Property i>i LIB H -i'*'.

OZARSL

C-OXaLfuO'i'
Jopiin. Mr-

THE GREAT COMMISSION REkiNDER

Among ihe Tribes of Northern Thailand
'And the hcofhen shall

"Ooye/nfo Ql/iheworid,

know that /am the Lord,

andprcachfhe ^osper

whenlsha/Ibesancfified

inyou bfffbre theireyesT

erCK96-23

h
Published andmailed free by
MEL and JUNEBY&RS

Forwarding Agent
MR.andMR&GEO. KEADY 6405 S.E.I7th.Ave.

Talai Chtenqkam, Chanqwat Chiengrei,

Thailand.Asia

Portland 2,Oregon
U.S.A.

Vol.lli

December, 1961 " and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe

No.2

Two young people from the Leper village, playing the part of Maiy and Joseph in the Christmas play.

THE El OR THE BEGINNING OF HOPE

In the course of conversation a missionary asked a

visiting Thai, "Where did man come from?"

Indifferantly

the Thai answered, "I don't know, man just came to be I guess." "Where does man go after he dies?" continued the
missionary.

"No one knows," replied the Thai "man Just dies and
that is the end."

"Well then, why is man on the earth?" "I don't know, man is Just here and that is all there
is to i t . "

"Don't you think it is important to know, aren't you

interested?"

"No, I don't thinlc it is important and I am not particularly interested. Man is here, he is born into the

world, he dies - why worry about anything else?" We can not

change our circumstances, therefore, live the best you can
and wait for death."

Buddhism is basically fatalistic.. The ultimate goal

of the Thai is "Nirvana" (eternal nothingness) but no one

really believes that it is attainable. The Buddhist is a helpless victim of past incarnations and is powerless to alter the events of his life. Nothing is able to stop his "karma" from working itself out, therefore, why fight it, why try to change? He neither Icnows nor cares why he was
born or what his end will be after death. This sort of

fatalism leaves him without hope.

His life is meaningless

and is like an empty void. He accepts it humbljr and waits for death. This sort of complacent philosophj/ in the life
and culture of the Thai is a direct result of Buddhistic
fatalism.

The Bible says, "We have as an anchor of the soul a

hope both sure and steadfast." Heb. 6:19 (A.R.V.)

God

sent his Son into the world that mankind might have this hope. But how often the message of salvation and hope go unheeded. Once again the Christmas season is here and this message of hope is revived. Will we as Christians

allow this message of man's only hope - the babe of

Bethlehem to be obscured by oiir observing Christmas just 'for a time of festivities, pageantry and commercialism?
May God help us, A world without hope is at stake unless the message of Christmas becomes real. Many will celebrate Christmas, but how many will actually experience it? Many things, some of which have been mentioned will all but rob Christmas of its message of hope. Let us not

be as the Christmas tree with all its decorations just to

be discarded the day after Christmas and then forget all about it. Let us carry the message of Christmas to a lost world every day of the year.

Today, sinful man in his unbelief and heathenism is

alienated from this "anchor of the soul." His days are

swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and come to their end

without hope." Job 7:6.

He drifts aimlessly on the vast

He has tried all sorts

ocean of unbelief and speculation.

of theories and beliefs yet he still seems to be wandering

aimlessly about. The law of the jungle is revived and each ma.n seeks selfishly for his own survival.
With all the confusion of so called modern art and

music, sensuality, sexaal and daring movies and obscene literature of this space age is certainly indicative of man's empty heart - a heart void of "hope and without God
in the world." A moment's reflection causes one to

realize that his world's anchor is not holding. How im portant it is that we as the people of God get the real message of Christmas to a lost world.
Now is the time to take our bearings - focus on heaven's star that it may guide us back to Him who is the

"hope of the world."

Once again, grip the solid rock

which is steadfast and sure (it cannot slip, it cannot break down under whoever steps upon it). It is the hope
which reaches farther and enters into the very certainty

of the Presence of God."

(Heb. 6:18-19 Amplified)

"In times like these you need a Savour, In times like these you need an anchor. Be very sure - BE VERY SURE - your anchor holds and grips the solid rock."

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

Each year the Thai celebrates the New Year with a "water throwing" custom. For two or three days you are liable to get a good dousing wherever you go. There is much merriment in this symbolic washing which endeavors to make people forget the past and start out clean. I suppose it is their way of "turning over a new leaf."

At the beginning of each new year we are admonished

to "turn over a nevj leaf" and make some "resolutions" and

start on a fresh page and try to do better. Basically there is nothing wrong with making a fresh start. It is the kind of courage and determination we all need. But we cannot malce new year's resolutions with regard to habitual sin, thinlcing by some magic the subconscious is absolved of all its past sins, cleansed and stimulated to start anew. This mi^t pacify the sinner, inflate his ego and make him believe he is all right. This self-in duced cleansing of the soul may sound good but it is theologically wrong. It is the trick of Satan to keep one's soul in a perpetual state of sin and consequently in a perpetual separation from God. If some of our faults and habits are caused by sin we cannot expect to overcome them by "turning over a new leaf resolution." We must first "resolve" to get rid of sin by accepting Christ as our personal Savour. To do anything less is but the works
of the flesh. Like the sacrifice of the Israelites i t has

to be repeated each year. There is no lasting cleansing. Hence each year we come face to face with our sins, the same problems, the same defeats. Each year we gather our "ego" together and launch out on a "new resolution cam

paign" and before one minute of the new year has elapsed the "new leaf" is soiled by the ugly marks of sin which
s t i l l remain.

There is only one kind of introspection and discipline which is valid in regards to sin. Likewise there is only
one cure. Be not decieved "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin."

Jesus is the anchor of the soul, steadfast and sure,

'Until you have griped this anchor of the soul - you have
not - you cannot - experience Christmas.

^4
Buddhist version of Jacob's ladder.

Climb these steps and you will attain

"Nirvana" (eternal nothingness).

one really believes that this is
Dossible.

No

God d.oesn't turn a "new page" or look around for a "new leaf" nor play "hide and go seek" with the sub-conscious. God "cleanses" the soul from all sin. Beyond this there is no sacrifice. If we reject this in favor of "new resolutions" we trample beneath our feet the blood of the
covenant.

There is only one kind of "new resolution" per missible. Resolve to repent - confess - and seek clean sing in accordance x-jith the provisions of the new covenant. May we place our "attempts" and "resolutions" beneath the blood. This process is valid for eternity. We need not return yearly but by faith hold our position within the perfection and fullness of Jesus Christ. Let's settle the sin question once and for all.

'T^y days are swifter then a weaver's shuttle,

and are spent mthout hope."

Job I'.S

(Most of the Thai in the north still make their o^^m cloth in this manner)

FINANCIAL REPORT - MY 1 THRU OCT. 31, 1961 Book Balance - April 30, I96I 12,^29.19
-Receipts:

May
June

$ 386.^0
277*60

July August September

October Total to Account For
Less Disbursements:

291.69 3^^.32 U^U.67

26^*77

$U^560,7U

Household (food,supplies, repairs) $ 937.80

Correspondence 210,00

Books (Thai, English, supplies) 228,00 School (Children's books, supplies) 1^0.00 Film & reprints ^8.83 Customs & freight li9.26 Postage 31.28 Travel (motorcycle, trips to Bangkok)2^1i.U0
Medical lUli,00

Printing Bulletins Taxes (property)

Clothes

1^6.8^ 5.^6
80.00

Miscellaneous

111,^U~|25307^2

Book Balance - Oct. 31, 1961

$2s2$3.22

By the time this bulletin reaches the contributing churches and many friends of Mr. & Mrs. Melvert Byers,
Mr. & Mrs. Allen R. Nichols -will be established in their

new home in Ashland, Mo.. Mrs, Nichols served so faith fully for many years as the forwarding agent for the Byers. Letters and money gifts are still being mailed to the Nichols' Portland address. In the future, please mail all money gifts and letters to the new agents for Mr. &

Mrs. Melvert Byers, Mr, & Mrs, George Keady, 6^0^ S, E

17th Ave., Portland 2, Oregon. We wish to take this opportunity to thank the many churches and friends of Melvert and June Byers who have been contributing to their work in Thailand. They are doing a great work of taking Christ to those who have never had the opportunity to know Christ and study God's Word.

MEWS ITEMS

October 6> 1961 I have been laid up the last month with a foot in fection. It started out just as a little scratch on my ankle. It would just about heal up and then I would talce
a trip out to a village and the roads are terrible - mud

and water - and I would reinfect the thing. This last time it really flared up. I got a hi^ fever and that brou^t on my malaria so I was in bed for three days. Now I sit around with my foot propped up but is still
quite painful. I suspect it will turn into a small ulcer

and then finally sloff off and heal.

getting a lot of writing done.

At any rate I am

Dorothy Uhlig left for home this week. Her mother is critically ill and the elders advised her to come home

ri^t away.
way.

She was due for furlou^ in a few months any

Missionary Medicine and will be in Bangkok I would like to go out and see what my foot is going to do. I woTild have to go out by ox-cart and it takes so long for a round trip.
November 30, I96I

Miss Soubirou, our School of instructor is taking a world tour the last four days of this month. and see her but will have to wait

Greetings from Thailand. The sun has come out to stay for awhile for the rains have stopped. Already the Thai
are out in the fields harvesting the rice and it won't be long and I suppose we will be fighting the dust and the heat. Things here are going along nicely - slow but still progress is visible. Sometime in January we hope to have a week's gathering for the believers - sort of a school and try to get those in the far out villages acquainted
with some of the others. This will also be our Christmas.

The Christmas season comes ri^t during their rice harvest and many could not attend if we had it in December.

The children are fine and busy with school.

At present

Rinda is down with a slight attack of malaria but other

than that we are all well and happy.