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
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com
Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com
Date: 19th Jan 2022
Dear Pastor, Church and All Supporters;
SGBM – Mission report continued from (Series No.4)
Series No. 5
The meeting with LMBC at Greenfield, continued through the week, the services were attended by several from other sister churches, in the Salinas area, as well as other parts. The years of the ministry will tell the (tale), some have worn out their shoes in attendance (as though it were), others could care less, and still others find the challenge of a weeks meeting almost too much with work, family, this world’ care and so on, and so on.
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
For so long the LORD has blessed this country and Christians in the main have enjoyed years of ‘ease’ and plenty’ to be able to go to church, hear sound biblical preaching, however with recent years, this has become less and less, the meetings are getting longer and fewer in between, that ‘thirst, and hungering’ for spiritual things has been replaced with things of this world.
Only the LORD knows if there were real convictions in the hearts of those who heard the Word of GOD!
That Sat morning, we had our breakfast with our host (Bro. and Sister Plasket) and then we packed up and drove to Salinas, where we would stay in an old farmhouse just outside of Salinas in the farming communities.
For the next four days I preached for Lighthouse Bap church, allow me to deliberate some here, there are churches across this country that are more in number yet do very little for actual preaching of the Gospel, a lot of social programs are supported, and all this is often no more the babysitting family outings, has nothing to do with the Great Commission!
Lighthouse Bap church was largely responsible for the securing of the x-military truck that was bought and shipped to PNG, it has been a tremendous blessing in the work.
Pastor Bob Hobbs, I would fit in the category of (the group of being a man’s man), I like a no-nonsense man who will put things in order and call it as it is. Fewer and fewer men today are found with enough backbone to just stand up and call out sin, and to step forward on faith. I find Bro. Hobbs of such character and would not be hesitant to get into the boat with Bro. Hobbs.
Bro. Hobbs has remained a true friend to me through the years, and each time we meet, spend time and fellowship, I am the one who feels like I come away with the blessings. I want to boast a little as Paul did on certain individuals in his time, so too the LORD has placed certain people (key) people in the churches, fellowship, support and ministry to my good. Sister Sharron Dibeck, the LORD has used her heart and willingness to assist the furtherance of the Gospel both in PNG as well as Malawi over the years, (Luke 6:38) “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Every night the small building was filled with others from the sister churches within Salinas, and others attended also. True fellowship amongst brethren cannot be fabricated nor duplicated but MUST be initiated by the Holy Spirit (Psalms 133:1) A Song of degrees of David. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
(John 4:24) “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Each day was filled with sweet fellowship, different folks opened up their homes to accommodate us for dinner and fellowship, I have known these people over the years of service and fellowship and each time it seems to grow a little more precious, perhaps it is the ‘fleeting time’ that we all know we are approaching that day, that hour, that time when the LORD, will say ‘come up hither”.
The week continued in services, and by midweek service I was scheduled to preach at Landmark Missionary Baptist church where Pastor Faustino is, however he was unable to be with us, but the services continued and with a congregation of mostly Spanish speaking people, (I don’t speak Spanish) so I did what I do on the mission field, and have done for many years, (use a translator).
The building being quite large and even with a good number of people (for our kind of Baptist) there is ample room to accommodate.
The meeting continued, special singing accompanied the services and prepared the hearers for the message forthcoming. I do have one point I would like to make, when I am in another country, I learn the language in order to accommodate the communications. When I am here in the US, I don’t understand why? I am use a translator (?) looks like to me that if (you) whoever you are, you come to the USA, you would learn enough English that you would understand what is being said! End of story!
Towards the ending of the weeks, starting on Friday of the second week I was to preach for Community Baptist Church, where Bro. Jason Williams is now pastor, many of you will remember Bro. DeWayne Harris was pastor there for many long years.
On Friday evening we started the first service and these services carried on through Sunday morning. Again, each evening was blessed with special singing and of course the preaching of GOD’S Word is the centre of worship.
Bro. Jason Williams has demonstrated a spirit of meekness has been a blessing to me in our short time of knowing each other (within) the ministry. There is one thing to be said about a young man in the ministry when he has a teachable spirit and is ready to receive instruction and or correction from those who have laboured long in the fields of service.
The spirit of these two weeks had been indeed a blessing and a spiritual awakening, the fellowship, the singing, the Word of GOD, and prayers were all in accord to that of a great blessing.
Not any one person may say of another, yea or nay, rather the WORD of GOD will dictate and minister. It is in the fruit that bears out after the meetings which, truly shows the evidence of what was accomplished by the LORD’S working.
Our LORD gave great liberty and HIS Word was published, only HE knows where it will all go, in whose lives it will accomplish this or that. Our duty is to be faithful and preach the Word!
On a final note in this series of reports, Firstly, I would like to thank each individual who had my family and I over for dinner, I would like to thank each of you for opening your homes, taking the time to cook the meals, and the time to clean up after its all done.
I would like to thank the pastors of each one of these churches, for leading in these meetings, I would like to thank the churches for the special offerings given. I could not do what I do without your assistance.
The trip though it was expensive to make, it was well worth it in terms of spiritual blessings, though it was hard for me mum to endure the long road miles, she would not want it any other way. Jared as many of you knew, know, and met him now after all these years, still needs GOD’S Salvation.
He was exposed to more preaching (hard preaching) in those few days we spent together then he had been his whole life. Only GOD knows where that will go, and what the seeds planted will produce.
Until our next report, may our LORD bless each of you and keep you in the centre of HIS will.
Missionary Peter Halliman