DAO DUC THO
3RD YEAR, MASTER OF DIVINITY
VIETNAM

I was born in Vietnam, a socialist country with a population of about 80 million. Buddhism is the most popular religion (about 50% of the population are Buddhists, 20% are Catholics, 5% are Protestants and 25% are of different religions.)

I grew up in a very religious family. I was able to read the Bible when I was young but I did not understand it much, I did not know about salvation. I just knew that God is so kind and loving to me.

After I finished my studies in the university, I left home and moved to my uncle's house in Ho Chi Minh City to find some work. My uncle is the pastor of the Church of God in Ho Chi Minh and it was there that he told me the truth about the gospel. He helped me understand God's plan of salvation and explained the Bible truth. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized. I began to go to church and did some ministries while continuing my personal study of the Bible.

I wanted to know more about God so that I could serve Him better. One day God sent Pastor Somnuk Montrelerdrasme, Regional Superintendent of COG Southeast Asia, to my church and he introduced me to ASCM. He told me about the importance of studying the Word of God. ASCM has had a strong impact on my life, in enhancing my knowledge and spiritual growth. I thank God for helping me get here and for giving me an opportunity study the Word in depth.

My vision is to restore the church in Vietnam and to see denominations come together to serve God in unity. After I finish my studies at ASCM, I will go back to my country to fulfill the vision that God has given me. Please pray that God will continue to guide me in my studies and continue to use me to do His will, plan and purpose in the coming days.

ENOC ALVAREZ
2ND YEAR, MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
HONDURAS

I was born in the little town of Comayagua, Honduras, a country composed of 80% Catholics. I was born with a physical deformity in my feet, and I could not walk right. Because my parents were poor, they had to accept that I would grow up in that condition because they could not do anything about it.

When I was four years old, my father met Rev. Miguel Alvarez, a pastor who did mission work in the rural areas in Honduras. When Rev. Alvarez found out about my situation, he insisted that I have surgery immediately. They took me to a children's hospital in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras and there I was treated. After my recovery from surgery, I returned to live with my family. My feet were now straight, and I could walk fine.

Two years later, my father was diagnosed with leukemia and became very weak. He entrusted me to the care of Rev. Alvarez, who took me in soon after my father's death. At six years old, I left my birth family, but God gave me the opportunity to pursue my studies and to grow in a Christian environment.

Sometimes I wish I could have been born okay, with no deformities, but then, I would not be where I am now. I believe that everything that happened to me is in place, that my life is a miracle. If not for my deformation, I will not have an education; I would not have met God, I would not be in ASCM. This was His perfect plan.

After ASCM, I want to be a teacher; I want to be a pastor. But I'm still waiting for God's plan to unfold. I'm still out to discover the world, waiting on God.

NIE HONGLI
4TH YEAR, BACHELOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CHINA

My Friends call me Coral. I grew up in a Christian family but was never interested in Jesus Christ until I attended a Children's Fellowship in 1990. There, I experienced the full impact of God's forgiveness and love but also received a tremendous burden for the lost. I felt that I needed to do something more for Jesus Christ but I simply did not know how.

The Word of the Lord came to me one day while I was praying. The Lord told me that he will bless others through me and that he will use me to feed the church of God. As I committed my life to Him, I waited for His direction. The Lord soon provided an opportunity for me to be trained for missions.

After my training, I was sent to Xi'an, one of the cities in China. I preached in the villages and countrysides, sometimes even helping farmers with their work. Gradually, people began to accept me and attend the meetings where I preached. I began a cell group composed of six people whom I nurtured and discipled. Later on, these same people became evangelists of the local churches.

As I continued preaching, the number of believers rapidly increased that the local government took notice and began persecuting us. At one point, the police ambushed the church and arrested everyone. When they demanded to know who the preacher was, the believers protected me by not revealing my identity. Half a month later, I was released from jail with the police still not knowing that I was the preacher they were looking for.

After my prison ordeal, I experienced so many sleepless nights. Everytime I would hear a dog bark I would scurry to the back of my house and fervently pray. Fortunately, God gave me peace.

By the time I left Xi'an, many local churches had been established and I have learned to fully trust the Lord. God sent me to Beijing in 1999 where I focused on spreading the Gospel among university students. My church then sent me to the Philippines to study theology at ASCM. I love the people of China. My vision is to evangelize all the Chinese because there are still 1.3 billion of them who do not know Christ.

ROSARIO ARTADI
4th YEAR BACHELOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
PHILIPPINES

I grew up in a household of Christians and fellowshipped within the boundaries of the Christian church. I thought that spiritually, I had always been on track. Back then, God was just an entity in my life, an idea that was present, but never really a person whom I knew as a Father and Friend.

For most of my early adult life, I intellectually believed in Christ, yet I continued to fit into a worldly lifestyle resorting to smoking, and sex. I dropped out of school as a result. I believed that by engaging in the world's idea of fun, I would gain acceptance and find security.

Even then, I felt rejected by the world, and even by my so-called friends. In 1996, after a final blow to my notion of emotional security, I resolutely decided to go back to church, church hopping myself back into Christian circles, once again opening up to God. I wanted to fully turn to Him, but I soon found myself pregnant. I admitted my wrong and committed to stay with the Lord and in church even in my embarrassing situation. It was during these moments that I felt closest to God.

Just after I had reprogrammed my life and my ministry to include my soon to be born baby, I had a miscarriage. It was devastating, but God wheeled in more of His plans. With the support of the church, I was able to emotionally and spiritually recover and slowly comprehend God's purposes. God wanted me to serve Him 100%. Having a baby would have diverted my attentions elsewhere. God directed me towards His path instead of just letting me go with the flow.

I now stand proud of God's transformation in my life. He is now a living part of me and I am ready to serve Him whether as a future mother, or as part of His bigger family, the church. I am now a worship leader and I mentor young people in our church. I know what the world's lifestyle can do to someone's life. I am dedicated to help others find the path to Him.