Mission Concepts News
Spring Report
Greetings Friends,
The Lord said to me, “I am not finished with this planet.” He finished the work of salvation at the cross, but Jesus is not finished building His church. He said, “… upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Despite the media and some pessimistic preachers, we believe the Holy Spirit is on the move, saving souls and changing lives. Don’t put away your fishing nets! It’s harvest time.
We just returned from visiting and speaking in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona, and Texas. We had hoped to do the same thing in Tennessee, Georgia, N. Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Montana, but we returned to help the family with my ailing 96 yr. old father. Thanks for praying for Roy Teague.
News from the Philippines
Six elementary girls:
News from the Philippines
Six elementary students:
- Sisters in a remote area of Southern Luzon – Ellamae (grade 7) and Elain (grade 6);
- Sarah (grade 8) and Princess (grade 6)
- From Metro Manila – Raven (grade 7) and Arianna (grade 5)
Six university students:
- Bart (graduated and studying for certification in Criminology)
- Andrew (graduating and studying for his teacher’s certification)
- Marjorie (Second semester of first year college)
Zamboanga, Mindanao
- Dennis (finishing his Merchant Marine training for ship engineer)
- Denise (Third year university);
- Deanie (second year med school)
Without supporting them in full or in part, none of them would have this educational opportunity. If the Lord puts it on your heart to help, send a check to the address below or through PayPal on our website. Write ‘students’ in the memo.
Books Hot off the Press this Year
- Donkey Duty with Jesus Serving with the Greatest Servant
- Fire Bugs for Jesus Spreading the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Send me an email if you want a copy. Pastor Edwin Abisado is translating Donkey Duty with Jesus into Tagalog.
Prayer Requests
- Our daughter, Joy, in the Philippines, needs healing.
- We are looking at a trip to the Philippines the end of the year and Uganda, Africa next year.
- Pray we can finish the second half of our ministry trip around the USA.
Do not despair of evil; God will have the last word. (Psalm 37:1-9)
Dennis and Diane Teague
Send tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
New Adventures for the Teagues
Dear Friends,
We hope this letter finds you thriving in these interesting times. We would like to share with you a few aspects of our journey and glorify God for His faithfulness to guide us all these years. Then we have some exciting news about our future plans.
As many of you know, we have spent the last 22 years pastoring in the Northwest. In July of 1999 we returned from 16 years of overseas mission work to place our daughter, Hope, in college. We anticipated a quick return abroad to the mission field by January 2000. However, Diane’s mother had a difficult surgery and needed home care. We decided to close our apartment Hong Kong and stay home a little longer..
“Man makes plans, but the Lord directs his steps.” When the season at home became longer than we expected, we were stirred to start a church in Olympia. With no money, no building and no people, we stepped out in faith and launched Rivers of Grace Church with a 4th of July picnic at Millersylvania State Park. The following Sunday we gathered to worship at Madison Elementary School on Legion Way and continued to do so for 12 1/2 years!
In October of 2013, we moved our congregation to a new location. The Free Methodist Church on the east side offered their space to us! We were delighted to move Children’s Church from a hallway at the school to a room and use a fully-equipped kitchen with fellowship hall! Needless to say we settled into ‘space’ that allowed us to host weekly services, annual garage sales, and to support Gethsemane ministries discipleship and recovery program.
Because of pandemic restrictions, the Methodist Church closed their facility and we no longer had a venue to gather. A small building at 620 SE Legion Way became available. Some of you may remember this as the location of Glory House.
For one year, we saw God bring in those who had no place to worship, including folks from the street. Just as we were planning to return to a normal routine in the spring of 2021, a fire destroyed part of the building. We temporarily held services at Camp Grace in Union, WA.
During the eight months it took for the insurance company to repair the building, we negotiated the purchase of another building. After some time all of our offers were declined.
In December, 2021 I was asking the Lord if we should resume meeting at 620 now that it was repaired. He clearly said, “Set it up and give it away.” In January He indicated to give it away in six months. Therefore we resumed worship at the building on Legion Way in February, 2022.
We awaited God’s next direction knowing He would bring the right person at the right time to fulfill the word He had spoken to us. Pastor Brian Hellenthal felt the Lord was directing him to this aspect of ministry. Some of you may recall our close affiliation with Pastor Brian and our support of Gethsemane for many years.
On July 31, 2022 we “gave it away” transitioning Rivers of Grace Sunday worship from our responsibility to Pastor Brian and his team.
What does this mean for Diane and I? We are being re-commissioned! We anticipate spreading some fire to the churches and friends who have supported our mission work all these years. Our passion for international missions has never wavered. Every year until the pandemic we made at least three trips overseas. The students we support and these missions were funded through Mission Concepts partners, not our local church missions. We hope to soon visit the nations again to bring encouragement and the Word of God.
Our calling is to spread the Holy Spirit’s refreshing through preaching the good news, Bible teaching, retreats and conferences, writing materials, and sponsoring underprivileged children’s education.
We appreciate all the love, prayers, and support you have shown over the years. We will continue to be a part of the Rivers of Grace community and would love to see you. We also serve the men and women at Gethsemane ministries who are breaking free from their drug and alcohol addiction through the power of Christ.
If you’d like to support us or if you don’t have a missions giving plan at your church, please consider partnering with us through “Mission Concepts”, our mission entity since 1983. We are now available to meet with you or to speak at your church. Call us at (360) 432-0658 or my cell (360) 701-8212.
We look forward to connecting with you, Dennis and Diane Teague
email: denteague@gmail.com and dianedancing@gmail.com Send tax deductible donations through the website or checks to Mission Concepts at PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 Give us a call for other options.
Dear Friends,
We hope this letter finds you thriving in these interesting times. We would like to share with you a few aspects of our journey and glorify God for His faithfulness to guide us all these years. Then we have some exciting news about our future plans.
As many of you know, we have spent the last 22 years pastoring in the Northwest. In July of 1999 we returned from 16 years of overseas mission work to place our daughter, Hope, in college. We anticipated a quick return abroad to the mission field by January 2000. However, Diane’s mother had a difficult surgery and needed home care. We decided to close our apartment Hong Kong and stay home a little longer..
“Man makes plans, but the Lord directs his steps.” When the season at home became longer than we expected, we were stirred to start a church in Olympia. With no money, no building and no people, we stepped out in faith and launched Rivers of Grace Church with a 4th of July picnic at Millersylvania State Park. The following Sunday we gathered to worship at Madison Elementary School on Legion Way and continued to do so for 12 1/2 years!
In October of 2013, we moved our congregation to a new location. The Free Methodist Church on the east side offered their space to us! We were delighted to move Children’s Church from a hallway at the school to a room and use a fully-equipped kitchen with fellowship hall! Needless to say we settled into ‘space’ that allowed us to host weekly services, annual garage sales, and to support Gethsemane ministries discipleship and recovery program.
Because of pandemic restrictions, the Methodist Church closed their facility and we no longer had a venue to gather. A small building at 620 SE Legion Way became available. Some of you may remember this as the location of Glory House.
For one year, we saw God bring in those who had no place to worship, including folks from the street. Just as we were planning to return to a normal routine in the spring of 2021, a fire destroyed part of the building. We temporarily held services at Camp Grace in Union, WA.
During the eight months it took for the insurance company to repair the building, we negotiated the purchase of another building. After some time all of our offers were declined.
In December, 2021 I was asking the Lord if we should resume meeting at 620 now that it was repaired. He clearly said, “Set it up and give it away.” In January He indicated to give it away in six months. Therefore we resumed worship at the building on Legion Way in February, 2022.
We awaited God’s next direction knowing He would bring the right person at the right time to fulfill the word He had spoken to us. Pastor Brian Hellenthal felt the Lord was directing him to this aspect of ministry. Some of you may recall our close affiliation with Pastor Brian and our support of Gethsemane for many years.
On July 31, 2022 we “gave it away” transitioning Rivers of Grace Sunday worship from our responsibility to Pastor Brian and his team.
What does this mean for Diane and I? We are being re-commissioned! We anticipate spreading some fire to the churches and friends who have supported our mission work all these years. Our passion for international missions has never wavered. Every year until the pandemic we made at least three trips overseas. The students we support and these missions were funded through Mission Concepts partners, not our local church missions. We hope to soon visit the nations again to bring encouragement and the Word of God.
Our calling is to spread the Holy Spirit’s refreshing through preaching the good news, Bible teaching, retreats and conferences, writing materials, and sponsoring underprivileged children’s education.
We appreciate all the love, prayers, and support you have shown over the years. We will continue to be a part of the Rivers of Grace community and would love to see you. We also serve the men and women at Gethsemane ministries who are breaking free from their drug and alcohol addiction through the power of Christ.
If you’d like to support us or if you don’t have a missions giving plan at your church, please consider partnering with us through “Mission Concepts”, our mission entity since 1983. We are now available to meet with you or to speak at your church. Call us at (360) 432-0658 or my cell (360) 701-8212.
We look forward to connecting with you, Dennis and Diane Teague
email: denteague@gmail.com and dianedancing@gmail.com
Send tax deductible donations through the website or checks to Mission Concepts at PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 Give us a call for other options.
Year End Report
Thank you for your prayers and support for what we are doing and especially for the students in the Philippines.
We celebrate thanksgiving in the USA on November 25 this year. A grateful attitude can be cultivated so that it is more than a feast once a year. I have a notebook where I write something I am thankful for each day. My personal rule is to write something different every day. At the end of 2021 I will have 365 different things in my notebook. Some days it is a struggle to think of one new thing. Other days there are several new ones to go with previous ones!
The thing that opens up the deepest fountain of gratitude in the human is that God has forgiven his sin through Jesus’ substitutionary act. Oswald Chambers
One of the great things about Filipino churches is that they choose a day, any day, and call it Thanksgiving. They worship, preach, and, of course, eat plenty of food. If they are poor, they eat rice and something. If they have the money, they eat roast pig and many delicacies. Then they send food home with everyone.
We in the USA have so much to be thankful for. May we not be like selfish children who complain about the food, our family, and the government. Unthankfulness leads to resentment, jealousy, and the justification of sinful attitudes and activities. Thankfulness makes fertile ground for joy, peace, and answers to prayer.
One of the good things about the last few years is the Zoom meeting, the ability to talk to and see others anywhere in the world. Through Zoom we attended a memorial recently on line and taught the Bible in an underground church in Asia. I am scheduled to teach leadership through Zoom for three days in ZMI’s Bible school in the Philippines. We have not put away our fishing nets! The field is the world. We are busy here in the USA and ready to go back to the foreign fields whenever and wherever the Lord directs us.
Prayer Requests
- There are rumors that the Philippines, Myanmar, and other Asian countries may open up to foreign travelers in the next few months. Our daughter, Joy, and her family in the Philippines have gone through difficult times this year. Pray for them and for us to be able to visit them.
- It is also on our hearts to visit the Lenhart family in Myanmar. Pray especially for Chris who needs a miracle of healing from bouts with seizures.
Count your blessings and look for ways to be a blessing to those in your area of influence.
Your Co Laborers in the Harvest,
Dennis and Diane Teague
Send tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or donate at missionconcepts.org
June 2021
Dear Friends,
Isa. 60:1-3 We want to encourage you to rise and shine. Shouting at the darkness and pointing out the evil in it does not have much impact. Nations and kings (people of authority and influence) will come to the brightness of your light. Try some patience, kindness, and good news gospel. Hide it under a bushel? No!
Great News from the Philippines! Our students have worked online this last school year. With your support we purchased phones, tablets, or laptops, whatever was available, so they could make it through the school year. One middle schooler dropped out. He was more interested in drinking with his friends. Covid is still a big issue in the Philippines.
Please pray for the students: 5 university students: Bart, Syca, Andrew, Dennis, and Denise; 2 Elementary students: Ellamae and Elain; one senior in high school Marjorie; and Deanie in med school. Without supporting them in full or in part, none of them would have this educational opportunity. If the Lord puts it on your heart to help, send a check to the address below or through PayPal on our website. Write ‘students’ in the memo
More Great News! After more than a year of the covid slowdown, my book, “Jesus’ Recovery is Yours” Freedom from Alcohol and Drug Addiction, was just published through OMF. We are praying that many lives, broken by addiction, will get a new start through this book. The most excited news to me is the Filipino version of this book. We have printed 10,000 of these in the first edition to be distributed throughout the Philippines. Many thanks to Pastor Edwin Abisado, Cora Langi, and others who labored long hours to translate this book.
If you like poetry, I have published a small book of 9 poems called “Pot to Potter” by Dennis Teague. You can find it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Pot-Potter-Dr-Dennis-Teague/dp/B0948GRV8Q/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dennis+teague+Pot+to+Potter&qid=1620650931&sr=8-1
The Lord has called some home. In the past few weeks, my mother, Grace Teague, 93 yrs. old, went to be with Jesus. We also grieve for the recent passing of Carol Gray whom we worked with in China and Glenn Carter who also impacted China from Hong Kong.
Prayer Request: Our daughter, Joy, who does mission work with her family in the Philippines, has had several surgeries in recent months. Until now the airports in the Philippines are closed. We are waiting to go there as well as to Myanmar and some other countries on our hearts.
Hold steady! Jesus is coming, but until then, there is work to be done. Thank you for joining us in this effort.
Great Grace to you,
Dennis and Diane
September News 2020
Every Sunday our church personalizes the first six verses of Psalm 91. I encourage you to read it in the Bible and then try reading the following out loud: I am dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and resting under the shadow of the Almighty. The Lord is my refuge. He is my fortress. He is my God. I trust Him. He will save me from the snare of the fowler. He will save me from the deadly pestilence. The Lord will cover me with His feathers and I will find refuge under His wings. His faithfulness is my shield and rampart. I will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies in the day time. I will not fear the pestilence that stalks in the darkness. I will not fear the virus that destroys at mid day.
In the USA many people are still out of work, and in need of food. Every day, sometimes twice, a Gethsemane bus filled with food parks
in Shelton and people line up to receive it. It is also distributed to other food banks and individuals who know people in need. Diane delivers one to three loads of food every day in her Ford Escape.
Please continue to pray for the Philippines. The shut down has had devastating effects on the people. There is 42% unemployment. The government there is having difficulty helping the people survive. No tourism means the loss of billions to the economy. Recently we started sending some money for food to a village church in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. They buy and package the food. Some of it goes to their village outreach 20km from the city.
If you want to help, you can your send tax deductible offering to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
Please continue to pray for the Philippines. The shut down has had devastating effects on the people. There is 42% unemployment. The government there is having difficulty helping the people survive. No tourism means the loss of billions to the economy. Recently we started sending some money for food to a village church in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. They buy and package the food. Some of it goes to their village outreach 20km
from the city.
If you want to help, you can your send tax deductible offering to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
Please Pray
- Persecution of believers is extreme.
- Remember to pray for the poor. Many in America are struggling to pay their bills. Other countries are far worse.
- Our students: School in the Philippines was delayed for 3 months. We bought devices for them to study online. It is a struggle including an unstable internet.
- I have been waiting for three months for my passport renewal.
Thank you, Dennis and Diane Teague
March 2020 Update
Dear Friends,
Diane and I are doing well. We hope you are safe and healthy. As believers we find ourselves looking beyond the challenges of the current spread of a deadly virus. Peace is available and yet sometimes illusive. Faith that is optimistic is considered by some to be unrealistic. Fearful people who are committed to a negative attitude are not move by facts. Some people are putting their faith in the government to solve the problem. Others find some kind of energy by blaming the government for mismanaging the crisis.
Our battle is not against people. (Ephesians 6:12) However we reject the paranoid perspective that a virus is lurking somewhere, ready to jump on us. The battle against fear is fought on our knees. We battle in prayer on behalf of those who are ill. We are the church without buildings.
We reject the theology that God is judging us with this virus. We live in the dispensation, the age, of grace. There will be a coming judgment day. (Hebrews 9:27)
We also reject the conspiracy theories because they are not helpful. They generate hopelessness and fear.
Our personal focus is prayer, comfort for the fearful, delivering food to those in need and encouraging those in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Jesus said the whole deal boils down to this: Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40)
We are praying for you and your family. Be blessed and wash your hands like your mama taught you.
Dennis and Diane Teague
January 2020 Report
China November 3-14
Diane and I had a successful time. Surveillance is quite hi tech now. Resident foreigners are being pushed out. It is not advisable to discuss the details. Most likely any news you have heard is true and probably worse.
The good news is that our friends are heating up instead of cooling down! And more hungry than ever. They invited us and chose the topics – church planting and missions!
Philippines Dec. 4-26
We taught Revival and Passion for Mission at Zion Ministerial Institute (ZMI). When we spoke at Eric and Janette’s church in Malabon, M.Manila, we were blessed to see Marjorie, 16. We’ve supported her since she was 3 yrs. old. She was abandoned by her father when he mother died.. She lived with her grandparents in a squatter shack. Being poor and having a tumor on her face, she would have never gone to school. With help from the church, the government, and a few bucks we put in, Her surgery was successful. She is a pretty 10th grader, on fire for Jesus, who wants to go to college and become an airline attendant.
Sunday, Dec. 22, we were in a village church we started 35 yrs ago in Zamboanga City, Mindanao. Three years ago nearly everyone left when a self appointed American ‘apostle’ had offered the pastor a ‘deal’. Then an older inexperienced couple took over with only a few people in the church. Edgar and Cora slept on the floor with one light on an extension cord. They just loved the Lord and the people, saved or not. Their grown daughters joined them to lead worship and help out. We encouraged them and gave them some money for remodeling. They started an outreach church 5 miles outside the city and a discipleship training group.
The church was packed out and flowing out the door! When the former pastor sheepishly showed up for Christmas dinner, I gave him a big hug and invited him to our table.
We celebrated Christmas with our daughter Joy’s family on mission in the Philippines after 9 years in Spain. Our daughter, Hope, and her husband, Nate, joined us from Abu Dhabi where they teach. Our daughter, Faith, also in mission work, came in from Cypress. Almost every day groups of people visited us, some of whom we haven’t seen for decades.
Thank you for your confidence in us. With your prayer support and generosity we went to Myanmar, China, and twice to the Philippines. Souls are coming to Christ, ministers are being mentored, students supported, disciples taught and churches planted.
Pray for our 2020 mission itinerary. There is plenty to do here and around the world. We will go wherever the Lord directs.
Trips to China and Philippines
China November 3-14
Please pray for Diane and I as we travel to China. Transportation is becoming more difficult and also the circumstances there. It is not advisable to discuss the details. We are concerned about our friends there.
Philippines Dec. 4-26
We will be teaching at Zion Ministerial Institute (ZMI) and several churches in the area. We hope to visit most of the students you are supporting. There are 2 elementary, 2 high school, 2 university, 1 med school, and 1 Bible school student.
We plan to celebrate Christmas with our daughter Joy’s family who recently moved to the Philippines after mission work for 9 years in Spain. Our daughter, Hope, and her husband, Nate, will join us from Abu Dhabi where they teach in the international school. Our daughter, Faith, a registered nurse, is studying Arabic for her mission work. She will join us.
Since we are busy preparing for these trips and working on a number of projects we may not send out a Christmas card or another news letter until after the New Year.
We just want to thank you for your confidence in us, your prayer support, and your generosity in supporting our mission efforts. Your partnership in these efforts means so much to us. Souls are coming to Christ, ministers are being mentored, students supported, disciples taught and churches planted.
Sincerely,
Dennis and Diane Teague
www.missionconcepts.com
PO box 44, Shelton, WA 98584
Back From Asia Fall of 2018
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) We joined the Frontier Harvest team for the first week launch of Harvest Coffee House, a jamming new church in Mandalay. Sunday is worship and during the week they serve coffee, yummy fruit salads, homemade donuts, and sets of worship interspersed with gospel messages. The team had spread fliers all over the area so we had visitors every day. Some of the Burmese team members are planning to move their families to the area to carry on the work.
U Bein Bridge spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) bridge was built around 1850 and is the oldest and (once) longest teakwood bridge in the world. We visited the bridge on our ‘day off’.
Philippines
After recovering from dysentery (Thank you, Uncle Chan’s restaurant) we went to Mindanao and had a Holy Ghost time in the Fernandez Dr. village church. The love, joy, and faith of the older, new pastors has resurrected the church after what some call a Gideon revival (Judges 7). Then we traveled back to Taytay, Rizal near Manila. Perfect timing to pray for Pastor Rino who had a heart attach the week before! One of the highlights of the trip was sharing with Pastor Noy and his youth church which started from a basketball outreach to high school kids.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for the Myanmar Lashio Children’s home. It increased another 26 kids in the last 5 months. They come from the mountains where there is little food and no school because the government is fighting the rebels. The children walk an hour to get to school. The orphanage takes their lunch to them. They are safe and cared for, but they desperately need of a boys’ dorm.
- Our daughter, Faith, doing medical mission work in the middle east.
- Our next schedule to China and the Philippines in November to be clarified.
Thank You for Your Support! We are Co laborers in Christ.
Dennis and Diane Teague
Tax deductible offerings go to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584
or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
Spring Mission Trip
Myanmar (Burma) April 17-27 Dennis flew to Mandalay through China and joined the Frontier Harvest team driving to the city of Lashio for three days of ministry at a church/children’s home. Children keep coming from the hills because there is no school and little food. The rebels take the boys and make them soldiers in the 65 yr. old civil war. The children’s home has minimal facilities, but the kids are safe, fed, and go to school which is an hour walk one way. On the 3rd day of our conference it was my joy to share a message with the kids and pray with them to receive Jesus as their Lord.
Mission Concepts supports students in the Philippines
Thanks to MC supporters Bart and Syca graduated from high school. They have little support at home because of family dysfunction and unemployment. They are on-fire believers who passed there entrance exams and are headed to university
Ellamae Vilan, a fourth grader, comes from a poor fishing family in a remote area of Southern Luzon. Her parents are not believers, but she and her sister are faithful to the church. Her sister, Elaine, will be a second grader. They are pictured in the ‘moving up’ ceremony at the end of the school year, which means they passed to the next grade
.
Marjorie is now grade 9 in June. She was abandoned by her parents and is being raised in a squatter village by her grandmother. Her grandfather passed away last year. Her grandma does laundry to support them. Mission Concepts is supporting her throughhigh school and college if she wants to go.
Cesar (not pictured) is a shy boy who lives in the church in Malabon. He quit school last year, but the pastor, Eric Jaraba, has encouraged him to start the eighth grade. We have started giving money for Cesar this year.
We are helping the working widow, Mhey Loreto. Deanie, forth year, and Dennis go to Western Mindanao State University. Denise is an eighth grader this year.
On April 27 I met Diane in Hong Kong and we flew to the Philippines. We spoke in churches, did a seminar on sound doctrine in Baguio City, and shared in Antipolo New Life Church. Unfortunately the pastor passed on to heaven, but his daughter is doing an excellent job in his place.
While in Zamboanga, Mindanao we visited Hope for Kids, since I am on the board. The children’s home was founded by Gail Ashby and directed by Al Cabading. The government agent who visited recently said it was the best facility he’d seen in the whole country.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for the students MC support, Hope for Kids, and the Lashio Children’s home in desperate need of a boy’s dorm.
- For Frontier Harvest’s plan to plant a church in Mandalay in August.
- Our daughter, Faith, doing medical mission work in the middle east.
Thank You for Your Support! We are Co laborers in Christ.
Dennis and Diane Teague
Tax deductible offerings go to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584
or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
November 6-December 4, 2017
Our flights: Seattle-Hong Kong-Philippines-Vietnam-Philippines-Hong Kong-China-Hong Kong-Seattle
We flew to Hong Kong on Nov. 6 and to Manila, Philippines the next day. We deposited the 22 study Bibles we transported for the ZMI graduates, made some meeting arrangements and flew to Vietnam Nov. 12-18.
In Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) we did training with 84 people from many areas of the country for ZMI (Zion Ministries International): two days “A Passion for Mission” and three days from my book “Wind of Doctrine or Wind of the Spirit – how to know the difference”. The last day we wrapped up the teaching and finished with prayer and prophetic ministry for all the students.
We flew back to Manila, spoke on Sunday at Voice of Hope Church, and taught the same subjects in ZMI main campus in Antipolo, Rizal.
November 26 we flew back to Hong Kong, had lunch with a missionary, and caught the next flight to Southwest China. We planned to fly further south near Myanmar for a seminar with pastors on both sides of the border. However, Diane was experiencing stomach issues and bronchitis for several days. The team went ahead without us and we went to the hospital! Two doctors spoke English. The nurses had a Chinese to English App on their phones! After a number of tests, she was diagnosed with appendicitis and scheduled for emergency surgery that evening. Ten of our Chinese family waited with me for two hours until the surgeons came out with a plastic bag containing a very nasty looking appendix.
After the surgery they worked on her respiratory challenges. Then we picked her up on the way to the airport to fly to Hong Kong and back home the next day on Dec. 4.
The first three weeks went well, but the last week was quite a trial. We are home, and Diane is getting her strength back. We are grateful for the Lord’s grace and peace through the storm as people from around the world have been praying for Diane.
Without your prayers and financial support, we could not have accomplished the things we have done this past year. I have written two more small books. We would like to give you a copy of the book “Jesus call to Leadership” or “Jesus Foundation placing your faith on solid ground” Email us if you want one or both: denteague@gmail.com
May your new year, 2018, be filled purpose, provision, and the Presence of God.
Merry Christmas!
Dennis and Diane
November – December 2017 Mission
Great Big Thank You!
We are in this together!
With your backing, lives are being changed and disciples are growing in grace. On the home
front in the USA we are still pastoring two churches and assisting with Gethsemane Ministries, a
live-in discipleship recovery program.
Our funding for Mission Concepts trips abroad is separate from our Rivers of Grace
churches. Your offerings give us the ability to travel to the fields of the world. With your prayers
and encouragement these old bones still keep up with a busy schedule.
Philippines Nov. 6-26
Diane and I will be speaking in some churches in Manila and teaching a module on sound
doctrine and missions at Zion Ministries Bible School.
Vietnam Nov. 12-18
This will be our third attempt to go to Vietnam in recent years. Pray we will succeed unhindered
this time.
China Nov. 26-Dec. 4
We will fly through Hong Kong into SW China and join the Frontier Harvest team.
Please Pray
1. China. Several sources say persecution is as extreme as it was back in the 60's and 70's.
Vietnam is a little better. Nepal is worse because the new constitution says attempting to
persuade a person to change religions is a 2 year prison sentence. If they convert, it is a 5
year sentence for the evangelist.
2. Traveling mercy! We are traveling through Hong Kong to the Philippines, to Vietnam and
back, then back through HK to China, return to HK, and then home! That is 8 flights and
numerous other forms of transportation.
3. Pray for us that the message will spread rapidly and be honored. Pray that we will be
delivered from wick and evil men. (2 Thess. 3:1-2)
4. 'Shield and cloaking devices functioning at full power' (Star Trek dialect)
5. Our daughter, Faith, will be serving for 6 months in a clinic in a critical area of the middle
east.
Your Co laborers,
Dennis and Diane Teague
Philippines April 10-May 10, 2017
A Month in The Philippines April 10-May 10, 2017
Family Camp
We went directly to the Zion Church of the Firstborn family camp in Pampanga Province, spoke 2 nights, taught a married couples seminar, and shared on Easter Sunday. We have known some of these people since the 1980’s! What joy to see the generations worshipping the Lord. Of the 689 campers over 300 of them were under 24 yrs. old.
Zamboanga City, Mindanao
We flew 500 mi. south where we had a 3 night revival in a village on the outskirts of the city. Quite a few dedicated their lives to Jesus. Others were healed. The last night there were 48 children sitting on the floor in front. Thirty yrs. ago our daughter, Joy, and Leni, both 13 yrs. old, started on a bench with a children’s ministry 30 yrs. ago. Sunday we were driven home by Clemente, an engineer. He remembered the first outreach to the village, a puppet show by Diane and her brother, Dennis Caturia. Clemente was only 2 yrs. old at the time! We also started a remodel project on the building to correct some problems created by a property dispute with the neighbor. His compromise with us means the church will actually be improves and he will have a drive way!
Youth Camp
The following week back in Luzon we spoke at youth camp at Tribe of Judah resort in Rizal Province with pastors Noy and Joy (Andres). Many of these teens came to Christ through an after school basketball outreach.
Often you do not know how God answers your prayers until years later. One lady from Joy’s church said we prayed for her 7 yrs. ago. Her husband was working abroad and separated from her. Months later he came back to her, gave his life to Christ, and has been faithful to God and the marriage every since then.
Sundays
We spoke in churches we have relationships with. One Sunday night was the 36th anniversary of Taytay New Life Fellowship. Ben and Carmelita Baruel started in 1981. We pastored there in 1988-1991. So much fun to see the children and teenagers grow up on fire for God and now leading the ministry.
Voice of Hope Church
May 7th we spoke on Ezekiel 37 in Greenhills. Then I asked, “Are you a dry bone or an Ezekiel with words of life?” Most of this small congregation came forward to receive a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit. The pastors, Bob and Delor, were pleasingly surprised as it had been years since there was this kind of response. They said it was a real breakthrough touch. This is not to credit us. We have spoken at this church at least 6 times over the last 10 yrs. since the church had a painful split. This was God’s timing for a major step toward healing His church.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Dennis and Diane Teague
Philippines April 10-May 10, 2017
First of all, we want to thank everyone who prayed about our itinerary. Within 24 hrs. of our prayer request for clarity almost everything was settled!
We will be speaking at ZCF churches’ family camp ‘holy week’ and Easter Sunday.
The following week we fly to Zamboanga city in Mindanao to visit friends and Hope for Kids children’s home. We will be looking at repairs on a village church and preaching a revival there. The church in Fernandez Dr. needs a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. A false apostle passed through and left some wreckage.
Third week we are with Pastor Noy Andres at youth camp.
We will be visiting the students we support and speaking in churches on Sundays. I am hoping to get another booklet completed by then. OMF Philippines has done excellent work with my books.
Besides the unexpected divine appointments to pray for the sick, counsel people, and do our best to encourage pastors, there is nothing to do…
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for us as we prepare for this trip and also for the excellent team who cover the bases at home. David made a law in Israel: Those who watch the stuff share equal of the spoils with those who went to the battle. (1 Samuel 30:24)
- China and Vietnam are on our hearts this year but there is no schedule yet. I mentioned Africa in the last request, but that tentative trip has been postponed. I was to team with Chris Heian, but he became quite ill on his recent mission to Myanmar and Thailand. He is still not fully recovered. Thank you for praying for him.
Thank You for supporting us!
Dennis and Diane Teague
Tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org
Mission Concepts
Friends,
Before Jesus became the Lord and Master of my life in 1971, I was quite pessimistic about the future. I was sure the world would self destruct. I had 7 reasons we would all be gone by the year 2000.
Here we are in 2017! I am more optimistic than ever! Our theme this month is “Fill your tank, start your engine, and floor it”. My optimism is not based on economic forecasts or political prospects. It is based on knowing the heart of a loving God who is still in the saving business. Jesus is still healing the broken hearted. His grace is enabling people to overcome their addictions. Families are being reconciled, hungry people being clothed and fed, and new generations of young people committing their lives to serving others as they serve Jesus.
The biggest problem in mission is not doors closing, but people who have the faith to go through the doors that are open! The harvest fields of the world are ripe, but the laborers are few.
Philippines
On our last mission trip Diane and I taught leadership principles to 75 young people for 3 days in Zion Ministry Bible School in the Philippines. Then we went to the mountains of Northern Luzon to speak in church and teach a seminar from my booklet “Jesus’ Victory is Yours!”
BTW my new booklet “Jesus’ Peace is Yours!” is now available for free upon request.
China
We left P.I. and passed through Hong Kong picking up some copies of the recently completed New Testament Tibetan translation. The day after our flight to SW China we traveled all day to a village in the foothills of the Himalayas. Diane said it was a new definition of remote!
Believers came together for 3 days from churches far and wide to pack out the church and worship with all their hearts. Diane and I are so thankful to be a part of the great teams Chuck Lenhart puts together. The people came expecting God to move and He did not disappoint them. Many were filled with the Spirit and charged to go to the harvest.
You might notice we do not announce our trips to China on social media, nor do we give much detail about what happened. Recent reports are that persecution is increasing. That does not really matter to us as far as planning trips. But we try to be cautious and stay under the radar. Our main concern is exposing our Chinese friends.
Prayer Requests
- We are planning a trip to the Philippines in April. Also in our sights are trips to China and possibly Myanmar. The last 2 years our trips to Vietnam have been cancelled, but we are ready in God’s schedule.
- The upside: 2016 I had a blast deer hunting in Alaska for the first time. The downside: I slipped and fell stepping over a log and detached my bicep. Dec. 9 I had surgery and the rehab is about 3-4 months.
May you have a great year in 2017. Don’t miss an opportunity to do your best for God’s glory,
Dennis and Diane Teague
2016 Fall Newsletter
Philippines Nov. 9-26
We will be speaking at ZCF in Mandaluyong, M. Manila on Nov. 13th. We are teaching a leadership module at Zion Bible School Nov. 14-16. Afternoon on the 16th we drive 6 hours to Baguio in the mountains to teach a seminar Nov. 17-18 on my booklet “Jesus’ Victory is Yours”. After speaking at North City Church on Sunday, we will spend the next few days visiting our friends and relatives in Manila and Taytay, Rizal.
China
Nov. 26 we fly through Hong Kong then into SW China.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for us as we prepare to travel through Hong Kong to the Philippines, back through HK to China, return to HK, and then home!
- That we can take the latest translation of the Tibetan New Testament into hungry hearts. Pray it will go unnoticed.
- That no weapon formed against us will succeed in hindering what God wants to do.
- Our daughter, Faith, now nursing poor people on the Mercy hospital ship anchored at Benin, West Africa.
Thank You!
Dennis and Diane Teague
Tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org or our church: www.riversofgrace.org
Mongolians on fire!
Mongolians on fire!
June 19-26 we were with a team training Mongolian men and women who love to worship, study the Word, and spread the good news across the prairies.
Transportation going and coming home was miserable, but the time with God’s people was tremendous. If you think it is difficult to preach, try it with an Chinese interpreter. Then try it with a second interpreter from Chinese to Mongolian. It takes awhile to get to the point, but it cuts down on the fluff!
Mongolians are tough! These people are determined to share the good news, pray for miracles, and plant churches. Many of them are shepherds. These days, instead of horses and dogs they use motorcycles to herd their flocks.
After three days of training they had a party for the church. They butchered, cooked, and served two sheep. At lunch everyone at each table had a knife to cut chunks of meat off of heaping platters of boiled lamb with gallons of milk tea to wash it down.
I fought back tears when I heard this old man play Amazing Grace on his Chinese guitar. I remembered his testimony: He had hosted some seminars, but he was not a believer. Then he fell off his roof and was paralyzing on one side of his body. He was healed when his wife and the church prayed for him. Then he believed and surrendered to Jesus Christ.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for us as we are in the planning stages of a trip this fall (Nov.-Dec.) to the Philippines, China, and Myanmar.
- Our daughter, Faith, departs Aug. 1 to visit her sister, Joy, and her family who are missionaries in Spain. Then she will spend 9 months nursing poor people on the Mercy hospital ship anchored at Benin, West Africa.
Thank You!
Dennis and Diane Teague
Tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org or our church: www.riversofgrace.org
Update from the Philippines
We returned from the Philippines May 19.
After a 7 hr. drive south, we taught in Guinayangan on the Miracles of Jesus as an extension of ZMI (Zion Ministries International) Bible school.
Denny and Jan Tyas were great teammates as we spoke and prayed for people in several churches. We went across the bay in a banka (small outrigger boat) and found an excited church. I heard this 7 yr. old girl singing all the worship songs by heart. Her parents are not believers. We are supporting her for her 3rd grade expenses and will continue to help her through school and college or Bible sc
hool if she wants.
Apoy ng Dyos (Fire of God) Pinugay, Baras, Rizal, Philippines is a squatter relocation area with 20,000 families. The governor of the province decided to campaign in the community center for two of the three nights we had reserved. It was tempting to cancel the whole thing, but we are stubborn for Jesus! Besides our dear friend and partner in non-criminal activity, Pastor Rino, had invested his heart and met weekly with the pastors for 3 months of preparation. The first night we met with the pastors, worship team, and all the people involved. We encourage them and anointed everything that moved. The only night of revival started late, lasted long, but glorious. Diane brought worship flags, but I was unsure if the people knew about them. I still don’t know what the Baptists thought, but the people grabbed them and danced with all their might. At the call for commitment to Christ, the altar was full of seekers.
Vietnam was canceled!
Due to a change in the schedule to a date we could not adjust to. Therefore we went to Zamboanga City, visited Hope for Kids children’s home, visited the children we support, and celebrated the medical school graduation of Diane Cabading, a young lady whom we’ve known from birth.
Thank you for praying for a miracle for Denise Loreto (pictured on the left), one of the students we support. She had an episode recently that was diagnosed as a heart murmur and told she should not participate in PE or sports.
Wrestle with us in prayer for the property dispute in the village on the outskirts of the city. We started the church 30 yrs ago and the local believers have kept it going and prospered there.
China Beckons
Diane and I are part of a team going to China June 18-26. We will be training on-fire believers from inner Mongolia.
After 18 yrs of work a revised translation of the Tibetan New Testament is just out. Any donkeys for Jesus want to saddle up?
Love and Appreciation,
Dennis and Diane Teague
PS I have several new booklets:
Jesus’ Joy is Yours
Jesus’ Power is Yours
Jesus’ Victory is Yours
Wind of Doctrine or Wind of the Spirit? – How to Know the Difference
All Free! but we would appreciate an offering for postage.
Tax deductible offerings to Mission Concepts, PO Box 44, Shelton, WA 98584 or PayPal on our Mission Concepts website www.missionconcepts.org or our church website: www.riversofgrace.org
April 2016
Myanmar (formerly Burma)
It took me 5 days on planes, taxis, buses, vans, and rented cars with border crossings and dust for snacks to be on Chuck Lenhart’s Frontier Harvest Ministries team from Feb. 1-4 in Myanmar. Our team of 6 Americans, 4 Chinese, and 1 on-fire Dutchman trained, prayed for, ate with, washed the feet of, and commissioned by anointing with oil, sixty Burmese believers. We sent 11 teams to share the good news in 11 areas where the Pulang people live in the Shan state. One million people with no church. Thanks to Chuck’s supporters. They funded the training and the sending expenses. Enough was given to purchase 5 motorcycles to reach the remote mountain areas. One of the teams had an unsettled feeling so they passed through a village and spent the night in the next place where 2 people made commitments to Jesus. That night the first village burned to the ground! A heroin addict accidently started it. Seventy percent of the world’s heroin comes from Myanmar. Have you heard of the golden triangle? Jared Lenhart and a team of Chinese will be going there this weekend to demonstrate God’s love by taking food, blankets, and tents to the 200 homeless villagers. The 11 teams returned with 32 people who were discipled for 3 days and sent back to their homes. Later they will be visited and brought back for more training. Pray with us for a great harvest and the establishment of the kingdom of God through church planting.
Prayer Requests:
1. April 25-May 19, 2016
Week 1 We will return to Guinyangan, Luzon, Philippines for a ZMI (Zion Ministries International) extension class to finish the seminar that we had to cut short a few years ago when that huge typhoon (hurricane) destroyed so much of the central part of the Philippines.
Week 2 We will be preaching an Apoy ng Dyos (Fire of God) revival in Pinugay, Baras, Rizal, Philippines. Ten small churches will cooperate to present this event in a squatter relocation village of 10,000 houses. The government moves these people from the city to a remote area. They are given a ‘home’. About 10-20 homes in one long building. The ‘home’ is 12’x16′ with two homes sharing a toilet.
Week 3 We will be in Vietnam for a ZMI seminar on Mission. The government has eased some visa restrictions and religious laws in order to attract more investments and tourism. However, we hesitate to give details about our efforts there as with other ‘closed’ countries. We worry about the persecution of the local people more than ourselves. We might be interrogated (I have been.), fined, or expelled from the country. The local people may go to prison.
2. Persecution in China is on the increase. In some areas they tell pastors to sign a paper saying Chinese religious laws are higher than the Word of God. If they don’t sign, they are arrested.
Laws for the Three Self Church, the government approved Protestant church in China:
- The Communist party decides how many people can be baptized per year.
- The party has the final decision on who can preach and what can be preached. (Foreigners can speak to other foreigners with a permit if they refuse local people to enter the gathering.)
- Preaching should focus on social rules and the benefits of Christianity.
- Preaching on the resurrection and second coming of Jesus are forbidden.
- Preaching against religions that deny the deity of Christ is forbidden.
- Preaching that atheist communist heroes went to hell is forbidden – good communists go to heaven.
- Preaching against abortion is forbidden.
- Preaching outside of Three Self churches is forbidden.
- Preachers can only preach in the Three Self church where they are assigned.
- Evangelism and giving tracts is forbidden.
- Imported Bibles and printing Bibles in China are forbidden.
- Government officials, teachers, soldiers, policemen, children, and teenagers cannot be Christians.
The Catholic Church is authorized under the same rules, but they are to have no connection with the Pope.