By Andrew Schellenberger
Missionary Intern, GoForth Baptist Missions
Published Nov 1, 2010
“But ye are a chosen generation…a peculiar people…that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Truly salvation is a miracle!
It has been amazing to see God work miracles in lives here in Papua New Guinea—yes, miracles! I have just returned from the States after going back for a couple weeks to obtain my one-year visa. Last week, the week of my return to PNG, I had another exciting time seeing the Lord work—one I thank God for. I got back into PNG last Tuesday and on Thursday Brother Matt flew me, Pastor James’ wife Keresa and son Caleb to Kamina. Kamina is a village with an airstrip about a five minute flight away from the existing airstrip. From Kamina we hiked an hour to Wawa where Sino, one of Matt’s Bible-school graduates, is pastoring a church (Wawa Baptist Fellowship). Pastor James and Jorim—another preacher from Kotidanga, had hiked the 6 hours to Wawa the day before we flew in. They missed the 5 minute flight in with us, but Matt was able to give them a ride back at the end of the meetings. Pastor Sino had special meetings planned for Wednesday through Sunday, and he had invited Brother Matt, Jorim, and Pastor James to speak during the meetings, so we planned on staying until Sunday morning.
Sino and Lisa wave from the front porch of their house. Sino always gives a BIG grin!
It was a great time spending the four nights in Sino’s bush house and sitting in on the preaching services during the day. For a good while I had been looking forward to being at this meeting because back in June, when I first arrived in PNG, Sino had invited me to come. I was able to get to know Sino on my first long hike in PNG—a 6-hour hike to a village named Ania. For some reason Sino just decided to stick next to me on the hike; but I think it was more like he decided to wait for me and help me along the way since hiking in the jungle is not my forte. He, too, gave me some of my first good lessons in Tok Pisin on that hike—I really appreciated his heart. From the little Pisin that I picked up from his speaking while on the hike, I did understand that he was planning an evangelistic meeting in the next year. Well, the time came; and thank the Lord, I made it back from the States in time to go to Sino’s meetings.
Under the green tarp, the people gathered at Wawa Baptist Church.
Now when I say meetings, I mean meetings! They had four services every day: two in the morning from 8:30-11:30 and two in the afternoon from 2:00-4:30. That is 2 ½ to 3 hours sitting on the ground. I don’t know how the people sit for so long without their legs falling asleep! Well, that is besides the point: sitting there and enduring the little discomfort was well worth the instruction and conviction that the preaching brought. By Friday, 9 people had come to Christ; but Sino was praying for more. Well, the Lord was working. In the Saturday morning services, 10 more souls were saved, and by Saturday night the total was at 30! Praise the Lord!
Talking to Brother Matt afterwards, he told me how much of a blessing it was to see Sino’s leadership in the church and also to see his burden for lost souls.
During the three days of meetings, it seemed that a pervading theme throughout the messages was “Are You Ready?”—ready to die, or ready for Christ to come back. The Gospel was presented very clearly in every message and now at least 30 more precious souls are “ready” to meet their Savior. It takes the miracle of salvation to prepare us to meet our Maker, and what a miracle it is! Christ takes the sinner when he is nothing and makes him something. One of my favorite verses that explains this is 1Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”. Truly salvation is a miracle!
Please pray that these new believers will become faithful growing members of Wawa Baptist Fellowship, and too, that these 30 miracles will continue to be an encouragement to Sino as he labors for Christ.
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Only by Christ,
Andrew Schellenberger
2 Cor.5:21 “…made him to be sin for us…”