Training Christian spokesmen for global evangelism in their own culture, language, and environment, for the glory of God.

January 2006 - Click on either picture for a larger view

Here is Bill McDonough's presentation of the Mekong River project for which he has asked International to provide the teachers. He has raised $500,000 to purchase the boat.

Partners In Progress Mekong River Boat Project

The Need
The Mekong river runs through six countries. Starting in China, it flows through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In the remote areas Cambodian and Vietnam there are more than 15 million people who live on the river, whom we are told, are without basic health care and virtually un-evangelized by any group. There are no roads to many of the towns and villages on the river. We were taken to a town of 10,000 people that has no road in or out and depends entirely on the river for its livelihood. In Cambodia, the Mormon Bishop told me, "We cannot get to these people." The Catholic priest who oversees their Cambodian mission writes, "The river country is inaccessible and malaria, dingy fever and communicable diseases infest the area because the Health Department cannot even get to them to treat and immunize the people. In my visits with the Director of Planning for the Health Department, he confirmed the report and welcomed our proposal.

The Feasibility Study
In an effort to assure success we have spent three years studying the idea. Discussions have been conducted with Ministry of Health officials in Cambodia and Vietnam and they have applauded the idea saying, "This could be a major part of the answer to our problem." We have conducted lengthy discussions with numerous missionaries in Southeast Asia and all of them have encouraged us to proceed. Missionaries in other remote areas of the world, Africa and South America, have also been asked for their input and all have agreed that the concept is ideal for the situation.

The Opportunity
At present we are being welcomed and encouraged by the Cambodian Government to begin the project there. With continued negotiations we are hopeful of gaining permission to also operate in Vietnam and as things change and, according to our man on the scene they are changing, to get back into Laos with this approach. This will enable us to provided evangelistic, church planting opportunities as we offer badly needed health care. Local brethren want to work with us in establishing churches on the river. Already there are two groups of Christians meeting that can be reached by boat. One church of 100+ is on a large island in the middle of the river and the other is made up of 6,000 new converts from Islam that are pleading with us to come and teach them.

Background:
Since 1987 we have been working to assist in proclaiming the gospel in Southeast Asia. As a result of meetings with national brethren and missionaries in the region and with top government officials in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma), we began to form a strategy of evangelism coupled with humanitarian relief efforts. In Laos, a freshwater well drilling project was begun in cooperation with UNICEF providing the materials and PIP providing the team. PIP also provided medical equipment to local hospitals in Vientiane and sent medical teams to train Laotian counterparts. This was ended when our team and missionaries were arrested and imprisoned for preaching the gospel.

In Vietnam, two medical evangelism teams were sent to work with their Vietnamese counterparts in Ho Chi Min City. In 2000 we provided $100,000 of humanitarian aid during their worst flood in this century and were praised by the government. Responding to the requests of the Vietnamese government, we conducted a feasibility study and made a proposal to provide English language training for health care professionals in the Provence of Ca Mau and Physical Therapy training for their Phys. Therapists. This project was approved and lauded by the Ministry of Health but was stopped by the secret police when they learned of our evangelistic activities in other nations. We are still negotiating with the government concerning our proposal and have hopes of it being approved.

In Myanmar (Burma)I, Partners In Progress received permission to work there and has sent physicians and technicians to provide training and equipment in the areas of cardiology and urology at Yangoon University Hospital. We are one of only sixteen foreign organizations allowed to work there. Through this open door PIP has organized a preacher training program and an evangelistic program that continues to reap a harvest. We have been offered visas for long term missionaries to go and work there, but have been unable to recruit anyone as yet.

In Cambodia, we began our probes in 1995 when a young physician indicated his desire to go there as a missionary. From the first visit we were warmly received by top government officials and the health care community. Although the physician changed his plans, we began praying and working toward planting churches in this country. Numerous trips have been made and contact with a handful of Christians, who were converted in Thailand, was maintained. In 1999 a missionary, Bob Berard, appeared on the scene and is doing outstanding work. Working through him and the local church, we provided $50,000 in flood relief that climaxed in the establishment of two new congregations. Since that time we have continued to work with the missionary and local churches and have assisted them through a short term medical evangelism project and providing teaching materials.

In March a team of 17 health care workers conducted two clinics that resulted in the conversion of 52 people within two weeks following the project and the establishment of an additional congregation.

The Plan
Consistent with our mission statement to provide health care and the gospel to plant churches in distressed areas of the world, we have worked with local brethren in Cambodia and Health Department officials on a national and local level to formulate the plan.

The plans components:
1. The Boat - Accommodate 20 or more workers, a medical clinic and lecture room.
A. Clinic will include: Lab, Pharmacy, X-Ray/Ultra Sound, Procedure room for minor surgery & EKG, Ophthalmology, Dental and Consultation rooms
B. Accommodations: Double rooms with toilets and showers, commercial kitchen, lounge
C. Lecture Room: A 68' X 27' lecture room with AV equipment

2. Medical Evangelism
The boat will sail the Mekong River and stop at towns and villages to provide health care to residents, continuing education to local health care workers and evangelistic opportunities for church planting. PIP has a track record of this type of church planting in more than 20 nations. The new dimension will be doing it from a boat, but the methodology has been tested and proven.

3. Continuing Education for local health care workers will be provided on a regular basis by visiting Christian physicians, dentists, nurses and technicians from Europe America who work with PIP.

4. A Floating Bible School - Advanced Bible Training for local Christians will be provided by visiting American teachers and the resident missionary. Sunset School of Preaching has agreed to provide teachers on a regular basis.
A. Vietnamese Christians can cross into Cambodia and attend Bible training seminars which will strengthen the underground church in Vietnam. We have conducted Bible training seminars in Vietnam since 1995, but these have needed to be conducted in secret and under less than ideal circumstances. (There are three brethren traveling from Vietnam to Cambodia to study with our missionary there as I write.)
B. Christians from the river towns will be given the opportunity to board the boat for regularly scheduled Bible and leadership training. This will allow them to receive training without leaving their farms and jobs to go to the city from which few who do go ever return.

Advantages to the Boat Approach

Possibly the only way to reach the people of the Mekong River.
We can:
1. Go to where the people are.
2. Proclaim the gospel and plant churches among those who have not been evangelized.
3. The Boat will generate much interests in and good will for the church.
4. The Boat is moveable and not just tied to one location like a building.
5. Economically sound. ( The cost of building and maintaining the boat is nominal compared to a building that would provide the same capability.)
6. The Boat can be moved to other areas when deemed to be advisable.

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Partners In Progress
"Serving humankind on five continents"
PO Box 150, Little Rock, AR 72203, USA
Tel 01 501-374-5761, FAX: 01 501-374-5763
www.partnersinprogress.org

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