Bible

MANDATE MINISTRIES UPDATE

(January 30, 2025) Editorial notation:

It’s been a delight to regularly feature the missionary ministry of Ross and Donna Winchester, Mandate Ministries— their Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Myanmar ministry— and to advise updates regarding Ross’ health challenges.

Despite not being unwell he and Donna had returned to Thailand last month to encourage those who shared in the ministry, as well as church leaders. Unfortunately they had return to Australia December 28.

His natural family— and broader denomation family— have shared the following sad news… reminding us of the good news that Ross is with the Lord, the one he loved, served and shared.

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PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE!

(January  23, 2025) Dr Richard Winter encouragingly hits home…

If I told you that you were going to have the opportunity to talk with Jesus for fifteen minutes today and could make one request of Him, what would be your request? If you could ask Him anything, would you ask for protection, a new job, money… or just what would you ask?

The disciples got this opportunity one time. Luke 11:1 tells of them caming to Jesus with a specific request— ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ 

Desire
Why, of all the things they could have asked of Jesus, did they ask that?

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FOCUS ON JESUS IN 2025!

(January 18, 2025) Carol Round shares some more thoughts re 2025…

In sixth grade, an eye exam revealed the need for glasses. As a pre-teen, I knew my classmates would tease me when I showed up at school with bottle-thick lenses in my frames.

Donning my new glasses at home, one of the first things I noticed was our kitchen tile. I’d always thought it was solid green until my eyeglasses helped me focus on the subtle black-and-white dots of various sizes sprinkled across each tile.

Despite my classmate’s teasing, a whole new world opened up to me when I could focus on the things I’d been missing. Though I eventually switched to contact lenses, I’ll never forget the change in my eyesight with the help of glasses.

Focus on Spiritual Growth
After reading a Christian article several years ago, I began choosing a word for the New Year. While there’s nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions, the author pointed out most people find them restrictive and ultimately ditched after a few months.

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MANDATE MINISTRIES UPDATE

(December 24, 2024) Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, share regarding their Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Myanmar ministry, and an update regarding Ross’ health…

Hi friends, we are back in Chiang Mai now and loving it!

We’ve had the opportunity to catch up with many of our ministry partners, as well as preaching in some of the great churches in this city.

Ross achieved a significant milestone last week as he submitted his research thesis to the examiners on Leadership Development Programs in Northern Thailand, after four years of research, blood, sweat, and tears. Woo hoo!

Christmas Programs for Karen People
We were able to provide much needed food, supplies, as well as Bibles for the Karen people at two special events last week. Our team organised Christmas programs where food parcels and gifts were distributed.

The gospel was preached and the Karen people received the word and the Christmas gifts with great appreciation.


Ross’s Health Update
Ross recently underwent a CT scan and X-ray to determine the progression of the cancer in his body. It appears that the cancerous lesion in the liver has doubled in sizeover the last 2.5 months.

In the natural this is obviously not a good sign, fortunately we are not living in the natural and believing God for divine intervention to reverse this accursed cancer. Please pray with us for the total eradication of every cancer cell in Ross’s body, for total restoration of health and wholeness, and for overflowing strength and energy levels.

Christmas Camp
Ross was invited to be the speaker at a three-day church Christmas camp recently. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and ministry. It was very much an international camp with two church members not only from Thailand but also from Argentina, Nigeria, Malaysia, Philippines, Brazil, USA, and Karen people from Myanmar.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support of our ministry to Asia.

Special Prayer Requests

  • Quick and total healing for Ross. ‘Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases’ (Psalm 103:2-3).
  • Peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.
  • For the Karen believers to rise up and declare the kingdom of God is here and expect to see the signs and wonders that will accompany it.
  • Finances for provisions for the Karen people and to print more Bibles: Sponsorship is code FW061; printing of Karen Bibles, relief and general ministry to the Karen people is code FW061D, and can be designated via this link https://donate.acci.org.au/form-6504140/fw061-ross-donna. Know that you can make a difference

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Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, have been missionaries to Asia for many years. Based in  Chiang Mai, they have worked with local pastors and church-planters, developing in-service leadership training programs that address challenges and issues unique to this area of Thailand. Link rossw@investeternal.com
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READY TO HANG MYSELF, BIBLE APPEARS IN MY CELL

(July 22, 2021) Scott Bailey (prison I.D. left) shares his testimony…

‘I’m not going to survive this. There’s nothing left to live for. I give up!’

Through tears I fashioned a noose from the bed sheet, eyeing the light fixture at the top of my cell. It should hold me I thought. What was there left to live for? I had failed in every area of my life, withdrawal from drug addictions would probably kill me anyway. I prepared to end my life. I had become a prisoner of my own making.

Cancer death sentence
Years earlier, I had received a blow that changed my life forever… My doctor told me, ‘Scott, you have a rare cancer called Mucadermal Carcinoma. Due to the rapid growth of the tumour in your lymph nodes, you have one to three years maximum to live.’

He had removed a large tumour located near my brain, nerves had been nicked and the right side of my face was paralysed. All I could hear echoing in my ears was the death sentence. Reeling from shock, I recounted the beginning of my drug addiction 15 years earlier.

What was once a ‘party addiction’ of heroin, cocaine and pills now became a way of life, massive amounts. It didn’t matter; I was going to die anyway. I pushed away those who loved me. I became so strung-out that I kept a syringe of heroin in the drawer waiting for me so that when I woke up in cold sweats in the middle of the night.

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THEBUZZ

Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ConnectingwithYou! Our thanks mainly to Dan Wooding and ASSIST News Service link: www.assistnews.net (and to other news sources)
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MOUNT HERMON, CA
Peanuts movie: Good grief…plus fun…in 3D!
Rusty Wright
Rusty Wright, Special to ASSIST, suggests… Fasten your seat belts, Peanuts fans. It’s a wild ride as the beloved comic strip characters hit the big screen in 3D. Charles Schulz‘s whole gang’s in this one.

Will Snoopy shoot down the Red Baron? Will Charlie Brown introduce himself to the Little Red-Haired girl? Will Lucy pull the football? You’ll have to see for yourself. But it’s fun. Lots of fun. (more…)

SOME BIBLICAL INSIGHTS INTO GOVERNMENT

Dr Augusto ZimmermannDr Augusto Zimmermann, professor of law, shares some pertinent biblical principles…

The Bible sees government as an institution established by God (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13). The government’s primary goal is to promote justice for its citizens – protecting the innocent from the aggressor and the lawless. Without security, every other function of government (such as protecting life, liberty, property, reputation) is meaningless. (more…)