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: 17th February 2025
Dear Pastor, Church, & All Supporters:
Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
December 2024 Mission Report Continued in series: No. 5
12th Dec / Thursday – I woke to a stirring village; it was not yet first light however activity had already started. The mornings are usually crisp clouds hang low on the mountain tops, the valleys usually blanketed until the sun light hits the earth, as temperatures rise so do the clouds.
Open fires, water being heated for my bathing, coffee and other chores. I take advantage of the early morning hours (undisturbed) for the most part, to do my own daily devotions, bible study etc. It is stimulating to read GOD’S Word early in the morning and as I muse over the Word looking out over the valley, the virgin jungles, a pure river freely flowing providing life for both man and beast, the jungles filled with different birds singing their songs early in the morning. I felt as though God had transported me back in time, reminding me stand still and see (what it is) that GOD has really done! Do we as His children really look at His creation, the great Creator, do we see the (work of HIS hands)? These moments will be embedded for the rest of my life.
This day was scheduled for a busy itinerary, a wedding ceremony was on the program for Pastor Poko, he being a young man and though there is the customary practice for marriage, he asked me if I could perform a church wedding, I said yes, I can and that would be in order. I further knew that many of the family were not believers, nor Baptist and they would not be content nor accept a (church ordered) marriage, therefore the customary method would still be in effect.
Preparations were underway for the church setting, wedding…I counselled with both Pastor Poko and his bride to be, along with the fathers, brothers of both sides, a lot of discussions, toing and froing. After some practice, instructions etc… we all prepared for this ceremony. The PNG people are all about display and putting on an elaborate show. Though I had not been involved, there was great effort made to display a long line of flowers, picked from the jungles, threaded and suspended on vines tied to bamboo poles on either side of the walk extending up to the platform where the ceremony would take place. The setting was outside as too many people to fit inside the church building.
It was mid-morning by the time all the people were assembled, the proper people in their stations, the entire ceremony was followed as closely as you would see here, but of course the clothing was simple, yet it became a biblical wedding. Pastor Pogo has become the first pastor, Christian in this generation to have a church wedding, another landmark set in this far away village hidden from the rest of the world, even in PNG most will never know, hear, or see this village, BUT GOD sees and knows, all that has been done.
From start to finish we had spent several hours, it was now past mid-day, the ceremony was completed, the village filled with excitement, joy and their own way of celebration with an elaborate feast, a great sacrifice was offered again for this occasion. The rest of the day was consumed in this great effort of preparation and cooking of food. No one had seen a marriage ceremony conducted in this manner before, there were many questions, a good part of the afternoon I explained to several people this type of marriage pictured this biblically, and this picture was given and so on. Several of the pastors asked me, if it were possible for them to re-enact their marriage again via a church ceremony? I replied, yes, we can if you so want.
The day concluded with a great feast, into the night fellowship, laughter, talking and enjoyment was made.
To be continued….
In His Name,
Missionary Peter Halliman
Early morning hours at Kwapu village (Mt. Kili) where bible conference was held.
The men’s house, smoke ascending from the house as they burn fires to keep warm, cook etc.
Nearby river, provides water for drinking, all other needs for man & beast. Pure water, mountain water, unpolluted, unadulterated water.
Pastor Poko Mapia from Kwapu village Mt. Kili, Kopiago District Hela Province, PNG.
He is the young pastor who I performed the wedding ceremony for in the report.