SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION OF MALAWI

PO BOX 60150 BT. 6 BLANTYRE MALAWI AFRICA

TEL. 265-999-741-007 or 265-888-751140 (mobile)

Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman

Email: brothersinthebush@yahoo.com

Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com

DATE: 05^th March 2013 Mission report for February 2013

Dear Pastor, Church, and all Supporters;

It is Friday the Fifteenth of February in the year of our LORD 2013, my wife and I have our bags packed to set off for the Philippines on a ten day mission trip. Our flight would originate out of Birmingham, Alabama with our departure late morning.

Though the years have gone by in preparation for mission trips, the packing always comes down to ‘just what is it that one [needs]. I have learned over the years, if I cannot carry it in my backpack, then I probably do not need it. We would only have one check in each, and one carry on. It is whole lot easier packing for the Tropics, and then it is for cold climate countries.

Some folks, who have not seen the LORD’S hand in performing miracles in this age, find it difficult to believe that HE still does. Some say, ‘…well, the LORD doesn’t turn the rivers into blood any longer…’ in that sense, many not, however, how much power does it take to turn the [hearts of kings], or how much power does it take to enter [restricted] gates and rooms, then again how much power does it take to find a air-ticket which is [half the price] of all going tickets. I said all that to say this, in our initial search for tickets to the Philippines, the price stayed around ($2800.) a ticket.

The Meadow Thorpe Baptist Church of Lexington, KY had voted to send me on this mission trip; therefore this mission endeavour was for them, and under their authority. In the planning of this trip, the MBC had set a budget for the trip and we would work within that perimeter. Therefore we started back in December looking for tickets all of which pointed to around the figure I mentioned. We prayed about this for some time and committed it to the LORD.

Cut a long story short, we were issued two tickets (my wife and I) each for 1800. USD. How did that come to be, well when you serve the KING, and you are HIS messenger, HE takes care of the details, Amen!

Another miracle performed by Jehovah in 2013. If you don’t experience any miracles from our LORD, in your life, maybe it is because you are not doing, or going! GOD’S miracle performing power is not [gender specific]; the parting of the ‘Red Sea’ was for all who were there at that time.

We departed Birmingham for a 1.5-hour flight to Houston, where we would make our International connection. Once we were checked in we had about three hours before departure for Moscow, Russia. The flight was 10.5 hours long and just to share some logistics with you, flying at 35,000 Ft. Elva, the outside temp was [-82 dg’s F.] with three feet of snow and ground temp at [-28 dg’s F] it was cold, too cold for my liking. With only one hour on the ground, even that was too long for me, soon airborne and another 10.7 hrs. in the air to Singapore. The logistics in the Southern Hemisphere, at 35,000 Ft. Elva was [-4 dg.’s F] ground temp was 95 F. We had only two hrs. there and then onto Cebu Philippines, and finally to Davao City, which was 5 hours. Some 27 hrs. of flying time, and 14,000 nautical miles we had arrived.

Bro met us. Teddy Badillas, his wife Connie, his son Jonah and wife at the airport. This was now my kind of weather and climate, tropical, humid, and hot. GOD’S air-conditioner supplied the minibus we rode in. After a 30 min ride we arrived at the residence of Bro. Teddy. We had our own bedroom (small) but dry. Being Sunday afternoon we spent some time getting to know one another and introduced to the mission grounds.

With it being in the rainy season there, the clouds set in quickly and before long the rains came. Not having any sleep for nearly two days we both were ready for a shower and some rest. That evening we retired early, waking the next morning with the crowing of the roosters.

Monday the 18^th – we had breakfast with our hosts and then I was escorted a bit more around the property to view it as well as the church building, and other housing which had been built onto the property, about 1.5 acres. There is a long history regarding the property and Bro. Badillas. I will not go into much of that in this report, only that I will say this;

Firstly, I was sent on this mission trip for the MBC of Lex, KY – Pastor Frank McClanahan, therefore if there are any queries regarding this trip, the work performed, and or the historical background, I will point you to Bro. McClanahan.

Secondly, I will say I went on this mission trip with double authority, that of my home church, and that of MBC.

Thirdly, I will say, it was Bro. Teddy Badillas who was led to the [Truth] regarding the doctrines of Grace, which we commonly call the TULIP doctrines, and also to the Local Church Truth. It was he would seek out ‘John’s Baptism’ and church membership, and ask that he be ‘ordained’ to the ministry as he felt his prior history of both baptism, and ordination was invalid.

Late Monday morning, we discussed the baptism, but I needed some answers from Bro. McClanahan before I would proceed. After we had discussed the procedure and position of the church there in Lex, KY I then informed Bro. Teddy that the baptism would take place tomorrow not then. I spent the rest of the day becoming familiar with the past history of Bro. Teddy and the work there. Many of you readers will know that for many years, the Philippines has become a ‘workable field’ for mission work, mostly Americans who have taken on Filipino [pastor/missionaries].

From all different flavours of churches there are works started, shared, and endorsed there in the Philippines. One would have to examine very carefully the baptisms, pulpit affiliations, the doctrines embraced and taught by many churches and works in the Philippians before one could be sure of a N.T. type church. I am not saying there are none, I am just saying that separated by thousands of miles much goes on in ‘under developed countries’ by local churches that would not be embraced, nor acceptable here amongst the Baptist brethren in America.

When I use the Name Baptist, I do not imply all types and flavours, I simply mean a N.T. Bap church, in nature, practice, and mission.

Tuesday 19^th – after our breakfast we prepared for the baptismal event that was scheduled for that day. The ride to the shores of the Pacific Ocean lasted only about thirty min. Assembled at the shoreline, I read in,

Ac 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Ac 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Ac 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Ac 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

In following the command given in Mt. 28:18-20 and the authority invested in me I carried out the baptism of Bro. Teddy and his wife Connie. I have baptized in many different waters i.e., rivers, streams, dammed up pools in Africa, Lakes, and Oceans, the least difficult of them all would be the Ocean with the salt water, especially with larger candidates.

I felt that it being a special day, my wife and I decided to take them out to eat instead of having them entertain us at home. We enjoyed a nice lunch/dinner out and then spent some time sorting out our mobile phones with a local carrier in order to have phone service. The rest of the day we spent back home as I discussed more business with Bro. Teddy and the work.

I informed Bro. Teddy that I would give him a copy of the ‘ordination questions’ which I use on the field for this purpose and that he could take some time to study and be acquainted with the material before we would proceed. I have developed my own format to be used with this based upon field experience and different countries, people, and issue which I have been faced with.

Wednesday 20^th – I had scheduled for the ordination of Bro. Teddy today and therefore he spent most of the day in study and preparation for this. In the evening time starting at 1900 hrs. the examination begun and was terminated at 2200 hrs.

Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

The examination went on for three hours, Bro. Teddy demonstrated a worthy cause to be set apart, and ‘ordained’ to the Gospel ministry through his testimony to the ‘Truth’ as we know it to be. The official laying on of hands was carried out and a certificate of acknowledgement was presented to him by the MBC.
Thursday 21^st – I spent the biggest part of the day assisting Bro. Teddy with some legal and banking business in which the bank had defaulted on some years ago.

Friday 22^nd – This day there was a church service scheduled with Bro.Teddy’s son Jonah who is pastor of Bethel Bap Church there on the compound grounds. It rained most of the day, therefore we spent a lot of time inside, we are to be good stewards of our ‘time’ as well, therefore I took advantage of this and spent much time engaged in biblical studies and conversations with Bro. Teddy regarding mission work.

That afternoon we met for worship as I indicated and after much singing, I preached on “John’s Baptism” there was a full house around sixty folks, mostly young people. The message was received well and I found that most of the people there have a teachable spirit.

Saturday 23^nd we spent some time being escorted around town, getting to know some of the areas and places of interest. I was able to view the town life, the shopping centres, and places of business and from my observation this is what I have come to as a conclusion. For someone from the developed world to go live in one of the cities of the Philippines is [NOT] that big of a adjustment, nor would one really have to go through much hardship or change, due to the fact that much of the Philippines has been strongly influenced by the ‘American’ culture.

I found that the Philippines is a much more developed country then places in Africa that I have been, and certainly that of PNG.

Sunday 24^th - We had morning services scheduled with Pastor Jonah and Bethel Bap church, I was asked to preach and did so. The message was on ‘The Marks of a N.T. church’, it was a hard message and one that either you (whom ever you are) will embrace and say Amen, or else it will be offensive and you will reject it. The disciples in Jesus’ day said to HIM, “ [this is a hard saying, who can hear it]”.

I spent the afternoon talking to many of the young people giving council on different subject and also talked much about customs, and its place with GOD’S Word. Most Americans as such, do not have ‘customs’ that conform their lives as many ‘ethnic people’. I believe that if a customary way of life does not interfere with GOD’S ruling for the lives of HIS people then go ahead and honour it, however if the custom violates GODS’ principles and doctrine for HIS people, churches, and Kingdom then it needs to be altered.

Sunday evening I was scheduled to preach at another local church and did so. The pastor of this other church is associated with a local Bap church here in the US, namely in Boiling Springs, N.C. I personally am not associated or familiar with this church and or his pastor. However, there was a good crowd, about eighty people that evening and several Pentecostal pastors who had been invited to come.

It was a good day and I felt the LORD had given me liberty to preach, only the LORD knows where any effort we engage in will go, or what results will be produced by it.

I want to state some particulars because of the testimony they bear, Firstly, Bro. Teddy is seventy years of age, he was endorsed and supported by the ABA for over twenty years, afterwards of his own studies, the LORD exposed him to church truth, and the doctrines of Grace. He was informed by the ABA that the “doctrines of Calvinism” which we know these doctrines did nor do not belong to Calvin, but are of the LORD, however the ABA stated that these doctrines are of the devil.

Bro. Teddy was reproved for embracing these doctrines and instructed to repent and return to what he was taught in the ABA seminary there in Henderson, TX.

He replied to them in a letter (of which I have a copy) that he could not do so under good conscience toward GOD and the Truth. He instructed the ABA to drop their support of him (2000 – 2500/ month). They in turn sued Bro. Teddy for the property there where he resides, three times trying to regain the property and buildings they had invested in, though they lost legally and the property was given to Bro. Teddy and his family according to legal rulings in a Philippians court.

This ought to server as a warning to all churches, pastors, missionaries who engage in missionary work over seas. Beware of building your own kingdom with buildings and property. I abstained from this in Malawi in the early days when I started the Bible school. I built a (300.USD) building, which was made out of poles, bamboo, and thatched with elephant grass. No Malawian pastor wanted this building, no one fussed, or competed for this building, yet it produced many years of service in housing pastors for Biblical teachings. At the end of the day, it was taken down, no property to dispose of; no loss of building material, and mostly it did not cause division in the work because no one wanted it.

Why would a man who is 70 yrs. of age, with no employment future, being supported with 2000/ a month as a Filipino, write his home church to cease in supporting him, knowing that he could loose his home, property, and life’s investment. Other than GOD convincing him of simple [TRUTH]. I preach a message “Are you for Sale” what is your price tag?

Missionary Peter A. Halliman