritual guidance in this trip and feel assure that Our LORD Jesus Christ make a way for us in this difficult time. Please do pray for us to not give up in this situation. Thank you. »
- Sean (MIT student, living with his family as refugees in Thailand and finishing his degree online) 

"God said to me "you are my servant, you need to fulfil my will and I will fulfil yours."
-SLL Workshop Participant during one of the spiritual exercises

”This workshop teaches me what is good leadership, what is a good example in leadership, and encourages me to become a spirit-led leader »
-SLL Workshop Participant

You Can Make a Difference
If the stories and the people in this newsletter touch your heart, please consider donating to Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries. We are continually finding new and creative ways to offer much-needed teaching as well as tangible support for people in Myanmar, Thailand, and the Congo (DRC). If you want to designate your gift for support of the refugees and IDPs (Internally Displaced People), please mark your donation, MCR (Myanmar Crisis Response). Thank you.
Find out more about Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries