ASIAN OUTREACH PLANS TO EXPAND ITS "GREAT COMMISSION INSTITUTES" IN ASIA,  HOME TO 65 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION
Its Mobile Bible School Will Train Even More Christian Workers "In The Farthest Corners of Asia"

By Dan Wooding

VANCOUVER, WA (March 13, 2000) - Asian Outreach has announced plans to expand its training program for indigenous Christian leaders in Asia, home to 65 percent of the world's population, after revealing that over 9000 leaders, church planters, evangelists, and workers were trained in 1999 through its  "Great Commission Institutes."

Dr. James R. Swanson, Executive Director of Asian Outreach USA, based in Vancouver, Washington, explained what the Great Commission Institute (GCI) is all about. "It is Asian Outreach's mobile Bible school," he said. "On the road since 1986, the GCI program is designed to teach and train grassroots evangelists, pastors and church workers who otherwise would not have the opportunity. In line with the AO core values, the object is to train the indigenous peoples to reach the unreached in their homelands and to plant churches among them. After all, the nationals already know the language, the culture and are 'ready-made' to live in their physical environments.

"Last year, training sessions were held in Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, East Malaysia and Bhutan. Now we are planning to increase our GCI training program.

"In China alone we are going to conduct 20 training sessions with House Church leaders. Each session lasts up to four days with 14-16 hours of teaching per day. The church is growing so fast that there is a constant demand for training materials that can be duplicated and distributed to small groups of new believers.

"We have training courses available on DVD (small hand held disc players) and we need support to provide these players to the House Church Pastors so they can use the training discs in their small groups. There are over 40 teams of foot soldier evangelists who are planting churches in some of the most remote areas of China. We must stand with them. They need our help; we cannot let them down.

POISED TO LAUNCH AN EXPANDED TRAINING PROGRAM

"We are poised, prepared, and eager to launch an expanded and enthusiastic thrust for God in Asia. With the continued prayers and support of our friends in America, we are going to move forward in faith with an ambitious program to penetrate the farthest corners of Asia with the saving message of Jesus Christ!"

He then talked about some of the outreach carried out by Asian Outreach during 1999:

"In China, over 20,000 Bibles were printed and distributed to 41 different areas, over 200 pastoral training sets and books, were presented to two seminaries," he said. "The printing and distribution of the 'Words of Jesus' has also been a vital part of our China ministry. The total number of books printed so far is well over 250,000 copies; when this project is completed later this year, we will have printed and distributed 500,000 copies.

"Training sessions were conducted with the top-level house church leaders, and many other sessions were held with second and third level leaders of the house church movement.

"In Hong Kong, our office staff conducted children's outreach programs throughout the city resulting in over 2000 children accepting Christ.

"In addition, our 'Foot Soldiers' are tirelessly carrying the Good News of the Gospel across Asia."

RESTRICTED ACCESS NATIONS

Dr. Swanson went on to say, "Most countries in Asia have closed their borders to the traditional missionary. Many of our co-workers are taking great personal risks, on the 'Cutting Edge' in Vietnam, China, Bhutan and Myanmar (Burma). The Lord is blessing their work and His Church is continuing to grow rapidly.

"Asia is home to the three largest blocks of unreached humanity: the Chinese, the Muslims and the Hindus."

Dr. Swanson then quoted various Asian Outreach workers:

* From Pakistan: "We work in very dangerous conditions...but we are not afraid because the God that we serve protects us. Last year we baptized over 3000 Mari Vari people."

* From Sri Lanka: "We have so little in terms of material wealth...but we lack nothing."

* From Nepal: "Our preaching is so simple...but we see the fruitfulness of our ministry because of your prayers."

* From the Himalayas: "We have so little education...but He has called us to be His servants and we will obey His call."

* From China: "We are in constant danger of imprisonment and many of our co-workers have been arrested, but we will not be intimidated and we are determined to press on; we may be knocked down, but we are not knocked out."

* From Mongolia: "We are not very well trained but God is honoring the presentation of His word and the church is growing. Your training sessions have been a great help."

* From Myanmar (Burma): "We have to travel many miles to attend your GCI training sessions, but we need the training and we will do what we have to do to get it."

* From Vietnam: "It's risky to attend the training sessions, but we are willing to take the risk so we can more effectively reach our people with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please continue to send your trainers for our 49 foot soldiers involved in evangelism and church planting all over this country."

* From Cambodia: "It is not easy here, but God is at work and we are gaining favor with the government in many different ways. The AO 'Boat of Hope' is having a great impact in the villages along the Mekong. We personally minister to an average of 1500 people every month."

Dr. Swanson stated that he couldn't read through these reports without being reminded of the words of Paul to the Church in Corinth..."I have been constantly on the move, I have been in danger from rivers, from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen...in danger in the city, in danger in the country...I have labored and toiled and have gone without sleep...I face daily the pressure and concern for all the churches...." (2Cor. 11:23-28)

He went on, "I have met many of these 'foot soldiers.' I have prayed with them, I know their heart, I share their burden, and I ask American Christians to stand behind them as they risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel."

Asian Outreach was founded in 1966 by Canadian, Dr. Paul E. Kauffman (1920-1997). From a one-room, one-desk office in Hong Kong, Paul Kauffman officially began the ministries of Asian Outreach. Today, some 34 years later, Asian Outreach has grown into a front line mission organization with an associate and Asia-wide network that involves dedicated Christian workers from some 20 nationalities and 24 ministry offices and centers. Dr. David Wang, who was born in China and now is based in Hong Kong, now heads it up internationally.

Asian Outreach is an evangelical mission communicating the gospel through a variety of vital contemporary ministries across the continent. Its motto is  "Reaching, Touching, Changing Lives."

For further information, contact Dr. James R. Swanson, Executive Director, Asian Outreach USA, 305 NE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684. Phone: (360) 883-2421, Fax: (360) 883-8914, e-mail: aousa@earthlink.net.