Friends Magazine Hong Kong
By Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva
November 2012 Edition

With the ongoing shifts in the socio-political and economic situation of nations around the world today, pundits and analysts are taking a curious second look at Asia. In August this year, a study by property giant Knight Frank and Citi Private Bank predicted that Asian economies will top the list of the world’s richest economies on a per capita basis by 2050. It also foretold that “multimillionaires in Asia will continue to outnumber those in North America and Western Europe by 2050.”

The good news is that the Philippines is riding on top of this new wave of seeming wealth transfer. According to renowned Deutsche Bank AG chief economist for Asia Michael Spencer, the Philippines has become the strongest economy in Asia, outclassing so-called tiger economies like Malaysia and Singapore. He also cited the country’s resiliency despite the global economic crisis that shook countries in Europe and the United States.

Alas!  Why Asia?  Why the Philippines?  Why now?

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, AKJV).

“The LORD of Armies has taken an oath: “It will happen exactly as I’ve intended. It will turn out exactly as I’ve planned” (Isaiah 14:24, God’s WORD Translation).

In all things, we have to understand that the LORD has a timetable for every purpose and everything will be carried out exactly as He has intended.

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New Living Translation Bible worded Matthew 24:14 this way: “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”

The promised “end” that will certainly come is the return of the LORD Jesus Christ as the King who will eternally rule and reign. But His coming again is dependent on an explicit condition: that the Good News about His Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it.

Here’s a reality check, however, from the late missionary Oswald J. Smith: “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”

Alas!  Why Asia?  Why the Philippines?  Why now?

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Researches on world evangelization particularly reveal the unsettling situation of missionary work in Asia.  Among the seven continents in the world, Asia is home to 50 countries that are all within the 10-40 Window.

The 10-40 Window, also known as The Resistant Belt, is the world’s most critical missionary field.  Nearly 4 billion people live here, including 90 percent of the world’s poorest of the poor. An estimated 1.6 billion of these people have never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ – not even once!  Moreover, of the four billion people who live in the 10/40 Window, 95% are unevangelized.

Witnessing the Christian Gospel in some of the countries in the 10/40 Window is also illegal and often results in imprisonment or death. Forty-five of the 50 worst countries in the world for persecution of Christians are likewise in this region.  And the most disturbing of all, majority of the world’s terrorist organizations are based here. (Data are lifted from www.joshuaproject.net and www.win1040.com.)

Alas!  Why Asia?  Why the Philippines?  Why now?

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Hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches in Asia, the Asia for Christ Movement is heeding the voice of the LORD: “ASIA, ARISE! YOUR TIME HAS COME!”

Asia For Christ Movement (AFCM) is a global movement of covenanted servant-leaders who are committed to establish God’s Kingdom by fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission in Asia. It advocates the empowering and reforming of churches and the transforming of nations.

On 13-14 November 2012, 1PM- 9PM, the AFCM will hold its Asia For Christ MISSION Congress at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila, Philippines where delegates from all over Asia are expected to come.  Sponsored by the Philippines for Jesus Movement, the event aims to equip missionaries who will be commissioned and sent out to unreached Asian nations.  You may visit www.asiaforchrist.com for more information on the mission congress.

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The LORD Jesus Himself testified: “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers” (Matthew 9:37).

You have a part in the missionary work of the LORD. Please pray for this gathering of end-time missionaries and harvesters of the LORD. Promote it to everyone you know, especially to those who have a heart for missions. And support, in any way you can, the missionary work of God in your churches.

We have to do it now.  We have to do it where we are.  We have to arise for Jesus. Our time has come. èas