Fan Into Flame: Vietnam Trip, April 15-29

Nancy and I are returning to Vietnam in April with a wonderful ministry team.

Our minds go back more than 20 years to our first visit. After a time of vibrant worship, beautiful young believers jammed themselves together, sitting on the floor, knee to back, hungry to receive from the Word of God and be empowered for ministry. To enter the building (used for Christian training and monitored by the government) we had to get past the police guard who was at his station from 8 am to 5 pm., taking names. For our safety, we were smuggled in the dark at 5 am and back out at 11 pm. Never did so many hours pass so quickly as we experienced God’s healing and encouraging presence with us. 

Over the last 25 years, our love and respect has grown for Minh and his wife, Blessing, and other heroes of the faith who live under constant threat of persecution. As we celebrate the 30th year of Firefall International, we are blessed to be called spiritual Mom and Dad, equipping and encouraging another generation of bold men and women of faith. We are inspired by the depth of their love for Jesus and sacrifices to serve Him wholeheartedly. 

We will be joined by Pastor David and his wife, Diimte, plus youth leader Philip from Myanmar, under the leadership of Minh and Blessing. We thank God for the relationship we have all built over the decades. We respect them as co-laborers and treasure them as friends. We have already begun Zoom meetings to prepare our hearts as a team. 

This year’s ministry is three-folD

🔥 Children’s worker training

We will spend two days encouraging 30 children’s workers who spend their summer taking the gospel to remote villages, reaching 10,000 children by the end of their 3-month service. Blessing leads this effort in their nation. These disciples give their summers like modern-day circuit riders, sleeping on the ground, carrying their own food with them, along with the precious seed of the gospel to children in unreached areas. 

 🔥 Vision casting for football outreach 

Minh’s dedication to Jesus and his servant heart have opened doors for his mentoring influence in a national youth ministry network. The Holy Spirit gave us the concept of bringing the amazing success story of evangelism through sport from House of Glory in Myanmar. Pastor David and Philip will recount the multi-year journey as Minh invites interested pastors and youth leaders to join us for a day apart, ending with a football match among interested youth.  

🔥 Marriage and family life conference

We caught Minh and Blessing’s burden for ministry couples many years ago when we shared on this topic in Vietnam with them. Through biblical teaching and sharing our own successes and failures, we saw walls come down between couples, repentance and renewed commitment to make time for their own marriage and family life. This is a revolutionary topic in Vietnam and continues to be a passion of Minh and Blessing’s ministry together. We are honored to join them along with Pastor David and Diimte. We will host 20 pastoral couples (ages 25-40) near the beach for 3 days of rest, worship and reflection regarding their own households. 

Our request of you

The dates of this outreach are April 15-29. Would you prayerfully consider sending us by both prayer and provision? We need your prayer support now as we plan the aspects of ministry and as we actually make this trip. For us this is an open door to see the Holy Spirit “fan into flame” hearts and lives in three powerful aspects. 

The cost of travel and all outreaches will be $15,000. To our natural mind, this is overwhelming, but as we each give in response to the Spirit of God, we fully believe the goal will be met. Thank you for praying and for giving as He leads. Every prayer and every dollar given will fuel God’s purposes in the lives of beautiful, faithful leaders in Vietnam.

With our love and thanks for you,

Jim, Nancy and Vietnam Team

30 Years of Firefall

Recently, Jim and I reflected on the journey of Firefall International over 30 years. It is both humbling and gratifying to remember how the Lord called us and led us to establish Firefall International in response to our burning desire to make disciples of all nations. God’s response to our “yes” was to launch us in a big way that first year with Jim going to the Czech Republic and Ukraine and me heading to South Africa for several weeks of ministry. Precious friends cared for our three young daughters, giving them treasured memories as well.

On those missions, we gained invaluable practical experience and mentoring from pioneers and spiritual leaders. As we continued to walk by faith through open doors the Holy Spirit supplied, we were shaped by circumstances both wonderful and challenging to be the people we are today, imparting who we are to others.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

— I Thessalonians 5:24

The hard seasons of failure and drought helped us lay down offenses and pride and cling more tightly to Jesus. The joyful times of miraculous guidance, provision, protection and fruitfulness fueled our passion for Jesus and our tiny part in His great mission even more. 

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.”

— Psalm 36:5

With each year of service, we are more amazed that He called us to “go” 30 years ago and more grateful that He has sustained us by our wonderful Holy Spirit. He has been our guide, encourager, comforter and source of power to make Jesus known. 

We give thanks for each board member, each individual and partnering church who invested in prayer and giving and going with us on occasion. How beautiful is the Body of Christ! All glory to the Son of God who gave his life to purchase mankind for God through His precious blood. 

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

— Ephesians 5:20-21

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Thoughts on 2023 & Plans for 2024

Last year was an amazement indeed, as God graciously gave an increase in Burmese Bibles distributed, souls saved, cell groups and house churches established, humanitarian aid offered and lives exposed to the gospel for the first time. You are part of each success! 

In addition, three months ago, Jim traveled to Virginia Beach, VA to receive an award for the work of Firefall International from Regent University (where we were a part of the first graduate class in 1978). See a video of Jim’s acceptance remarks and read the full article about the work of Firefall that was included in the Regent University Alumni Newsletter.

Blessing, Minh and their son, Ben

As for 2024, we are planning to go to Vietnam in April to spend time with Firefall associates Minh and Blessing.

We will team with them to strengthen the family lives of young couples in ministry. In addition, we hope to encourage key leaders in the national VBS network that Blessing oversees. 

These teams travel to remote areas of Vietnam all summer, touching thousands of children with the love of Jesus. These leaders challenge us in their zeal, dedication and purity of purpose.

Firefall International will sponsor 2-3 day seminars in two locations. We ask for your prayers and financial support as the Lord leads you.

God Gave Us an Open Door

“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” I Cor. 16:9

Eleven and a half years ago, Jim and I were guided by the Spirit of God to visit a certain city in Myanmar and host a conference for youth leaders in that nation. This guidance came by way of a strong “nudge” in my spirit to go and strengthen the body of Christ there. We obeyed, following this odd prompting by faith. What did we find there? An open door. 

We discovered a small and struggling group of believers, desperate for more of God. There was nothing glitzy or glowing with success about them to the natural eye. Their leader was a young man captured by a heavenly vision at age 17 to reach the Burmese with the good news of Jesus Christ. That young man was Pastor David. 

In the past eleven and a half years, through the faithfulness of God, the united vision and work of House of Glory plus your prayers and giving, we have seen this open door swing wide to include Bible distribution, clean water wells and humanitarian aid freely shared with thousands of suffering people. In addition to community bridge building through soccer and the lending library, a network of 15 evangelist/church planters has been established in many regions, preaching and discipling hungry and receptive hearts in the nation. 

This God-given open door and your partnership built a 3-story community outreach center housing football offices, a library to enrich the community, a 350-seat worship/meeting center and a home for Pastor David and his family with room to welcome others. The House of Glory center was built during the COVID years and was completed just weeks before the military coup began. Only God could do this!

We continue to be amazed and humbled to have a small role in God’s great story of redemption in this land where so few have ever heard of the love of Jesus. This officially classified unreached people group is being reached with His love, day by day, week by week, friend to friend through the people of God by the power of God. 

Please pray for us as we join our Myanmar family November 2-13 to host outreaches through football and a time of rest and refreshment for the church planters. And we want to extend a big thank you from all of us for helping us reach our goal to fund these events. 

We will send out a prayer itinerary soon. Prayer is foundational and the most important work we can do. How beautiful is the body of Christ!

With much love,

Nancy 

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” Rev. 3:8 

Q&A with Pastor David: Upcoming November Events

In preparation for two November events, the Firefall Challenge Cup #8 and church planter meeting, we asked Pastor David to answer a few questions about the significance of these events.

Pastor David serves snacks to the Eagles youth team

1. What are your thoughts and prayers as you look forward to Firefall Challenge Cup #8?

Through Firefall Challenge Cup #8, we will get more opportunities to communicate to young people in our community. We can build up more relationships with young people as this is key to sharing the gospel with them. Then, we will get the opportunity to touch those young players at the football field, as a neutral place, not in a church. Because of the political and economic turmoil in Myanmar, there hasn’t been a tournament like this in a few years. Though many young players would like to play more, they can’t. This tournament will provide these young people with pleasure, fun, hope and warmth in the midst of hardship and challenging times.

Hear our friend Philip describe the importance of the upcoming football competition

2. How has community enrichment through football, library and food distribution impacted people in your area? 

By blessing the community through football, library and food distribution, we can establish more friendships with people in our community and share the good news when our friendship grows. As a result, the Lord has given us a great harvest of winning souls. Then, the people around our community don’t see us as a religious center, but they feel our center is a home for them. This has reduced persecution and oppression that we have encountered before.

3. What is your goal in gathering the church planters for three days? 

As the church planters are tired from working in their fields for the whole year, we would like them to be able to rest physically, mentally and spiritually by taking a break here for a few days. During the gathering, we will share our testimonies and prayer points together and be encouraged by the Word and pray for each other. It will be their recharging time, so that they might march on forward in their respective fileds. We will worship together by honoring them for what they are doing to spread the good news aroung our nation.

4. How can Firefall friends pray effectively for you and House of Glory?

Please remember us in prayer as we are serving during the most difficult times in the history of our country. On the other hand, the people in Myanmar are hungry and thirsty spiritually because of the difficult situation. We are in a great harvest time, too. Please pray for House of Glory and all networks so that we might reap the harvest wisely by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Please pray for the political and economic situation in our nation as many people are still starving, dying and fleeing since the coup. We covet your prayer support so that we might shine brightly through the gospel in the darkest time.

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Join our team

If you would like to help support these events, we’re looking for 144 sponsorships of $65 each for the football challenge, as well as 12 church planter sponsorships for $200 each.

A Roof Over Their Heads: God Makes a Way

On May 14, devastating Cyclone Mocha ripped through parts of Myanmar. Only months before, our associate there welcomed 19 young people who had tragically lost their parents. His family of 5 became a family of 24.

Then the cyclone hit. Their two-story home lost its roof. It was ripped off by 130 mph winds, leaving the second floor exposed. Neighbors who lived in bamboo houses lost everything. They all huddled on the first floor. Firefall friends provided emergency food, water and other basic supplies.

Materials to replace the roof were scarce, and when they could be found the price gougers were charging 4 to 5 times the normal rate. Authorities prevented more materials from being shipped to the devastated areas.

Then the rains came

During monsoon season, the family was living on the first floor with rains pouring down on them with no roof for protection. Our hearts were broken by their suffering. We all cried out to the Lord to intervene in what seemed to be an impossible situation. “Lord, make a way for their roof to be replaced!” You prayed with us, too.

David determined to ask permission for materials from the city of Mandalay (purchased at normal prices) to be trucked into the devastated area. It was a long shot. The government official who reviewed the application noticed that it was submitted by “House of Glory.” He asked, “Is this group associated with Glory Football Club? I’ve watched them play.” The application was approved, and the materials were purchased and transported. Construction has begun to repair the roof.

The material and transport costs were $3,000 and construction costs $1,500. This family has endured so much tragedy, yet God is making a way for their home to be restored as he restores their lives by His grace and power.

Your investment in this project will help demonstrate the compassion of Jesus to this dear brother, his family and the 19 children in his care. Can you even imagine opening your heart and home to so many? 

We thank you, Firefall partners, for your regular giving that provides food and school supplies for these children. Let’s pray they will know the love of Jesus and healing for their hearts in this caring home. 

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. -Psalm 10:14

Bright Minds & Intense Competition at Glory Library

On July 17-18, we helped sponsor a quiz bowl and speech/debate competition at the Glory Library. 

Here is Pastor David’s report of the event:

“First of all, we would like to express our gratitude and heartfelt thankfulness to all the Firefall friends who helped in prayer and supported in finance to accomplish the vision of Glory Reading Room during the student competition. The Lord is working beyond our imagination!

Though we hoped to host about 200-250 people, on the first day, more than 400 people came to participate in our event. That day 48 high school students from 16 different government and private high schools competed in general knowledge and quizzes. Each school brought 10 students and 5 teachers to observe and cheer for their schools. Some of their parents came. Their school administrators were there, too. 

I greeted the crowd and introduced our library for 10 minutes, sharing the goodness of God as a testimony of the history of our reading room for another 10 minutes. Everyone listened very carefully. The competition was lively and intense with everyone giving their best. We fed all of them lunch with rice, chicken curry, beans and chilies. Our funds for two days were exhausted on the first day.

We were in an awkward position and prayed together for the second day with the library team. When I checked my Messenger after prayer, I saw a message from Nancy asking about the situation. Jehovah Jireh provided for the second day through Firefall - on time. Hallelujah!

There were about 500 on the second day, including military officers and leaders from the local authorities. Thirty-two students from 16 schools competed with impromptu speeches (take an unseen topic from judges and talk about it for seven minutes). We included this competition so that the students would read more (at the library). We fed everyone lunch like we did on the first day. I got another 15 minutes to share a testimony! 

The Glory Kids led by my daughter also presented three gospel songs and dramas during those two days. They performed twice when the people requested them to. We gave presents to all competitors. We gave small cash gifts, trophies, medals and presents to all winners who won first, second and third place. They all were very excited and happy to receive them.

The most exciting news is that 127 people registered as new members of our reading room after the competition. Most of them are the brightest students from each school, teachers and military officers, too! 

We made an effective bridge during these two days beyond what we could imagine! Many of the students had not laughed, enjoyed life, or felt free like this for quite a long time because of our political and economic situation. We saw how much they enjoyed and loved this event by the joy in their faces.”

2022 Recap: Your Part in Revival

God is moving in unprecedented ways in the nation of Myanmar and you are part of it! The power of your prayer and the generosity of your support is transforming lives for eternity.

In many ways, 2022 was a terrible year in Myanmar. Thousands were killed or imprisoned by an evil government. Others were displaced (internally displaced people) when their homes and villages were burned to the ground or bulldozed into rubble. Floods and disease have added to the misery.

All this trauma has opened doors to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus through feeding programs and providing other essentials like clothing and bedding.

• 2,100 people heard the gospel during 8 Christmas outreaches

• 60% of them had never before heard the name of Jesus 

• 95% were unbelievers

Seeds of faith were planted in hearts and many requested Bibles to learn more about following Jesus.

And here are some statistics from what we’ve accomplished together throughout 2022:

Please pray with us and, if you are willing, even increase your prayer in 2023 that this season of revival, this visitation of God’s Spirit in Myanmar, will continue and grow. With God all things are possible. (Mt. 19:26)

It's Harvest Time in Myanmar

As the daughter of a farmer, I am well aware of the cycles of soil preparation, seed planting, cultivation, irrigation, watchful care and finally, the long-awaited harvest. My Daddy taught us to “make hay while the sun shines,” which means understanding the season your crop is in and acting wisely to maximize and protect the harvest. What I learned on the farm now serves me well in Firefall International.

The sower by Vincent Van Gogh

A few days ago (after returning from our amazing journey to Myanmar), we learned that 450 people have received Jesus as Savior and Lord in the House of Glory network as of December 1, 2022.

Firefall partners have been sowing the precious seed, the Word of God, for nearly 20 years across Myanmar. We shouted for joy as we learned of this miraculous harvest of souls. We had the joy of watching five people baptized less than two weeks ago.

8 Upcoming Christmas Outreaches

Pastor David shared the 2022 Christmas Outreach schedule with us today. There will be 8 outreaches touching a minimum of 1,220 lives, beginning on December 8 and ending on Christmas Day. There will be a meal, singing, drama presentations and a clear presentation of the love of God through Jesus Christ. Many teams of joyful servants undergird each outreach.

Our goal (and giving opportunity) is partnership with the House of Glory vision to give a delicious meal, a small gift and a Bible in Burmese to those who show an interest. The cost per person is $7 USD.

We would also like to replenish our “storehouse of seed” (Bibles) so we may freely share them when evangelists and church planters in Pastor David’s network call and request them. The total amount needed is $8,500.

Update on Giving

We are currently 33% to our giving goal, with $5,570 remaining.

Thank you for praying about how many $7 “seeds” you wish to sow this Christmas in Myanmar. Thank you for praying for a continued and fruitful harvest as the miracle of lives turning to Jesus continues.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:6-9

The Beauty of Team

We had the joy of hearing Pastor David share his thoughts about 42 families receiving Jesus a couple of weeks ago in a Zoom call. I asked him to look back over the past several months and share what he is learning as a leader, pastor and soul winner. His response touched me deeply. He said, “I am learning that this work is not a ‘one man show.’ It is a step-by-step process, orchestrated by God. I am aware of the value of many teams and helpers in the process, as never before. This is both joyful and humbling.”

For Jim and me, fulfilling our small role in Jesus’ great commission is the passion of our lives, what fuels us each and every day.

David’s powerful insights continue to stir my heart. I think of the Trinity being a team, existing in mutual unity, love and purpose. I think of those serving on teams at House of Glory. They might be cooking or distributing food, preaching, overseeing a well supplying abundant and clean water, playing soccer with poor neighborhood boys, playing music or creating dramatic productions which demonstrate Biblical truths. I think of you, dear Firefall team member, and how you have continued to pray and invest as the Holy Spirit leads. 

As we contemplate the challenges that come with multiplication, it is the joy of the harvest that refreshes, along with the confidence that the One who has called us as a team will continue to guide us, sustain us and accomplish His perfect plan. Thank you once again for your part in this amazing journey of faith. 

Because you prayed, Pastor David and his family recovered from serious bouts of COVID.

Because you invested in thousands of evangelistic Bibles, many are reading and discussing these concepts right now.

We could go on and on. Suffice it to say, your role in Team Firefall is treasured and appreciated!  

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller

“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” —Mother Teresa

“But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Numbers 14:21