Danny, Yolanda and Carina's dad and mom with some new friends at a cultural show

God has been so faithful to provide times for our parents to come and minister along side of us.  Its is so fulfilling to have our families come and fall in love with Papua New Guinea and its people.

In Papua New Guinea the tok-pisin word for “in-laws” is “tambu”.  Carina’s parents (my tambu’s)  Ps Grady and Ps Christina Williams  arrived this month with a small team from their Foursquare church “The Waterbrook”.  The team  stayed for a week  and then Carina’ parents stayed on for a few weeks after ministering with us.  Carina and I kept them busy ministering in almost every ministry that happens at our church of Living Light.  The Bible College students (myself included) loved having time to hear from two faithful, fruitful, pastors. They spoke at area fellowships (mini churches) , taught at Living Light Academy, and  spoke at the school’s chapel to children and high school students.  The team also ministered at the OPS medical clinics morning devotion and led several people to Jesus for the first time. The list goes on and on, but we’ll just share  some of the highlights and stories.

Ps Grady at Kwikila Mobile Medical clinic - ministering to the patients

The team started out their trip ministering at a Mobile Medical outreach at the newly planted Foursquare church in Kwikila.  Ps Grady and Ps Christina and their team prayed for men, woman and children  who were waiting to be treated by the medical team from Living Light Foursquare Church.  Ps Grady got out his guitar and  started  singing worship songs to the children and after he sang he offered to pray for any children that wanted prayer.  Immediately a long line of kids formed and one by one, he prayed and ministered to each of them.

Ps Christina preaching to the Faith Club mothers and teen girls

Ps Grady helping at the feeding/nutrition time at Faith Club

Faith Club  ministry is such a deep passion for Carina and she loved having her mom and dad minister with  experience for her in worship and teaching at Faith Club and serving food at the nutrition program.   One of the amazing times for Carina and her mom was when they ministered to the Faith Club teenage girls and  mother’s (abandoned and widowed woman of all ages) and pray over them and see God genuinely touch and change many of their lives.  Ps Christina also spoke to the children and over the weeks we saw many, many children come to know Jesus.

Another highlight was when Ps Grady was asked to speak on a Sunday morning, and I “turned talk” or translated it.  God moved mightily and touched the hearts of so many people and the alter was full as we prayed  for many to receive Jesus be filled with His Spirit.  Later that night, me and my tambu’s went and spoke at the radio.  It was such an awesome experience sharing the gospel over the radio to all of PNG with family!

Ministering to PNG through the radio - Preaching on Sunday at Living Light

Baptism Sunday at Living Light Foursquare church is so exciting, to say the least.  Carina was so thrilled to baptize many of the Faith club teenage girls, mother’s and children she has been ministering to.   Sandra, one of the little girls that was baptized, is the daughter of a Faith Club mother.  How incredible it is to see children make personal decisions to serve God.  Sandra has a new fire and excitement about God and life.

Ps Christine and Carina baptizing Faith Club teen (top) and Sandra (bottom).

Mason's class at Living Light Foursquare Academy praying birthday blessings

This month Mason turned 6 years old and Carina made a little party for his class at Living Light Academy. Carina and her mom made a cake and surprised Mason at school– he was so excited! But the best part was after the kids had tons of American chocolate cake, the teacher and class prayed over him. Carina and her mom were moved to tears as every children began to pray out loud in the spirit, asking God to bless Mason and help him to serve God all the days of his life. Hearing all those little voices lifted up in prayer was such a precious reminder of how much God loves Mason and how He’s blessed him with friends here in PNG. Please keep me in prayer this next week as I travel to the highlands for the National Youth Pastors training. My self and a pastor from Australia are the main speakers and we are praying for the Holy Spirit to move in power and refresh the hundred of Foursquare youth pastors from around the country.

Greetings from PNG!

We had a great opportunity to go on a retreat this month with the staff of Living Light Foursquare Church.  The Sr. Pastor Bill Page took all the Sr. Staff and Pastors to a special island off the coast of Port Moresby for a time of strengthening each other and rest with our families.  It was a great time for us as a family to have time to rest and hangout with the churches staff who have become like family to us.  God has really blessed us with friends and family here in PNG for both Carina and I and our boys.  This weekend away with them was refreshing and boosted us into our month.

Living Light Foursquare Church Staff and families

I got to speak at a great church in a settlement on the other side of the airport in Port Moresby called ATS Foursquare Church.  They were very welcoming and responsive to the word of God.  We, as a family, had a great time sharing with, praying for, and spending time with these precious people.  Mason and Ezra love visiting churches with us, like true missionaries kids they dive in and make friend where ever they go.  I also got a great honorarium which you can see in the picture.  The youth pastor came up to me afterwards and had a great story for me.  He explained that I wouldn’t remember him but when we were both children in the highlands of PNG my mother gave him a pair of jeans that I had grown out of.  He said those were the best pants he had ever had and wore them for years.  It really meant  a lot to him.  The lesson God taught me from this, you just never know how God can use some little bit of generosity, or kind act, or kind word to impact someone’s life.  So give, give big things or little things.  God takes what you got and can make it a blessing.

Mason and Ezra with children from ATS Foursquare Church

Paul and his honorarium

On the first Thursday of every month we have a Pastors gathering for Pastors in Central Province and NCD (National Capital District).  We all come together for training, fellowship, handing in church reports, and hearing each others testimonies of what God is doing in the Foursquare Churches of Southern PNG.  In this last gathering, thanks to Foursquare Missions Press (FMP), we were able to equip each pastor with a variety of gospel tracts, booklets that describe Foursquare’s Biblical beliefs and booklets that help pastor’s disciple new believers.  The pastors were so excited to receive evangelism tracts in the main language used in PNG, tok pisin. In a developing country like PNG they love printed materials and there is not much teaching material for Pastors to get their hands on.  I am blessed to be the funnel for FMP (Foursquare Missions Press) to further bless and equip the Pastors and leaders of PNG.

Central Province Pastors excited about new materials from FMP in their own language

Carina has continued to be involved in Faith Club, now helping Ps Maria organize games and children’s worship for the Faith Club service on Tuesday’s and Thursdays.  She loves worshiping and dancing around with the settlement children.  Carina has also taken on a new ministry aspect of Faith Club in overseeing the Faith Club Teenage girls by preaching and teaching them the word of God, she has become very passionate about seeing these young girls realize their value in God.  Many of the girls have little to no education and spend their days wandering the settlements surrounding the church.  They are neglected, abused and starving young teens that need to know the love and hope they can only find in Jesus.  Carina has been bringing in other pastor’s wives and young woman from our church to preach and teach and give the girls good role models for their lives.  This group has grown in the last month from 15-20 girls to 30-50 girls coming every Tuesday and Thursday  to Faith Club.  Praise the Lord!!

Regina, Agnes and Agatha - three of Ps Maria's orphaned and abandoned teens that attend Faith Club Teen Girls with Carina