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: 06 Feb 2024
Dear Pastor, Church, & All Supporters:
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
After five days I was up and moving around, however did not regain full strength until a couple weeks later. The Sovereignty of GOD, His everlasting (Love), His promise to never leave us or forsake us, and on it goes, does NOT negate the fact, that in this life as Job said (Job 14:1) “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble”.
Every morning, I would open the day with Bible lessons, not just any topic or randomly selected, no, rather, topics that were pertinent to the work-related issues. We cannot know how to handle many human problems, unless God’s Word is taught and we learn from HIM, who made us and not ourselves. The Bible is a complete manual for every human problem and the solution, the instructions and advice as to how ‘not to arrive’ at such a point in your life, or if you do find yourself in that issue, ok, here is the remedy.
The problem is…many, many people only wish to use the Bible as a ‘guideline’ NOT exact or specific to the rule of conduct. GOD did not give us HIS Word for you and me to reinvent ministry!! God’s people are very slow in learning this.
Most ‘money problems’ with Christians is because they are (thieves and robbers) of GOD. (Mal. 3:7-11), most ‘worship of God’ problems with Christians, is because they have many idols, (The God of Heaven) will NOT share HIS glory with another, I can go on, but you get the point. A lot of abridged, annexed to, deleted from, self-initiated meanings of Scripture, instead of (Thus saith the LORD).
The mission work here has sustained many problems in the past eight years, we are now working through these.
Most of the problems that I have learned and faced whilst here, are (money related – Jealously, envy, and positional) did the Apostles not exhibit this same issue when the LORD was coming to an end of His personal ministry? Did not James and John approach Jesus asking for the right- and left-hand positions (Authority) etc… Jesus rebuked this, so too today. Why is it, brethren (preachers), S.S. teachers, Bible Camp coordinators etc… are always competing, for the (headship)? Usually those who are absent the most from (church life) want to make a big splash at a Bible Camp, oh really? If they really had the heart of a servant, they would serve quietly even in the background.
Why is it, that long-debated business meetings are experienced with the LORD’S money? Some will say, they think it’s not wise to spend the money, others say, we don’t need to keep as the LORD does not want to find any gatherings when HE comes, still others say, we don’t want to become like the church at Jerusalem and become poor, thinking Jesus will come today or tonight, still others will make all kinds of decisions about this money, the truth is usually those who gave the least, cry the longest, and loudest, whilst those who gave the most keep quiet, knowing once the (offering) or Tithe has been surrendered to the LORD, it is no longer in their hand. Where are you in all this?
The above illustration, for twenty years I invested heavily in the Malawi / Mozambique mission work, no one here complained whilst I was investing both in the spiritual and physical work, church buildings, hospital bills, health issues, food, vehicle transportation, Bible seminary class (no tuition) on and on it goes. Another cannot boast on the offering of another for themselves, nor do they have a biblical ‘leverage’ to argue how that money is to be used. If it’s put within the ‘church’ offerings, then it is a church vote, nothing more, nothing less!
Money and position have caused more problems in more mission / church lives than any other topic that I know (in my ministry).
When I left Malawi, I tried to follow as closely (the Bible examples) in setting forth ‘leaders’, two elder men, Bro. Jackson Kopolo, and Bro. Chipala Dinala, then the two bible schoolteachers, Bro. Edwin, and Bro. Eric. All established mission works, churches, and pastors (must) go through their own growing pains.
I have given enough factual data for any reader and or supporter to this mission work, (Malawi) for you to make a godly decision. I will further say… at what time? Will others from our ‘American brethren’ buy their own ticket and go visit one or more of the missionaries (on that field), take time to visit the work, not a glorified holiday – take pictures, videos, talk to the church people, non-church people, government people, grass roots people in order to obtain a ‘proper biblical’ report? When?
My life, and work has been visited, examined, spied upon, even lied about, however the multitude of witnesses always tell the ‘truth’.
There were many rumours here that I had died, abandoned the work, I would never return etc. and even to the point, people were making decisions as to who would take what. People have forgotten that there is a “God in heaven who ruleth among the children of men….”
To be Continued…. (End of Part Eight) Malawi mission trip.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter Halliman