SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
MISSION OF MALAWI
PO BOX 60150 BT. 6 BLANTYRE MALAWI AFRICA
TEL. 265-620-472-(hm) / 265-9-946-261 or 265-9-320-881 (mobile)
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com
Report No. 3
Date: 09th May 2012
Dear Pastor, Church and Supporters;
(2Ch 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
I had scheduled another trip out to Nthaja, the area where two of these new groups are located; the third group is located in an area called Balaka. A week had passed, Sunday morning I started my day at 0400 hrs, we had our breakfast and then packed the vehicle for the day. A lunch box with extra food and drinking water, as long as I have lived here, I have never negotiated with the water system; I have always either filtered my drinking water, or taken water from the house. Some things I can share in the bush with others who are travelling with me, however there are some things I will not share and that is my water, I contribute much of my health stabilization (not referring to Malaria) due to the fact that I have strict codes on my drinking water here in Africa. Cheat on this one rule, and you will go down a long hard road with diverse health issues.
The vehicle was packed with two spare tyres, a mechanical toolbox, twenty-five litre water container, and road emergency equipment. We set off at 0600 hrs and for the next two hours we drove over some of the worst road conditions here in Malawi – that is for a main road! I came here the first time in September 1994 and remember driving over this same road it was in bad condition then, pot holes, no shoulder lanes, no paint marks, nothing but a poor excuse for one of the most travelled Tarmac roads in a country. I came in 1996 and spent many hours driving on this road over the years until now again. Nothing has changed, where the potholes develop they are simply hand filled with tarmac and hand pounded in, the level is most aggressive as it is always raised above the existing road level, therefore when driving over this road it simulates a cobble-stone road. I suppose it could be worse, but sure is hard on the vehicles and the body after several hours.
At 0900 hrs we arrived at a junction where we met Pastor Billiard, from there we proceeded to our destination, which would take us another forty-five minutes drive. Most Africans are not accustomed to someone arriving early, however over the years I have maintained this effort for many reasons, firstly, I am of the persuasion that there is no excuse to go to church [LATE], I do not differentiate between developed countries, or primitive conditions, whether one drives, hikes, cycles, or any other way to travel. I am confident that most of the people who live in the country of, which they live, have become used to and accustomed to their mode of travel. They know when the church services start, and finish. In my book, it is not only rude to come to church late, but shows terrible irresponsibility on the part of the member. Schools do not allow this, the work force does not allow it, but somehow GOD’S people think it is ok to go to church late.
I have taught for many years here in Africa and PNG that as long as you are doing your own business or chatting or visiting then I really don’t care if you take all day, however I believe when it comes to the LORD’S worship program, I believe we are to show people that we are serious with the LORD. I believe HE honours this, and will reward accordingly.
After enough pushing, the pastor was ready to assemble the people and have us start our program for the day. I took some time whilst I had been waiting for this to debrief him on the program of events and how we would perform each sector.
The church being assembled, prayer was made to open the service and then several songs were sung. There were three of our charter preachers with me that day, Bro. Jackson Kopolo, Bro. Dinala Chipala, and Bro. Michael Ng’ong’ola. I had assigned them different subjects to preach on relative to Baptism, and Salvation. The pastors each preached and challenged the hearers with their messages, I then preached on ‘Who can be saved’. Following the preaching there was an examination of the candidates to be baptized (I have stated this many times before and will do so again); I believe it behoves GOD’S men to examine the candidate before baptizing, as we can not know the heart, what we can do is inspect the fruit, John the Baptist said … ‘bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance’ - (John demands proof from these men of the new life before he administers baptism to them. "The fruit is not the change of heart, but the acts which result from it").
I have seen in both the developed world as well as amongst primitive peoples that there is the nature of men to want to please. Then there is also the tendency of certain pastors, missionaries who somehow think GOD is working too slow, or that the chance may be too late, and that they [must] assist the H.S. in HIS work of salvation. Another song, another prayer, another verse to read… I know in my own salvation that I was passive and it was the LORD who found me, brought me, opened my ears to the Gospel, opened my heart as HE did also Lydia, and I know that HE [birthed my spirit]. The confession came in church, but I know now that I was saved long before that time. The LORD can and does save HIS people in various places, salvation is not dependent on sitting in church, and however it is dependent on hearing the Gospel message of Salvation. (Rom.1: 16)
There were several who were examined that day before baptism and all this takes time. When finished, we proceeded to walk to the water of baptism, which was about a mile away. Baptism being church ordnance must be performed with church authority, this being in order we proceeded with the baptism.
I usually take time before the baptism to explain the immersion, with the task of finding good water to baptize in here in Africa, as well as it being deep enough, this part has always served me with a real challenge to burry the candidate as we believe both a proper burial and baptism is to be. At times I have required the assistance of a fellow pastor to hold down the legs of the one being baptized as the water is just deep enough to burry when completely lying down.
That being said, we completed our baptism and walked back to the meetinghouse. Reassembled and proceeded to organize this new group into a N.T. Baptist church. It is always a joy and privilege to me to see a new church born. I am reminded all over again how the LORD said HE would be with HIS church until the end of the ages. I am reminded of how HIS church is (1Ti 3:15) “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the [pillar and ground] of the truth.”
The charge was preached to the church, after which we came to the close of our program. It had been a long day, hard day physically but a wonderful day in the LORD. We were summonsed to the meal, which, had been prepared for us, after our eating we packed up and prepared for the drive home. Along the way home we experienced a punctured tyre, changed with one of the spares and carried on till we arrived home. It was late in the afternoon and from the time we had departed the house to the return, twelve hours had expired. We were tired, needed a good bath and something to eat.
The few pictures herein will give you an idea of the work carried out that day.
The woman above would be in her late seventies; second picture is an elder man in his seventies as well. They came out of Islam at a late age, but GOD’S Election unto Salvation is not limited to [time, distance, customs, habits, colour, nor ethnic origin].
There were thirty-three in all, which were baptized this day, praise the LORD for HIS blessings upon this work.
To be continued…
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