Thank God for lives touched through Renovar Pre-School
Over the past one year we have brought ministry operations to a gradual close in a way that was gracious to our staff, and honoured God before the Maubisse community and believers. I was present to witness some of the final classes and speak with staff, including Sandra Guerreiro. We grieved together to see something that has been so precious come to an end, but we also gave thanks for so many lives touched – both children and families – and those who have come to faith.
Thanksgiving for God’s Work through Renovar
It was through our ministry in Renovar, with the Guerreiros, that the first believers in Maubisse came to know Jesus. Twenty precious souls have eternal life and were discipled in this most unreached area in Timor-Leste that experiences the most intensive spiritual warfare of all districts. These believers are now under the care of Church of Light in Dili, who sends church members to Maubisse twice a month to worship, invite friends and families living in the area, and grow the church. They have been doing well and eventually aim to meet weekly and “officially” plant a Maubisse church. It was never our intention to plant a church in our own name in Timor-Leste, but rather a community of believers who would be equipped to reach their own community of Christ. I am thankful that these believers are receiving this shepherding.
Guanwen and Ps Ivan visited and prayed over the Renovar land
While its ministry operations are closing down, our Renovar Foundation still exists and still owns the land in Maubisse, but is dormant for now. We will wait upon the Lord for the next steps.
The Relational Cost of Crisis
Jose Guerreiro’s decision to end his relationship with Renovar and WEFC was a crisis for us all. In such situations on the mission field, tensions often arise as we battle spiritual warfare, rush to meet impossible deadlines, and try to meet complex and innumerable needs.
This was the painful reality for Guanwen, Rachel and church leaders who faced tensions and differences of opinions around what to do in this crisis. I personally witnessed everyone making huge efforts to try and resolve these differences, and the painful toll this took on many. We don’t have all the answers yet, but we are still committed to one another. We know God has called our church and the Lee family to Timor-Leste and we still want this missionary-sending partnership to work.
Since returning to my previous role as missions pastor, I have been working closely with Guanwen and Rachel, together with Elder Michael as missions chairman, and Andy as the Timor-Leste Anchor Team leader. Everyone has been actively engaged and all of us appreciate Pioneers, the missions agency that has been supporting and equipping the Lees well. I am thankful that these past two months have been positive and hopeful, with a highlight being my time in Timor-Leste with them.
The Lees Adapting and Advancing with Oassis Maubisse
A large part of a missionary’s first two years on a mission field is adapting to the new culture, learning language, and integrating into their community. The Lees have two young children and are entering a complex mission field with intense spiritual warfare, so your prayers and support for them during this adaptation period is crucially important.
Guanwen and Rachel are also excited about advancing in the ministry and integrating into the Maubisse community. Missionaries need to establish their identity in a community, especially in a rural place where there are few foreigners. They are doing this through the Oassis Maubisse missions project, which consists of a café and a learning centre. The café’s operational costs will be self-sustaining and provide jobs to several of the previous Renovar staff, for whom the Lees will continue daily staff devotions and regular discipleship. The learning hub will begin with English classes, something much desired in the community. More possibilities will open up in future years.
Guanwen at Oassis ministry site, discussing with land owner and building contractor
The WEFC Missions Board and Pioneers missions agency are supportive of this new project and we are discerning the future ministry strategy for Maubisse together with the Lees.
Fundraising and the Faith Promise Offering
Oassis Maubisse has a fundraising target of US$78,000 which includes a small building of approximately 300sqm on land rented for 10 years. In perspective, this amount is what many Singaporean families would spend on renovating their apartment. Not only does Oassis Maubisse include the café and learning centre component already mentioned, it also includes the Lee’s residence which saves on significant rental costs. Our previous plans for Renovar also included a residential component for missionaries because this provides great stability for missionaries and makes financial sense. WEFC has contributed US$10,000 towards this project and the Lees have other donors too. They have done well in fund-raising, reached 65% of their target, which is enough to begin construction.
Raising personal support is always harder than raising funds for a project, and thus a crucial need for the Lees is their Faith Promise Offering for 2026. The challenges that we faced over the past two years have resulted in less awareness and more uncertainty about our mission in Timor-Leste. I trust that this article has helped you understand what our church leadership and our missionaries, Guanwen, Rachel, Esther and Estelle face in this mission field. I pray that you will be spurred to praying for the Lees and giving toward their Faith Promise Offering for next year.
You can financially support the Lee Family's ministry through the Faith Promise Offering, and/or join their Telegram channel where they share regularly about their ministry.
We praise our Lord unceasingly who reigns supremely above all circumstances in Vietnam and beyond, working His will faithfully in our hearts and lives and abiding with us through every season.
Amidst the challenging and uncertain political situation in Vietnam, we see many PRC citizens being repatriated to their homeland. Not many have been granted work visas that would allow them to continue living in Vietnam.
Over the past few months, attendance numbers in Mei Ting and Bethel Church have come up and down respectively. Yet we thank God that both churches have been very proactive in reaching out to others with the gospel through their unique business model. May God continue to bless them on this journey!
We thank the Lord that Ps Daniel preached an impactful message on Psalm 1, which was well received! Brother John shared his testimony too.
During this trip, I rejoiced to met different ones whom I have had the privilege of discipling at Mei Ting Church. They are continuing to grow in spiritual maturity and are serving, each in his own capacity, for the glory of God. Praise God!
Ps Daniel and I managed to catch up with Jing Xin, a new believer. Due to some personal challenges, he has been struggling with attending church regularly and reading the Bible. We prayed for him and encouraged him to persevere in his faith.
We visited sister Qin Ling's family, and had the opportunity to share the gospel with them. All of them are pre-believers. We are thankful that her own sister, Ai Ling, now comes to church and serves together with her. Although she is not yet ready to make a personal decision for Christ, she has asked many good questions and different ones have been helping her to process them. We trust and believe that our Lord who has begun a good work in her will be faithful to bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6) in His good time. We also visited and prayed for sister Leng, who previously helped Pastor Ho in the dumpling shop during his term in Vietnam.
Our team visited an old folks' home where we led worship and shared God's Word. Brother Matthew also shared his testimony with the residents there.
We visited the Nissi Drug Rehabilitation Centre, where we met a pastor who was a former drug addict, and whose life was completely turned around and transformed by God!
We also went to Hope Tuition Centre in Ho Chi Minh, which Mr Lin and his teachers use as a platform for outreach to primary school students.
Besides these visits to different individuals and centres, we also did street evangelism as a team at different places during our trip. However our interaction with the locals was limited due language differences. Nonetheless, we trust God that, as we obey each prompting to share our faith, He Himself will accomplish His will at the right time.
Enjoying a meal together as a team.
Indeed, God's sovereignty and footprints of mercy and grace were very evident in all the places we visited during this trip. We see His loving hands weaving beautiful yet remarkable stories in the hearts of those who are willing to be molded by Him. To Him who always does more than we could ever hope or imagine be all glory, honour, power and praise!
