I’m currently in Myanmar. The Rev Dr Thang Bwee’s latest visa application to visit Australia has been rejected by the Australian government. We want him to come for a speaking tour and holiday. This morning we resubmitted a fresh application using a different approach. Please pray that this will be successful.
Kevin Murray

This evening I arrive in Myanmar and tomorrow morning I have the privilege of preaching the Word of God to the Yangon congregation of the Evangelical Church of Myanmar. Tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of the departure of Adoniram and Ann Judson from the USA bound for what was then known as Burma.

Sandy Grant outlines the details here at the Matthias Media site.

Kevin Murray

We Australians know so little about East Timor. Rob Duncanson has written a terrific post on the aid they gave to Australia during the Second World War.

Kevin Murray

http://bondiatl.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/lest-we-forget/

People are starting to contact us about serving with Workpartners 2012, 6th-22nd July in Vanuatu.

Two different sites: Talua Ministry Training Centre, Santo Island and The Presbytery Resource Centre, Paama Island.

What will it cost? Approximately $2,000

Who can go? Committed Christians

Minimum age: 15 years (Talua) 18 years (Paama)

Interested in joining one of the Teams? Get in early as numbers are limited.

Contact: Mission Partners national@missionpartners.org.au (02) 9792 1373

Download an application form here.

In late January the Mission Partners Timor Leste team met to discuss how the Australian Church can best help our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor Leste.

An integral part of our gathering was the presence of the Moderator of the church, the Rev Daniel Marcal. He flew to Sydney so that we could better understand the church.

The church is young and faces many many obstacles. However, among the pastors there is a deep desire to take the life-giving gospel of Christ to the people of Timor Leste, who like Australia, desperately need the gospel.

Robert Benn took the opportunity to interview Daniel.

If you would like to find out more about how you can help this church then contact us at Mission Partners or see the Timor Leste blog run by Rob Duncason, Bondia Timor Leste.

In recent years there has been a debate about the benefits and dangers involved in sending short term mission teams to another culture.

Please click here to read an article that introduces some of the issues involved in a clear and helpful way. It’s written from the perspective of a missionary who hosts such teams and is a reminder that often the team can benefit more from the visit rather than those to whom they go. If you are leading a short term mission team then I urge you to read this.

Kevin Murray

Our Summer 2012 Partnership newsletter is now available. You can download a copy here.

In 2012 we’re trying different avenues to tell the Australian church just some of the exciting things that are happening in mission.

In NSW our Partnership material will appear in The Pulse three times a year commencing in February.

In Victoria Partnership will be issued with the PIM ‘On Track’ and be available along with ‘Fellow Workers”.

Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Darwin will receive bulk mailings of Partnership together with the PIM ‘On Track’.

We’re presently working on the best way to distribute our material in Queensland. In February we will be sending out the combined Partnership/PIM ‘On Track’ publication to those people and churches who previously received either Partnership or ‘On Track’.

People who receive the Australian Presbyterian will receive the combined Partnership/PIM ‘On Track’ publication.

We think these changes will mean that information about Mission Partners will reach people in our churches in a more effective way. We expect there will be some hiccups as we implement these changes in the first six months of 2012 so we appreciate your patience.

In Christ

Kevin Murray

You can download an audio version of this talk here.

This was first reported in the August 2008 Mini-Mag. You can download a copy of that article here.

Our Youthpartners 2012 Team arrived home safe and sound last night. Pictured are the Sydney members. As expected, they had a great time.

They were greatly encouraged by the way the people of Liro and the surrounding villages supported the project. They really appreciated the leadership of Brian and Judy Cullen and Len and Robyn Newton. Thank you!

We’re already planning for the next trip: Mission Workpartners Vanuatu 6-22 July, 2012

Two different sites: Talua Ministry Training Centre, Santo Island and The Presbytery Resource Centre, Paama Island.

What will it cost? Approximately $2,000

Who can go? Committed Christians

Minimum age: 15 years (Talua) 18 years (Paama)

Interested in joining one of the Teams? Get in early as numbers are limited.

Contact: Mission Partners national@missionpartners.org.au (02) 9792 1373

How much do we treasure God’s Word?

Please take the time to watch the reaction of the Kimyal tribe of Papua, Indonesia, as they celebrate the arrival of the New Testament in the Kimyal language. It’s filled with great joy!

When I show this video in churches it’s the one video that people ask to see again.

Kevin Murray