Recent Updates
Dear Friends,
As I write this prayer letter we are only a few hours away from Thanksgiving Day. I am sure that everyone reading this report has much to be thankful for if we simply take the time to “count our blessings” as hymn writer Johnson Oatman wrote in 1897.
Gayle and I certainly have a great many things to praise God for even in the midst of a pandemic that has negatively impacted the entire world!
- We are thankful that our ministry of helping church planters to reach people in restricted access nations continues to expand each month by God’s grace. My last report was just a month ago but we have been able to add new missionary pastors in Vietnam, Egypt and Afghanistan in the last 3 weeks.
These are national pastors that already speak the language and are able to operate without special visas or the intense scrutiny that accompanies foreigners.
Missionary visas are not granted in these countries but our pastors are local so they don’t need visas. They still must be discreet about their ministry, but they have a much greater freedom to spread the gospel than a foreigner.
Please pray for the more than 100 families we are helping in difficult and sometimes dangerous areas.
- We are also thankful for each church or individual that supports Barnabas1040 Missions either financially or through prayer. We know that we could not continue to add new church planters were it not for the fact that the Lord continues to bring us into contact with new partners.
The average church planter we support receives only a little over $100.00 a month which means that every time a new church adds Barnabas1040 to their missions budget we are able to help plant a new church in a needy village somewhere in the world!
- Gayle and I are also thankful for the opportunities God has given us to serve, and the health to go through the open doors of ministry. On January 29, 2022 we will celebrate 50 years of marriage and ministry together. The Lord has blessed us far beyond what we deserve, not only with our ministry but our loving family!
- Finally, I want to mention how thankful I am for the kind invitations to preach and present our ministry in churches in America during this time of global shutdowns. The last few weeks I have presented our ministry in Florida, Michigan, Oregon, California and Washington State. December we are scheduled to be in Oklahoma and Florida.
I am sincerely honored that God is bringing us into contact with like-minded American pastors who have a heart to reach into those corners of the world that are still without the gospel.
I pray that the Lord will continue to raise up young men with a heart for God and a passion for souls both in America and the world!
God Bless You and Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Friends,
It has been a very busy few weeks since we sent out our last prayer letter. By God’s grace, our ministry has seen an increase in national pastors that we are supporting.
One of my prayers for the past 6 years was that someday we would be helping at least 100 National Pastors in restricted access areas. Recently we reached and surpassed that goal and as of this writing we are supporting 105 church planters in 19 countries. God is certainly “..able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”. Eph. 3:20.
The amazing thing to me is that this increase has happened during the pandemic shutdowns. God is not subject to mortal man’s “stay at home orders“. He is freely moving across His world orchestrating gospel encounters and using those opportunities to bring people to Himself!
Let me give you some examples of what only God could have done during this year of shutdowns:
- During the past 3 months in the midst of severe shutdowns our people have seen 887 souls saved and 221 baptized.
- That brings us to a total of 2,436 professions of faith and 635 added to the local churches through baptism so far in 2021 during the pandemic.
- So far this year we have added 30 new church planters. That is almost 30% of our total in the past 10 months alone. It took us 5 years to identify and vet the first 75 church planters and one year to reach the next 30. I attribute this to the blessings of God and the hard work of the missionaries we work with across Asia and Africa.
- In 2021 we have been able to help the poor and sick with more than $16,000.00 of food and medicine. Each one of the hundreds of people who were helped also received a gospel presentation and many were saved.
- Barnabas1040 was also able to invest an additional $15,000.00 to aid in the building of buildings used to house pastors, Bible training centers and orphan children in Laos and India.
As I consider what is happening, I can only say “To God be the glory, great things He has done”!
I want to close this report by listing some prayer requests as well as saying thank you to all those who pray for, or financially support this ministry. Individually, none of us could accomplish a great deal, but it is amazing what God is able to do through us as we join together to pray, give and go. Gayle and I are extremely grateful for each of you.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for India and China which together account for more than 3 billion people. (36% of the worlds population) We have a few workers in each of these countries, but we need hundreds more.
- Please pray for God’s continued protection and blessing upon the 105 families that we are privileged to have a part in helping. Pray they will be bold and yet wise in the proclamation of the gospel in sometimes hostile and dangerous circumstances.
- Please pray for the reopening of the world as many missionaries are still not able to get back to the people they are called to.
- Please pray for the travel restrictions to be lifted both internationally and locally, especially across Asia where 60% of the worlds population resides.
God Bless You,
Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson
Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com
USA Cell: (949) 880-9415
“The only thing worse than being lost is being lost and no one is searching for you.”
Dear Friends,
Our last prayer letter was about 5 weeks ago but much has happened since then so I wanted to give you another update for your prayer consideration as well as an opportunity to praise God for what He has been doing through our ministry together.
The Summer months found us on the West Coast for 12 weeks where I had the opportunity to speak in 17 different churches in four States to either present our ministry, report to a supporting church, or on one occasion fill the pulpit for a pastor friend on a much needed getaway. We enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones in the churches. Every Pastor was a blessing and I was humbled by the love and responsiveness of God’s people.
The highlight of our ministry on the West Coast was the opportunity to preach the anniversary service of our home church in Newport Beach, CA. Our friend and pastor, Ryan Thompson, his staff and the members of Liberty Baptist Church are doing a wonderful job of making Christ known in Orange County. They are also reaching around the world through their strong missions outreach. I am truly honored to be associated with such a great church!
PRAISES:
New Church Plants
While we are busy with meetings here in the States, the primary emphases of Barnabas1040 is helping to plant Gospel preaching churches in some of the neediest countries of our world. By God’s grace we were able to add 5 new church planters to our ministry family in the past few weeks. One in China, one in Laos and three in Vietnam.
All of these countries have communist governments and therefore are off limits to Christian missionaries. God does have some foreign workers in restricted access nations but they must be very careful in the way they do ministry. My ministry is honored to be able to come alongside those foreigners and nationals who are literally risking their freedoms to take the gospel to others.
Food Evangelism
I mentioned to you in my last letter that many countries are dealing with severe food shortages and some of our men are delivering rice and other food items, along with the bread of life to needy families. Some of our partners here in the USA responded with a desire to help and as a result we have been able to get food to hurting people in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Africa, and India.
One of the missionaries we work with in Vietnam recently reported that his contacts had delivered 277 food packages where each home received a gospel presentation. 27 people received not only physical provisions but also received Christ as their Lord and Savior. The other countries where food distribution is taking place are also reporting similar results. When God’s people show the compassion and love of Christ in a crises, it often softens the heart and gives an open door to the salvation message.
Thank you to those who responded to this need. Hundreds of families have been helped and many more will continue to be helped as a result of your giving.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Myanmar (Burma)
My friend and co-worker Paul passed away from Covid in Yangon, Myanmar on August 1st. Paul had a great ministry including church planting, a large Bible College, a Missionary training center and a beautiful Children’s home. We had the privilege of preaching and serving together in Laos as well as Burma. He will be greatly missed. Please pray for his wife and children as well as the ongoing ministry to the Burmese people he loved. I am staying in contact with his family and will be helping in any way possible as they navigate these difficult days.
Myanmar is on the brink of civil war with the recent military coup and arrest of the democratically elected government. Please pray. Just today I received this from someone in Myanmar. “Dear praying partners, the long awaited fearful day has come, today the National Unity Government announced “D-Day” in Myanmar. That means non stop fighting between the people’s army and the military. Poverty, sickness and death awaits. What we as God’s people can do is PRAY”.
Extreme Lockdowns
Pray for the countries with extreme lockdowns which are crushing their already fragile economies. These seem to be especially damaging in SE Asia. Vietnam, for example, is in very strong lockdown mode right now with multiplied thousands of people in great need of food and water. They cannot get out of their homes to purchase food and even if they could, the stores are shut down. This is an urgent and important prayer need.
Persecution
Please pray for Christians all over the world who are facing persecution. We see the Biblical signs all around us that would indicate that we are very close to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that many who are reading this email may be the privileged generation that will be “caught up, to meet the Lord in the air”.
I Thessalonians 4:15.
Satan knows that his time is short. The chaos, self destruction and persecution of our world is an indication that the stage is being set for the pre-tribulation removal of God’s people. It is imperative that we pray, live and give as if Jesus is coming soon!
As always, I want to say thank you to all of you who pray for and support this ministry. I am honestly amazed at what God is doing through our partnership. None of us are worthy of praise, but together we have formed a partnership between churches, individuals, missionaries and our fellow believers in Asia and Africa that is reaching thousands of precious souls for whom our Lord Jesus died.
He is receiving the honor, glory and praise that He alone is worthy of!
God Bless You!
Dear Friends,
CHALLENGES:
Last month I mentioned several countries where our national pastors are experiencing difficulties. This is not unusual when you consider that Barnabas1040 Missions works primarily in Restricted Access Nations with a long history of political and religious opposition to the Gospel. Christians in those nations understand that persecution from family and society are the price you pay for following Jesus.
Persecution is not new to Christ Followers in Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Communist countries, but the Covid virus has produced a plethora of new problems, as well as opportunities for our people. For example, the 19 counties we currently support church planters and missionaries in all have lockdowns but none of them have stimulus or welfare money for people to fall back on. This has produced situations where people are desperately in need of food.
We know of churches in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, and India that are reaching out to the formerly working poor who are now destitute. Pastors are delivering rice as well as the love of Jesus to help people survive. There have been several cases of families being brought to Christ through these acts of compassion.
If there is anyone reading this email that would like to help in one or more of the countries I mentioned please write to me and I can put you into contact with a missionary that I know and trust, or if you prefer we can forward any designated food relief funds through our office on your behalf.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Even though many areas of Asia are experiencing a Covid resurgence, many areas are also experiencing a gospel resurgence.
My people report that this quarter saw 849 people trust Christ and almost 200 follow Jesus in water baptism. I believe that we will see the baptism numbers increase as the Covid restrictions ease and people can get out into public again.
When we compare the numbers of people professing faith in Christ and those being baptized it is important to remember;
- The act of baptism can lead to arrest and imprisonment. Most of our people do not have church buildings with dedicated baptistries. They improvise and immerse converts in bathtubs, rivers, water tanks or wherever they can find enough water.
- Government stay at home orders have made it very difficult to have even a small group walking to a river or entering a house where a public baptism can take place. When it is illegal for someone not in the immediate family to enter a house, you can imagine the precautions that must be taken.
When I consider the conditions our people work in, I am amazed that almost 200 adults followed Christ in baptism this quarter.
PRAYER NEEDS:
- Pray for those infected with the Virus. Several of our men, their families or church members have been infected. A few have been very sick to the point we were afraid they might not pull through. Please pray for the third world countries that are genuinely suffering under the pandemic. Prayer is especially needed in Myanmar and Indonesia where it can be very difficult to obtain oxygen.
- Pray for pastors in Vietnam, China, Laos and Indonesia that have recently been visited by the police. In some cases the police want bribes, in others they seek to stop religious services, or they may be building a case for an upcoming arrest. Pray for great wisdom and courage for the pastors.
- Pray for our ministry to be able to vet and add new church planters even as we do it from a distance working though our existing and trusted coworkers. We were able to add one new pastor in China this month and in August we plan to add at least 4 new men in Myanmar.
- Pray for safety and health for Gayle and I as we continue to travel and present the needs and opportunities in the 1040 region. Pray that hearts will be stirred and more will heed the Master’s command to pray and go to the multitudes that are still waiting to hear of Jesus Christ.
In closing I want to thank each of you who prays for, or financially supports, Barnabas1040 Missions. We could not possibly do what we do without you.
Gayle and I love you and we sincerely desire that your investment in Barnabas1040 Missions will be a worthy one.
God Bless You,
UPDATE
I mentioned in our May prayer letter that we were able to pick up an additional 18 national church planters in 3 restricted access nations. We did this by faith without having specific churches that were committed to help us cover all of the financial support. I want to say thank you to those who sent extra funds in May to help cover some of the expenses. Your love and generosity in helping those families is very much appreciated.
For those pastors who have recently committed to sponsoring one of our church planters, this would be a good time to begin. As of this writing we are sponsoring 88 families and are actively vetting others that need our help. A few days ago we added a young couple in a large city in Eastern China. This couple is serving in a city of several million people as well as doing ministry in minority villages outside of the city. They are a proven couple with 2 children and very little support.
COVID RESTRICTIONS
Many people have asked me about the feasibility of foreign travel. It depends upon the location but overall it is still quite uncertain and restrictive. I was planning a 28 day trip to Asia in September but found out that it would require a minimum of 21 days in quarantine. There is also the possibility of being able to get in, but not out depending upon the ever changing regulations.
However, There are some glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel. One of our Burmese national workers was out of the country when Covid hit and Burma shut it’s borders. He recently was able to get into Thailand and eventually sneak across the border to his home. It was a dangerous and long trip but by God’s grace he finally made it back to his family and church.
Please pray that Asia will open up soon as there are still many foreign missionaries and national pastors attempting to get back to their homes and places of ministry.
A PLEA FROM AFAR
I want to close this brief report by sharing with you a message I recently received from a friend and pastor that I have been working with for the past few years. He is a dear man of God and we have preached and taught together in 2 different countries where people pay a large price for being a follower of Jesus. Our ministry sent him an extra $3,000.00 for the purpose of buying and distributing rice to those who have no access to food due to the military coup in Myanmar. This is his letter back to me.
I am withholding his name for security reasons. Would you please pray for this dear brother, his family and his country?
Dear Pastor Tomlinson,
By the grace of God, amid trials and civil war, the Lord is keeping us well. We know for sure that we are under His protection. We took this opportunity to share the gospel through relief work. The Missionary training students go out every Saturday evening for evangelism. As a result of that, we were able to share the gospel with over 35 people. Some professed faith in the Lord, but God only knows the heart.
Urgent Prayer Request:
1. One of our mission fields, Southern Chin State, Matupi town, is having trouble with Myanmar armies as they kill people. One of our missionaries has to run away from home, and they are now in the jungle. Mindat town is becoming a killing place.
2. Another mission field in Kayah State. Three Pastors, and all church members are running away from their home for safety. They need help. These places are becoming slaughter ground and battlefields. We do need your prayer as there are gun shootings and bombings with airplanes everywhere. Our hearts are literally broken for these incidents. We do not understand why God allows such things to happen.
Despite all these crises, we will never give up teaching the word of God, sharing the gospel, church planting, and serving God. If we die we will die for the Lord. If we live we will live for the Lord. We know for sure that this world is not our home.
Name withheld
When we read letters like this it helps us to put into perspective how insignificant our problems are in light of what our brothers and sisters in other countries are facing. We have our problems in America, but at least for now we are free to worship God, win souls, give and serve in and through our local churches. Let’s be faithful and busy in our churches while we have the ability to do so.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership in Barnabas1040. Gayle and I never forget that we can only do what we do because of you.
God Bless You,
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