Dear family and friends,
 
In God’s grace, our family returned to Taiwan. The children have gone back to school and seen classmates that they hadn’t seen for a long time. We were concerned about how they would catch up with their friends in terms of academics and the school’s atmosphere. To our surprise, we are proud that our young ones have been adjusting fine and are happy. Praise God for the relief in our heart!
 
A number of ladies have become Christians. Subsequently, we’ve been teaching basic lessons of faith in preparation for baptism at Easter. Furthermore, a few others have diligently witnessed to their families. God has used their testimonies to touch the hearts of their loved ones. It’s exciting news!
 
Thank you for partnering in prayers and support.

While Pastor Charlie and Mary's family has been on furlough in 2018, the Phams have continued their ministry in Taiwan. God used the Phams to closely walk with a local sister who faced a dramatic trial. As a result, this sister's husband came to faith and was baptized.

Dear everyone,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration. Happy new year to you and your loved ones!

Sister Tiến faced a dramatic trial. God used the Phams to closely walk with her through the difficult days. Through the experience, God not only strengthened her but also had her husband surrender to him in faith and receive baptism. 

Praise the Lord that 3 of the prison inmates got baptized! Pastor Thu explained the significance of baptism to everyone and then baptized the 3 men.

As part of our ministry, the inmates sing worship songs and listen to a message.

​This is a letter from a Vietnamese inmate in Taiwan, Do Thai Sen, who is a hearty convert and is taking the discipleship program with the ministry intern, Mr. Thai.

​October 17, 2017

Greetings with happiness and love!

My first prayer to Jesus is that our Father gives as much grace as he wants to the pastor and the brothers and sisters in the church so it can be a healthy and happy church. Amen!

Today I am so glad that, thanks to the grace of Jesus, I have met with the pastor and heard the sweet, sweet words of the Lord. Thank you, Pastor. Thank you for your love and good food sent to us. It is encouraging and helpful for us to overcome the challenges. Since I’ve believed in Jesus and let him be Lord of my life, I can feel that I’ve been growing, changing, and getting more confident. I feel proud to have God own my life. I have a joy in my soul that is hard to express in words.

I am thankful that the church brought the love of Jesus to us, which gives us hope. I hope that everyone can soon return home as good people who will benefit their village, their family, their society, and people around the world.

This year we reached out to detainees at different detention centers in Taiwan, include SanXia and Yilan. Praise God that the detainees are accepting Jesus and growing in their faith through discipleship.

SanXia
Through large group presentations and smaller group follow ups, we helped the detainees learn about Jesus.

This letter was written by one of the inmates, Mr. Hà Huy Bình, who became a hearty convert, thanks to our prison ministry. Mr. Bình actively participates in the Scripture memorization contest. Sister Diep is one of the prison ministry co-workers.

​"I receive every day as joy, as grace from God in heaven." 

September 25, 2017

Dear Sister Diep,

Actually, I do not know what to say now, except to thank you sincerely for all that you have given us. You have provided emotional support and encouragement, which are the main motivations for me and my brothers to find ourselves and the path that has been leading us to God. Thank God for giving us a very serious sister who cares for us.

You know, once upon a time I was very depressed, wanting to give up everything. But you have been a bridge to bring me to a new life. You brought me to God, who loves us so much. I remember your heart and all that you have done for me.

Now my thoughts have changed a lot. I have also found joy and smiles in the present life. All of this is the grace that God gives. Once again, I thank you sincerely.

In closing, I wish you for you to always have good health, to always have a smile on your lips, and to find a lot of fun in life. Try to stay healthy. God will always be with you, bless you, and keep you.

The younger brother who had lost his way,
Huy Binh

​July 4, 2017

Dear Agape Fish Fund,

First of all we would like to express our appreciation for your hearty support of our ministry through both finances and prayer.

We want to inform you how your support has helped the Taiwan Prison Ministry.

1) Compassion Fund: Supplemental Food and Prizes

Every so often the Taipei prison releases a number of inmates who have finished their jail term or who are on parole. However, new inmates continue to come and replace the released ones. Therefore, the number of inmates continues to be at least a hundred people.

Part of your donation goes toward our compassion fund for the inmates, which enables us to do the following:

• Celebrate birthdays with birthday cake
• Cook supplemental food once in a while
• Provide prizes for Scripture memorization contest

The extra acts of kindness such as providing birthday cakes and supplement food has a great impact on the prison ministry. Lots of inmates write to express their appreciation for our love and care. As a result, their hearts are open and receptive. We often have new conversions and baptism for inmates who have finished our discipleship program.

The Bible verse memorization contest helps the active believers to develop self-control for life change and minimize disciplinary consequences. According to the prison’s policy, the inmates who have good behavior records can be eligible for parole sooner. This rule has been applied to a number of converted inmates who were released recently.

Dear family and friends,

Last year the detention camp got a new warden. After that, the detention center suddenly closed its doors and minimized visits by evangelical missionaries. After months of prayers and negotiations, there appears to be a new openness! Please pray for favor with the officials so that ministry visits to this detention center will be resumed. For more details, please refer to the excerpt from a missionary's email below. This missionary coordinates the ministries of the detention centers.

Here's an update on a migrant worker who's been in a coma for nearly 4 months. He can now breathe on his own, but he is still unconscious. It's been arranged for him to return to his family in his home country on March 4th. Details of the incident are still kept in the dark. The brokers reported that he fell down the dormitory's stairs, so the authorities have no further basis for investigation. May God show mercy!

Thank you!

Charlie and Mary

The pastor from the Agape Vietnamese Alliance Church in Taiwan asks us to pray for the following issues:

1) Sponsorship of a Vietnamese Bible Student Intern

We hope that a Bible student from Vietnam can be sponsored to intern with us. This will encourage the Tin Lanh church in Vietnam that is involved with our Vietnamese ministry in Taiwan. Our church is in the application process. Pray that God will allow this strategy to be implemented smoothly.

2) Increase in Ministry Workers and Financial Giving

Thank God that after the financial assistance from the C&MA mission was terminated last year, our church members, along with some Taiwanese supporters, are giving generously to cover our financial needs. This year our goal is to increase the budget to include the expense for a student intern. Please pray that more church members will volunteer to work in the prison ministry and that they will increase their financial giving.

3) University Students from Vietnam

Pray that God will give wisdom for the 8 university students coming from Vietnam. They will be helpful for the church in filling different positions.