Trip to East Asia shows signs of harvest

Unreached People Group of the Catamount

The location and isolation of the Catamount* people create nearly insurmountable barriers for them to be reached with the transforming power of the gospel.   They are classified as an Unreached People Group(UPG) because there are fewer than 100 believers in the whole people.  Most Catamount live in log homes built on sunny mountain slopes in the foothills of the Himalayas.  They are farmers who raise crops and animals to survive in the harsh region.  They remain some of the poorest minorities in East Asia** and often lack proper education, health care, nutrition and clothes.  It is with great excitement that we have watched God raise a team of Americans to join me on a semi-extreme expedition to take the Good News to villages where most have never heard of the One True God.  The team will daily visit homes doing evangelism and discipleship with prayer of laying a foundation of a new church.  We will also use reading glasses, building greenhouses and other community projects as tools to open the doors to the villages.  Would you like be a part of this work from the safety of your own home?  As we hike through mountain villages where the name Jesus hasn’t been spoken, we need you to fight for the awakening of these people in prayer?  Do you want to do something that not only makes a difference in someone’s daily life, but could make a difference in eternity?  Then join us in prayer and see how God uses those prayers to glorify Himself.

Pray for:

-          The e3 leaders as we do final training of the team and logistic arrangements

-          For the team to obtain necessary visas, as the embassy for this country has gotten very strict
-          For the team as they prepare and make arrangements to leave family and work

-          For the health and safety of the family members left behind in the States so that the team is not distracted from the work God has for them to accomplish. 

-          For safe and speedy travel from June 3 – 13th

-          For open hearts and homes as we carry the light of Christ into new territory

-          For energetic and healthy bodies

-          For protection from the enemy and government officials

*The name of the people group has been changed to “Catamount” for the protection of the local believers. 

**We use East Asia as a broad regional name when talking about this specific closed country.  Email us in you need more clues about the actual country.

From equip, to evangelize, to establish in Bangkok

A voice woke her in the darkness. “You must share the gospel.”  He commanded. 
“But Lord, I don’t know how to share the gospel!  I am afraid." she argued.
“Then you must learn how to share it. Today.

Although the woman couldn't discern whether the command came in a dream or whether she was awake, there was no denying that God had spoken clearly and unequivocally. The 78 year old woman set out to obey, immediately.  Walking to the only church that she could find in her area of Bangkok she waited patiently for the Sunday morning service to begin.  The gentle, old woman-of-faith was not surprised to hear from the pulpit that morning, that a free class would be held following lunch to teach people how to share the gospel.  She, along with 61 other believers gathered that afternoon while Jenni taught a 3 hour workshop.  She used e3 materials to teach on evangelism, sharing a personal testimony to your circle of influence and how to use the evangecube within a Thai Buddhist culture.  At the conclusion of the session, each person was equipped with an evangecube on the condition that they would use it a minimum of 3 times the following week.  Strict accountability was set up as the newly trained signed out their cubes.

In all, we saw 62 trained believers challenged to reach their own community, one church equipped with church planting materials and 75 cubes left behind. Nothing to it… an afternoon class, simple training, equipping materials.  Within a few weeks we were back in America.

During our time in Thailand we were well aware of the resistance to the Good News among the Thai people. Within the missions community this was a constant prayer focus.  Last week we received an email from Nitiaya, our Compass 31 administrator in Thailand, asking for more materials and Evangecubes on behalf of that church in Bangkok.  My initial thoughts were excitement but then, frankly, a bit of skepticism.  Many times we train leaders and church members and they love the Evangcubes with all the colorful pictures.  Everyone wants one!  So I responded by asking how many they were requesting along with a reminder that everyone who receives one needs to be trained and held accountable for using it.  Nitiaya responded immediately with some incredible news.  The church that Jenni was able to train had developed a schedule for continued training, discipleship and accountability.  The initial group had been using their evangecubes faithfully, successfully doing evangelism over the past several months and introduced many of their friends and relatives to Jesus.  Nitaya reported that the Thai loved the story told using the cube and that there were many were coming to faith.  The new believers are now meeting in a cell group and the mother church was looking into helping them formalize into a new church!!!

e3 Partners focus has always been to pray for and equip our national brothers and sisters to be obedient to the Great Commission, so they can join God in His work of reaching the lost.  God, in His mercy and perfect timing, seems to be empowering and inviting His people in this church in Thailand to be a part of His plan and He is doing that by saying, “You must evangelize.” 

Back on the left side of the road.

Arriving after midnight, I only had a few hours of sleep before I pulled onto the road on my motorcycle.  I kept repeating in my mind...left side, left side, LEFT side.  It is amazing how quickly we can forget things as important as which side of the road to drive on.

The past 5 days here in Thailand have been productive yet brought many mixed emotions.  Being here reenergizes me but it is very strange not having my family with me.  The people I see, the places I eat and the even the smells seem incomplete without our full family here.  It will be sweet when we return in God's timing.  In the meantime, it was great to meet other missionaries who are focusing on the unreached people group of the northern Thai.  I had the opportunity to train 20 evangelists to think beyound sharing the Good News to making disciples and starting new groups.  I visited some of the girls from the Compass 31 project, who are doing very well. Finally, I was able to share the vision and get feedback on a new human trafficking educaitonal tool we are working on developing.  This week has been full of great things and I am priviledge to be a part of it all as God allows these works to move forward even in our absence.

Our absence has actually helped to acheive one of our long term goals of making disciples that then go and make disciples.  During my time here, whenever I did training or visited a village I always took Kam Saen with me.  Little by little, I would have him teach portions of our material after I had modeled it for him a few times. All along, I was encouraging him that he could teach this without me.  Since I have returned to the States something has clicked in his mind, if I'm and not here to teach...he that means he will have to do it.  Exactly!  He is now setting up training for pastors and churches where he will take someone with HIM to watch HIM as he teaches.  It is a huge praise and a start.

My time in Thailand is coming to an end tonight as I head north to join my team in East Asia.  Here is a link to a prayer calender for our time in country and it would be a huge blessing if you would join this team in prayer support.

Thanks so much for keeping our family in your prayers.

The work in Thailand is not done...will you go?

It has been a challenging time of transition as God has called us back to the US for a season.  Despite the relocation, God is continuing to do amazing things in Thailand and we are privileged to be able to participate in His work both from a distance and through leading short term teams.

Later this month Kelly will return to Thailand for several days of ministry before meeting up with an E3 team in East Asia.  During his time in Thailand he will participate in strategic planning meetings with other church planters to coordinate efforts to reach the Northern Thai people.  Despite missionary activity in the region for more than 100 years, this people group remains unreached.  Kelly will also be training pastors from the Lahu people group in church planting techniques and challenging them to begin reaching their neighbors, the Northern Thai, in addition to making disciples of their own people.  Finally, he will be meeting with several key players who work to stop slavery in the region.  He will be presenting the first draft of the new evange-cube type tool we are developing to educate people about the dangers and realities of human trafficking.  We will then use their input to make whatever adjustments are necessary for the tool to be understood and effective. 

Part of the E3 strategy is to use short-term teams from America to partner with local churches.  As of part of the training done ahead of time, pastors prayerfully prepare an action plan for how to reach their own communities.  Once our short term teams arrive they partner with the pastor and other local believers to implement the plan.  Working together with the nationals the American team prepares the soil through prayer and plants seeds through evangelism.  They are enabled to communicate and have an impact through a translator.  Do you love the idea of adventure?  Or are you terrified of flying? Are you intrigued by the mystery of other cultures? Or do you have a phobia of speaking to strangers even in your own language?   Great, then you are a perfect fit!   We need you. God can use your strengths and weaknesses for His glory.  Please consider joining us on the field for a short term trip in October.  Click HERE for more information. 

Jessen Video January update!

Wow January 26th already!!!  Thanks for tuning in to see just a glimpse of the work in Thailand.

Compass 31 Freedom project

Photo by Jay Milbrandt.

Illegally crossing the border on a moonless night with only what she could carry on her back, she ran for her life. Many things were left behind including a crying two year old son. She quickly integrated into her new culture. She went to work in a factory. She was safe but nothing could comfort the ache she felt for the child she left behind. Hope came dressed in black. A man offered to bring her son to her. For a small fee, of course, the child could find his way “safely” again into her arms. Though, her heart warned against trust, temptation won the day. The man kept his end of the bargain and two weeks later a two year old boy-child was again in the familiar embrace of his mother. But then, the “too good to be true,” became a living nightmare. The agreed upon fee was doubled, tripled, interest was added and then multiplied. An ultimatum was given and the mother faced an unthinkable choice. In three weeks the debt would be paid, one way or another. On the last day of December either she had to pay the debt in full ($267.00 USD), or she would be taken to work off the debt in a brothel, or she would have to surrender her child to the slave traders. She had no way out, no money to pay her debt and nowhere to go. It was in this place that God decided to intervene.

Compass 31 has many goals and objectives, but they can all be summed up in our desire that God be glorified by captives finding freedom in Christ. When we heard of this woman’s situation we were moved to tears and we were driven to our knees on her behalf. While wrestling with the right thing to do here in Thailand, God raised up some modern day abolitionist half way around the globe. From the safety of their suburban homes, with passion for justice burning hotly within them, they raised the money to ransom this woman and her son. But the one email, the one announcement and the many prayers resulted in more than just physical freedom. God did what only God can do. Our project administrator, armed with prayer and money in hand, went to meet the woman and her son. She explained to the woman that there is a Most High God, One True God and that He cares deeply for her. She explained that the Most High God had provided for her debt to be paid and gave her the money that would pay for her and her son’s freedom. But that was only the beginning of their hour long discussion. Our administrator was able to use the woman’s experience to help her understand that we are all held captive, living in darkness. She explained that we all have a debt that we cannot ever, ever repay but that the Most High God sent his one and only Son to walk on the earth, to suffer the same ways we suffer, to live a perfect life, to pay our debt…to buy our freedom. The light bulb went on…the woman’s heart cracked opened to faith…she understood. A foreign message in a foreign world often gets lost in translation. Unfortunately that is how the gospel is usually received in Thailand. But this, THIS was different…this was no foreign story…this was the woman’s own story. She knew her role and she knew God’s role. Our administrator, who has 12 years of ministry experience, said she had never, ever seen anyone respond to the gospel so openly the first time that they heard it. Make no mistakes about that God is determined to set the captives free. Despite the pervasive darkness, despite the struggle and the loss, God wins. He wins EVERY time…and every once in a while He lets us have ring side seats to the action.

Making of a Merry Christmas

It’s been SOME year let me tell ya but through the good and the bad, the successes and the challenges, God has showered His grace on our family. You can also tell from the video that…we still love each other! As we look ahead at 2012 it looks like a long hard road from here but we are not alone and we have His strength to help us along. Thank you for your prayers.


Merry Christmas everyone!

Team provides many opportunities for Truth in Thailand

Dark and impoverished, the village is carved into a lush green mountain. Got Pa Bong, and many like it, is a visual reminder that God’s grace surrounds us, even in the most remote places. With 75 homes totaling over 500 people, they have many needs. There is a small remnant in the church that is faithful but religious legalism, drugs, alcoholism and lack of direction keep this village in bondage. The pastor reports that 60 of the 75 households are either addicted to or sell drugs. The issues of poverty, lack of education and drugs addictions puts the village children at an extremely high risk of being trafficked.

One muggy afternoon our team spread out to go to homes where they were to encourage and disciple local believers. I entered a typical home in northern Thailand which was raised on stilts with bamboo floors and walls. Twelve people gathered where the pastor had asked me to teach on prayer. After a great interactive time of teaching I opened it up for any other general questions. The head of the household asked about when Jesus turned water in to wine. I thought that was an interesting choice and in my mind I began to wonder if he was looking for ammunition to judge those around him since alcohol addiction is such a rampant problem in this area. After digging into that passage together, he then asked what sin was. I laid out the Biblical definition and examples of sin in hopes that he would relate that knowledge to the others he had in mind with a humble and loving heart. Then he asked one final question and at that point I began to catch on, realizing that he wasn’t pointing the gun of condemnation at someone else but the barrel of conviction was pointing right at him. Head hanging low he asked if you can sin too much that God wouldn’t love you anymore. With all the pieces of the puzzle sliding into place the man shared he drank too much and needed Jesus’ help. He wanted to be a good husband, father and witness and that day he decided it was time to change. As we finished praying for him and his family he raised his head with a look of determination that he was now on the road to restoration, and he wasn’t walking alone.

The team from America had many conversations of truth in home after home in four different villages with believers and pre-believers alike. Over the trip, 285 people heard the full Good News of Jesus and 61 decided to begin their new journey with him. The pastors or leaders in the communities are now ready to begin the real work of helping them to learn and obey the commands of Christ.

The follow up work now will include continued encouragement and discipleship approaches for oral learners. We will be working with each village to facilitate ownership, empowerment and training as they begin to trust in their Creator to begin to transform their village. It is an incredible privilege to watch them move from bondage and into the light. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we attempt to guide them along that path for His glory.

 
 
*Thanks Jo for the great photos!

Territory Expanding in Thailand

For several years we have prayed that God would be glorified in enlarging our borders. It has been stunning to see how He has been faithful in answering those prayers. Over the past two months so many things have been happening that we sometimes find it difficult to catch our breath. We usually like to keep our video updates shorter than this but there is much to tell…we tried to cram it all into the following 7 min 24 sec video. Watch and see how good God is!

Thank you for joining us on this wild ride with your hearts, prayers and support.

For more frequently updates or ways to join our support team, check out the following websites.

www.jessenfamily.info

jennisuejessen.wordpress.com/category/thailand/

In His grip,

The Jessen family

Compass 31—A new ministry born

The trafficking of women and children is reaching epidemic proportions around the world and especially in SE. Asia.  Thailand, aptly named “The Land of Smiles,” hides a sinister market of sexual slavery. Deceived and hopeless, young women are huddled in dirty shacks or chained behind bars while they await being forced to do things they shouldn’t even know about.  Many of those held captive are between the ages of 12-16. They don’t think of the future because they don’t think they are worth it, their only value is what the customer is willing to pay. They don’t know they were created in God’s image, they don’t know you can’t put a value on life, they don’t know they are priceless.

God is passionate about the broken, and because we too have been broken, we are humbled to follow Him to the darkest corners of the world in pursuit of those whom He loves. Over the past two months God has laid it on our hearts to provide a residential program to young mothers and their children who have been living in or rescued from sexually exploitive situations. On June 15th, 3 girls and their 3 babies moved into our hearts and home. As they live in our family we seek to love them in a way that provides protection, restoration and empowerment.

In praying about this project we sought His will as to a name that could sum up the immensity of the work before us. He directed us to the following passage in Jeremiah 31.

“See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth.  Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.  They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back.  I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”  Jeremiah 31:6-8 (emphasis added)

Webster’s dictionary gives the following 2 definitions for “compass”: 

n. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

v. To stretch round; to extend so as to embrace the whole; hence, to enclose, encircle, grasp or seize; as, to compass within the arms.

It is our desire to embrace those in our care and guide them on a path that will lead to their own personal discovery of the Creator who loves them and the purpose He created them for.  Thus, the name for the new ministry Compass 31 was born. 

For more information about our family’s work with Compass 31 check out http://jennisuejessen.wordpress.com/category/thailand/

Thank you Laura Parker for the great photos.

East Asia trip

We are back in Thailand after two weeks in East Asia.  We could so feel your prayers while we were in that country.  Thank you so much for your support.  Check out the video for sights, sounds and stories from the trip.

In His grip,
The Jessens

Community Transformation

Regardless of size or resources, local churches are the people through whom God desires to redeem the world. Every church is unique. Every church shares the same redemptive purpose. And, when churches learn to apply their talents and resources to share God’s love with the world, something amazing happens. The world changes. The blind see. The oppressed go free. The hungry are fed. The weak are defended. And most importantly, people and communities are reconciled to God.

In God’s perfect timing, right when we hit the ground 7 months ago, e3 Partners began rolling out a new strategy on community transformation. At e3 Partners, we know our greatest impact will come by supporting the greatest institution the world has ever known: the Church. It is for this reason that e3 has developed tools designed to empower churches to transform communities for the glory of God.

These tools are biblically based and incorporate best practices in church planting and community development. Three months ago we began piloting the process here in Thailand, helping local churches in three villages take its spiritual and social impact to another level. Promoting justice. Improving education. Providing water. Caring for the sick. Feeding the hungry. Sharing the love of Christ. Building strong communities. The possibilities are endless when a church discovers its unique vision for community transformation and we look forward to watching God work in these villages.

If you are interested in joining us here in Thailand through an e3 Partners short-term mission trip this October, we would love to have you come and work with us. For more information check out the Chiang Mai trip at http://www.e3partners.org/Page.aspx?pid=1939.

Training along the old Silk Roads

Asia and the Middle East are worlds both dark and enchanting. Mysterious in their worship, severe in their beliefs the people who live in this region of the world remain some of the least reached in the world. Although the southern Silk Road has made trade possible in the region for more than 2,000 years, ideas of faith do not trade as easily as spices and silks.

Our family landed in this upside-down world nearly seven months ago buoyed up by excitement and encouragement of you at home. We had God’s call and were sure of His plan. It was our desire and vision to train up nationals from Ch*na to follow Jesus on the Silk Road, making disciples, strategically placing them in city after city all the way Back to Jerusalem. What a vision! How can one, NOT want to be a part of that? Seven months in, this still remains our greatest desire.


The old Silk Roads cut right through the heart of the 10/40 window.

The Back to Jerusalem (BTJ) movement was born out of God’s grace and brutal persecution. The Ch*nese house church has been prepared to face persecution in ways that are only learned by surviving the fire. They can go into places that westerners are not permitted and willingly trade all they have and all they have ever know in exchange for His glory. They are gracious in their losses, heroic in their submission. We eagerly anticipate our first group of students. However, after seven months of fervently praying for that first class, we have found that perhaps our vision was just a little…TOO little. Our plan was to work in one training center here in Chiang Mai and by God’s grace equip up to 60 students a year to follow their hearts, and follow our God into the darkness for His glory. This is a good plan, but sometimes good can be the enemy of great. How much more can the Master of the Universe accomplish with willing lumps of clay?



In the recent weeks, God has opened doors that we could have never foreseen had we not been living on the ground here. Kelly has been asked to teach the e3 curriculum in other BTJ training centers located in Bangkok and NE India. He has also been invited to work with e3 in strategically training nationals in Bangladesh. As such, instead of only working in one training center with students from one country, he will be privileged to be working with 3 BTJ training centers as well as training nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Burma and Thailand. All of these students, in each of these locations, will be trained to reach the unreached living along the southern silk road, setting up future training centers, multiplying church planters and laying the foundation for church planting movements. As we consider the possibilities and implications of this we are so humbled at our own “little-ness.” Even so as I write this update, I can almost hear Jesus whispering through his laughter, “Oh, you of little faith!”

The gospel is being carried forth, light shining out of cracked clay pots…the ultimate proof of Christ’s death and resurrection!

Attention Sunday School teachers!!!

Attention Sunday School teachers!!! Scarlet and Maverek received many questions from kids back in the USA wanting information about Thailand.  Check out their latest Kid Questions video at www.youtube.com/kjessen1094 and feel free to share it with your classes.

Video update from Thailand

Wow last month went fast!!!  Many things are kicking off so here is a quick video to get you up to speed.


If the video does not display then you may watching it directly at http://www.youtube.com/user/kjessen1094

For more frequent updates stay tuned to this blog or our website at http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

Parade of homes in northern Thailand

A couple weeks ago I surveyed 13 different villages representing 6 different people groups in northern Thailand to get a feel for how we could serve them.  Needs ranged from water, medical, HIV/AIDS awareness, education, agricultural training and various degrees of economic poverty.  This perfect storm can lead to children being swept out of the villages and into the trafficking epidemic.  Pray for us as I revisit the highest priority villages next week to equip and empower the local churches which will hopefully begin the journey of walking alongside them to transform their villages.

Let the equipping begin!

Last week several students from Ch1na arrived who will be staying at our training center for a couple weeks.  While they are here we will be providing as much training as we can.

Today I started a two day Leadership Conference with a church staff here in Chiang Mai.  This will be the main church we'll be partnering with as we reach out into the Hill Tribes.

Both groups need prayer for wisdom and boldness.

March update from Thailand

Hello Dear Ones,

It would be better if we could just sit down and share with you in person what is going on in Thailand. But since time and space prevents that, we have included a link to a quick video update from our home to yours. We love and miss you all. Enjoy!



If the video does not display then you may watching it directly at http://www.youtube.com/user/kjessen1094.

For more frequent updates stay tuned to this blog or our website at http://www.jessenfamily.info/.

The Power of Multiplication!

There is still a clear picture in my mind of the day I began to learn how to multiply. I remember the first day, learning the 1’s, with the nervous anticipation that comes from learning something new. One times anything equals that number. Ok, that’s easy. This isn’t so hard. We move on to the two’s. Hold on a second 2+2 equals 4 and 2x2 equals 4. This is silly, what’s the difference here. Over the next several weeks my eyes began to open. 8+8 is 16 but 8x8 is 64, 12+12 is 24 but 12x12 is 144!!! The numbers got big in a hurry.

Over the past several years of training and serving with e3 Partners our eyes have once again been opened to the power of multiplication. Even through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit there are only so many people I, by myself, can share the gospel with. Those efforts are equivalent to addition. But what if I spend my time teaching, training and discipling others to do evangelism, disciple making and church planting? If I go out and share the gospel with one person, then one person would hear the Good News. If that is my process then every time I do evangelism, one new person will hear each time. But if every time I share the gospel, I also teach THEM how to do evangelism through disciple making, then…multiplication! Watch this from our e3 training.
Addition:
I share with one: 1 + 1 = 2; then I share with one more: + 1 = 3; and so on, sharing with one more each time + 1 = 4; + 1 = 5; + 1 = 6; + 1 = 7; + 1 = 8.

Multiplication:
I share with one and then teach that person to share: 1 + 1 = 2; then we BOTH share with another x 2 = 4; then 4 of us ALL share x 2=8; if then that 8 ALL shares with another, the group doubles again x 2=16; and 16 each reaching another x 2 =32; and so on 32 x 2=64; 64 x 2=128!

What does this multiplication example show us? Evangelism is a ministry of addition. Disciple making is a ministry of multiplication. Changes in the first few generations are not very different. The difference grows greater and greater with each additional generation. Our family wants a ministry of multiplication, not addition.
As we look as Jesus’ time here on earth, yes many times he spoke to the masses, but He invested most of his time teaching the disciples. Paul did the same thing. That is Jenni’s and my heart here in Thailand. If we are teaching Chinese students, we are teaching them to multiply the Good News and make disciples throughout Asia. If we are teaching Thai pastors and leaders, we are teaching them to multiply throughout every village and town in Thailand. If we are discipling prostitutes, may word spread through every brothel until every girl hears the hope of Jesus Christ. In all of these, may God’s passion to reconcile the lost to Himself spread like wildfire so worship will rise up out of the darkness and bring glory to Him from every corner of the world.

So will we continue doing evangelism, disciple making and church planting? Yes. But at the same time we will be teaching others to do the same. So if you are a numbers person or a results person, you may need to adjust the measure of success. You may not hear from us, this many people made decisions or this many churches were planted that we actually had our hands in, but you’ll hear this many people were trained. And by training them we believe that our efforts will be multiplied for God’s glory. We may never know the impact of those we’ve trained until we are sitting around in Heaven and I’m OK with that. Because, after all, it’s not about me, it’s about God.

For the latest updates stay tuned to http://www.jessenfamily.info/