Graduation!

Sue writes:

Graduation at CLTC is the high point of the year. Joyous families and friends joined the college community last week-end to celebrate the students' accomplishments. This year 36 graduates finished in five different programs.

A group of mostly Solomon Islanders led us in with dancing and lively music.













This group is several men who received Bachelor of Theology degrees. They each wrote a satisfactory 9000-word English thesis which described a theological problem their denomination is facing and
suggested a biblical solution. Their wives received certificates for a Pidgin Bible course. They will be church or Bible college leaders.






Three students earned diplomas in missions. They hope to go out to foreign mission service. The idea of Papua New Guineans going out as missionaries is revolutionary in some national churches.









The gowned students here received diplomas in theology. They are prepared to be church leaders or religious instruction teachers in high schools. The other two students will be women's and children's leaders in churches.

We pray God's blessing on our graduates as they go out to minister on the larger and smaller islands of PNG, the Solomon Islands and other places God leads them. Please pray their lives will make a difference to those around them.

Faculty Appreciation Night

The graduating students this year started a new tradition. They scheduled one night for all the students to invite all the faculty and outgoing staff to a big dinner. They killed, plucked, cut up and mumued (cooked over hot stones) over 100 chickens along with sausages, kaukau (sweet potatoes), cooking bananas and ferns with other greens. Too, they brought rice while faculty members brought cakes. There was so much food that it was brought in in wheelbarrows. Then the tablecloths were spread with banana leaves and the cooked food placed on the leaves.

The students also prepared flower arrangements that they placed in vases made from banana tree trunks. They involved their children in stringing a live flower necklace for each honored guest. They came up with so many tablecloths that we were amazed. They arranged for music to be played, and one student sang a song he wrote in praise of God. It was an enjoyable time to fellowship with students, their spouses and their children around the tables at the end of the year. We appreciated the efforts that were evident in that memorable evening.

Happy Day!

Sue writes:

It's a day we've long looked forward to. Today the new IT manager, Jonathan Zureo, should arrive!

He seems well-qualified, eager, and honest. We couldn't be happier. With him coming at the end of our college year, Jeff should have some time to orient him soon too.

Many thanks to you who have prayed for this position to be filled. It seems God has supplied a perfect match to the IT needs here on campus. Please pray for his success in his new position!

Great Day to be a Missionary

Jeff writes:

Today was one of those days when it is great to be a missionary! A team of us from the college left at 6:30 a.m. to walk to a "Youth Bible Study" at Michael's house in Bunum Wo. Michael and I hiked Mt. Wilhelm together. He is the one God has really gotten a hold of and is doing a remarkable work in his life. In the past he used to lead a rascal (criminal) gang in this area. He used to supply his mates with steam (fermented pineapple liquor) and marijuana. In days gone by he led them in a life of crime. Now he wants to lead them to the Lord. This study meets out-of-doors at his home, and although we met early today (Sunday) there were over 50 people there, most of whom had never darkened the door of a church. The Spirit of the Lord is moving, and our prayer as missionaries is to try to let the Lord lead. Our desire is to see nationals carry the ministry forward. We epecially want to make this Michael's ministry, which we want to support using local church leaders and students and staff workers from the CLTC. Please pray that this study will continue to grow and that many of these wonderful people will come to know the Lord.