Yesterday was Rock Star's second birthday. He is the son of Michael, who leads the youth Bible study in Bung village. Rock Star's mother, Doris, is a vibrant Christian woman. Her implicit trust in the Lord is an inspiration. She talks about the Lord in a natural way wherever she goes.
Doris came over to bake a banana cake for Rock Star's birthday yesterday. As we were baking, she told me more of her testimony. While the cake baked, she helped me plant tapiok (from which we derive tapioca) and strawberries. She also told me more about tu-minit kumu, a green and yellow leaf that grows on low bushes and can be cooked in two minutes.
I wrote out the banana cake recipe for Doris. When she bakes it at home, she will use a drum oven, made from an oil drum, heated underneath by an open fire.
Doris told me that some of the established ministries in their village are jealous about the Bible study that is going on. Some folks are saying that the (Bible study) group is circulating Moslem teaching, which is absolutely without ground. The studiers welcome people from all denominations and they urge them to continue in any church they are already a part of. (Most of them have no church ties at all.) Please pray with us that no divisions among denominations will deter these Bible studiers from growing deeper in their faith.
The relationships that are growing with these villagers are so eye-opening about the way most of the people of this country live. We thank God for these people and insights.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Jesus Film Showing
The Lord answered our prayers about the showing of the Jesus Film.
The venue was the "mess hall" of a local high school, one of the few places with electricity near Bung village. The electricity was out for about 20 minutes as the villagers were gathering to watch the film. After some introductory remarks, it came on and stayed on for the entire showing. (By contrast the power flickered on and off numerous times during Monday and Wednesday evenings.)
About 150 people, men and women of all ages and lots of children, were in attendance at the film. Afterwards several people got up to say they appreciate the interdenominational Bible studies going on in the village.
We had expected some to come forward in response to the message of who Jesus is, but we trust God is continuing to work in the villagers despite what we expect.
The venue was the "mess hall" of a local high school, one of the few places with electricity near Bung village. The electricity was out for about 20 minutes as the villagers were gathering to watch the film. After some introductory remarks, it came on and stayed on for the entire showing. (By contrast the power flickered on and off numerous times during Monday and Wednesday evenings.)
About 150 people, men and women of all ages and lots of children, were in attendance at the film. Afterwards several people got up to say they appreciate the interdenominational Bible studies going on in the village.
We had expected some to come forward in response to the message of who Jesus is, but we trust God is continuing to work in the villagers despite what we expect.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Heart-Felt Call for Prayer
Sue writes:
If you look back at the post called, "Great Day to be a Missionary" you will gather some background for this post. Jeff is working with a group of 70 or more young villagers who claim to have an interest in becoming Christians. About 30 of them have completed a workbook about the basics of the faith. They are memorizing Scripture from the lessons.
Someone comes from the group every day with some new idea the group wants to act on. The thing is, the idea usually involves us giving them something for them to use. We don't mind giving them things, but we sometimes wonder if some of them are just greedy and the claim to faith is just a way to "get things."
Jeff has asked God to give him contacts "outside the fence," so we want to follow God's leading. We are asking Melanesians and other missionaries for insight into this situation. Jeff is trying to orient the new IT manager, field constant requests for his time, serve on a curriculum review committee, update course notes for next term, and fulfill the other things his job entails. Still, he wants to follow God's leading. Please pray for Jeff to see what God wants.
Tonight we are scheduled to show the youth group the Jesus Film in Tok Pisin. It clearly presents who God is, His overtures of love toward people, who Jesus is and what He did to provide salvation for people.
The group came up with the idea of holding a ceremony of conversion before the film. Working with them in Tok Pisin, we are not absolutely clear what their motivation is for this ceremony. Please pray for Jeff to have wisdom as he deals with the youth.
He also asks for prayer that God's Spirit would be working in the lives of those who watch the film and that PNG Power would supply the power we need to show the film.
In 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 Paul wrote about his missionary quandaries. Though we are not experiencing the physical threats he was, we identify with the pressure he felt as he said:
On [God] we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
If you look back at the post called, "Great Day to be a Missionary" you will gather some background for this post. Jeff is working with a group of 70 or more young villagers who claim to have an interest in becoming Christians. About 30 of them have completed a workbook about the basics of the faith. They are memorizing Scripture from the lessons.
Someone comes from the group every day with some new idea the group wants to act on. The thing is, the idea usually involves us giving them something for them to use. We don't mind giving them things, but we sometimes wonder if some of them are just greedy and the claim to faith is just a way to "get things."
Jeff has asked God to give him contacts "outside the fence," so we want to follow God's leading. We are asking Melanesians and other missionaries for insight into this situation. Jeff is trying to orient the new IT manager, field constant requests for his time, serve on a curriculum review committee, update course notes for next term, and fulfill the other things his job entails. Still, he wants to follow God's leading. Please pray for Jeff to see what God wants.
Tonight we are scheduled to show the youth group the Jesus Film in Tok Pisin. It clearly presents who God is, His overtures of love toward people, who Jesus is and what He did to provide salvation for people.
The group came up with the idea of holding a ceremony of conversion before the film. Working with them in Tok Pisin, we are not absolutely clear what their motivation is for this ceremony. Please pray for Jeff to have wisdom as he deals with the youth.
He also asks for prayer that God's Spirit would be working in the lives of those who watch the film and that PNG Power would supply the power we need to show the film.
In 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 Paul wrote about his missionary quandaries. Though we are not experiencing the physical threats he was, we identify with the pressure he felt as he said:
On [God] we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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.
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 andsuggested 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.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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.
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