June 12, 2005
Pat & Rad Houmphan - “Parable of the Sower”
TOPIC
Pat Houmphan spoke on his family's mission work in Thailand. Pat is the father of Philip, one of our Centre's residents. He has completed work at ACTS and will shortly be returning to Thailand to work with the Isaan people, a considerable subgroup which has not yet been evangelized. He spoke on the parable of the sower (Mark 4), which describes what he faces as a missionary. In the story, some seed fell on the path (4.3-4); Pat finds that many people do not respond to friendship evangelism or do not accept Christianity because it is a western religion. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, it grew quickly but then died (4:5-6); Pat knows of people who are interested in the Creation story telling of the Creator God, they attend services for a few months and then give excuses and return to their Buddhist friends and ways, there is no depth to their Christianity. Other seeds were choked by thorns (4:7); some new Christians quickly give in to materialism, they prefer to to go the big city to get things than to learn about Christ. But some seed fell on good soil and produced a great crop (4:8); Pat concluded by telling of individuals who did convert fully and became excellent Christian workers. "We are the sowers and should expect similar responses to our work." [JEK]
SERVICE DETAILS
Passage: Mk 4:3-20
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event:
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No
WORSHIP TEAM
Speaker: Pat & Rad Houmphan
Worship Leader: Diane Ehling
Song Leader: Eric Hannan
Pianist: Ruth Enns
Usher: Henry Neufeld
Zoom Coordinator:
Children's Feature Leader:
HOSPITALITY
Bring Flowers: ERNA & JOHN FRIESEN
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEAM
Child Care Volunteer: