Laos, a small country in Southeast Asia, was taken over by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975. Lao established a socialist government with close ties to Vietnam. Since 1986, the country has moved toward greater private enterprise and free trade. Recent reports describe a steep climb in Christian persecution in Laos, but Christianity continues to spread. Becoming a Christian comes with a sharp penalty in Laos. Many believers find themselves harassed, arrested, imprisoned, and tortured. Church buildings have been destroyed and some pastors killed. In spite of this intense persecution, the believers remain strong and steadfast.

On February 14, 2008, a Khmu church was burned down in Laos. Police refused to help when called. Bravely, believers held a service in the ashes two days later. Another Christian, Boon Chan, has been held in prison for nine years. It has become common practice to evict Christians from villages. On March 18, two groups of pastors were leaving the country to attend Christian meetings in nearby Thailand. The first group made it. A second group of eight Khum pastors from Oudomxay province was followed by the Laotian police. The pastors were searched, and all of their belongings were confiscated.

The communist government is becoming increasingly paranoid and insecure. Their hatred and brutality is no longer being restrained. The registered Boukham Church is experiencing serious persecution under the supervision of the local police chief, Thao Somphet. Church elder Thao Oun is in prison (where torture is routine) and being threatened with death. New believer Thao Aom was expelled from his village because he refused to renounce Christ throughout three hours of police 'interrogation'.

The widow of a recently murdered church leader in Laos has let the people of Laos know she has forgiven the men who destroyed her church and murdered her husband. She is a shining example of the love of Christ for sinful people at their worst.

Our Church can help minister to the Lao speaking people. We are partnering with Hosanna to provide the audio recording of the Lao New Testament. Many of the Lao are illiterate. With the audio Bible they can meet in groups and listen to the Word of God. Hosanna distributes the Proclaimer, a small audio player that is loud enough for 300 people to listen to at a time. The cost to record this translation of the New Testament is $25,596. There are 27 books from Matthew to Revelation breaking the cost down to $948 per book. Our goal is to sponsor at least one book of the Audio New Testament for the Laotian people.

After presenting this ministry last Sunday, an anonymous donor offered a 3 to 1 challenge. From now until Dec. 31, 2009, this donor will give three times whatever amount is raised! For example, your $20 gift can become $80! Please prayerfully consider participating in this effort, however, we ask that you give above your regular giving. As a church, we are falling short of our operating budget and redirecting your giving further hurts the ministry here.

Please pray:
* For the Church in Laos that they would remain faithful in spite of persecution.
* That the government would grant freedom to worship without further persecution.
* That the gospel would continue to spread and that many will come to Christ, especially from among those who have been persecuting believers.
* That our church would give to sponsor at least one Bible book recording.
* That the Lao language audio Bible would be completed and distributed in Laos as soon as possible.

You and I were created with two needs that knowing God and participating in the church provides—meaning and belonging. It is now scientifically demonstrated that human beings are biologically wired to seek meaning and belonging. This observation explains a lot of what we see in society, doesn’t it? Of course God knew about this long before we did; He’s the one who formed us this way!

We are blessed to live in an era when we have a complete Bible that reveals to us the plan and purpose of God. This plan and purpose was once a mystery in previous ages.

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him (Eph 1:9-10, NKJV).

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Eph 3:8-12).

In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians we learn about God’s purpose for the Church. We learn that this purpose was a mystery. A mystery is a previously unrevealed truth related to God’s redemptive plan. We might fairly describe the theme of Ephesians as “The mystery of God’s eternal purpose was hidden in ages past, but is now revealed in and through the church.”

Ephesians helps us answer questions surrounding our identity and purpose in Christ: What has God done for me? Who am I in Christ? What is my aim? What should I be doing as a disciple of Christ? How do I relate to the church? We will look at some of these questions in more detail the in forthcoming weeks.

First, we must understand that God has given us participation in His eternal purpose. Is our ultimate purpose worship or evangelism? John Piper said, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church, worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When people from all nations are before the throne, missions ends. Missions is a temporary necessity, but worship is eternal.”

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9).

The purpose of the Great Commission is to be the means of gathering worshippers together in Christ to the praise of the Father’s glory.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:11-14).

So when somebody asks you why you go to church, you could tell them you do so because you find God and His people to be your all-satisfying source of joy, meaning, and belonging. The church is at the very center of what God is doing in this age and we get to be a part of it! God has met two of our deepest needs by creating the church and calling us to participate in it. This is why there’s no place I’d rather be when the church gathers for worship then with the people of God to the praise of the glory of God. The next time the church gathers, will you be there to find your meaning and belonging?

Pastor Massimo