Recent Updates
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
| Dear Friends, In the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2020 report, they named some of the most dangerous countries to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The report labeled 12 countries as “Countries of Particular Concern.” Of the 12 countries named, Barnabas1040 has the privilege of supporting church planters, children’s homes and Bible Colleges in 5 of them. The countries listed as being of particular concern are Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Vietnam. Barnabas1040 supports almost 80 national pastors and missionaries as well as 2 children’s homes and several ministry training centers in 19 countries. I could not possibly report on all of them in one letter but I thought it would be helpful to focus on the ones listed in this report. Burma: A few weeks ago on February 1st the military seized full control of the country’s government and imprisoned the very popular democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with hundreds of members of her cabinet. The result has been an explosion of protest and destruction. I have had the privilege of personally teaching and preaching in Burma and the Lord has allowed our ministry to be involved in several church plants throughout the country. Our primary focus has been in and around the city of Yangon which is the largest city in the country with a population of over 5 million people. There we not only are supporting national pastors, but a large Bible College and in 2019 we financed the construction of a spacious and beautiful children’s home. My contacts in Yangon tell me that peaceful protesters are being killed and imprisoned daily. Food and water are in increasingly short supply as the banks and most stores have been closed. At this point the children have food and supplies, but the situation is deteriorating daily. They are begging us to pray for protection and for the duly elected government to be restored. They desire to see people saved and for God to receive the glory. China: China began a national crack down on churches in 2019 while my wife and I were living in one of the largest cities which has a population of 14 million precious souls. We saw first hand the closing of house churches and registered churches alike. Many pastors were arrested and several missionaries were forced to leave the country. The city we were living in at the time even offered a reward of US $1,500.00 for anyone turning in foreigners who were holding religious services in their home. The crackdown was not limited to the mainland but also extended to Hong Kong where the Chinese government is working hard to insure total and absolute compliance from the former British colony. A few days ago Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said this in a speech published by his office: “The most vital and pressing task to enforce rule by patriots is to improve the relevant systems, particularly the relevant electoral system. Being patriotic means loving the People’s Republic of China.” Again, my contacts in China are asking for fervent prayer for revival. They are praying for boldness to stand for Christ in these difficult times. India: I have had the privilege of preaching and teaching in India and have seen firsthand the tremendous spiritual darkness in that great Hindu country. We are supporting a few good and godly men in this ancient land of almost 1.4 billion souls. We are also currently financing the construction of a children’s home in Northern India. Our people report encouraging numbers of those being saved but there is an almost incomprehensible need for more workers. Please pray for more workers, and God’s protection and power on the ones that are there. It is not uncommon for Christians to be targeted, harassed and even killed by Hindu militants. Vietnam: Vietnam is a country filled with beautiful scenery and even more beautiful people. Unfortunately it is also a place of false religion, idolatry and communism. God is doing great things there but as always with blessings come trials. Please pray for our missionaries and national pastors serving faithfully in Vietnam. Perhaps the 4 requests I hear the most from my contacts in Vietnam are: 1. boldness to witness 2. souls to be saved 3. protection from the police 4. more workers to join them Pakistan: Pakistan is a very challenging place as it has strict blasphemy laws which restrict any insults against the Islamic prophet Muhammad and makes the crime punishable by death. In spite of the challenges our national pastors report salvations and baptisms regularly in Pakistan. Barnabas1040 supports several church planters and one Bible College in Pakistan. Our brethren there are requesting prayer for their safety and God’s blessing upon the work they are doing for Jesus Christ. In conclusion, would you pray not only for these 5 countries but also those around the world that are persecuted and martyred for Christ? One of the pastors we support has been in prison for almost a year without a hearing or charges being filed. That particular man is not even in one of the 12 countries listed as being of particular concern in the above mentioned report. There are other places too numerous to mention that lay heavy on my heart as I write this prayer letter. Persecution is a serious problem all over the world. If there was ever a time for God’s people to pray, give, and go, it is today! As always, I want to sincerely thank all those who pray for and support this ministry. We could not do what we do without you. Gayle and I are ever mindful that it is your partnering with us that makes Barnabas1040 possible. God Bless You! Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com USA Cell: (949) 880-9415 |
2021 Opportunities And Challenges
Dear Friends,
As we begin the new year I am sure that all of us are hoping and praying that 2021 will be better than 2020. The reality is that none of us know what the year holds but we do have the firm assurance that God is in control and nothing will happen that He does not allow.
I thought it might be helpful to mention some of the opportunities that the Lord is giving us here at Barnabas1040 Missions.
Positive Reports From The Field
- In spite of the fact that countries across Asia are still experiencing shut downs, our national pastors are seeing people saved and baptized through their ongoing ministries. In the past few days I have heard of 67 teens and adults saved in Bangladesh, and more than 100 saved in Sri Lanka.
- In addition to these encouraging reports from the 2 countries, I have heard of people trusting Christ in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India and Thailand among other places. One of the blessings of supporting dozens of church planters in 19 countries, is that we continually hear of God’s blessings in some part of the harvest field.
Stateside Opportunities
- Gayle and I had all of our overseas meetings cancelled in 2020, but the Lord is allowing me to travel and preach in Mission’s Conferences in the USA as churches are beginning to resume normal schedules. I have had meetings in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington State in the last 2 months.
- These meetings not only provided the opportunity to expand the base of partnership for Barnabas1040, but also put me in contact with missionaries that I have been able to partner with in providing financial support for some of their national pastors. This has enabled new churches to be planted on the foreign fields even though the missionaries are not yet able to be physically present.
Challenges And Prayer Requests
- In the midst of the blessings there is always opposition. One of the pastors we are able to help has been imprisoned for almost an entire year without being charged or tried. Please pray that he will soon be released and able to be back with his family and church.
- A few of the pastors we support in another country are being harassed and threatened. They have not been arrested as of yet but it looks as if that may be coming soon.
- Another pastor has had his home and church vandalized twice in the last few weeks. Our ministry has helped with special offerings to replace some of the necessary items he and his family have lost.
- At least two of our pastors happened to be out of their countries when they were shut down for Covid restrictions. One of them has a baby that was born while he has been unable to get home. Please pray that these countries would open soon and missionaries and national pastors will be able to get back to their families and churches.
Ongoing Opportunities
The needs of hurting people do not shut down just because politicians decide to close down the country. In fact, the opposite is true. The shutdowns have created great hardships around the world. Those who love and serve Christ have an opportunity to be channels of God’s love and grace to hurting people.
Barnabas 1040 has committed to helping two special projects that you can be involved in if God so leads you:
- We are in the process of building an orphanage in India that is well under way but still needs $15,000.00 to complete.
- We are helping to purchase land and build a building in a communist country that will house the pastor’s family, the church and a ministry training center. That project will cost approximately $25,000.
If you would like more information on either of these projects please let me know.
I want to once again express my gratitude to each of you who pray for and support this ministry. God is using us together to reach hundreds of souls for Christ each week. I am truly humbled and amazed at how God has chosen to add His blessings to our efforts to reach into some of the darkest places on earth with the powerful light of the Gospel! He must receive all praise and glory, for this is truly His work.
God Bless you and thank you for your love, prayers and support.
Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson
Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.comUSA Cell: (949) 880-9415
A Time of Hope
2020 is quickly drawing to a close and for most of the world it cannot come too soon. Our world has experienced unprecedented heartache through sickness, death, economic shutdowns and political upheaval in 2020. It is not a year that will be remembered fondly for many. Our world needs hope.
As I write these words we are just days away from the Christmas celebration of hope, peace, and joy that the world desperately needs. It is my favorite holiday because without God sending His Son to be born in Bethlehem’s manger, there could be no peace for a sin cursed world.
I want to end 2020 letting you know that here at Barnabas1040 Missions we are encouraged and thankful for all that God did even in the year of Covid.
Church Planting:
- We began Barnabas1040 in 2015 supporting 2 National Pastors in 2 countries. We are ending 2020 supporting 79 Missionaries and National Pastors in 19 Counties. in 2020 alone we were able to add 10 new church planters and expand into 4 new countries.
People Coming to Christ:
- The final numbers are not in yet for 2020, but as of now we have seen more than 2,000 people saved and almost 600 baptized. These converts are coming from Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Communist countries. This can only be done by the Grace of God.
Special Projects:
- As new churches and ministries have been started there has been a corresponding increase in the need for church buildings, Bible training centers, orphanages, refugee camps, and food and medicine distribution centers.
- 2020 was not just the year of the pandemic, it was also a year of hurricanes, famine, and displacement through wars and political upheaval.
- Although we did not budget for these needs God knew they would arise and as a result we were able to invest $62,800 into special projects helping those suffering through no fault of their own.
- These funds were able to help meet physical as well as spiritual needs in 8 countries: Myanmar, Laos, India, Vietnam, Chile, Iraq, Egypt, and the Philippines.
Thank you to all the churches and individuals who sent special offerings to help with these various projects. We had no idea in January of 2020 that so many people would need our help, but God did and He allowed us to work together to meet those needs. What an amazing and gracious God we serve!
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the world will begin to open up their borders once more. There are both missionaries and national pastors that have been locked out of their countries for months. You can only imagine the stress this has caused.
- Please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom concerning expanding our ministry. I am praying about some new countries and opportunities in 2021.
- Please pray with me about our 2021 schedule. I had speaking engagements canceled in 5 foreign countries in 2020. Only God knows when those countries will reopen. In the meantime, my plan is to stay busy presenting our ministry in churches across America. Some of the national pastors we added recently were introduced to me through missionaries I shared conferences with in 2020. This was just another conformation that all things are under God’s control.
There are churches that have supported Barnabas1040 for the entire 5 years of our existence that I have not had the opportunity to personally report to. If you would like for me to report in person or through a zoom call, please contact me as soon as possible.
These are truly times of tremendous opportunity. This is not a time to be discouraged or defeated. The old saying is true that the darkest hour is just before dawn. God is still on His throne, He is still in control and He is still on a mission to get the Gospel to the entire world. We still have the glorious opportunity to partner with Christ in reaching the world!
As always I want to say thank you to all of you who make Barnabas1040 Missions possible. We could not do what we do without your prayers and support. God bless you!
Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson
Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com
USA Cell: (949) 880-9415
| A Thankful Message |
| As we approach the day that our country has set aside as a day of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be proper for me to add one more item to your Thanksgiving list. It is true that 2020 has brought many things that can steal our gratitude, but Scripture tells us to always give thanks no matter what is going on in the world around us. 1 Thess. 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So, I would like to report some good news for you to add to your Thanksgiving praises this year. Please join me in giving thanks that at least 600 people have come to faith in Jesus Christ during the last 3 months of ministry through those supported by Barnabas1040. More than 200 of those dear people followed the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism in spite of the fact that doing so would mean possible persecution from family, friends, and the government. Barnabas1040 has the privilege of helping national church planters in 17 Restricted Access Nations. Together we are standing with our brothers and sisters who are laboring under very difficult conditions that include poverty, persecution and Satanic opposition. Consider the backgrounds of these 600 converts who have come to Christ in the past 3 months. • Atheistic Communist Countries: 162 Salvation decisions: • Buddhist Countries: 215 Salvation decisions: • Islamic Countries: 99 Salvation decisions: • Hindu Countries: 62 Salvation decisions: • Catholic Countries: 47 Salvation decisions: More than 200 of these new converts have followed Christ in baptism. Interestingly enough not all of the folks baptized are included in the 600 that were saved this past quarter. The reason for this is that in many of the places we work they do not baptize converts until they have been saved for several months. This has more to do with culture and security reasons than doctrine. The church leaders want to make sure that the new convert understands what it means to leave their false religion and gods to truly embrace Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior. Also, It is not uncommon for public baptism to be the cause of the pastor and member being jailed, so you can understand why they are often cautious about when and where baptisms take place. Our brothers and sisters in Restricted Access Nations are facing things that we don’t have to deal with in free countries. I never cease to be impressed and convicted by their courage and love for our Savior. One of the pastors we support is in jail as I type this letter. Please pray for Pastor Sithone, his family and church. It has been 8 months of incarceration and he still has not been charged. It was as a result of a public baptismal service that he was arrested. As we celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days, I want you to know that Gayle and I are thankful for each of the churches and individuals who pray for and support this ministry. We know that we could not do what we do without you. Thank you for partnering with us as we shine the light in some of the most spiritually dark places in the world. Your prayers and financial support is making a difference. Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com USA Cell: (949) 880-9415 |
Baptismal Service in an Islamic Country
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