Update from Bruce Bickel, Dec. 29, 2015
Bruce received these pictures with captions from Tin and Huong Kiev:
Tin Lanh Church at Night
New Believers receive the Gospel of Christ
Tin & Huong’s 2 Grandchildren, among winners of Bible Competition
Tin sings “Silent Night”
Update from Bruce Bickel, Dec. 21, 2014, on the church of Tin Lanh that we support, through Tin Kiev:
“Tonight Sunday 21 Dec we organized the last “Gospel spreading” of the year 2014 . Thank God for he has added 10 more converts to our Church . The more the merryer and we will have more things to do in the coming days to purchase them. Pray for us. Until now the number of Christians of our Church is propably 300. Next New Year we hope and pray (to) God to save more souls in the house of Him. Pray more and more for that.
Tin and Huong with love.”
“Here are some pictures of my family and my church. P/S: You can see in the back ground the picture of me and my wife at the old orphenage that you once helped my mother and orphans for the the begining construction. I will write more in details. Tin”
Children welcomed into the orphanage with Tin & Huong
Pastor Thanh with choir
Teacher with new Christians
Teacher introduces new Disciples
Update from Tin Kiev, March 28, 2014
Tin & Huong Kiev
Tin Lanh Church
“Dear Bruce, Becky and our brothers and sisters (Friday Brave Men ) in Christ love.
How are you ? Thanks to God and to all of you for giving us Bibles and Hymnals. Our church will begin a class of Bible Study for all Christians (old and new) during two days. Every one will get a brand new Bible.
We wish to improve our knowledge about God’s words. Pray for us.
I send to you this email from my new iPhone that I bought with the money you gave me. I also fixed my leg and my old moto which is also my second leg. In many ways I want to express my appreciations to you my beloved friend and to all my brothers.
From Tin and Huong with love.”
(Left to Right)
Huong Kiev, Pastor Thanh, Tin Kiev
Bruce Bickel first introduced us to the Tin Lanh Church and Tin and his wife Huong in 2008. Tin, who Bruce met through his mother during the Viet Nam war, was in need of a new leg, which Tin lost during the war. He did get a poorly made artificial leg that didn’t fit correctly. Since Tin made his living as a tour guide, his poorly made leg did not hold up to all the walking Tin’s job required. So the Brave Men stepped up and raised money for Tin to have the necessary surgery on the stump and also to have a new prosthetic made that fit properly. Our brother, Doug Mitchell, was able to help Bruce with the surgery and the production of a new leg through CURE International. The surgery was performed in Kenya, Africa where Tin also received his new leg. Bruce escorted Tin from Viet Nam to Kenya for this procedure.
Through the support of the Brave Men we were able to bring Tin and Huong to the US where we held a reception for them at the Barn.
Since then, over the years, we have supported Tin’s church, the Tin Lanh Church in Hue City, Viet Nam. The church was in need of Bibles and Hymnals. These items couldn’t be shipped into Viet Nam so with the funds raised by the Brave Men, Bruce and our brother, Tom Hansz, were able to have the Bibles and Hymnals printed in Viet Nam. Now the Tin Lanh Church is in need of more Bibles and Hymnals to meet their growing numbers of seekers and believers.
Bruce first met Tin during the Viet Nam war through his mother. After Bruce was injured and not able to fly he worked with the Army on the ground. When Bruce and Tin’s mother met they became fast friends in Christ. Shortly thereafter they decided to build an orphanage in the city of Hue. Bruce was able to barter with the Army supply people he supported exchanging items like ice cream from the Navy ships for building materials. The vision of an orphanage became a reality. As this wonderful relationship grew a church was planted within the orphanage so as not to raise concern from the Communist Government.
Members outside the Tin Lahn Church
Today the Tin Lanh Church is alive and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
Bruce put some of the funds raised in his honor this Christmas toward the printing and delivery of new Bibles and Hymnals to Tin’s church. This did not cover the total cost yet Bruce went ahead to pay the difference to have the Bibles and Hymnals produced and delivered before Christmas this year. The Brave Men can support this effort with donations to cover more of the cost. The Servant’s Fund is only for US based needs and can not be used for the Tin Lanh Church. Therefore we are asking the Brave Men to continue our support of Tin and his church with contributions payable to Bruce Bickel.
Bruce received the following letters from Tin and Huong and the Senior Pastor of Tin Lanh Church,
A Christmas greeting from Tin to Bruce Bickel and the Brave Men, December 25, 2013
“My dear Bruce & Becky and all my brothers & sisters “Brave Friday” in God’s love .
We send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith .
You will never know how much we appreciated your kind and pratical help.
Thanks to good friends like you. Thanks again for everything.
Wishing you all the blessings of a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Brothers pray for us.
Grace be with you,
Tin & Huong”
December 24, 2013
“Brothers –
Here is a letter I received from the pastor of the Tin Lanh church in Hue, Tin’s church, for the funds I sent them in the name of the Brave Men.
Blessings, Bruce Bickel”
Click here to read letter from Tin Lanh Church 12-2013
