SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION
International – Papua New Guinea / Malawi Africa
P.O. Box 60150 Ndirande Bt. 6 Blantyre Malawi /
P.O. Box 233 – Mt Hagen (WHP) Papua New Guinea
Tanggi Mission Station – North Koroba, Hela Province, PNG
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com  /  Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com

Date: 29th March 2023

Dear Pastor, Church, and All Supporters:

Matthew 16:18 — And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

On the 24th of March, special services were held at Rondon Ridge, Mt. Hagen — the site of the Bible Academy — marking the beginning of a new time for a group of people who would become a New Testament Baptist church. A traditional PNG mumu was prepared: food cooked in an earthen pressure cooker with hot rocks, banana leaves, and fern leaves. Sweet potato is the staple, and no mumu would be proper without it. Bananas, taro, pumpkin, cabbage, and various greens and fern leaves are all layered between the hot rocks and covered with earth.

While the food was cooking, the services began. Many people gathered, mostly those associated with our mission work, along with some visitors from the Mt. Hagen community.

The building was packed, and we set up a large tarp outside for those seated outside to hear the preaching. I preached on “The Marks of a Christian.” Services lasted two hours. GOD’S Holy Spirit had free course, and no one departed or caused disruption.

The food was uncovered and the cutting and distribution of the meal was under way. This continued until all groups had been served. The day was long and tiresome but spiritually and physically rewarding. All went to their respective homes having been fed from both sides. A good report had been given and heard from Friday, 24 March 2023.

Saturday the 25th: I had slept very little and was fighting some form of illness. Though I did not feel like preaching, the services were waiting. There is no calling in sick, no substitute. I prayed and asked the LORD for strength. Services started at 09:00, and the LORD did give me strength. I preached on “How Can I Know I Am Saved?” There was great liberty and a working of GOD’S Holy Spirit among the crowd.

For years I have not given an invitation at the end of my messages with tribal people. Why? Because there is a “yes syndrome” they fall into in order to please. I am persuaded that if the LORD’S Holy Spirit births one’s spirit, I don’t need to induce the cry — it will come forth naturally. I fear too many so-called Christians have been birthed by parents, preachers, and churches rather than by GOD.

The fellowship continued into the day. I came home early, as I was not well and needed rest.

Sunday, 26 March 2023: The day started early as I needed to prepare for the preaching and also the programme for the church organisation. Services started at 09:00 and went nearly to 12:00. I had one other ordained preacher besides me. His assigned subject was “The New Testament Church”; I preached on “Who Is the Salt of the Earth.”

Following the church organisation, a group of six people lettered out from the Kilowe Bap church I had organised about four years ago brought the charter members. The charge was preached to the new church, and they voted in a pastor, Bro. Pati — a tribal name.

Their first business meeting was nearly concluded with the closing motion almost ready, when someone came forward whom the LORD had saved. I had them give their testimony, and as they were speaking, another came forward. When you think you are in control of the LORD’S work, it will be just that — your work. When GOD is at work and HE opens a door, no man can close it.

It had been a long time since I had seen the working of the Holy Spirit among GOD’S people as I did that Sunday. Sixteen people were saved, and eight joined by statement of faith. Six others who had been saved also wanted to join the church; the six charter members who lettered out were replaced by six new believers in Christ. A total of twenty-four people were baptised in a mountain stream some two hundred metres from the meeting house.

To share one child’s testimony: I asked why she came forward. “Did mummy send you?” “No,” she said. “I have many sins, but Christ has taken them all away!” Amen.

I have pictures and videos; if anyone is interested, WhatsApp me.

In His name,

Missionary Peter Halliman