10 June 2009

Trust services introduced in Southeast Asia

God has appointed mankind stewards. The material things that they own, great or small, are blessings God has abundantly poured on them to enjoy, preserve and by any chance, share.

The Adventist church in the southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD) endeavors to strengthen this program on stewardship and trust services, providing opportunities for church members to entrust personal property to the church to further its gospel commission.

In Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Wendell Mandolang, SSD Trust Services director; Edmund Liah, director for south-east Asia (SAUM); and Atty. Wilfredo Sumagaysay, director for the world church (GC), conducted seminars to pastors and church members, June 10-13, in Chiang Mai, Thailand; June 15-16, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and June17-18, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

While the team saw first-hand the fascination of people coming to know more of the Trust Services program of the church, Vietnam this time, bears more interesting stories.

At Ho Chi Minh City, Pastor Mandolang noticed two ladies listening intently to the presentations. The ladies who were sisters come from an affluent family and are members of the Adventist church. The ladies were introduced to the guest lecturers by Tran Quoc Khoi, Trust Service director for the church in Vietnam.

The growth of the Adventist church membership in Vietnam, especially after the government has given recognition to the church to operate in the country, has become an inspiration to the world field. By the second quarter of 2009, seven churches and more than 120 house churches were established.

“A certain family who owns a small lot and a house opened their home for a group of worshipers. This family later decided to donate their property to the church in order to not bother worship services and looked for a place to rent as their home,” said Pastor Mandolang during his report at SSD headquarters. “One particular need was of a 10,000 square meter-property to build a Bible Seminary to train young ministerial workers. While a piece of property was seen costing 200,000 US dollars, no money was available to pay its cost. And the pastors could do nothing but pray,” continued Mandolang. “At the end of our two-day seminar, Pastor Tran came to us sharing the good news that the two ladies—Dinh Thi Thanh Tan and her sister who have been attending their seminars decided to donate their 1-hectare piece of land located in Long Khanh area, about 1.5 hours drive south of Ho Chi Minh, where the Adventist mission headquarters is located. We praise God for this development,” concluded Mandolang. [Romhelyn Gay Deles/AND]