http://www.timpaton.info/ Timothée Paton News en http://www.timpaton.info/fileadmin/templates/main/images/rss_icon.png http://www.timpaton.info/ Timothée Paton News TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 17 May 2012 09:13:00 +0700 http://www.timpaton.info/ The other night I was over at our ICA Chinese Speaking Life Group (Home group) to share the Gospel, along with a Christian magician from Malaysia.Once again I saw how powerful magic tricks can be to get people’s attention and bring the Good News in a creative way.When ‘Jordan the Magician’ gave an invitation to receive Christ, 4 Chinese responded!I mentioned to Jordan the International Show ‘You’ve Got Talent!’ starting in August. He says he will be very happy to fly over to Phnom Penh and perform a few of his tricks for one of the shows.‘You’ve Got Talent’ will officially kick off Friday 31 of August. Christian singers, dancers, music groups are already lined up for what will probably be the very first International Christian Talent Show in Cambodia.It’s King Sihamoni’s birthday today. Fireworks last night along the Tonle Sap River. Long live the king of Cambodia! Once again I saw how powerful magic tricks can be to get people’s attention and bring the Good News in a creative way.
When ‘Jordan the Magician’ gave an invitation to receive Christ, 4 Chinese responded!
I mentioned to Jordan the International Show ‘You’ve Got Talent!’ starting in August. He says he will be very happy to fly over to Phnom Penh and perform a few of his tricks for one of the shows.
‘You’ve Got Talent’ will officially kick off Friday 31 of August. Christian singers, dancers, music groups are already lined up for what will probably be the very first International Christian Talent Show in Cambodia.
It’s King Sihamoni’s birthday today. Fireworks last night along the Tonle Sap River. Long live the king of Cambodia!]]> Update Thu, 17 May 2012 09:11:00 +0700 http://www.timpaton.info/ A team from New Zealand is over with us for a few days helping out in the slums and at the House of Joy. On Sunday afternoon, we went over to Tha Kom, a poor village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to the little church service held in a shaky wooden house on stilts. Around 12 adults, (most of them were baptized earlier on this year) and over 20 children. We sang, I shared a short message and two members of the Kiwi team gave their testimony. I was very moved to see how those really poor believers had ‘tithed their rice’, brought it to the meeting to share with people from the village poorer than them. After praying over the rice, we split into two groups and went out to bless needy families. The old lady and her daughter I went to see were moved to tears by the generosity of the church members. After sharing the Gospel story they had just heard that afternoon at the church, the members led the grandmother and her daughter to the Lord. They both promised to join the little Fellowship next Sunday. God is at work even in the poorest of places. The NZ team this week will be painting and doing some repairs in the church. ‘tithed their rice’, brought it to the meeting to share with people from the village poorer than them. After praying over the rice, we split into two groups and went out to bless needy families. The old lady and her daughter I went to see were moved to tears by the generosity of the church members. After sharing the Gospel story they had just heard that afternoon at the church, the members led the grandmother and her daughter to the Lord. They both promised to join the little Fellowship next Sunday.  God is at work even in the poorest of places. The NZ team this week will be painting and doing some repairs in the church.]]> Update Tue, 08 May 2012 10:53:00 +0700 http://www.timpaton.info/ I will never forget the last lap on this tour. Instead of heading down to Briansk, as originally planned, we flew out (Tatiana, the coordinator for the meetings and me) to the city of Volgograd (former Stalingrad).Stalingrad, where one million soldiers died in 1942. A turning point in World Word 2. The visit to the ‘Mother of the Nation’ statue (larger than the statue of Liberty in America) and the war memorial is an experience I will never forget.Anya, an excellent translator, was with me all the time making it so easy to interact with everyone in and out of meetings.I spoke Saturday night and 3 times on Sunday. At the First Baptist Church in Volgograd, when the time came for the preaching, to my surprise an elder went up and preached. Then after a couple of songs, the pastor himself spoke. (I was wondering if they had forgotten I was to preach). Then I was invited to come up. (It became clear afterwards when I realized that in the Russian Baptist tradition there are 3 sermons at each service!)A typical elderly Russian woman (with her scarf on her head) came up to me at the end of one meeting. She squeezed a bank note in my hand, and with tears running on her cheeks said: ‘This is some of my pension money. Would you please give it to the youngest street child in Cambodia you can find’).Yesterday before we flew back to Moscow, Tatiana, Anya and other friends went for a speed boat ride on the Volga River. The weather there was as hot as Cambodia (There tell me it goes down minus 35C in the winter and as high as 52 in the summer!)By the way: Never buy a breakfast at Moscow airport! I ordered two orange juice and two croissants. Using Russian currency, I was not sure how much it came up to. Then I was told the amount in US dollars: 60! Yes 60 dollars!!Another thing: Do not assume Russians know where Cambodia is: The pastor of the larger Baptist church in Moscow thinks it’s in Latin America. A pastor of a large church outside Volgograd thought it was in Africa. (The family I am staying with now was convinced Cambodia was in Africa. He looked at the whole map of Africa last night before admitting Cambodia was not there!)It’s International Labour Day today here in Moscow. Visit to the Red Square today before flying back tomorrow (Wednesday) to Cambodia. Many thanks for your prayers for this unforgettable trip in Russia. Many who had never considered going out into mission are now getting ready. Stalingrad, where one million soldiers died in 1942. A turning point in World Word 2. The visit to the ‘Mother of the Nation’ statue (larger than the statue of Liberty in America) and the war memorial is an experience I will never forget.
Anya, an excellent translator, was with me all the time making it so easy to interact with everyone in and out of meetings.
I spoke Saturday night and 3 times on Sunday. At the First Baptist Church in Volgograd, when the time came for the preaching, to my surprise an elder went up and preached.  Then after a couple of songs, the pastor himself spoke. (I was wondering if they had forgotten I was to preach). Then I was invited to come up. (It became clear afterwards when I realized that in the Russian Baptist tradition there are 3 sermons at each service!)
A typical elderly Russian woman (with her scarf on her head) came up to me at the end of one meeting. She squeezed a bank note in my hand, and with tears running on her cheeks said: ‘This is some of my pension money. Would you please give it to the youngest street child in Cambodia you can find’).
Yesterday before we flew back to Moscow, Tatiana, Anya and other friends went for a speed boat ride on the Volga River.
The weather there was as hot as Cambodia (There tell me it goes down minus 35C in the winter and as high as 52 in the summer!)
By the way: Never buy a breakfast at Moscow airport! I ordered two orange juice and two croissants. Using Russian currency, I was not sure how much it came up to. Then I was told the amount in US dollars: 60! Yes 60 dollars!!
Another thing: Do not assume Russians know where Cambodia is: The pastor of the larger Baptist church in Moscow thinks it’s in Latin America. A pastor of a large church outside Volgograd thought it was in Africa. (The family I am staying with now was convinced Cambodia was in Africa. He looked at the whole map of Africa last night before admitting Cambodia was not there!)
It’s International Labour Day today here in Moscow. Visit to the Red Square today before flying back tomorrow (Wednesday) to Cambodia.  
Many thanks for your prayers for this unforgettable trip in Russia. Many who had never considered going out into mission are now getting ready.]]> Update Wed, 02 May 2012 10:01:00 +0700 http://www.timpaton.info/ Click here to view the newsletter Click here to view the newsletter]]> Newsletters Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:47:00 +0700 http://www.timpaton.info/ Moscow, what a city! 20 million people. The worst traffic jams I have ever seen in my life! (I will never complain now with the traffic in Phnom Penh!). Moscow, a mix of new buildings and old Soviet area high flats. Expensive cars and old fashion Ladas.Thursday, the day after I landed, I was off for a Pastor’s meeting in the morning. (Met with staff from Pastor Rick Warren’ Saddleback’s church). Spoke at a Christian workers seminar in the evening.Friday, an interview with a Christian magazine, then a radio interview in the afternoon. Had a short talk in the office of the head of Russia’s Baptist Union, an old pastor close to president Poutine. Then second seminar in the evening.Saturday, a long ride with an American missionary family to a state orphanage. Over 50 needy children, some mentally handicapped. Gave a gospel message to a very attentive audience. (The translator was not a Christian but did a great job!)Back in Moscow around midnight.Sunday morning: Took the underground (the nicest metro I have ever seen. Clean. No graffiti. Efficient). A ex street kid, Elya ( who spent 13 years on the streets, now a strong believer) took me all the way to the first of the 3 churches I was to speak at that day.Second service at Good News, a Baptist church (the songs, the way people dressed and the pastors reminded me of my church as a boy in France).Then on the road again. The driver, former coach of the Russian Olympic fencing team got us just in time to speak at a church that had not been planned on the schedule: The First Baptist Church of Moscow. The only church that was allowed to be opened during Communist rule. When I walked with the translator into the church (that was celebrating its 130th anniversary on that very day) I realize that I had seen that building before. ‘This is where Billy Graham preached back in 1980’, I said. One of the pastors turned around, surprised and said: ‘That’s right, Billy Graham did preach here’.After giving a short message (from Acts ch 3), the pastor on the way out turns to me and says: ‘Actually President Nixon preached here too, back in 1972’.After church and a short stop for a long sandwich at ‘Subway’, we drove two hours out of town to a Christian Camp for a Conference for Children’s Workers. They’ve come as far as Moldavia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Armenia, Siberia…I am speaking here 2 to 3 times each day till Thursday.The Russians are warm people (to my surprise!) and the weather is warm too (to my surprise!) No one keeps to the program. Forever changing. Flexibility is the key.Many thanks for your prayers. One more week to go. Thursday, the day after I landed, I was off for a Pastor’s meeting in the morning. (Met with staff from Pastor Rick Warren’ Saddleback’s church). Spoke at a Christian workers seminar in the evening.
Friday, an interview with a Christian magazine, then a radio interview in the afternoon. Had a short talk in the office of the head of Russia’s Baptist Union, an old pastor close to president Poutine. Then second seminar in the evening.
Saturday, a long ride with an American missionary family to a state orphanage. Over 50 needy children, some mentally handicapped. Gave a gospel message to a very attentive audience. (The translator was not a Christian but did a great job!)
Back in Moscow around midnight.
Sunday morning: Took the underground (the nicest metro I have ever seen. Clean. No graffiti. Efficient). A ex street kid, Elya ( who spent 13 years on the streets, now a strong believer) took me all the way to the first of the 3 churches I was to speak at that day.
Second service at Good News, a Baptist church (the songs, the way people dressed and the pastors reminded me of my church as a boy in France).
Then on the road again. The driver, former coach of the Russian Olympic fencing team got us just in time to speak at a church that had not been planned on the schedule: The First Baptist Church of Moscow. The only church that was allowed to be opened during Communist rule. When I walked with the translator into the church (that was celebrating its 130th anniversary on that very day) I realize that I had seen that building before. ‘This is where Billy Graham preached back in 1980’, I said. One of the pastors turned around, surprised and said: ‘That’s right, Billy Graham did preach here’.
After giving a short message (from Acts ch 3), the pastor on the way out turns to me and says: ‘Actually President Nixon preached here too, back in 1972’.
After church and a short stop for a long sandwich at ‘Subway’, we drove two hours out of town to a Christian Camp for a Conference for Children’s Workers. They’ve come as far as Moldavia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Armenia, Siberia…
I am speaking here 2 to 3 times each day till Thursday.
The Russians are warm people (to my surprise!) and the weather is warm too (to my surprise!) No one keeps to the program. Forever changing. Flexibility is the key.
Many thanks for your prayers. One more week to go.]]> Update Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:15:00 +0700