https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euzpT_Ohi38
Newlife Missions
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. – Acts 1:8
Picture: Stuart, Joanna, Aza, and Malakai
Stuart and Joanna have both been living and serving as missionaries in Battambang Cambodia for over 15 years. Stuart grew up on the Gold Coast and attended Youth at Newlife Robina before taking off to Cambodia fresh out of high school on what was meant to be a short-term missions trip, lasting just a few months. He fell in love with the people of Cambodia and his heart was moved to share the love of Christ with them. He soon was fluent in the language and went on to do formal studies as a missionary. A few years later, he met Joanna who was also serving as a missionary in Cambodia using her invaluable skills as a midwife to serve the poorest of the poor.
Stu and Jo both serve with the University of the Nations, a Christian organisation that trains and equips young Cambodians in a variety of skills to “go and make disciples of all nations”, including right there in the heart of Cambodia.
Siami is a missionary and Bible College graduate who travelled to Thailand from her native India in the mid-1980s and began working with the Karen tribal group near the Myanmar border. From the small beginning of offering shelter, education and Christian discipleship to a handful of at-risk girls, Siami now runs the Hilltribes Resources and Development Centre (HRDC), which supports around 500 students (kindergarten to tertiary) through sponsorship. Many have now reached adulthood and have trained in nursing, pharmacy, teaching, accounting, agriculture and trades.
Sawitri was one of Siami’s original group of young women. Education for Sawitri, including the learning of English, has changed the course of her life. She is now married with two children, is a key leader in HRDC, and an English translator. In addition, Sawitri and her husband run a church in the village of Maedet where many of the Newlife sponsored children come from.
In November 2004, two families from Newlife Church travelled to northern Thailand, at the invitation of Australian friends who were working with Siami. Since then, many people from Newlife have visited and we now have over 70 children sponsored.
GATMAN FAMILY (Perlito, Rose, Roshan and Ashirah)
Perlito and Rose Gatman moved from the Philippines to Poipet Cambodia in 2002, to plant a church and serve people living in poverty. In 2010, their Bridge of Hope Christian Fellowship formed an Education and Compassion arm, partnering with Newlife Church to sponsor children to attend school and extra-curricular programmes (sports, life skills, Bible study, English lessons).
This programme now supports 89 school-aged children, all sponsored through Newlife Church members.
Byron Davis is a teacher and long-term member of Newlife Church, who has been serving in Poipet, Cambodia since 2017 alongside our mission partners Perlito and Rose.
Byron is involved in a variety of ministries that primarily focus on educating young Cambodians with trade-related skills so they can get better jobs to be able to provide for themselves and their families. Byron loves living in Cambodia and is quickly picking up the language.
Newlife has been partnering with Edina Hajder (Dina) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for over 20 years. Dina was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity during the Balkans War when she was irresistibly drawn to the faith of German missionaries serving in the refugee camp where she sought refuge. She was reunited with her family after the war and felt called to be a missionary to her own people.
Though it is difficult to share the Gospel openly in her country, Dina takes every opportunity to do so as she believes that the only hope for lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina is faith in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Dina is passionate about using sport as a ministry to young people of different ethnic and religious origins. She hopes that when children come together to play sport, they will learn to live together in peace as adults. Other recent opportunities for connection with her people include food relief during the Covid lockdown and a new radio ministry.
Almost 10% of the world’s population still live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 a day. Children and youth account for two-thirds of the world’s poor. Basic necessities such as clean drinking water, appropriate shelter, education, soap, shoes, or a school uniform can still be a distant hope for so many.
Newlife works closely with our Mission Partners, churches, and like-minded organisations on the ground to sow a small seed that goes on to have a significant impact on a child’s life and that of their family. Education and a Christian community provide children with opportunity, safety, friendship, and hope so they can go on to be leaders in their communities and contribute back to their societies.
If you would like to sponsor a child in Thailand, Cambodia, or Indonesia please contact us by clicking the box below.
All over the world, persecution against Christians is rising, both in frequency and intensity. Though it differs in nature based on location, age, gender, ethnicity, culture, family, and many more factors, the common thread is that persecution exists where the Gospel is being shared. For that very reason, Open Doors does not exist to stop persecution, but to help the local church continue to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
Newlife partners with Open Doors specifically in North Korea, serving the believers in this nation with humanitarian aid, resources, and prayer.
Newlife partners with Justice Water, a ministry that helps provide clean water for people living in extreme poverty in developing countries.
Justice Water works directly with local people (families, skilled/un-skilled labourers, community leaders) on every project. To date, over 900 water projects have been completed providing over 50,000 people with clean drinking water.
Jon Morris (Executive Pastor at Newlife) was one of Justice Water’s founders and he is still actively involved in its leadership.
Missions Trips 2023
Currently our trips to Cambodia and Israel are full for 2023. We will advertise 2024 trips later in the year.