Bunemwo Church Grows

Jeff writes:

Lately, we have focused on Bung Ples and the results of the tribal fight there. As you know the Lord has taken what was meant for evil up there and turned it to good, for which we are thankful.

However, we are involved with other ministries outside of the campus besides Bung Ples.

In Bunemwo the people are working to construct a more permanent church building to replace the bush-materials church they have been meeting in since we have been here in PNG. (The back of the old building may be seen behind the foundation.)

Pastor Johnnie and Matthias Koim, who is currently completing his final year here at the CLTC, have led a team to construct this building. They have been buying lumber, nails, roofing iron, and other materials over these past years. Once they had enough on hand, they started construction. We have helped some with the purchase of nails and roofing iron, but for the most part this project has been their doing. They are a testimony of what should be going on in a mission field.

While it is easy for missionairies to step in with their abilities and funding, it is much better to leave the heavy lifting to the local church. Hopefully, missionaries can act like catalysts to help local processes along. In the end we must remember that the PNG church is God's church and that one day when we are no longer needed here, His church will continue to prosper.

For all of you tool guys out there I took this photo to show the sum total of the tools used to construct this building. There is not a power tool in the lot. I think this demonstrates the wonderful resourcefulness of these gifted people.