ARM's Rapha House (Home for Girls) in
Cambodia
Here are
some excerpts from
our
Cambodia director's April letter.
This report includes the
activities for the center and the fact that Joe Garman and his wife,
Linda, were at Rapha House for one week as they participated in the
formal dedication of the new Rapha House. After Building was completed
the staff and girls moved into the new facility on March 18. Dedication
of the center started on 8th April 2006. The dedication went very well.
There were about 350 people from Government sectors, private sectors,
and NGO (Non-governmental organization) sector in attendance, as well as
many of the parents of the girls participating that day. Praise God! Joe
preached on Jesus the Light and walking in the light. Most of the
government and most of them believe in Buddha but through his preaching
most of them are very happy of the message from Joe; moreover they are
impressed with the activities of RH helping the needy girls.
ARM Rapha House is reaching out to the prisoners in
Cambodia. ARM Rapha House Cambodia is reaching out to the prisoners; three times this month they met 4 people different
prisoners. This month the prisoners need Bible for reading and some
Bible pictures. Every time the team also gave them something to support
their living just for supplementary. Keep praying for the door open to
the prisoners; we are allowed very limited time to meet them each time
and we need some song books and Bible pictures -- very often they need eyeglasses, too.
Praise God during the time Joe came TEN of the
girls at the center accepted Christ and were baptized -- there were more
than 25 from the community also baptized at the same day! Praise God!
One of the security men of RH was married also on 4th of April with Joe
and Linda also participating in the wedding.
All the girls are
very happy with the new location and they are learning well how to keep
the center nice and clean. The security so far is going well with good
cooperation with the local authority and the staff is working well and
are happy serving Jesus.
ARM is ministering to needy girls in Cambodia through
the Rapha House. These girls have been victimized in the human slave
trade. Some are as young as 8 years of age. As our home grows in the new
building, we will need more operational support. Thanks!
Gifts of any
size may be sent to ARM Rapha House, Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560.
www.raphahouse.org
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ARM's Branch Ministry in Thailand
ARM's Branch Minister in Thailand is Boonlerd
Chomphukeeree -April 2006
Joe Garman just returned from Cambodia
and Thailand. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, Joe spent time with Boonlerd
working in a girl's detention center. Here is a part of Joe's
report:
One great frustration is that Thailand has no parole
or probation program. When the inmate completes his or her sentence, the
guard opens the front gate and the prisoner steps out on to the street.
Consequently, most return to prison. Our ARM prison evangelist in
Thailand, Boonlerd Chompukeeree, and I, rented a three-story town house
in Chiang Mai where we will now be able to shelter pre-teen and teenage
girls upon their release from jail or prison and provide counseling,
education, and protection for them. We did this with the approval and
support of local authorities. Boonlerd and I visited several female
juvenile facilities and learned that many of the girls who will live at
ARM’s home for girls in Thailand will be gang-affiliated and most will
be drug addicted. Some will be homeless but all will be without God,
without Christ, and without hope in this world.
Our greatest
need at this time is to purchase the five rai of land that is adjacent
to the Bible College there in Chiang Mai. A rai is approximately 1600
square meters. Each rai will cost $10,000 so we will need a total of
$50,000 to secure this land. The Japanese investors are buying up land
right and left in Thailand and Boonlerd feels that if we delay until the
end of the year, this land will no longer be available. If it is
available, it certainly won't be available at this price. The natives we
talked to feel that this is not the cheapest but also not the most
expensive land around and that the price is fair. Of course, we have the
encouragement of David Filbeck, missionary in Thailand and President of
the Bible College who would love to have us as a neighbor. By having
this particular piece of land, the Bible College young people could
witness to our girls and our girls could have access to classes at the
Bible College. Perhaps we should try to find 50 individuals or
congregations who will provide $1000 each for the purpose of purchasing
this land.
Gifts of any size may be sent to ARM-Thailand,
Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560.
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ARM's Branch Ministry in Russia
Report From
Dr. Nicholas E. Alyoshin - March 2006
Glory to Christ, my beloved bro! This is my brief report
for March 2006.
1. IMMERSIONS. The young woman - refugee from
Groznij city (Chechnya) named Elena was immersed in DOM ARM on
31.03.2006.
2. PRISONS. A hunger-strike of 121 prisoners took place
in Moscow prison 4. Among those prisoners were some believers in contact
with our chaplaincy. During the strike I was in Moscow, where had the
possibility of the telephone talks and mutual prayers with our brethren.
By the will of God the demands of the strikers were satisfied. On
18.03.06 I had a homily for the drug-addicts from the special camp in
Krasnodar. On 27 - 29.03.06 I took part in the special exhibition and
conference The politically motivated justice" and political prisoners in
modern Russia". It took place in Moscow - in Andrew Sakharov Museum and
Public Centre.
3.TURKS and other Moslems. Our dearly beloved brother
professor G. Rakhimov (Tashkent, Usbekistan) managed to have the
personal contact with the new Governor of Tashkent area. He did it with
the help of prepared in our chaplaincy documents. On 25.03.2006 our
student wing leader - my daughter Nike took part in the organization of
the public concert in Krasnodar of the American Christian singer of the
Arab origin - Latifah Al-Attas. On 13.03.06 I organized the visit of
American delegation with Max Goins and Jason Shaver ahead to the village
of Novo-Bakanskaya of Krymsk district to the Ahiska Turk settlement. We
were in the Turkish house, prayed there, spread the New Testaments in
Turkish (in Latin script, printed in Stambul, donated through Jason
Shaver by Turkish World Outreach"), as well as the film Jesus" in
Turkish and the programmes of the Turkish Christian Radio. On 14.03.2006
we visited the Krasnodar office of the International Organization for
Migration, which is evacuating the Turks from Krasnodar. We, literally,
stormed it, because the Russian guards and clerks tried not to let us
visit the American chief of the office - Phil Eanes (t.+7-861-2-745536,
f.+7-861-2552146, e-mail:iomkrr@yandex.ru). Phil was glad to meet us, he
appeared to be a Catholic believer. Phil informed us, that 40 % of
Krasnodar Turks were accepted in US by Catholical volunteer
organizations; 30% - by Lutherans' 20 % - by Episcopalians' 10 % - by
other religious groups (including Jewish communities).
4. MISSION
TRIPS. A big missionary US delegation (Max Goins; Jason, Joanna,
Justice, Hope Shavers; Johnny Kennedy, Tammy Trimmel) visited Krasnodar
on 07 - 16.03.06. They visited some groups and objects with me; some -
with Yurij Skopylatov and other contact of Max and Jason. They also
visited the service at my house on 12.03.06 and were acquainted with
some of our elders: Isaev, Plutenko, Serebrennikov, Peshkova. They also
visited some Krasnodar Universities and also took part in two big events
of the Campus Crusade for Christ", where they were taken by my daughter
Nike. Max e.a. planned also to visit Abkhasia, but the expedition was
postponed on security basis and because of the lack of the financial
resources. Max Goins wrote a special letter of blessing to the President
and Brethren in Abkhasia. I plan to visit that state with Max's letter
in April. We visit also the Black Sea port Novorrossiysk.
5.
MEDITATION. During the Moscow conference on political prisoners the
Criteria" to determine the prisoner to be a political one were produced.
It is very important for our prison ministry.
6. DIVINE ACTION. The
Sunday service on 12.03.2006 was with my homily about the wonderful
coincidence: on that day it was the orthodox-iconworshipping holiday",
named the triumph of the orthodoxy"; on that day the icon-worshippers
curses the iconoclasts, protestants and all non-orthodoxes; they
declare, that no Christianity exists except orthodoxy. But namely on
that day we had our Russian-American non-icon-worshipping service. The
idolatrists have been persecuting us for hundreds of years. But the Lord
is keeping us in His hand and we are going on to exist and to preach
Jesus.
7. STUDENT WING. On 10-12.03.2006 our student wing leader - my
daughter Nike - took part in the big Creationism Christian conference in
Elbrus village (500 km to East from Krasnodar, not far from Nalchik -
the Kabarda - Balkaria capital). The conference was organized by Rod
Powell. About 60 Kabarda Moslem young men were involved in the
conference.
8. PUBLIC ACTIVITY. On 04.03.06 I spoke at the opening of
the personal art exhibition of D. Petrosova (immersed in our chaplaincy
on 25.12.05) in Krasnodar State Art Museum. On 05.03.06 I took part in
the Krasnodar city poetic party in the city-hall. On 17.03.06 I took
part in the public discussion with the orthodox priests on the religious
freedoms. On 23.03.06 I spoke of the conference on the military reform
in Russia, and on 24.03.06 - at the big conference on nation and
religious relations among foreign students of Krasnodar. On 25.03.06 I
and my wife Nina took part in the anti-fascist flash-mob. During the
last event we gave a big amount of the materials about the religious
freedoms situation in Krasnodar and Russia to Dr. Dittmar Schorkowitz of
Leipzig and Berlin Universities (t. in Berlin+493012142943; t. in
Krasnodar - he is the postdoctoral fellow in Kuban State University -
26159557; e-mail:schorkowitz@t-online.de:
www.oei.fu-berlin.de(~geku).
9. REPRESSIONS. On 03.03.06 the
idolatric fanatics tried to murder the wife of the military officer, who
permitted to his soldier to be baptized in our chaplaincy. The brethren
from Karlsruhe (Germany) informed us, that the general commissioner of
the Lutheranic church for North Caucasus pastor Oswald Wutzke was
expelled from Russia and his visa was declared unvalid. The brethren
from the missionary union Licht im Osten" think, that Wutzke was
expelled because of his independent investigation of the events in
Beslan school (a big terrorist act on 01.09.2004). The Krasnodar
fascists with some swastikaworshipper Albert Gayamyan put the American
national flag on the floor at the entrance to their office - in 100 m
from Krasnodar Territory Prosecutor office, and in 250 m from the
Legislature.
10. SUPPORT. We received the February support through
Max Goins "We-Go" missions Coalition system. We received also some
letters of support from USA, Germany, Switzerland. We received also a
very important e-mail from Alexei Sobchenko, containing the article,
corresponding with our book "The Land of Adygs".
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ARM's Branch Ministry in the Philippines
Report From Ernesto Alocelja -March
2006
Small Native Chapel was completed and ready for
religious activities at BJMP - Digos City. Thank you for the Support of
ARM Prison Outreach International thru Joe Garman and Brethren in
America. New Jail Ministry was open at Cotabato Provincial Jail. The
Largest detention Center in Central Mindanao.
On March 8, 2006;
The Team was in Maa City Jail conducting a very special program in
Celebration of Women's International Day. Our Special Activities: Parlor
and Bibles Games Contest, Bible Exposition and Snacks.
On March
9, 2006; The Team conducted a Special Memorial Service at Kidapawan City
Public Cemetery.
On March 14, 2006, The team baptized two Male
inmates at Panabo City Jail.
Another New Jail Ministry was open
in Island Garden City of Samal.
March 30, 2006, Praise God!
James; The ARM Philippines Team Member was graduated in Bachelor of
Science in Commerce Major in Management at the University of Mindanao
Digos College.
This Month; The ARM Philippines Team able to
share these items to the Detainees:
* Cash Prize for Bible
Games
* Laundry Soaps
* (Ukay-ukay) Used Clothings
* Bread,
Juice and Biscuits
* Medicines
Service Rendered this
month:
* Follow-up for the inmates' family
* Sending Hand Mail
Letters
* Special Prayers for inmates' Family
* Home Visitation
for their Love ones.
"To God Be the Glory"
Submitted by:
Ernesto O. Alocelja, Director--ARM Philippines
Philippians 4: 13,
19
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Readers' Responses to ARM Email Updates
Dear Rod, Thanks for the note and update on the
ministry... It is a joy to hear of the progress at Rapha House! We are
glad to be able to help in this small way and will keep praying for the
leaders and the lives they touch. The next time you are this way, stop
in for a visit. In Christ, Dale
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ARM's Branch Ministry in Mexico
Editor's Note:
No new report has been received; this short report is repeated from the
last issue.
Report From Alfredo José Aparicio -February 2006
I rejoice in the Lord, as I greet you, since our efforts
are spreading in marvelous ways. February was a very much blessed month
in the ministry. We have six millions of people living in Iztapalapa
County alone, in Mexico City. This is the County with most delinquency
and drugs, and all sorts of social problems. Also, this is the County
with two of the biggest jails in Mexico City, and in the whole Country
of Mexico. We have lots of alcoholic anonymous places, as well as other
social aid offices. We have increased our number of students to 173 at
the jails in Santa Martha and Reclusorio Oriente. With the alcoholic
anonymous and neurotic anonymous we have reached the quantity of 620 new
students. God's Word is guiding and encouraging these students living in
true chaos. We are helping these people, but we must make good use of
our judgment, patience, and love. These people really need the Lord in
their destroyed lives! It is tiring working with them, but results are
great, and that encourages us to continue serving them! Changes are
great! My Heart rejoices because of the great help you are to the
ministry in México. Please keep up the good work. We need your prayers,
as they are dynamite in reaching the lost souls of this nation, Mexico.
With great gratitude in the name of our Lord Jesus, Alfredo José
Aparicio
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ARM's Branch Ministry in Ghana
Editor's Note: No new report has been received; this
short report is repeated from the last issue.
Report from
Vanessa Sesi - February 2006
Our activities began in February
since the prison permit was released at the end of January. For the
Nsawam females, I was told to hang on as the chief officer at the prison
wants to reshuffle the program. I have started work with the females at
James Fort; I had 29 females present. I was able to get some devotionals
for the inmates as well as give the Bible study material for us to start
our Bible studies. With the males we had some encouraging news since ten
inmates accepted Christ and 40 rededicated their lives to Christ. A
total of 120 were present. At James Camp,a total of 92 were present; 17
people accepted Christ and 32 rededicated their lives to Christ. At
James Fort, 98 were present and 8 gave their lives to Christ and 35
rededicated their lives to Christ. One of the inmates of the male is
applying for a redress of his case, please be praying with him. It is
our prayers that there would be a change in the living conditions of the
inmates at the James Fort prison. Lets continue to pray and deliberate
on means of affecting these lives for Christ. God bless you.
Vanessa.
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Contact Info
Rod Farthing, ARM National
Development Director rodfar@arm.org
Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560 Home 573-729-6355
Check out our
web sites:
www.arm.org
www.abarc.org
www.raphahouse.org
In 2005,
127 ABA Bible courses was mailed from ARM every day!
In 2005, an ABA
Bible course was mailed from ARM to a prisoner EVERY 11.3 minutes!
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