Bruce and Linda in Asia
June 2019
Bruce and Linda in Asia
Hi Everybody
Well, what a hectic month June proved to be for us. We left on Sunday 2 June and two days later, arrived in Malaysia, to the greeting of so many friendly faces and 30 degrees of humid heat. A far cry from Wellington’s winter.
Malaysian Report
We spent the week meeting with the leaders and enjoying the amazing food they have here. Sometimes a challenge for Linda but we try not to tell her what she is eating.
The church came together on the weekend and we did a seminar focusing on the desire of the Lord for us to constantly get to know Him better.
Here are some of the folk we were ministering to
They always make it so hard to leave. I have been working with them since 2003 and they are part of my life.
Singapore
We flew back to Singapore and prepared for our annual event there that we call the Transforum. The numbers were down this year with 40 at the conference, including the leaders from Hong Kong and China. With the current trouble in Indonesia it was not possible for their leaders to come this year.
I remain very pleased with the depth of the work that is being produced there. We are so blessed to have outstanding leaders working with us for several years now and plan to see them in their own countries (with the exception of China) as finance allows. Here is a photo of the conference attendees, along with the team I work with (in the front row) from NZ, Australia, America and Singapore.
Japan
There is nothing like going into a new country for the first time. A long-time supporter of GoStrategic has been requesting that we take our business school (GoBusiness) to Japan for some years. The time seemed right so Linda and I left Singapore and flew to a Bible College Campus in Hokkaido that is run by Christ for the Nations, Japan.
We were overwhelmed with the beauty and quiet humility of the place and the people – but most of all by their hunger for God. After the first day they asked if I could change my speaking schedule and I ended up doing 10 x 1-hour sessions on Doing Business God’s Way over 5 days. I received many encouraging comments back and the leaders asked if they could book me again for next year. Obviously, I would love to do that if it proved possible.
We were also able to connect with two key church leaders – one in Hokkaido and one in Tokyo and will remain in communication with them. We are planning to bring our Business School there next year if finance permits. Most churches in Japan have around twenty people.
Japan is a hard country to reach. Less than 2% of the population are Christian. They are not anti-Christian – just disinterested. However, they are very passionate about business and economics and have expressed surprise that the Bible has anything to say about such matters so we see that as an effective tool for future evangelism.
Many of you will remember Trevor Chandler. He ministered in Japan for twenty years and I was fortunate to meet some key leaders who had him speak in their churches. They became very interested when they found out that Trevor and I had ministered a lot together and asked if I could speak in their churches on any future trip on the message of the Kingdom of God.
Our last official meeting was with a Japanese business man who heads up the Asian branch of TWR – a world-wide Christian radio outreach ministry. Their website says that they “engage millions in 190 countries with biblical truth in their heart language. For more than 60 years, God has equipped TWR to lead people from doubt to decision to discipleship.”
We only had one hour together but are committed to stay in touch with another with the hope that we may be able to do something together in the future.
In finishing I have to say that Japan captured our hearts which was an unexpected surprise. The people are beautiful – extremely humble, hungry for God and incredibly generous. I have considered it an honour to be here and with God’s grace, are very keen to come back.
Below are a few pictures taken at the Bible School in Hokkaido.
My interpreter for the week, Lena, with her husband Kiyo and their beautiful little girl.
This is the lovely couple who head up one of the bible schools.
Thank you all for your much-needed prayers, financial support and interest in what we are doing. Without you this would not be possible and we are so grateful
Love and God’s blessing,
Bruce and Linda Billington