SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION
Int. – Malawi / Papua New Guinea
P.O. Box 60150 Ndirande Bt. 6 Blantyre Malawi Africa/
P.O.Box 1261 - Mt Hagen (WHP) Papua New Guinea
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com
Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com
Date: 18th March 2016
Dear Pastor, Church, and All Supporters;
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This report is overdue and I will try to simply hit the main points and highlight ‘what I believe’ would be of interest to you in the work. The difficulty in this is everyone seems to have a different view as to what would be ‘enjoyable’ or ‘of interest’. However, there is a common denominator, which secures all of the LORD’S work, and that is when the report is about Christ, and HIS work of grace in the lives of HIS people, Amen!
Our stay in Malawi was short termed, ‘at least for us’ being two months, some may question or think what is our point of returning to Malawi when I have made it clear that the mainstream of our work is now centred in PNG. I will not be redundant, so if someone has missed past reports, either you will have to ask your neighbour, go back and read what was written beforehand, or else leave the ‘spaces blank’.
I have stated before, and again I will say simply because it needs to be said, that is we are now living in a age where most people (Christians included) DO NOT want to read, to be entertained YES, therefore most mission reports are not read and most church members do not have a clue what is going on in the life of that missionary they support. There are exceptions to this rule and some churches I know of make it a habit to read aloud the mission reports amongst the congregation, at least for that I am thankful.
Our time spent in Malawi was to encourage the brethren, churches and then return to the USA, where we would take up where we left off in 2014 with the medical issues regarding my wife.
In Malawi after twenty years of service the LORD allowed us to acquire some property for the mission work, I have detailed much on this issue and will not take the time to do so now, however just to mention the fact that I had planned some time ago to construct a small cabin for my wife and I to lodge in, whenever we felt led to revisit Malawi/Mozambique and the work, we would have a lodging place without rentals or expenses involved.
Over the years, I had acquired some ‘hand cut’ boards (with a pit-saw) some of you older folks would know what I am talking about, others if you don’t know, you will have to do a search on the internet what that is. Another point, most folks here in this country and other developed countries will simply go out and either pay a contractor to build them a home, or else go down to the local Home depot, or Lowes Hardware and purchase ‘already cut, seasoned, planned timber to construct what they want.
I have not always had the budget or the convenience of such services, that being said I intended on doing this within the short time we would be in Malawi. The LORD had other plans, and this never came to fruition. We spent our remaining days there in Malawi doing the LORD’S work. Towards the end of the year, I received word from one of my brothers that our mum was needing eye surgery and would require someone to be with her every day until she recovered. Further to this, my wife also received word that her mum was diagnosed with throat cancer and that she (Sherry’s mum) would need her to assist with some areas as she is her only child.
All this news seemed to come in at once, and we prayed about this seeking the LORD’S will as to the timetable in returning to the US. We had our answer before long and we made preparations to depart Malawi on the 31st of January. The time did not take long to pass and we were packed up on our way to the airport in Blantyre, Malawi Africa. As we said our farewells to those we were leaving behind, I was reminded of how many times the Apostle Paul spent time with those whom he had laboured and then would come the time of his departure. This is never easy as the ties, bonds, and relationships over time and seasons of working together often fuse our lives and hearts together. We departed near triple digit temperatures in Malawi to arrive in JFK, N.Y. with snow on the ground and in the twenties, BIG change. I had all the clothes, I could get on and still was cold but this too would pass, as all things do.
We arrived in Birmingham, Alabama and had a good reunion with mum and my younger sister who picked us up from the airport.
It took us a few days to overcome the time change (eight hours behind Malawi, fifteen behind PNG). As we were getting settled in and making the necessary changes, I had preparations to make for me mum and her eye surgery she is now eighty-two years of age, so there are adjustments to be made.
On the twentieth of Feb she had her cataract surgery on the one eye and then would have the other eye after three weeks time. After one week of taking care of mum, we needed to go visit my wife’s mum in N.E. KY and see what it was that we needed to do regarding her situation also. We made plans for the trip, and along the route we would stop over visiting Bro. Frank McClanahan and the Meadowthorpe Bap church in Lexington, KY. We would over night with the McClanahan’s and drive on the next day to reach Sherry’s mum’s place.
Our visiting would reach the weekend and Bro. McClanahan asked if I would speak for him on Sunday a.m. I accepted, therefore we would drive back to Lexington with Sherry’s mum. Those of you who have unsaved family members will relate to where I am going with this, the mission field is anywhere you are at, and amongst whom you find your self, including family. Sherry’s parents and three out of four daughters are unsaved, and if the LORD should bring this situation to your mind to pray for their salvation we would appreciate it. We have been trying to get her mum to attend church with us since 2010 but she (like most unsaved people) always find some excuse not to attend church. I have personally witnessed to her, in her home, she had a father who was a Baptist preacher so she too was raised in church and heard preaching. This does not make one saved, or eternally secure, only those who have been ‘born again’ by GOD’S grace.
Sometimes GOD will use sickness, or health issues, and other means to get our attention, not saying this is the case, but she did entertain the idea of going with us to church. This is the first time for Sherry to be able to attend church with her mum, please remember her in your prayers if the LORD should bring this to your attention.
We drove her back to her home and spent a few more days and then towards the ending of the week on Thursday we drove back to me mum’s place in Winfield, Alabama.
To another point…for several years I had an interest in bringing with me someone from the mission work in Malawi or Mozambique to visit the people and churches here in the US. One of the idea’s behind this effort is to encourage folks back here who have supported that work, meaning they would have first hand in experiencing some of the fruit of the very work they supported. Secondly, the person visiting would also witness and experience what I have been teaching for all these years, taking back testimonials to his people and the work.
Paul often travelled with those whom he had laboured and exposed them to other works, and places, I hear of different ones through the years who will say or express their desire to come visit the mission work, but as soon as it involves a tightening of the budget and a sacrifice somewhere that trip often gets delayed or cancelled.
When I often hear rumours that I have this, or that, or been doing this or that on the field, I often reply, a good way to cancel the rumour or doubt is for you (whomever you are?) to pack your backpack, purchase your ticket (not the church) and you come to the field where you have question or suspicion and see what it is you want to see.
Like any Church there are problems, because there are people and the Pastor has to deal with those problems, in the same way, every missionary has to deal with problems on the field of his labour. I have said all that to say this, in 1987 I brought over a N.G. Native Pastor Ekere Ibago, whom many of the supporters met and gave much encouragement to visit first hand, talk, share and experience what they too had assisted in supporting all those years in the N.G. mission work.
I felt that after some twenty years of labouring in Malawi / Mozambique Africa it would be profitable to introduce to those who may have an interest in meeting someone who has become ‘fruit’ of all those labours, and himself also investing his own life into the work amongst his own people. Many hours, days, and years we have spent together in the mission work preaching and teaching GOD’S Word.
We prayed much about this, and did what we could but knew it would depend on the LORD to bring this to fruition.
I made application for one of the Bible School Teachers / Evangelist (Edwin Chipala) to travel to the US and visit for some time with us. It is not easy for Malawian’s to obtain a Visitors Visa to the US under current travel restrictions. One week later from our arrival into the US, Bro. Edwin Chipala would also arrive.
I have attended a Bible Conference in Granada MS “Central Bap Church” where Bro. Bill Lee is Pastor, and we had a wonderful time and were blessed. I am currently in Henderson, TX visiting with my home church and after about the middle of April I will LORD willing be making plans to visit supporting church, or any who may desire for us to come by presenting the work.
As I have stated in the past, I will notify the pastors of my intentions and we will agree on a date, if such a date is not agreeable and I am passing through that area, then I will move on. My time here in the US is usually tight and pressing I am willing to work with most, however I cannot do a lot of backtracking.
Some churches and or Pastors have not in the past asked me to come by, and that is ok, I am not saying I must come by and visit your church, but what I am saying is if we agree to a date, then I cannot change as often times the dates are scheduled ahead of time.
I have a NEW mobile (cell) number, which I can be reached at, unfortunately I do not stay long enough in the US to keep a permanent cell number so if any of you reading this report have (older cell numbers) for me, delete them ALL. The NEW cell No. Is (903. 423.9719) if for some reason you cannot reach me, then call my pastor Bro. Steve Fulton at (903.657.2796 or 903.649.0748) and he will be able to direct you as to how you may get in touch with me.
May our LORD keep each of you in the centre of HIS will, smile upon your life and bless the work of your hands.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter A. Halliman
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