November Update

Thanks to modern technology, Women on Mission on Nov. 11 were able to hear, via Zoom, Amrit and Soni Ashish in India tell about how God is “sending them to the next right thing” when they move to Washington state to work with refugees through Sojourner Home.
Amrit was born in Nepal, raised in a Hindu family, and became a believer when he moved to India.  His wife, Soni, was born in India into a Christian family and previously was a teacher, ministering in the slums.  Together they have served in India for many years, opening their small home to any Christian brother or sister suffering persecution because of their faith.  They and their four sons — ages 25, 24, 18, and 14 — have shared their home with some 28 people for as many as 9 years, or as little as two weeks.
Amrit said no matter how many mouths there were to feed, the Lord always provided for them, and Soni said their children have learned the blessing of sharing what they have.  “This was how God was training us and using us, not only us but our children.” People who came as children to live with them are now adults helping with the ministry.
 
Because of the increase in persecution over the years, and even local law, they can no longer meet for worship in the same place two weeks in a row — they must move to a different location every Sunday.  Travel restrictions forbid them from going out of their state to a different state to worship with other believers. Even Christian schools are not allowed to speak the name of Jesus and cannot have Bibles in the schools.  And at one point they had to convert a large refrigerator into a baptistery because of local restrictions.
Over the past few years, God has been working in their hearts to move to Seattle and begin working with numerous refugees there. “We are all refugees when we come to know the Lord and have that hope for blessings,” Amrit said. Because of the persecution they have experienced themselves, “Now we understand how God has been training us to treat people when they are hurting and kicked out of their country.”  Added Soni, “We know how to serve the people who are sick, the people who are hurting because we went through that.”
Amrit and Soni are in the process of raising support for their new work and hope to move to America in January 2025. “Now God is opening the door for us to go to another country.  The Lord has prepared us for this. God has given us the privilege of living through the hard times to see what He is doing.”

Coming In December

When Women on Mission meet Dec. 9 they will hear from Katherine Dix who serves in Bulgaria, reaching out with hope and Good News for girls and women being trafficked. The December meeting will begin at 11:30 with a covered-dish luncheon in the Buchanan Hall followed by the speaker’s presentation at noon.

Ongoing Activities

WOM also supports Hope House of Union County by collecting personal hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc., which are distributed free of charge to Hope House clients. Through offerings collected monthly and budget funding from First Baptist, WOM are supporting the following ministries:

  • Cowboy Church of Jerusalem to purchase food and new boots.
  • Pure Love Pure Water for more filters to be sent to missionaries.
  • The Clarkston After-School Ministry, which provides a meal for the children and to purchase supplies for the children.