SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
MISSION OF MALAWI
PO BOX 60150 BT. 6 BLANTYRE MALAWI AFRICA
TEL. 265-9-741-007/ or 265-8-751140 (mobile)
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.companagioite04@gmail.com
Website: www.sgbm-malawi-africa.com
Date: 10th July 2014
Dear Pastor, Church and All Supporters;
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14.)
I trust this will find each of you prospering in the LORD’S will and continuing on in the field HE has called you to labour. I am behind in my reporting and for that ask you to forgive me.
It has been busy to say the least since I have been here in the USA. The days have swiftly been passing. Some things I had planned (in the way I had planned them) have not come to pass as of yet; however – there are other things, and events, which have come to pass that I had not planned – the LORD said (MY ways are not your ways, and MY thoughts are not your thoughts). As many of us will concur, we set out to do what we believe the LORD would have us to do, and yet in the midst of all the planning, doing, preparing, and going… it is the LORD who opens and closes doors. I, like many of you, do not find it easy to discern the LORD’S will, however when I feel like I know it, it does not take me long to put into the mechanics of life what I believe HE would have me do.
I would like to mention just a few things, which the LORD has been pleased to do with us since my last report.
I have had the honour and privilege to visit my home church and spend some quality time with my pastor and his dear wife. I think every missionary should have a solid working relationship with their pastor, and then get to [know] he and his family as (people). I find it interesting to learn people’s personalities, and it is interesting to see GOD’S people behave out of church, as well as in church.
I have also had the honour to visit some of the supporting churches and preach for the pastors of those churches. At a mission’s conference in CT, I preached for Elder John Hinson and First Bap Church; I was blessed by the visit and also encouraged to meet other missionaries and their work.
In Appomattox VA, I was able to visit with Bro. Earnie Lucas and the Friendship Bap church, at a fellowship meeting I was given some time to speak and met some whom I had not met before. The LORD has HIS men in various pockets of the country and world, and sometimes we get the Elijah syndrome.
I was to drive to Ansonia, CT from Appomattox, via Franklin, VA where I have an elder sister living. I have always measured distance in third-world countries by time not distance; and for the most part here in the USA, people measure distance by miles etc. However I will never make the mistake again by measuring distance from VA to CT on (I 95) it is a good thing I had two days; the drive took sixteen hours of road time. I did not do it in one drive, however had I, it would have been a real challenge to keep my sense of humour.
I have had time to visit with my former pastor Elder Rick Perdue and his wife who have been long time friends in the LORD’S work as well as a personal. Bro Perdue remains faithful and continues to pastor where he labours in Marshville, N.C. with a small home church. (If the LORD tarries HIS coming) I believe many will find themselves in this state). Let us encourage one another as often as we can.
During the month of June I had committed to a task of teaching at a Bible Camp with Elder Dale Wallace in Boon, N.C. Through the course of a week I was able to teach two classes and then take some time to talk to those at bible camp about some of my mission experiences. In the evening before retiring for the day, another speaker, or I would bring a message from GOD’S Word.
We are responsible to plant the seed, it is only Jehovah GOD who knows where it will all go, and HE only can germinate the seed and give the increase. I have one message for the lost, “Repent of your sins, call upon the Name of the LORD and thou shalt be saved”. Do not do this, and you will die in your sins and go to a devil’s hell, forever.
I returned from bible camp to me mum’s place in Winfield, AL and with one week in-between I assisted in garden work, which my elder brother John and I put out back in April / May. The LORD said “Adam, you shall eat bread by the sweat of your brow”…. Many of the younger generation do not know the meaning of that.
My Pastor, Elder Steve Fulton was scheduled to help teach the second week at Statesville Bible Camp in Boon, N.C. however due to worsening conditions with his mother-in-law [Mrs. Bell] he did not feel he would be at liberty to be away from his family. Therefore he asked me if I would be in a position to fill in for him if possible. I did so and felt it was within the LORD’S will to ‘stand in the gap’ as though it were. I am confused with a lot of what goes on here in this country… meaning – many of GOD’S people, men, women, young people all have opportunities to serve and be of service. When asked, many times the answer is “ I am sorry, I cannot do that, or this as I had previous engagements or plans” I understand plans [for the LORD’S work] however, I can NOT understand someone who puts worldly engagements in front of our LORD’S work.
Would you agree with me that we as GOD’S people are all in the family of GOD… that is why we say brother or sister so and so; that being said, if you (whomever you are) see a brother or sister in need and you respond not to that need, how say ye, you have the love of GOD within you.
My point is – this is summertime in the USA – what I hear is (my time, holiday time, vacation time, family time). There is time for Disney world, lake time, boat time, fishing time, and picnic time. There is time for watching movies, entertainment time, there is time for family reunions, week-end get-away and so on and so on.
I come off the foreign mission field to another [foreign] mission field and the needs are just as great and demanding.
The LORD opened up the door for another week of teaching at Bible Camp in Boon N.C. and I filled in for my pastor for another week of teaching and preaching. Following that week, which is now the week we are in (at the present) I am preaching a Revival meeting for Bible Baptist at Buies Creek, N.C.
The meeting started on Sunday a.m. and will continue through Friday of this week.
Following, which I will drive back to West Alabama and on Sunday LORD willing I will preach for Bro Bill Lee in Grenada MS.
LORD willing as my plans are sometime in September I will reach the West Coast and visit the brethren and churches out there who support the work.
Please Note:
I have written in previous in previous reports, of my intentions here in the USA, I have made it very clear what I plan, intend and aim on accomplishing whilst I am here. I took the time to write it, send it to supporters, and then my pastor takes the time to print out ‘hard copies’ of the reports and sends them to the same list of supporters, friends, family etc. Therefore, most of you will receive a electronic transmission, (email) version, and then a hard copy of the mission report.
It has been my observation – that some will receive these reports and either NOT read them, or simply rush over the contents, not giving heed to the contents, reporting, instructions, notices etc… like it was said to me early in life – if it is important enough in life for someone to take the time to write you, then you should consider it important enough to take some time and READ the material.
I will state again in my report – I have a tight schedule here in the USA, I am trying to visit as many as would like for me to come by and present our plans, itinerary regarding the work, our lives and what we feel the LORD would have us to do. I also stated that I will take some quite and personal time for my wife and I (of which we have not had in four years of marriage). I have also stated that one of my plans for returning to the USA instead of going on straight from mission field, to mission field was to receive some more training in the helicopter piloting course, which is being offered by the US Army.
That being said, if I do not hear from the pastor of a supporting church, either by email, or telephone (903.422.6199) then I will move on and will have to catch up with you the next time around. I know some pastors do not do email, but some of their members do, therefor I did state in previous reports, that if you are such a member and have been notified, then please pass it on to your pastor.
Time is passing quickly and soon we will look around and say the “summer is ended and we are not saved”
May our LORD keep each of you in the centre of HIS will and bless the work of your hands.
In His Name,