Kilgo–November 2021

Southeast Asia


Dear Friends,

Greetings from SE Asia, where dry season is approaching, COVID is abating, people are again venturing out, and our ministry is slowly crawling back to full capacity after 18 months of strict prohibitions. It’s been frustrating not having the full freedom to minister to those around us. I firmly believe that Satan has his hands all over this pandemic as he tries to stifle the dear fellowship of the saints. But this is nothing new; indeed, Paul faced this problem too when trying to see the Thessalonians face-to-face:

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” – 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18

From this verse and others we know that Satan hates the fellowship of the saints. However, the Bible is clear that the word of God cannot be bound (2 Tim 2:9) and it has continued to be broadcast to His saints all over the world.I (Pat) want to share the story of a Chinese couple who came to Christ this week. Last Thursday I received a text message from a Chinese man named Mr. Lee who attends our church. He had met a woman who had questions about the Holy Spirit that he couldn’t answer, so he referred her to me. I met with the lady and her husband on Saturday morning and discovered that she has a long history of depression and emotional problems because she couldn’t find any meaning in life. She was told several months back about a Taiwan pastor and they have been listening to him. He speaks regularly about the Holy Spirit but never teaches from the Bible (you know the type). They were confused about why they couldn’t access the power of the Holy Spirit like this Taiwanese pastor is (ostensibly) doing. I asked them I they had believed the gospel, and neither of them had ever heard of any such thing as the gospel. I shared with them about faith in Christ’s crosswork, and that we cannot even have access to the Holy Spirit until we trust in the gospel.  I invited them on a hike later that day, and I was able to build trust with them in such a way that the following Monday they accepted Christ at my home, praise God.
This couple stands out in my mind from others who have come to faith in our ministry. The lady has been searching for meaning in life for many years, and has been asking God to show her the right path for many months. Through a series of truly miraculous (I don’t use that word lightly) events and amazing “coincidences” they were referred to me and they believed the gospel. 
I’m reminded of the famous verse … “All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We have studied together once more since then, and let me tell you … the chains are gone! All of their life baggage, all of the religiosity they worked so hard for, all of the self-reliance, and all of the meaninglessness of their life melted away under the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are a new creation and I’m watching it happen before my very eyes. They are hungry for the truth, and they’ve already led their 5-year-old son to Christ. God’s love is amazing!

Tonight, as I drove back to the island from a visit to a mainland orphanage that our church will serve in a few weeks, I got stuck in a heavy rain that grounded me for 45 minutes. I was listening to the 800-year-old hymn “All Creatures Of Our God And King” and I heard the lyric that says …

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him! O Praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

… And I shed tears of joy for this couple and the many like them who have joined the ranks of the faithful because of YOUR SUPPORT. We thank you for granting us the opportunity to do this work with your giving and prayers. May the increase abound to your account (Philippians 4:17)!

We covet your prayers for the following concerns:

1)      Michelle’s mother had a health emergency that required her to return to America to help provide care. Her mother is improving but is by no means “out of the woods.” Please pray for her mother, and for Michelle also, that she will continue to be able to honor her parents in this way.

2)      Please pray for our church ministries. In the next several weeks our doors should be open again to all ages. We will need members to step up and fill the gaps left by those who had to leave due to COVID.

3)      Pray for our Bible school. Our 17 students have performed well.  May the Lord use them mightily.Let us all praise the Lord and give thanks!  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!In His Service,

Pat and Michelle Kilgo