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Created on 14 December 2016

The church in Mongolia is growing rapidly, mostly due to church planting. When I arrived in 2000, the pastors were a divided and competitive lot. Each was hoping to build a mega-church. My first trip was a tug-of-war for four out of five days. Out of 25 pastors, three were former Soviet Army officers. Two of them loved communism while the other hated it. The real struggle, though, was against level 3 megachurches. Everyone in the room clamored to pastor the largest church in the nation. After four days of arguing, they finally got the message about making disciples and multiplying churches. Every pastor in that group planted multiple churches in the next 12 months...

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Created on 08 February 2015

As we approach Spring again, rice farmers across Japan are once again preparing their paddies to plant a new crop soon. Springtime and harvest. Just a few months ago, it was that time when rice paddies turn bright and golden yellow, signaling they’re ready for harvest. The process began back in the spring. Before planting, the land was tilled, and the soil and seedlings were prepared. The seedlings were then meticulously planted, and the paddies subsequently flooded with water...

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Created on 16 December 2010

A3 Advent Devotional • December 17, 2010

by Wendi Thomson

I don’t remember my first Christmas, being that I was only six weeks old. But it was one of significance for my family. And lately, as challenges have come my way, I’ve been recalling the lessons my family learned during that time.

Every year my parents would drive the 1000 miles from Seattle to Dinuba, California in the San Joaquin Valley to spend the holidays with relatives. The Christmas of 1966 was the first time I would meet my extended family and my grandmother, in particular, was looking forward to our arrival. Though she did not talk openly about it, Grandma knew she was dying of heart disease and exhibited great determination to see her youngest grandchild before passing on. She had a reason beyond the usual.

That year my parents had been building their “dream” house, working closely with the architect to think through every material, every detail. The house was just days from being finished and most belongings had been moved into the new home when a stranger with mental problems burned the house to the ground. 

Of course my parents were stunned by this setback. They lost the house, many of their possessions (including photos), and were wrapped up in legal wranglings. Grandma feared for the health of my mom as she was five months pregnant at the time. She also worried that this trauma would somehow leave a mark on the baby. Hence, she determined to stay alive to see me with her own eyes, if she could.

As Christmas approaches, I turn to the story of the annunciation to read Mary’s response when the angel Gabriel reveals she will give birth to the Savior of the world. In an instant, Mary’s life path veers from any she might have imagined. And yet, when God intrudes into her life, Mary welcomes his coming with joy, calling herself blessed.

Again and again throughout her life, Mary’s faithfulness requires complete trust in a heavenly Father who is good and loving despite the pain obedience demands. 

I see that same faith in my parents. They never talk about the house fire or other challenging times without mentioning the many blessings that followed. Grandma needn’t have worried. Foundational to their faith is the knowledge that our God can be trusted.

In my life, God has repeatedly proved himself good, loving, and merciful. He has never failed to provide every necessary thing, for he has great plans and nothing is impossible with him. Even when things are tough, when ministry doesn’t go as planned, when God changes the course of my plans, I have the rock-solid truth to stand on that God is Sovereign. And I can answer as Mary did, “Let it be with me just as you say.”

Two days after my grandmother first held me, she went to be with Jesus. I hope that as she looked upon me, she was assured that God is in control and He is worthy of our trust.

Wendi Thomson

Former A3 Missionary

Sanda, Japan