Eckert Ministry
Tim Eckert
Ministry Updates
Ministry Updates

ALO Ministry to Sensitive Country

For the past three years we (Asia’s Little Ones) has been partnering with the Sunrise Foundation in one of our colder northern Asia Pacific countries. I had the opportunity to go there and join the ministry in September and explore all the many aspects of the ministry.  In the quasi post-communist country it was exciting to celebrate the 30yr anniversary of the church, but it struck me that nearly every testimony was that of a first generation believer.  I pray that as they grow, they are able to raise up the next generation!  

    Some of our pastors with a heart for young people are so excited to recently be invited into the schools to present suicide prevention, and sex education with the focus on abstinence before marriage using the Focus on the Family curriculum! We help fund purchasing rights to use this curriculum, and leader training for these school outreaches.

   It was a difficult trip inland to the rugged edge of the Gobi Dessert.  The harshness of the land, weather, and history of this place has chiseled it’s imprint on the people and culture here.  But inside a herdsman’s hut (ger) worshiping, praying and fellowshipping with a group of 20-25 new followers of Christ, there was a warmth, joy, and softness from the touch of heaven itself.  

   It was humbling to receive the thanks of these families as they came to realize that Asia’s Little Ones was responsible for sending the aid they received last spring as they struggled to feed their families and their sheep.  In those moments, I am more emboldened to ask people to give to Asia’s Little Ones, knowing we are bringing hope, sustaining lives, and sharing the gospel in a very tangible way in corners of the forgotten world such as this.

   While in the town, and later in the capital city I was able to join the Sunrise Learning/Community Centers that are transforming the lives of so many young people.  My last day, one of the questions that came up after the English club as the students lingered was, “What do Christians believe about hell? Do you have to be a Christian to not go to hell?”  It opened the door to a full gospel presentation with many listening attentive ears! May the Lord continue to water the seeds that were planted!



We were back in Indonesia!

We made it back in Makassar, we were able to visit some of our favorite people and some of our favorite foods. It truly felt like being home, but the greatest part of the trip was being able to go back and see ministries that we fed so much into, still flourishing and growing. We touched base with Hani and Supri, President of the Bible College and Chair of the Esperanza House board, and found that both the college and the Esperanza House are doing really well.

We also spent time encouraging and preaching in three churches in Makassar.  GSJA El Shaddai, planted in the early 2000’s, is growing and expanding after they took the opportunity to renovate and expand their facilities during the extended COVID-19 shut downs. The second one was GSJA Agape Blessing Church. We were part of their very first service in 2013 and excited to celebrate 10yrs with them, as well as look at property to build for their growing congregation (they have rented spaces up until now).  The third church was GSJA Petra. A very special church to us that we were very directly involved in helping to plant. We visited on their youth night and even then the service was packed out. It is so exciting to be part of what God is doing in Indonesia, and to see how seeds that we were part of planting are now growing, flourishing and reaching the lost.

In Bali while we were in Indonesia, the first AGWM Asia Pacific Regional Retreat in 6yrs happened! We were able to reconnect with missionary friends from across the region, to hear the vision for our region from our leadership, and receive spiritual instruction and refreshment. We are more passionate than ever for the Never-Reached of Indonesia.



Some bonus photos from the Indonesia trip!


Asia's Little Ones ministry in the Philippines is changing lives and giving Hope!

In May and June, I (Doris) traveled to the Philippines, as part of ministry for Asia’s Little Ones (ALO). I spent time visiting, ministering, and encouraging the ALO affiliated ministries there and I am excited to share with you what the Lord is doing! I am also hoping you will intercede with me on behalf of the many children we endeavor to provide hope, restoration, and share the love of Jesus with.

King’s Garden

First, I had the opportunity to work with and encourage the board of local pastors that have carried Kings Garden (a home that takes in children whose parents have been incarcerated, or children who are orphaned, or have been abandoned). I had the opportunity to encourage them as they made tough decisions for the future and betterment of the ministry for the children. I was also able to encourage them with the news that a new missionary couple feels called to come along side them in ministry and is working to get there as soon as possible!

Please pray for the 31 children under the protective wings of Kings Garden. Life has dealt them some tough blows, but the Lord has brought them to our care that they might have a hope and a future!

Childcare Community Ministry Philippines (CCMP)

Then, I joined the ministry of Childcare Community Ministry Philippines (CCMP). I shared about this ministry in our July hardcopy newsletter (please write and request one if you didn’t receive it and would like to!). A brief description of this ministry is that it prayerfully seeks out the most destitute neighborhoods and communities, then in cooperation with a church planter, a nurse, a social worker, and volunteers, a transforming community initiative begins. The most needy and malnourished children in the community are fed a nutritious hot meal 5 days a week for 6 months-1 year. They and their parents are introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lastly, practical teaching is given in health, nutrition, parenting, etc. for the parents, and educational support is provided for the kids.  Currently, there are 13 CCMP sites actively transforming communities all over the Philippines, 1,625 meals a week are served, and this food is physical as well as spiritual! Over the years the success rate of CCMP in transforming communities and planting church ministries has been incredible. Thousands of lives have been changed and many thousands more will be. Please pray for these communities, and please pray for provision of the incredible financial need to continue to minister with excellence.

Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch

In the central region of the Philippines lies a group of islands in the Visayas region, I had the honor to minister with Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch, which is committed to the restoration of young girls rescued from sex-trafficking. Typically, anti-trafficking ministries focus heavily on rescue, when in actuality that is the easiest part of the fight on anti-trafficking. The more difficult initiatives focus on prevention, and the most difficult of all, the long road of restoration.

Currently home to nearly 60 girls ages 5-20, these girls are incredible survivors. While I was there, seven girls were rescued by International Justice Mission, and brought to Happy Horizons. The contrast of dark empty eyes full of pain in the newcomers versus the light, joy and determination in the eyes of those that have been under the care of Happy Horizons for many years was a testimony to the success and importance of Happy Horizons!

One girl, we will call her Mei for her protection, shared her testimony: When she first came to Happy Horizons she felt hopeless filled with sadness. Despite the efforts of staff and other girls, she barely ate, isolated herself, and cried constantly. After many months of hearing about Jesus’ love for her and God’s desire to heal her, she began to slowly join in some of the activities with the other girls. One of these was a creative arts therapy and crafts class. She began helping clean freshwater clam shells that would become wind chimes. It was a long process, but she shared that when the wind chime was finished, God spoke to her that just like she had cleaned away the grime from the shells, filed them into various shapes and then strung them together to create something beautiful; God wanted to do the same in her. He wanted to wash away her shame, pain, and all her sins. If she let Him, Jesus would lovingly reshape her life, and put her life back together for a beautiful purpose. Mei has since made four more wind chimes that are all unique and special. 

Nothing is impossible with our God, so many of our survivor’s testimonies are evidence of this. While I was there I had the opportunity to preach. For most of the new girls that had just arrived, it was the first time they had ever heard about Jesus! When I heard this, I cried. It was so humbling to be the first to share about the Savior with them and to pray over them. Please pray with me that all our girls at Happy Horizons will experience restoration, receive salvation, and walk in joy and freedom!

Kid’s Helping Kids & Hope Ministries

Lastly, ALO ministry took me to the southern most region of the Philippines in Mindanao where ALO affiliated ministries, Kids Helping Kids and Hope Ministries, is bridging the gap into Muslim tribes with education ministry from pre-school all the way up to college age. It was so exciting to meet and have the opportunity to pray over a Muslim community leader and his family of one of these tribes. After eight years of building relationships in this place we are beginning to see fruit! Our local pastor has been given a place and title of honor in the tribe even though he is a different ethnicity. This gives him greater influence and freedom to share faith. Most exciting, however, is that four young Muslims that have studied hard and become quite excellent in language agreed to help translate the Bible into their tribal language. Only a few books have been translated so far. One is the book of Luke, translated by one Muslim translator, another is the book of Mark, translated by a different Muslim translator. Each of them, after translating just one of the gospels came to the pastor and shared that they and their spouses wanted to profess faith in Jesus and desired to be baptized! These are the first known believers in their tribe! Please pray with me for these new believers, for the education ministries and the Bible translation initiative in this place!

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

When I visited New Beginnings I had the opportunity to tour the facilities, and meet the staff of this newly established home that is ready to receive young girls rescued from human trafficking. New Beginnings is just one of many homes that I am able to partner with to transform hearts and lives with Asia’s Little Ones ministry.

While I was there I spent as much time with the staff as I could, hearing each one of their unique stories. I shared what I felt the Lord put on my heart to share with them and encouraged them to always be the hands of Christ to restore any and every broken young life that the Lord brings to them. There are no lost causes with Jesus. He came to rescue and restore each and every heart and desires that none should perish! New Beginnings is just one of many homes that I am able to partner with to transform hearts and lives with Asia’s Little Ones ministry.

*Please Note that it is the generosity and partnership of our financial partners that makes it possible for me to serve as the director of Asia’s Little Ones! I don’t receive any funds from the ministry personally, so that everything that is raised for the ministry can go directly to the homes, health, and education projects across Asia Pacific.