When God changes a life

Here is the latest newsletter from the Smyth's. Please pray for everyone mentioned. These are just some of the people we will be ministering to, as we will be conducting most of the bible studies for Ken while he is on furlough. (we won't be doing the ones in Cantonese)
After Ariel Felices became a Christian, he started conducting Bible studies for his friends. On Sunday, February 26, Brian, one of those friends was immersed into Jesus Christ. Brian is at least the 3rd person Ariel has lead to the Lord in less than one year. . . . Elderly Corny Cabanada became a Christian on January 6 this year. Ever since, he has been faithful in going to church, even when he doesn’t feel well. He has even challenged other family members about going and being on time. Eddie Ho along with Chiu and May Tang, who were baptized on February 12, come regularly to my home for devotion times up to 4 nights a week. Their eagerness and growing ability to understand the Scriptures is a blessing that makes the entire effort so worthwhile. Their friend, Ah Gun, is also coming. Furthermore, I was able to have Bible sharing times with Eddie’s parents a couple times in the last month. Eddie’s wife, Linda, and sons, Dominick and Oscar just arrived back in Hong Kong for 2½ weeks. They live in Australia. Pray for our witness to them during this time. Olivia Cheung, our pianist and translator, has been through a very difficult family situation with her parents and brother. Olivia has experienced God’s presence and leadership to make a difference in their lives. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them and that they would seek our Lord.

The past month has been extremely busy with a lot of pressure and a lot of blessings. I’ve been having about 10 Bible studies a week. These include Mr. & Mrs. Fong, whom I mentioned last month. Mr. Fong is in the hospital at this time. Pray that through his sickness that they may both come to the Lord. Internet webcam Bible stiudies with Albert Weng in Edmonton, Canada, have begun. Albert’s sister Joyce Law, is a Fairview Park Church member. Their mother, Grandma Daw, a Buddhist Burmese, continues to be involved in Bible study. Please pray for Grandma and Albert to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and drawn to Jesus. On March 27, one of our strongest leaders, Glo Layco, returned to the Philippine permanently. She plans to host an IBS Retreat in her home in October. She has great opportunities to serve in her church there. DIT is scheduled to begin on April 16 with four Philippine brothers, but they still don’t have Hong Kong visas. Pray about this. On March 18, I submitted an additional 27 pages of documentation and information about the church to the Immigration Department. It has already been 6 weeks since the applications were submitted. Tickets are booked for them to come 4/15.
Furlough preparations are in full swing. Speaking dates during July and August are being scheduled in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Nebraska. Plane tickets have been booked for 6/26.
In the Victorious Name,
Ken and Linda
Please keep the Smyths in your prayers specifically. Reading their newsletter is a little daunting for us. They have a lot of responsibilities so please continue to keep us in your prayers as well so that our hearts and endurance is prepared by the Holy Spirit to do this work while the Smyths are away. I know many of you have VERY busy lives, so I don't expect you to be able to pray specifically for all the lives mentioned in the Smyth's newsletter, but please lift up all the people we will be ministering to, that the Holy Spirit will compensate for our religious and cultural differences and our message of God's love and grace through Christ can be understood.