NORTH KOREA: While in North Korea, I met with government officials, including Vice President Kim Yong Dae (center), and presented them with Korean-language Bibles, a cross, and a statuette of the Good Samaritan.

Breakthrough
for the Gospel in Asia

Dear Friend,

During the past year, I’ve made several trips to Asia to oversee our relief projects, meet with government and church leaders, and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Asia is home to over 4 billion people, but probably less than 10 percent are evangelical Christians.

I’ll never forget my first trip to Asia in 1975 with Bob Pierce, founder of Samaritan’s Purse. One of our stops was Hong Kong, a British colony that was later reunited with China. At that time, mainland China was closed to outsiders, but we stopped at a military checkpoint overlooking the border to pray that God would open the doors to share His love and the Gospel message in that part of the world.

Today those prayers are being answered. During my recent visits to Asia, I have been greatly encouraged to see how God is unlocking doors previously closed to the Gospel. From North Korea to Myanmar to China, He is giving Samaritan’s Purse new opportunities to build up the local church and to lift up the Name of Jesus Christ.

All across Asia, God has blessed Samaritan’s Purse with opportunities to share His love. We are helping to build a Christian hospital in Bangladesh and clinics in Vietnam. In Sri Lanka, our teams are assisting widows and children affected by the conflict that has divided the island. Our Children’s Heart Project in Mongolia and HIV/AIDS ministries in Cambodia and Thailand have saved lives and led hundreds to faith in Christ.

Over the past decade, we have sent more than 13 million gift-filled shoe boxes to Asia through our Operation Christmas Child project, including more than 5 million to India. Each year, tens of thousands of children accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the follow-up discipleship program that we offer through local churches.

Friends, I believe Asia is ripe for the Gospel. In the 20th century, the continent was dominated by totalitarian rulers such as Mao Zedong and Pol Pot who wanted to wipe out all religions, especially Christianity. As a result, hundreds of millions of people have grown up in a religious vacuum. They know in their hearts that there must be a God. They are searching, and it’s up to us to show them the Way.

The Bible says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, NIV). Please continue to pray for a harvest of souls for the kingdom of God. Thank you for your support, and may God bless you.

Sincerely,

President
Samaritan's Purse

CONTINUE READING:

NORTH KOREA: Progress Behind the Scenes

MYANMAR: Transformation after the Storm

CHINA: Working Alongside the Church

Ways You Can Help

PRAY

It is encouraging to see the opportunities that God has given us to minister to people in Asia, but many places remain closed to the Gospel. Please pray that God will continue to open doors to share His love and the Good News of Jesus Christ in that part of the world.

NORTH KOREA

Our medical projects in North Korea continue to provide a Christian presence in a country resistant to outside influences. For a gift of $150, we can ship $3,000 worth of equipment and supplies that can let people know that there is a Great Physician who cares about their every need.

CHINA

Our relief work in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake has given local Christians many opportunities to share the Gospel. Your gift of any amount can help Samaritan’s Purse meet critical needs in a way that effectively communicates the compassion of Jesus Christ.