Great News

Ko Tin Win and Ma Sun Sun has received a wonderful, long waited gift from our Lord. Phebe Soon was born on Jan.7, 2008 Monday night at 7:57PM with 7 lb 6 ounce. Both mother and baby are doing well. Praise the Lord! Our prayer is answered.

First Basket is "Compassion"

This month, January is the month of “Compassion.” We have twelve baskets for twelve months in this year where we are focusing on “Twelve Baskets ministry.” We have launched the first basket called “Compassion” after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 14:13-21. Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes. Actually at that moment when multitude followed Him, he was trying to separate Himself from everyone. The reason was that Jesus heard the news of John the Baptists who was killed in prison by be-heading which previous verses mentioned in context. Jesus was over warmed by the sad news and definitely He was sorrowful. Normally, no one can really have compassionate heart for anyone at this kind of circumstance that Jesus was in. Regardless of His situation, Jesus’ heart was full of compassion (Ps.145:8).

Compassion; I can understand this way;

• Giving extra favor for someone


• Doing more than necessary for someone


• Being in love with


• Understanding someone’s need more than self


• Standing together in single need
  
  So, let us practice our lesson from Jesus that we will show our compassion to others, especially this month. Let us do something extra for someone who would need your compassionate heart.

Karen New Year Celebrated

Wonderful people and find food were the best combination that we experienced at Karen New Year celebration today. Young and old, everyone was contributing their parts in this celebration.

It is exciting to see that many Karen people are residing in Bayarea. It is the third annual celebration of New Year. Each year, they are more and more efficient in organizing this kind of event. It is fun and exciting for the new Karen arrivals. Let us be encouraged in their success and thankful for being apart of their family. OBMBC is blessed to have Karen Fellowship which provide comfort and fellowship toward our new Karen arrivals among us. Sayama Aye Thaw and other Karen leaders are doing great job in embracing them and leading the way of God. Happy New Year!

Thank you Note from Thailand

Every SS children! Your love gift has been appreciated by the children and villagers at Thailand/Burma border. Thanks to Saya and Sayama for their dedicated work at Christmas time for the people. May the Lord continue to use them for His glory. Thankyou note;
Dear Rev. Lazum Lone Wa and Oakland Church members:

Firstly, I would like to thank Rev. and all church members for your generous concern as well as donations to the Burmese migrant workers living along Thai-Burma border. We can see that many of the villagers do not have any contact with the modern world because they were not allowed to travel due to their status in Thailand. However, when our family on behalf of LWC went to the village to celebrate Christmas party for the villagers and the children. We can see that they were so happy for we brought many pre-owned clothes for everyone at the village. The village is located at 44 km away from Mae Sod city. We had a chance to provide lunch and dinner for the villagers and children for the X'mas party. We also brought provide small packets of biscuits for the children and distribute to the children. On the 25th December, more than 100 people received Jesus as their savior. Rev. Tu Ja preached twice on that day, one in the morning and one in the evening. On behalf of LWC, I would like to say words of gratitude to everyone who have heart on LWC and our Burmese migrant people in Thailand . LWC is able to operate the regular activities because of your faithful support.

In His service,

Sayama Tu Lu

New Year Eve at OBMBC

We have fun filled event as well as spiritual renewal at last night. Young and old everyone played sports such as badminton, indoor soccer, and table tennis. Not to forget, the tasty porridge that we all enjoyed. At 11:00 PM our praise team brought us into worshipful praise. People re-opening their prayer items cards which they filled it up last New Year eve. Some shared their prayer items which were answered and praised God with tears. The new prayer cards were written and lifted it up to God. We will re-open them at the end of 2008 again. We were rededicated ourselves for this year again with "Twelve Baskets" ministry emphasis. Truly, we have been blessed at this very beginning of the New Year!

Soccer Tournament

OBMBC team, Oakland team, Daily City team

Soccer tournament was there at Daily City today. There were four teams; OBMBC, Oakland, Daily City, and San Francisco played through out the day. Impressive uniforms and enthusiastic players made the day. Four teams played against each other and winner took the championship. San Francisco and Daily city teams are the winner of this tournament. We will try harder in future tournaments.

Twelve Baskets Ministry

We are marching into New Year 2008 with our ministry emphasis called "Twelve Baskets Ministry." It is about Matthew 14:13-21 where Jesus fed five thousand. When multitudes followed Jesus to hear His teachings disciples asked Jesus to send them away for evening dinner time. Amazingly what Jesus told the disciple was "You give them somethings to eat." (v.16) Here are the facts; disciples have no ability feed five thousand for they are fishermen. And Jesus is just a carpenter son and does not have enough money to feed five thousand. Above all no shop nor a cook to prepare for dinner, Bible mentions "This is a deserted place". (v.15) Then how Jesus would ask disciples to give them food. The fact is that Jesus wants disciples to do something with what they can in order to feed five thousand. The rest is His job (He is God). It means, go and find some food like "five loaves and two fishes." This is the first lesson we should learn from this text; serving God with what we have or can.

The second lesson is learned by asking this question, why Jesus make more than enough? The twelve baskets full of fragments remained. (v.20) When Jesus is able to perform miracle of feeding five thousand with a little dinner plate, then why can He do it with exact amount to feed them? Yes, He could, yet He made it more than enough. Definitely, people packed home with what they had for dinner. So we must do more when we serve others in God's ministry.

God is able; then we should offer our best which may be small, He can make it large. It is a miracle that's happen when someone does a little thing for God. Let's do more in this New Year as we serve Him. Remember, the "Twelve Baskets Ministry."