Along with our partners in Asia, I bring greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Here are a select number of mission updates from Asia:
Updates from India
Job Skills Training for Youth with the Baptist Church of Mirzoram (BCM) 
Through various skill training programs, BCM aims to address the problem of unemployment and give hope to the youth to find ways to support themselves sustainably. Three girls have completed training in tailoring, beauty and wellness, and computers. They took the final exams for a Diploma in Computer Application degree and are awaiting results. Three more individuals completed six months of bakery training and are now interested in beginning their own start-ups.
Job Skills Training for Vulnerable Women with Samaritan Home
Ten women completed six months of training and can now make dresses, blouses, gowns, dresses, and bags. They were also trained in painting and embroidery. These women now have a ray of hope and increased confidence in a context where many women are exploited and neglected by society.
Job Skills Training for Victims of Human Trafficking with Miqlat Ministry
Rehabilitation and skill development is empowering women to grow towards economic dependence and self-sufficiency which has helped them break free from the cycle of exploitation and boosted their confidence and sense of self-care.
Ten girls have completed barista training and were awarded certificates. Once these girls have completed their rehabilitation, they will begin applying for jobs. In the meantime, they will provide barista services for the Miqlat canteens on the Oriental Theological College campus. One of the girls has recently married and is living in a new area with her husband.
Tailoring training is also underway. Participants are learning to measure, cut, and sew, ultimately giving them the skills to make dresses, kurtas, pyjamas, and blouses. This knowledge will empower them to provide for themselves and for their families.
Accommodation & Meals for Education with Kui Baptist Association 
The Kui Baptist Association provides accommodation and meals for 35 school-aged girls attending classes 6 to 9 who do not have the means to stay in government hostels near the school. In addition to accommodation, the girls receive tutoring and nutritious meals. By ensuring these girls can attend school, the project aims to create more opportunities for girls beyond early marriages that often lead to mother and infant fatalities.
India Workshops
Thirty women participants from WSBAK (Samaritan Home) attended a workshop on Integral Mission (IM). Another workshop on IM is scheduled for the leadership and churches of Kui Baptist Association in October. Likewise, a workshop for young leaders’ development and IM for Telugu youth in Andhra Pradesh will take place in October. A CBCNC Pastors workshop will be held in November for around 250 pastors and spouses on Modern Trends in Theology.
Business Skills Development for Village Farmers with Soura Baptists (SBCMS)
In June 2024, five training programs for 92 participants concluded in Serango. Youth were given training in business and marketing skills. Youth from Badua, Talamonda, Libriguda, and Rauthpur started businesses selling bricks, cashews, honey, and rice with INR 100,000 each per zone. So far, the Badua area youth have earned INR 21,000, the Talamonda area youth have earned INR 18,000, and the Librugada youth have earned INR 10,000. The Rauthpur youth have yet to sell their products, but all participants are now aware of the local resources available and have acquired business and marketing skills. Their business units are addressing unemployment and mitigating exploitation from upper caste people.
Updates from Thailand & Myanmar
Thread of Hope in Myanmar
The Thread of Hope project has been progressing significantly, despite the ongoing civil unrest, escalating conflict, and the military conscription law, which continue to cause excessive devastation. Both the Sewing Project and the Operation Business Initiative (OBI) workshops have been going quite well. Eleven trainees successfully completed their courses and are now ready to work in factories or within sewing markets. Additionally, two sewing workers are doing an excellent job fulfilling orders and producing products through our OBI project. Through the OBI project, we made a profit of 805,000 Myanmar Kyats (approximately $230 USD). Next year, the partner is planning to upgrade the OBI business workshop for better production and sustainability.
Operation Dawn Addiction Recovery Project (OD) in Thailand
A total of 31 men and 15 women are benefitting from this project. They are involved in vegetable planting activity, fish farming, and pig farming. These activities have helped them to learn and practice farming skills. The seeds are used for planting at the Discipleship Training Centre, two rehab centres, and Samuel Home. So far, the planting has been successful and should provide food and nutrients for those at OD. Also, fish are being raised at Samuel House and Therd Thai Rehab Centre. One recovered addict is now undergoing pig farming training and has learned farming techniques such as breeding, vaccination, and farm management.
Support for Seminary Students at Thailand Bethel Theological Institute
Scholarships worth 40% of tuition have been provided to 10 students this year. New Thai reference books have been added to the library, which has benefitted 40 students and faculty. In addition, an outreach program has been implemented, where teachers share the importance of theological education and students share their testimonies and campus experience while visiting local churches.
Land Rights Awareness Training Project with Mekon Rainbow Foundation in Myanmar
In the past, community members in Mae Mee village, the Hua Mueang Sub-district, the Meuange Pan District, and Lampang Province were intimidated by government officials when it came to housing and farmland. The Land Rights Awareness Training Project has taught community members about laws and policies, allowing them to advocate for the right to restore and maintain their land by increasing green space, planting trees and preserving forests.
Support for Disadvantaged Children with the Lord Love Center (LLC) & Morning Light Center (MLC) in Myanmar & Thailand
LLC and MLC provide food for children, tuition support, chef’s salaries, medical services, and farming activities. The tuition support enables children to attend Thai and Chinese schools. Food provision and the salaries for the chefs at both centers ensure the children receive daily nutrients. This is the rainy season in Thailand, which has led to an increase in the spread of flu and dengue fever. Medical services, including check-ups, health care seminars, and flu vaccinations promote better health. While the chicken farming at MLC faced challenges with disease in the flock, the fish farming at LLC is thriving.
Updates from the Philippines
Education and formation for Children & Youth
Out of 116 enrolled preschool children in 5 childcare centres, 92 have completed and are ready for K2. There are 28 scholars enrolled in the program. They come from mission areas and attend classes in the universities, and participate in discipleship and fellowship meetings.
Flood Risk Mitigation Project with PaTi 
Through this project, community nurseries have started to germinate and propagate seeds, seedlings, and planting materials as an ongoing activity. PaTi: CARE was able to link with the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for seedlings and planting materials. Assorted fruit tree seedlings came from these government agencies. The seedlings are planted in a Communal Reforestation Area. 70 beneficiaries and communities and learning SALT technology, which uses a contour method to prevent/minimize soil erosion and preserve the fertility of the land. They are also learning the “quincunx” method of planting: fruit trees are planted on a triangular basis with a distance of 2.5 meters, and a “nurse” tree is planted in the middle to nurse the young fruit tree while they are growing.
Capacity Building & Livelihood
Five preschool teachers are improving in their teaching performance and management of the childcare centres. Twenty beneficiaries belonging to four SHGs are improving the quality of their products being sold at the Bugana Center. The sewing group in Sublangon has enhanced their skills and can now sew Bangon school uniforms. The livestock and coffee plants were affected by long dry spells. Potted coffee seedlings and some mother trees withered and were not able to survive the heat so coffee farmers must replant. Livestock were also affected – swine were infected with African Swine Fever (ASF), the goats with hop and mouth disease, and the chickens with fowlpox. It will take some time to recover from the losses, but amidst these challenges, the farmers and beneficiaries are still hopeful.
Center for Continuing Theological Education Program (CCTEP)
CCTEP hosted a two-day seminar for 32 pastors in the Community Life module. The Faith & Work module is a follow-up of the Community Life Module. This course focuses on the Church Gathered and Scattered – Mobilizing the People of God focused on Community Development: Financial Management & Sustainable Livelihood. As pastors who are concerned with good financial management & sustainable livelihood, they were able to start a Savings & Credit Group, putting in their initial capital shares. This is the outcome of the two series of seminars on Community Development.
Prayer Requests 
- Please pray for the ongoing training programs at Miqlat Ministry, Nagaland.
- Pray for new 2025 Projects – Lost and Found: Empowering Prison Inmates in Nagaland, which strives to reintegrate inmates into the community through spiritual counselling and income generating programs; and Sustainability Project towards Scholarships in Arunachal Pradesh through Arunachal Baptist Church Council, which seeks to generate income to provide educational scholarships to poor and needy students coming from their 19 church associations.
- Please pray for the projects in Almaty, Kazakhstan: for beneficiaries being rehabilitated from addictions, for final-year students who are being assisted to complete their theological education, and for two new projects scheduled for 2025 through the Almaty Bible Institute.
- Please pray for the ongoing projects in India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and Myanmar, that the beneficiaries are blessed, and their lives are transformed. Also, pray for the Partners – for their capacity building and for sustainability.
- Please pray for those affected by the recent flood in Northern Thailand and the border of Myanmar. There have been landslides in mountainous regions, blocking many roads and damaging bridges. Numerous homes have been affected, leaving many people struggling with a lack of clean water and food. Schools are closed, leaving children unable to attend classes.
- Pray for the Telugu Baptist churches (CBCNC – CBM pioneer mission church in India) that is affected by severe floods. Many churches and houses are submerged. 35 people in Andhra Pradesh have died and at least 450,000 people have been displaced. Crop damage is extensive.
- Pray for the people of Capiz province, Philippines, for it is declared a state of calamity because of the rising case of dengue fever.
