Recent Updates
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,
Dear Friends,
As we begin the month of May, I am excited to report that we have taken a step of faith and added 18 new church planters to our Barnabas1040 family. This is the largest single month addition that we have done since beginning the ministry in 2015.
We added 10 new families in Vietnam, 5 in Bangladesh, and 3 in Africa. All 18 of these families are working in difficult areas where there are few laborers. They are working in areas dominated by Communism, Buddhism, Islamic, or other false religious philosophies.
These faithful servants are in large cities and small villages in some of the most gospel resistant parts of the world. Many of the people we help have been jailed and treated horribly for preaching the gospel, yet they continue to stand faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
They are not doing it for the money they receive from our ministry. They are motivated by the love of Christ and their total dedication to their Savior and Lord. God is blessing their labor and hundreds of people are being saved each week. Please pray for their safety and for many people to come to Christ through their efforts.
If any of my Pastor friends would like to sponsor one or more of these 18 families, please let me know. These men have all been vetted and I believe they would be a wise investment of your churches mission funds.
During the month of April Gayle and I were in Florida and Michigan where I had the opportunity to preach and present our ministry. The month of May we plan to be in Florida and I have some open dates if any Florida Pastors would like to have me in to present the ministry.
June through August we will be on the West Coast. I am booked solid with meetings in California and Washington State, but I do have one Sunday open while we are in the Seattle area. Sunday, June 13th is the only Sunday we have open this summer. If a church in the Seattle area would like that date please let me know.
In closing, I want to say thank you to all of our ministry partners who support Barnabas1040 through prayer or finances. We could not do what we do without you.
Together we are helping almost 100 church planters in 19 countries to shine the light of the gospel.
I am truly humbled to stand with these men and women. Thank you for standing with them as well.
God bless you,
Evidence of God’s Power
Dear Friends,
We have completed the first quarter of 2021 and I am happy to report that our ministry registered almost 700 people who made professions of faith in Christ and at least 214 of those have followed Christ in baptism.
Baptism is a major step of obedience in the life of someone who lives in a restricted access nation. It is often the one event that brings persecution to the life of a new believer. It can mean being shunned, banished from the family, beaten, or even killed in extreme cases.
Already in 2021 I have heard from people in places such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, and other countries where new converts are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
The Covid-inspired shutdowns have given the devil an open door to not only stop soul winning and church services, but also to increase the poverty and despair that most of the world was already facing.
Our people almost exclusively meet in small group house church type settings. All of a sudden those formats are monitored more closely than ever making it easier to shut down churches and imprison pastors. Just this week I heard of 7 of our men that were visited by the police in 2 different communist countries.
Most countries do not have welfare, stimulus checks or unemployment benefits to provide help for those who were barely getting by even before the shutdowns. The sad truth is that our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are struggling in ways we have no concept of in America.
I am thankful that God is raising up individual churches, missionaries and ministries such as my co-worker Johnny Esposito to provide both physical and spiritual help to those who need it most. If you are looking for a source to help provide food, medicine and basic needs for the poor, along with a gospel presentation, I recommend Operation Samaritans Compassion through Brother Esposito and the Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, CA. This is an excellent place where churches and individuals can send love offerings to help during this very real crisis. Please let me know if you would like his contact information.
As a reminder that God and His work are not subject to governmental restrictions, I am happy to report that we are seeing one of our greatest ministry growth spurts. I have been praying that God would enable us to support at least 100 church planters and it looks as if we will reach that goal within the next few weeks.
I am in the process of vetting new men in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Uganda, Mali and Myanmar at the moment. I anticipate adding as many as 20 men to our Barnabas1040 family next month.
Please pray with me that the Lord will keep the momentum going as He opens more doors and gives us the ability to walk through those open doors. I am more excited about what God is doing today than at any time in my ministry.
In the words of the great Missionary William Cary, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”
In closing, I want to request your help in praying for some urgent requests.
- We are seeing persecution of pastors and members alike especially in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Pakistan. Please pray for these men and women who are suffering for no other reason than their decision to follow Jesus.
- Please pray for wisdom as I attempt to vett the men that the Lord wants us to partner with in various restricted access nations.
- Please pray for safety and health as Gayle and I travel here in the USA presenting Barnabas1040 Missions.
- Please pray for the world to open up again. More than a year into the pandemic we still have missionaries that cannot get back to their countries as well as national ministries that are being greatly hampered by their inability to meet.
- Please pray for revival in America. I am very concerned by the apostasy and wickedness of our own country. We are in desperate need of the touch of God right here at home.
As always, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of those who pray and give to make this ministry possible. I am not exaggerating when I say that together we have seen God do much more than I could have ever imagined in these brief 6 years since launching this faith ministry.
We will not fully understand this side of Heaven all the lives that we have had a part in touching by God’s amazing grace. Thank you for standing with us. We know that we could not do what we do without you!
Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson
Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com
USA Cell: (949) 880-9415
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