Institute for Global Opportunities (IGo) is made up of numerous different ministries in SE Asia. One of those ministries is the Macedonian Teaching Ministry (MTM). But the heart of IGo is the Bible Institute. The vision of the IGo Bible Institute is to train, equip and prepare servants of Jesus Christ for a life time of service in building His kingdom world over. The Bible Institute is in its second semester for this year. We presently have the highest student enrollment since IGo began. We have a total of 31 eager, energetic students. Monday (Nov 2) begins the third and last term for this semester. Each term is three weeks in duration. After each term our students travel to different parts of SE Asia in hands on ministry experiences.

My (Raymond) primary role is to give leadership to the MTM ministry of IGo. But I also teach one term each semester at the Bible Institute. I will be teaching a course on I Corinthians this term. Please pray for me as I teach this class. In all reality the book of I Corinthians is a concise list of cultural conflicts that every missionary or church planter will face as they bring the gospel to an unreached people. My heart would be, in teaching this book, that it would not just be a book of corrections, but rather a class of raising up and preparing spiritual missionaries that will always be abounding in the work of the Lord.           

IGo Bible Institute Students

 Front Row: Eric Berkshire, Nathan King, Bronson Yoder, Anthony Sensenig

Second Row: Wendy Yoder, Melanie Beachy, Deanne Weaver, Nueng Kluksanasakulchai, Kelly Shenk, Anita King, Tiffany Wright, Karen Yoder, Karla Hershberger, Naomi Swarey

Third Row: Arlin & Kayla Beachy, Joyce Shoemaker, Andrea Pence, Kimberly Pollard, Rosa King, Twila King. Jeannie Graber, Kimberly Eshleman, Katie Shetler, Coleen Barnhart, Craig & Rachel Miller

Back Row: LaRonda Schrock, Leanna Wagler, Jeremy Martin, Lavon Slabaugh, Brian Shenk, Daryn Weaver, Jordan Flory, Ben Pifer, Victor Helmuth

 

Ps: Rosa King, Naomi Swarey, Kelly Shenk & Criag & Rachel Miller are all second year students. Rosa King & Naomi Swarey are now part of IGo  Ransom Ministries. Kelly Shenk is part of the IGo English center. Criag & Rachel Miller are serving in a village in northern Thailand under the IGo Church planting ministry.  

 

I had the privilege to travel with Wright Dee for five days of ministry among the Karen Hill Tribe people of the western Thailand/Myanmar border. The Karen people are an ethnic people group originally from Myanmar. But due to being despised by the ruling ethnic people from Myanmar, many have crossed the border into Thailand and live in the very remote rugged mountains of Thailand. Brother Wright Dee is native Karen from Myanmar. He is 74 years old and is passionately laboring to minister the Gospel among his own people in the remote villages. When I say remote, I mean remote. When you drop off the concrete road everything stops, the road stops, the power lines stop, all phone service stops (including mobile), no refrigeration, no entertainment media……everything stops. After driving for 3-4 hours up very steep grades with vertical drop offs that cause you to hold your breath, especially since the ruts are more then axle deep and the 4 wheel drive truck slides this way…and then abruptly it slides the other way perilously close to the fall off edge….I promise you the seat belt is taught & prayer is without ceasing! Brother Wright Dee has been negotiating these mountain trails for more then 30 years and his driving skills are the best and all went very well. After all this…. village life in the mountains begins. These dear Karen people basically live off of the mountain lands. They hold to their traditional Karen dress and are very hospitable. Brother Wright Dee is well loved by these people. When they see his Toyota truck coming, the people soon gather and then he would ask me to have a service. Being instant in season and out of season to preach the Word took on a whole new meaning….and I loved it. Please pray for the continued advent of the gospel among these people. In a few short years brother Wright Dee will no longer be able to minister as he is today. With a very sad expression, he told me there is no one else working for the sake of the Gospel among these Hill Tribe people…the road is too difficult and the sacrifice is too great. Did not Jesus say that unless we forsake all that we have, we cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:33)….who will answer the cry from our triune God in Isaiah 6:8…”who shall I send and who will go for us?”  

Wahdah Kla Karen Hill Tribe Village We Visited 

More Thailand Hill Tribe Ministry Photos With Captions