World Missionary Directory
Email Address: melvin.ho@agmd.org
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INTRODUCTION TO MELVIN AND LOUISE HO
Missionaries to The Netherlands and Europe
Mail Address: 629 West Calhoun Street, Springfield, MO 65802
E-mail Address: melvin.ho@agmd.org
Telephone: 417- 863-9613
Background
Melvin came from a Chinese Buddhist family in Malaysia and became a Christian through the ministry of AG missionary, Delmer Guynes. Louise is Dutch and grew up within the Reformed Church tradition. She had a personal experience of the Lord and the Spirit at the age of 19 (just before enrolling at the Amsterdam Free University).
During their university years, both were pioneer leaders in the university students’ Christian movements (Melvin in New Zealand and Louise in The Netherlands). Melvin also served in the Wellington AG church at that time and Louise participated in various ministries in her country. Upon graduation, Melvin became a college lecturer in Kuala Lumpur and Louise studied at the WEC Missionary Training College in Glasgow, Scotland and served in churches in Dundee, Scotland and in Wales.
Melvin received his MA (Biblical Languages) and M. Divinity in 1988 from the AG Theological Seminary, Springfield. He has done studies towards a doctoral degree. Louise completed theological studies from the University of London (UK) and her MA (Missions/Intercultural Studies) in 2002 at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Baguio (Philippines).
Missions and Ministry Background
From 1977- 83 Melvin served in the Assemblies of God of Malaysia in different ministry capacities (Christian Education, Church Planting and Pastoral ministry). Louise was a WEC missionary based in Taiwan and was involved in medical missions as well as evangelism and discipleship within the medical world from 1972- 81 in a number of Asian countries. After their marriage in 1981, they ministered in Malaysia with the AG and served as adjunct faculty members of the Bible College of Malaysia. From 1984- 91 they pastored the Springfield Chinese Church.
From February 1992- July 2002, Melvin and Louise were appointed missionaries to the Asia Pacific. Based in Baguio, Melvin taught at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in The Philippines and in many of the countries in the region. He initiated the development of the Institute of Islamic Studies which provided missions preparation to individuals called to minister among Muslims. Louise was founder and administrator of the Christian Academy of Baguio, an international school for missionary children. She participated actively in medical missions and compassionate ministries in The Philippines, Cambodia and China.
In 2002, they accepted the invitation to become faculty members at the Dutch AG Bible College (Azusa Theological College) which has become autonomous college but integrated as part of the Theology Department of the Amsterdam Free University in The Netherlands. Melvin helped to pioneer and is the co-ordinator of the Institute of Islamic Studies at the College. It is a ministry and missions training programme designed to reach Muslim communities particularly in the European countries. Louise, besides teaching and being director of student practicums, also serves on the college’s administrative committee and is a member of the Dutch AG Missions Board. She is also the Dutch AG representative on the Dutch National Evangelical Missions Board.
Missions Challenges
• The Netherlands like most other Western European nations, is post-modern and post- Christian. Thus it is greatly in need of Christian renewal and re- evangelisation.
• The great influx of non- European immigrants and asylum seekers from the Two Thirds World, particularly the fast growing Muslim population, is a most urgent challenge.
• The vital need to train and see a new generation of dynamic Pentecostal ministers to lead AG churches as the older generation passes the baton of leadership to them.
• The desperate need for increase in regular financial and prayer support for Azusa and for more faculty and staff personnel.
• The need to further develop missions structures at the Dutch General Council level in order to facilitate greater participation and cohesion in missions giving and sending.
• The open door and strategic opportunity to establish dynamic lay training and discipleship ministries such as Bible and Ministries Learning Centres in local churches especially for migrant churches such as the Iranian, African, Hispanic and Indonesian churches.
Missions Needs
Since we transferred from a lower missions budget field (The Philippines/ Asia Pacific) to a high missions budget (The Netherlands/ Europe), we are in need and must raise approximately, an additional $2,500 in monthly pledges for our next missionary term.
$10,000 in cash budget is necessary to begin establishing learning and disciplining centers in the ethnic and migrant churches. This is necessary since bible schools and theological colleges in The Netherlands do not offer training on that level nor in the languages of these churches.
$5,000 for the continuing development and operation of the Institute of Islamic Studies at Azusa Theological College.
$15,000 in cash budget is needed for missionary related costs such as visa fees, travel, further language learning, and costs related to ministry and missions beyond The Netherlands.
Thank you for partnering with us in embracing the missions challenges of The Netherlands and in ministering to the urgent needs that have been mentioned. May God bless you for your prayer and financial support.
Melvin and Louise Ho
