medical Archives | Within Reach Global https://withinreachglobal.org/tag/medical/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:37:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.7 https://withinreachglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-wrgSmallTransparent-32x32.png medical Archives | Within Reach Global https://withinreachglobal.org/tag/medical/ 32 32 Blessing Tribes In The Conflict Zone https://withinreachglobal.org/blessinginconflct/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blessinginconflct Thu, 17 Jun 2021 04:43:48 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=9825 The entire world has become more aware of the Burma Conflict because of recent protests and stories in the news. In February 2021, the military took control of the country. Since then, unrest gripped not only the major cities but the border regions as well when the Burma Army dropped bombs on innocent villages. Many […]

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The entire world has become more aware of the Burma Conflict because of recent protests and stories in the news. In February 2021, the military took control of the country. Since then, unrest gripped not only the major cities but the border regions as well when the Burma Army dropped bombs on innocent villages. Many deaths have been reported and thousands have been displaced. The Karen ethnic tribe is a particular target for the brutal Burma Army. Thousands of Karen people fled to the Thailand border in hopes to receive help. However, little help came. Right now, thousands of people are living in the jungles because it is not safe to remain in their homes.

Last week, the Within Reach Global Thai Outreach Team traveled down to the Thailand and Myanmar border. The purpose of the trip was to work alongside our ministry partners along the border and encourage their ministry efforts. We wanted to help initiate a gospel-centric outreach that met the tangible needs of hurting people, too. The team encountered numerous people who have been seriously impacted by Myanmar’s ongoing war. The images they saw and the things they experienced were heartbreaking. They visited a children’s home of 25 kids (soon to have 25 more) from Buddhist or animist families. The children are between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. These children were given the opportunity to have a safe space away from the tragedies of war. They are receiving a menial education as they reside together, far from their families. Many of them have lost loved ones along the way.

The kids our team encountered were scared, shy, and overwhelmed because familial ties were broken and their entire world turned upside-down. All hope seems lost through the eyes of these little ones. Military attacks continue relentlessly, and everything is uncertain.

Imagine your kids in this situation. It would tear you apart. This should cause Christ-tethered compassion to rise up in your heart and mine.

Driven by compassion, we supplied the children with the blankets, mosquito nets, and mattresses you provided. Your generosity was felt. For the first time in months, the kids have a blanket to stay warm during lonely nights and hope to know that someone cares.

But that’s not all you helped provide. We also brought Bibles in the Karen language so that they can learn God’s word. This is how you’re impacting people on the other side of the world. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Most of these kids had never heard the gospel before our team arrived.

The Bibles we provided empowered the leader of the home to share stories from God’s word and introduce these precious kids to the love of God.

But the list of needs goes on for miles. Thousands of people still need shelter, food, and clean drinking water.

While we desire to meet all of these physical needs, more than ever we want to address their spiritual deficit. We want these people to meet the Savior of the world: Jesus!

Your prayers and generosity in providing for underprivileged and forgotten people do not go unrecognized. We encourage you to pray that God continues to raise many Christians from around the world who will help these lost and hurting unreached peoples.

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2019 Year In Review https://withinreachglobal.org/2019-year-in-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2019-year-in-review Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:48:37 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=7692 2019 is over and 2020 brings a new season of purpose and joy as you take part in God’s missions mandate. But before we jump into a new year, we want to pause and remember what God did in and through us in 2019. Isaiah 26:12 describes what really took place in 2019: “All that […]

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2019 is over and 2020 brings a new season of purpose and joy as you take part in God’s missions mandate.

But before we jump into a new year, we want to pause and remember what God did in and through us in 2019.

Isaiah 26:12 describes what really took place in 2019: “All that we have accomplished, You have done for us.”

These words ring true in our hearts. God somehow chooses to use our feeble efforts and inabilities to reveal His glory in and through us. We are simply jars of clay that house all-surpassing power.

With that thought in mind, here are some of the highlights of what God did through the ministry of Within Reach Global in 2019.

Our local missionaries and foreign staff shared the Gospel to 1,700 people from 120 villages. 19 unreached people groups were impacted by this witness. We saw 105 recorded healings—a powerful testimony of God at work to reach the unreached!

 

To start a giving plan or to continue your donations in 2020, please visit our Donate page here.

 

Download the PDF of the Within Reach Global Year in Review here or click the image below.

 

The Rock Outreach Center

  • Visited The Rock outreach center
  • Experienced severe persecution
  • 1 church multiplied to 4 churches
  • 450 people from 20 villages heard the Gospel

New HQ: Chiang Mai, Thailand office

  • First office since the founding of WRG in 2008
  • The office serves 7 outreach centers in Southeast Asia
  • New staff and interns joining
  • Center for hosting short-term trips and teams

Missions Pulse Podcast

Gospel-Loaded MP3 Players

  • Voice of the Martyrs partnership
  • Gave away 2,400 Gospel-loaded mp3 players
  • Healings and salvation happened through mp3 content

Chinese Student Outreach

  • Regular outreach to university students
  • Reaching unreached people groups in the urban setting
  • Relational discipleship changes lives

WRG Missionary Convention

  • Theme: Colossians 1:27: “Christ in You The Hope of Glory”
  • Gathered in Thailand for security purposes
  • Time of refreshing, strategy, and renewed vision
  • Focused on disciple multiplication movements (DMM)

2020 Focus

  • Continued focus on the vision of reaching unreached people groups
  • Growth of staff and interns
  • Upcoming short-term mission trips

 

We are so thankful for your faithful prayers and financial support! You are a rope-holder, lowering us down into the goldmine of souls in Southeast Asia.

Without your generosity, there would be little impact. In fact, your generosity creates redemption and transformation.

Thank you for continuing to link hearts and hands to reach the Gospel-deprived people groups of the 10/40 Window!

To start a giving plan or to continue your donations in 2020, please visit our Donate page today.

To donate by check, make your check payable to “Within Reach Global” and send to:

Within Reach Global
P. O. Box 1591
Prescott, AZ 86302

We are so grateful for your monthly giving. May God bless you back richly this new year!

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Anti-Human Trafficking Training For Southeast Asia’s Heroes https://withinreachglobal.org/anti-human-trafficking-training-for-southeast-asias-heroes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=anti-human-trafficking-training-for-southeast-asias-heroes Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:27:39 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=6474 Did you know that Southeast Asia is full of heroes? Heroes who risk their lives and well-being to rescue perishing souls from the “dragon” and then impart healing and Sprit-life into them. They do it through midnight hikes, shining hope and carrying living water to women who are devalued and persecuted by their husbands. These […]

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Did you know that Southeast Asia is full of heroes?

Heroes who risk their lives and well-being to rescue perishing souls from the “dragon” and then impart healing and Sprit-life into them.

They do it through midnight hikes, shining hope and carrying living water to women who are devalued and persecuted by their husbands. These women escape under the cover of night to drink of the life flowing from these heroes.

These heroes do it by rescuing neglected, starving, and “sold” children, bringing them both real and spiritual food. Then they bring these precious ones into the loving arms of a family.


These heroes are rescuing neglected, starving, and “sold” children.
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The suffering and traumas these heroes face are counted as joy if only they can see their Savior’s glorious face.

Yet, even heroes need an occasional break and encouragement from the Christian family. They need new equipment to use in their daily “search and rescue” missions. They need to know that they are not alone.

On July 15, some of these heroes came together in the sticky, humid air in the jungles of Southeast Asia. They came to fellowship together, learn of their Heavenly Father’s love and receive new trainings. It was a joy to be one of the teachers—and humbling at the same time.

I looked into one man’s tearful eyes as he poured his heart out about the multitudes of starving children at The Edge outreach center he oversees. As he spoke, he held a baby he had just adopted out of human trafficking. I thought to myself, “He should be teaching me how to have more faith and love!” Yet all he sought was a listening ear and encouragement that he was on the right track. “Don’t ever give up,” I said. “God is using you mightily!”

For 2 days, these heroes learned about deliverance, forgiveness, how to involve communities in stopping human trafficking, and also learned a very impactful curriculum about God’s heart and plan for women. They were delivered from lies and also had prophetic words of encouragement spoken over them.

In a world filled with so many distractions, let’s not forget to pray for these dear brothers and sisters, who die daily to love the broken and bring salvation to unreached places. Let’s listen to the voice of our Heavenly Father. Perhaps we might just step out of our comfort zones, bring help to Christian heroes, and entertain angels in the process.


step out of your comfort zone, bring help to Christian heroes, entertain angels.
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We will continue to bring new trainings to these missionary heroes. But it costs money. If you feel led to give towards this joyful cause, donate here.

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The Power Of Short Term Missions Teams https://withinreachglobal.org/the-power-of-short-term-missions-teams/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-power-of-short-term-missions-teams Sat, 07 May 2016 14:41:16 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=6330 We have been so blessed to have four short-term missions teams join us at Within Reach Global for the past week. They have experienced some amazing ministry opportunities: Campus ministry to college students and young professionals Ministry to orphans and underprivileged children Village trips to unreached people groups Holistic evangelism to Buddhist monks Prayer walks […]

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We have been so blessed to have four short-term missions teams join us at Within Reach Global for the past week. They have experienced some amazing ministry opportunities:

Campus ministry to college students and young professionals
Ministry to orphans and underprivileged children
Village trips to unreached people groups
Holistic evangelism to Buddhist monks
Prayer walks through Chinese cities
Pastors and leaders conference


Watch exciting testimonies of the power of short-term missions teams.
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There’s a lot of controversy surrounding short-term missions teams. Some have alluded to these groups being nothing more than Christian tourism. But there is a certain power that comes from short-term missions trips.

David Joannes, president of Within Reach Global, talks about this subject with one of his visiting pastors on Missions Blab. Watch the video and give your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Have you ever been on a short-term missions trip? How did it impact your life? How did it leave a lasting gospel impression in the lives of the locals?

Want to join Within Reach Global for a short term trip? Get involved here.

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2015 Year In Review https://withinreachglobal.org/2015-year-in-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2015-year-in-review Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:30:10 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=6216 We saw amazing things happen at Within Reach Global in 2015! 3 countries 6 outreach centers 13 local missionaries from 7 different people groups 10 foreign missionaries 9 church plants 10 tons of clothing given to the poor 150 led through our discipleship course 3-5 English Corners per week 120 students reached through Camps 135 […]

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We saw amazing things happen at Within Reach Global in 2015!

  • 3 countries
  • 6 outreach centers
  • 13 local missionaries from 7 different people groups
  • 10 foreign missionaries
  • 9 church plants
  • 10 tons of clothing given to the poor
  • 150 led through our discipleship course
  • 3-5 English Corners per week
  • 120 students reached through Camps
  • 135 college students / young professionals reached weekly
  • 650 children reached, discipled, fed, and given school supplies
  • 60 Burmese (scattered by war) reached and being followed up upon

Persecution. Revival. Police beatings. Underground trainings. Baptisms. Discipleship. Local missionary homes demolished by the government. Hope. Joy. Glory. You’ll be amazed at all that God has done through the ministry of Within Reach Global!

See the full scope of God at work in Southeast Asia. Get the Within Reach Global 2015 Year In Review here!

2015 Year In Review cover

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These Poor Precious People Are Receiving Free Medical Care In China https://withinreachglobal.org/these-poor-precious-people-are-receiving-free-medical-care-in-china/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=these-poor-precious-people-are-receiving-free-medical-care-in-china Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:00:19 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=6172 Our local Chinese missionaries are incredible! They have recently found a way to provide free medical care for these poor precious people. They live near The Edge outreach center. They are the least of these. They are not beautiful. But God has a special way of bringing beauty up from the ashes.  God has a […]

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Our local Chinese missionaries are incredible! They have recently found a way to provide free medical care for these poor precious people.

They live near The Edge outreach center. They are the least of these. They are not beautiful.

But God has a special way of bringing beauty up from the ashes. 


God has a special way of bringing beauty up from the ashes.
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At Within Reach Global, we are passionate about unreached people groups—people who have never heard the name of Jesus before. These few represent many more who have been overlooked and despised by community and the general population. They’re the perfect ones to focus our love and the love of God upon!

 

These few represent many more who have been overlooked and despised by community and the general population. They’re the perfect ones to focus our love and the love of God upon!

 


These few represent many more who have been overlooked and despised by community.
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Two children have already undergone successful surgeries, and many more will soon be taken to other parts of China to receive medical care that the China government is providing.

As you see these faces, see the hurt and heartache, we pray that your heart would be moved with compassion as well. 

Partner with us to bring the message of salvation to those who are waiting.

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She Left Us So Quickly And Went Home To Her Heavenly Father https://withinreachglobal.org/she-left-us-so-quickly-and-went-home-to-her-heavenly-father/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=she-left-us-so-quickly-and-went-home-to-her-heavenly-father Mon, 31 Aug 2015 08:22:44 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=5575 August was an emotional month for us. Though there were wonderful things that God did (as he always does), a tragic experience left our missionary team saddened in its wake. We wanted to share this with you, not so that you would be filled with sadness, but that you might sense our hearts for the […]

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August was an emotional month for us. Though there were wonderful things that God did (as he always does), a tragic experience left our missionary team saddened in its wake.

We wanted to share this with you, not so that you would be filled with sadness, but that you might sense our hearts for the lost, unreached, marginalized and forgotten.

Yuxiang, an 11 year old girl we have been ministering to at The Edge outreach center in Myanmar, passed away last week. She was diagnosed with comprehensive meningitis and, despite our efforts to rescue her life, she left us so suddenly. Our eyes well up with emotion even as we write this.

Yuxiang’s father had left the family for another woman. Her mother turned to drugs, and is now an addict. She was basically orphaned, living alone with her sister.

 

“Before she died, she came to know the Lord!” our local missionary informed us. “Now she is in a much better place, being cradled in the arms of Jesus.”

 

We pray that as you read this update, your heart would be moved to pray with us for Yuxiang’s family. Pray comfort and hope. Pray salvation. Pray also for our local missionaries who are under great stress and sorrow at her passing. And pray for the many families in the area who have yet to heart of the gospel of Jesus.

We pray that you would join hearts and hands with us to see the hope of the gospel brought to this dark region of the earth.

Yuxiang

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Sad Update: 11 Year Old Yuxiang Passed Away This Afternoon https://withinreachglobal.org/sad-update-11-year-old-yuxiang-passed-away-this-afternoon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sad-update-11-year-old-yuxiang-passed-away-this-afternoon Sun, 23 Aug 2015 15:20:16 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=5529 She has always been in His arms. Now she can see the One who is holding her. Our hearts broke as we heard the news today. Our local missionary left us a tearful voice message, “This afternoon, a few minutes past 3:pm, Yuxiang left us.” A tearful voice message, “This afternoon, a few minutes past 3:pm, […]

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She has always been in His arms. Now she can see the One who is holding her.

Our hearts broke as we heard the news today.

Our local missionary left us a tearful voice message, “This afternoon, a few minutes past 3:pm, Yuxiang left us.”


A tearful voice message, “This afternoon, a few minutes past 3:pm, Yuxiang left us.”
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Cradling my phone against my ear long after the message had played, I stood there shocked and silent. My heart sunk. “Poor little princess,” I thought, then tears streamed down my cheeks.

I replied to our local missionary’s voice message with one of my own. My voice crackled as I asked if she had an opportunity to meet Jesus.

“Before she died, she met God!” our local missionary replied. “Now she is in a much better place, being cradled in the arms of Jesus.”


“Before 11 year old Yuxiang died, she met God! She is being cradled in Jesus’ arms.”
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A few days ago, 11 year old Yuxiang had been diagnosed with comprehensive meningitis. Her life was in danger, and our team from The Edge outreach center joined together to help provide medical care for this precious little girl from Myanmar. Her father had left her family. Her mother had turned to drugs and is now an addict. After taking extreme measures, and driving her 10 hours to a hospital, we believed that she would see a full recovery.

But the disease was much more advanced than we had imagined.

 

Her sister was with her as she passed. We are happy that she had at least one relative present at her death. Her body is scheduled for cremation, and her sister will carry the ashes back to Myanmar.

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Families around The Edge outreach center are clasped in the strong clutches of drug abuse and poverty. There are many more like Yuxiang, but most in an even worse state—unknown, forgotten, hopeless.

We pray that as you read this update, your heart would be moved to pray with us for Yuxiang’s family. Pray comfort and hope. Pray salvation. Pray also for our local missionaries who are under great stress and sorrow at her passing. And pray for the many families who have yet to heart of the gospel of Jesus.

We pray that you would join hearts and hands with us to see the hope of the gospel brought to this dark region of the earth.

 

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

yuxiang

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Poor Little Princess. 11 Year Old Yuxiang Has Comprehensive Meningitis https://withinreachglobal.org/poor-little-princess-11-year-old-yuxiang-has-comprehensive-meningitis/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=poor-little-princess-11-year-old-yuxiang-has-comprehensive-meningitis Thu, 20 Aug 2015 07:33:56 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=5513 She smiles less than most children her age. After all, she has grown up in the strong grip of poverty. Her father left her and her mother for another woman. Her mother turned to drugs and is now an addict. On top of that, she has recently been struck with comprehensive meningitis. A terrible story. […]

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She smiles less than most children her age. After all, she has grown up in the strong grip of poverty. Her father left her and her mother for another woman. Her mother turned to drugs and is now an addict. On top of that, she has recently been struck with comprehensive meningitis.

A terrible story. It saddens our hearts. And yet we know there is hope.


A terrible story. It saddens our hearts. And yet we know there is hope.
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Yuxiang is 11 years old. She is a statistic. She is a number, one of thousands of children like herself. But to us, she is more than just a number or a statistic. She has value. She is the object of God’s loving affection. She is a little princess. – David Joannes

 

After our local missionaries at The Edge outreach center in Myanmar learned about Yuxiang’s situation, they immediately rushed her 10 hours to a hospital to get medical care.

 

The ongoing civil war and continued political unrest in Myanmar creates a constant security issue for our local missionaries at The Edge outreach center. After seeing the immense pain caused by drugs, prostitution and poverty, discipleship and evangelism are underway, accompanied by our weekly feeding program for the children. – The Edge outreach center

 

It has been confirmed that Yuxiang has comprehensive meningitis. She is now receiving treatment, and we are praying that God will intervene for this precious child. We are praying that her health will return, that she will experience the love of God shown to her by our missionaries, and that her family and community will understand the power of the gospel.

Would you please pray about giving financially to Yuxiang’s medical needs? We are just now commencing the treatment that she needs, and we are still unsure of the total cost that will ensue. But we believe that by loving this precious little girl, many will see the love of God.


Please pray about giving to Yuxiang’s medical needs. https://withinreachglobal.org/donate
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Please keep Yuxiang at the forefront of your heart and mind.

By helping provide for the medical needs of little children like Yuxiang, this is how we reach unreached people groups in rural settings. The marginalized tribes of the 10/40 Window need a tangible experience of God’s love, and we are here to make sure that happens.


Marginalized tribes of the 10/40 Window need a tangible experience of God’s love. #unreached
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2014 A Year In Review | Within Reach Global https://withinreachglobal.org/2014-a-year-in-review-within-reach-global/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2014-a-year-in-review-within-reach-global Thu, 08 Jan 2015 21:16:56 +0000 https://withinreachglobal.org/?p=2691 Download the PDF here Overview The year 2014 was a year of vision brought about by the experience gained from years past and the hope elicited by years to come. It saw darkness in the form of rebellions, explosions, stabbings and earthquakes. It witnessed adventure in the form of many voyages and it sparked our […]

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Download the PDF here

Overview

The year 2014 was a year of vision brought about by the experience gained from years past and the hope elicited by years to come. It saw darkness in the form of rebellions, explosions, stabbings and earthquakes. It witnessed adventure in the form of many voyages and it sparked our imaginations with various ruminations. It saw pig-brain diets, flying paint and a Buddhist monk pedicure. It saw 15 unreached villages visited, 200+ English corner attendees, 165 student camp attendees, 162 Christian leaders trained, 20 baptisms, and 41 salvations. It saw light in the eyes of the many who were touched by the Hand that holds the world. Yes. 2014 was quite an interesting year, and Within Reach Global was right in the thick of it all.

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January

We began 2014 with a brilliant reminder of why we should set new trails ablaze among unreached people groups. (No. It had nothing to do with arson.) We then went on a week-long, 15,000+ mile journey across the (urban) jungles of America, connecting with churches for fundraising and advocacy. We presume that hearts were set afire, because 7 teams were scheduled to spread the flame to China. A city of 100,000 college students waited with bated breath for the fire of the gospel to touch them. As we waited, we paused and reflected, and we discovered that the world really does look like a 28-year-old Chinese man. Selah. Can’t pause and reflect all month long, so construction continued on our new Burma outreach center. Then they all started coming in droves! Tribes from all over the province on a mass exodus to the big city. Caught in a flood of Chinese youth, we were faced with the wondrous possibilities of reaching unreached people groups in urban settings. Rubbing our palms together, we knew in our hearts that great things were yet to come for Within Reach Global in 2014. We celebrated by feasting on some disgusting things on a missionary’s diet. Yum! 

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February

February meant more fire! With Chinese New Year festivities in full throttle, the firecrackers kept going off, as if to remind us of the madness of previous years: the pig and the tiger. Meanwhile, over by the edge of China and far from all the celebratory ruckus, one of our local missionary families moved into our new outreach center in Myanmar. This was by no means a comfort zone for them, especially with a baby in tow, but missions comes with risk. And risk is all the more exciting when it comes with a suspension bridge! Steady your wobbly knees with a wobbly bridge! Conquer your fears and say no to comfort zones. Be like all these people who have expressed interest in getting involved with Within Reach Global on the mission field. Send out the exodus, because really… who would want to get Left Behind? (No pun intended.) 

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March

When paint starts flying everywhere, you know something fun and interesting is going on. Such goings on were all about as we beautified our brand new outreach center: The Hub Outreach and Hospitality Center. NOW OPEN. But wait! There’s more! March also saw the opening of our Amazon Smile – all for your shopping and donating conveniences. But as it is on the mission field, great light can also come with great darkness. Knees were bent in prayer and tears were shed when news of a deadly knife attack and mass stabbing at the train station made the news. Still, amidst the turmoil, the light shines – sparks of love and a servant spirit kindled the fire in an unreached village, with our local missionary giving a Buddhist monk a pedicure while sharing the gospel with him. And just because light is good at piercing through even the darkest of nights, 300 college students attended our English corner outreach every week, and we began working with orphans in the countryside

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April

This busy month, the dead came to life in bathtubs as we dunked Chinese college students during bathtub baptisms. An underground training, which didn’t necessarily happen under the ground, was also held for 30 Christian leaders. And because we continue to pray and hope for more dunkings and trainings, we created a shiny new donation page to make giving easier. We then sat down and documented every day of April’s missions history, because why not? It’s good to look back and see the hand of God moving through the sands of time. It’s also good to find inspiration in the gratefulness seen on the faces of Chinese Christians receiving Bibles for the very first time. What wasn’t good was finding out that China got accused of promulgating an anti-Christian campaign as they demolished churches. Ah, yes. This is the mission field. Every day, the war rages on.

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May

The fact that he is crippled didn’t stop one of our local missionaries from reaching the unreached, so getting stuck in the mud could do little to keep him from going to an unreached village. What’s our excuse again? Selah. While he was trying to get out of the mud, hundreds of kilometers away, 9 new believers were baptized. No bathtubs this time! Just a gushing waterfall. All 9 were from the unreached Yao tribe. If by reading all this, you still don’t realize how fun it is to be a missionary, we gave you 10 reasons why you should be a missionary. We also created silly memes of how to ruin a short term missions trip. Just for fun. (The creating memes part. Not the ruining mission trips part.) What was also really fun was seeing 120 of China’s future leaders at our student camp, where their lives got rocked for Jesus. The police missed the heavenly memo on Christians being not only fun, but also unstoppable, so they warned our local missionary not to go and preach the gospel. She went anyway, but not without company. She had a group of orphans she was discipling in tow, and the orphans gave food to the homeless! Unbelievable gospel love! 

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June

On a more serious note, this we have to understand: persecution is real. It’s not all fun and games. June saw panic and boldness warring against each other across the nation as China continued its anti-Christian cross removal. It was the perfect time to remember the Tiananmen Square massacre as China got amnesia and ponder over where the zeros are: zero churches, zero disciples, zero missionaries. It was a time to look back at all those years spent traveling to rural villages, and reflect on 4 ridiculous things Jesus never said about missions. June came to a close with preparations for two visiting teams, but it couldn’t end without us realizing that China is China in all its strange and (sometimes) disturbing ways when we found out about how they dealt with internet addicted teens

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July

We made a list of all the much needed supplies we should pack, then headed to the jungles of Southwest China. With us were two teams from America who had balloon sword fights with unreached village kids, and shared the gospel to people waiting at the other end of our obedience. We hiked up to a 20 story Buddhist statue and prayed for the city (not to the statue, of course). We raised our hearts and voices in intercession for the prevalent poverty. We prayed for connections – friendships – with unreached peoples. We also prayed for the food, especially after we somehow managed to eat pig brains on the way. They’re really not that bad. *gag* Try it! We shared the gospel to hundreds of students at our student outreach, and a few days after our two teams left, more dunking happened! Six new believers got baptized by our local missionaries. A month of wonderful breakthrough and transformation ended with sudden tragedy, when our 5-month pregnant local missionary dealt with life-threatening health issues. (She has since then almost fully recovered, and her baby has been delivered and is healthy. Praise God!) Still, even with the ongoing tug-of-war between light and darkness, we give Him our praise! 

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August

Adversity plagued our team during the first weeks of August. Tuberculosis, stomach issues, flu symptoms, and persecution. No fun at all. But health issues birthed a new encouraging website, There Is Yet Hope. And hope was indeed needed after a massive earthquake shook the province, killing 367 people. Shakings and trials like these just may be some of the 10 things that missionaries won’t tell you, which we talked about as we compiled the most epic monster list of missionary quotes on the internet! Three of our local Chinese missionaries went to the Philippines for an intensive Bible school training and ate Filipino food using their hands for the very first time. We began to see an influx of China Church giving to the ministry, as a wealthy Chinese woman donated clothing for underprivileged children in Burma. We then ended August on a much more positive note when we played with children living with HIV/AIDS, making them smile with the small gifts we gave them. 

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September

Our weekly English corner outreach among Chinese college students continued, and we saw a hunger growing in the hearts of many new students. You see, God is in the business of revealing himself to lost people. In fact, more students told us they want to be baptized! So we filled up the bathtub again, and dunked some new Chinese Christians who got saved at our outreach center. Miraculous healings took place during a discipleship class, and we were inspired to share our vision with local Chinese Christian businessmen and women who would support the ministry. But instead of simply soliciting funds, something far greater happened! We began regularly meeting with wealthy Chinese, pouring into their lives. Everyone was on the same page: extending the Church to where the Church is not. Meanwhile, as God’s kingdom continued to expand in China, the world’s empires were being shaken: chaos erupted in Hong Kong, and the Umbrella Revolution shook the world, and even the CNN team was gassed during Hong Kong protests. 

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October

We were so thankful for your donations to our foreign missionaries, and they were so happy to enjoy a missionary getaway in Thailand! That’s where we rolled out our swanky new organizational structure (nine months in the making), and clarified our vision, mission and values. Meanwhile, back in the motherland (China), our ministry had grown so indigenous that the locals had no problem leading the weekly English corner outreach. You donated the funds we needed for our orphan and underprivileged children birthday bash extravaganza. The kids at the Father’s House had an awesome time, and were so blessed by gospel love. A Chinese atheist met Jesus after trying to debunk Christianity, and then 3 of our local missionaries blessed a Buddhist monk in an unengaged people group by building a kitchen for him. We love these kind of tangible and holistic ways of sharing the gospel! 

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November

During our second missionary convention of the year, we ate steamed dumplings and tofu soup, as the convention was led completely by our local missionaries. We have been passionate about raising up a capable group of Chinese missionaries who can reach their nation without foreign support, and we were thrilled to see this begin. Each one of our missionaries took the Gallup Strengthsfinder test and memorized our vision, mission and values. It was a powerful time of prayer and strategizing. It was perfect timing too, because 92 Christian leaders attended our underground training, and our partner pastor shared about how God is going to move through China powerfully. We were excited about how God would continue to use Within Reach Global to impact China and the neighboring Asian nations. The pioneer spirit within us jumped for joy, and our eyes were again turned to the wilderness pathway. 

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December

The festive holiday spirit is tough to find throughout China’s cities, so we decided to create our own! 51 college students and missionaries crammed into our small outreach center for an unforgettable Christmas party. Many people heard the gospel for the very first time, and new believers undergoing discipleship training shared their new faith. Many decided to follow Jesus that night! Then a mass exodus occurred as most of our foreign missionaries went home for Christmas. We rested and enjoyed the holidays, thanking God for all that he had done throughout the year. We pray that as you read what God has done in 2014, you would be inspired and encouraged to join us in praying, giving and going to the least reached areas of Southeast Asia with us. We’d like to encourage you to sign up for our monthly newsletters to find out what God has in store for 2015. We are thankful for your support, and for all the prayers you spoke over us! Blessings from Within Reach Global! 

Looking Ahead To 2015

2014 was a great year that transitioned us into new beginnings and continued blessing. This coming 2015, we embark on another adventure, expectant that God will continue to expand our territory as well as usher in more souls to His kingdom through this ministry. We envision more unreached villages hearing the name of Jesus. We see more local missionaries rising up and taking up the banner to proclaim God’s kingdom reign over Southeast Asia. We are expecting missionaries from all over the globe to join with us in honoring God and reaching the unreached. More churches will grow in hope, faith and love even amidst persecution. 

We have no doubt that 2015 will bring in greater things! We are excited! And we are thankful to you for continuing to join hands with us as we gather in the great harvest of 2015. 

“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” – Isaiah 26:12

All photos by the incredibly talented and beautiful Jumay Designs.

The post 2014 A Year In Review | Within Reach Global appeared first on Within Reach Global.

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