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: 27th January 2025
Dear Pastor, Church, & All Supporters:
Number Four in Series (December 2024) Mission Report
1Co 15:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
I wonder how many people who (claim) the name Christian, or say they have been saved, (this anymore is about as generic, as the name god) with multitudes… You will notice I did not capitalize the name (god) intentional…… The name Christian is a bible name, given to those who confessed Christ as Saviour, the name was given as a slight, or to demean but none the less, given to ‘mark’ those who claim they have been saved from their sins. Every man and his dog now a days is a Christian, every religion uses the name God (to assimilate) within society, on and on it goes. I believe the day is coming when many will realise, they have (believed in vain) … It didn’t help to simply take the name Christian, didn’t save anyone in using God’s Name for identification, it didn’t keep them out of hell for assimilating with a church, giving testimonials etc… IF and only IF, one has truly been born again by the H.S. (which, uses the Gospel) of our LORD Jesus Christ, IF only, they have been believed & experienced bible repentance (a complete turning away) from a habit of life (in sin). This (IF) will one day be revealed.
We all do that which, we believe, and believe that which we do, otherwise we would not do it. I believe that it takes the preaching of the Bible Gospel (the only Gospel) whereby men may be saved from their sins. In believing this, it moves me (puts legs on my faith) there are works produced and (fruits) that come from that (faith).
The morning of the 7th of December, I conducted another church service with the Tabiya Baptist church, I explained in the last report how they are without a pastor, (so it is) with many of our churches in the USA and around the world. History will always repeat itself, unless the people of that generation change. God is the one who calls HIS men, HIS H.S. leads them, BUT at the same time, HIS men must have a willing mind & heart. Not so long ago, pastors were shepherding two sometimes three different churches within a range of distance. Where is the story now?
After our services, it was time to hike to the next point called Yaluyalu. A Baptist church meets at this area, has been for years. This church like most has had its share of problems also. The pastor who is not an educated man (by the world’s standards) however he has a heart for the LORD’s work, his name is Pastor Tommy.
One of the internal problems (the pastor’s wife and children) had not, did not, follow him when he took the office of pastor at this church. They remained members of the church where I had just spent two days preaching at (Tabiya Bap church), remember they too do not have a pastor (this has been for some time now, a few years). Further take note, with Tribal people, nothing is straight forward, and more things are hidden then not. One cannot just assume, nor can you believe everything you hear, and even see. This Is not a play on words either…. Drivers in PNG will turn on the indicator for the vehicle, but never turn, the brake lights of a vehicle in front of you will be illuminated but the vehicle is not stopping, some people standing in the road, you think they will move but they continue to stand (point given)!
It takes much time to gather information, the (truth) is often camouflaged, therefore quick decisions (from the surface) only, usually make matters worse. These reasons I have given and there are many many more, in which, I am not fond of supporting the idea of brief-in & out / mission work.
By the end of Sunday service, the wife and one son (who claims to be saved) agreed to transfer their membership to the Yaluyalu Bap church and submitting to her husband/pastor and his father/pastor. God used HIS Word, & His servant, but like I said, we must be willing to go, do, submit and be used of our LORD.
Sunday afternoon I began to organise my things for packing as the next morning we would all depart Yaluyalu for the long hike to Mt. Kili, this in fact is where the Bible conference was scheduled. 2019 was the year that the church was organised of which, I was involved. This valley of where the people live and meet for worship is surrounded by mountain ranges with a white-rapids river running nearby. Completely cut off from the outside world there is little influence (mostly a good thing).
Living in the bush, with limited lighting (usually small solar lighting) of which, I had prepared having a separate waterproof case with my electronics (laptop, phone, small foldable solar panel, power bank, solar light). Because we get so much rain in the second-monsoon season, (someone asked me what does that mean) I replied, it means one monsoon season rains more than the other! Therefore, usage of lighting & electronics are controlled.
I have had people say to me, ‘oh I love to go camping’ or that sounds like fun…is that what you think this is “fun”, and if you’re the kind that loves camping, I have just the right field for you, buy a one-way ticket to PNG.
To be continued……
In His Name,
Missionary Peter Halliman