Earlier this year, Vijai Tagore, his wife Suchitra and young son were brought to Australia by APWM. Vijai is a lecturer at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Dehra Dun, India. He is now studying for a Master of Theology degree at the Presbyterian Theological Centre, Sydney. The family lives at Picnic Point, Sydney, and worship at the Revesby Presbyterian Church. In doing this, APWM is partnering with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of India in order to strengthen the theological training of its ministers.

I took the opportunity to ask Vijai about his ministry and how Australia is different to India.

Kevin Murray

People sometimes say to me “Why send missionaries overseas? Australia has great needs!’ This is not a modern objection.

Consider the words of William Carey, writing in 1792 “It has been objected that there are multitudes in our own nation, and within our immediate spheres of action, who are as ignorant as the South-Sea savages, and that therefore we have work enough at home, without going into other countries. That there are thousands in our own land as far from God as possible, I readily grant, and that this ought to excite us to ten-fold diligence in our work, and in attempts to spread divine knowledge amongst them is a certain fact; but that it ought to supersede all attempts to spread the gospel in foreign parts seems to want proof.

Our own countrymen have the means of grace, and may attend on the word preached if they choose it. They have the means of knowing the truth, and faithful ministers are placed in almost every part of the land, whose spheres of action might be much extended if their congregations were but more hearty and active in the cause: but with them the case is widely different, who have no Bible, no written language, (which many of them have not,) no ministers, no good civil government, nor any of those advantages which we have. Pity therefore, humanity, and much more Christianity, call loudly for every possible exertion to introduce the gospel amongst them.”

Kevin Murray

When Christians in Australia talk about Islam there is an incredibly broad response. Some view Muslims with fear and repulsion and if they are immigrants they want them to go back to their country of origin. Others view them with indifference and try to avoid them. Others seek to reach out to them and befriend them in the name of Christ.

How can we respond? While driving today, I listened to a panel discussion from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, USA. It’s an excellent introduction to a subject that some of us struggle with, and it contains some challenges. How do we respond without the usual “us” and “them” approach? Highly recommended.

Kevin Murray

An audio version of the discussion is available
http://www.sbts.edu/resources/chapel/chapel-spring-2012/muslims-in-america/

A video version of the discussion is also available.
http://www.sbts.edu/resources/chapel/chapel-spring-2012/panel-discussion-muslims-in-america/

http://bondiatl.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/paulus-celebrates

Some of you may remember the wonderful story of Evangelist Manuel, the tiny man who stared down the militia forces and saved his people.

To briefly recap that story…

In 1999, militia forces were roaming the countryside, causing havoc. Their purpose was intimidation by theft, murder, rape and destruction. News came that some militia groups were heading towards the remote parts of the district of Aileu where Manuel is the evangelist. He gathered about 600 people into the church building, where they met in fear and prayer. This tiny man (who is probably less than five feet tall) stood in the doorway. When the militia arrived, he told them that if they wanted to come in, they would have to kill him first, and his people would bury him right there, and that they were answerable to God for whatever decision they should come to.

Incredibly, the militia men backed down and went away.

Yesterday, Sunday 1st April, saw a new landmark in the life of this congregation, and Alex Ralston and I (Rob Duncanson) were privileged to be a part of it.

In planning our trip to TL, we did not know of the celebrations which were going to happen, so this was a real bonus blessing for us.

We started out from Dili at around 8am, having several detours around the streets due to Palm Sunday parades blocking our way, and eventually wound and bounced our way up to Dare (“Darrrr – ay”). From there, we turned onto a smaller road at an intersection marked by a couple of pot-holes which were the size of some small European countries. (OK – I suppose they were only about 5m x 3m and 0.5m deep, but there wasn’t much road left on this tight corner). The road had continued to deteriorate in the 18 months since I last travelled it, and the next 12km took us an hour to traverse.

Our arrival was marked by a last slosh, slip and slide through a mud hole before powering up the short “driveway” to the church building where there were crowds of people awaiting our arrival. (40km took us 2 hours, and went from sea level up to over 1400m ASL before descending slightly to the church)

The church building had been in poor condition, and when they had started to make renovations to it, they found that the walls themselves were crumbling and that repair was not an economical option so that they had to demolish it and start again. Fortunately the government has money set aside for the rebuilding of community infrastructure, and negotiations were entered into which lead to a government grant covering the entire cost of re-building.

Today was the day for handing over the keys, and for the people to worship together in this building for the first time.

I estimate that there were over 200 people who gathered to give thanks to God, and commit themselves to living as His people under His provision. We heard a rousing sermon from Pastor Daniel Marcal, the Moderator of the Igreja Evangelica Presbyteriana iha Timor Leste from Romans 12:9ff in which we were urged to love the Lord Jesus, to love each other, and persevere when times are difficult.

After many prayers, songs and speeches, we were ushered into the “manse” for lunch.

Paulus Manse

This small house with its dirt floors and palm-stem and corrugated iron walls used to have three rooms, but to accommodate church meetings while the building project was in process they had knocked out one room and put a small lean-to onto the side of the house. It didn’t matter to them that the floor was uneven and the lean-to part sloped down the hill – they are used to that. Without their second room, Evangelist Manuel, his wife and seven children had one bedroom of about 4m x 3m to share.

Pastor Mario & Ev. Manuel (with "Partnership" behind them)

The entire furnishings of this humble home were; some chairs, one table, a clock (!), a calendar, a small framed picture, and on the wall there was pinned a copy of the Mission Partner’s Magazine, Partnership!

The church builder had lived in New Zealand for four years so he had good English language skills (a rarity in TL). He said that while he was in NZ he went to a school to speak about Timor Leste. The children asked him about the differences between the two countries, and he replied that one big difference is that in TL, the children are very skinny without much to eat, and in NZ you spend a lot of money trying to lose weight. A telling comment!

After a wonderful day we mounted our vehicles again to travel back through the magnificently beautiful and rugged mountains down to Dili.

In Dili we stopped for a moment to see the block of land which the local church hopes to buy so that they can build a church building in Dili ….  but that is a story for another post on another day.

Rob Duncanson

Here is a great story from Rob Duncanson, who is currently in East Timor, on the work that God is doing among the church.
http://bondiatl.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/prayfor-kings/

For our devotions before our meeting this morning we read 1 Timothy 2.

“First of all then, I urge that supplications, prayers intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and for all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Does God answer such prayers?

In Australia, we take a “quiet and peaceful life” for granted, but that was not the case in Paul’s world, and it is not always the case in the world of Timor Leste either.

In April 2009, Robert Benn, Gary Ware and I (Rob Duncanson) visited the very poor town of Besusu on the south coast of Timor Leste.

Before Christmas 2008, the Christians of Besusu had planned to hold their first service. Some of the local people resented their presence and threw rocks at the people and tore down the tent that they had erected for themselves to meet in. They told the Christians that they were not welcome in that district and that they would chase them away if they tried to meet together. In a very tense situation, the church decided that they would not act rashly, but would meet to pray quietly that God would provide for them. A few days later an elder from Same (a near-by town) went to visit the chief man of the district with a copy of the Timor Leste Constitution tucked under his arm. He explained that the Constitution allows freedom of religion in TL.

We arrived just a few months later when things were still very uncertain.

At Betano (maybe 30km away) we gathered together a small convoy to travel to Besusu. There were around 70 young people on a truck who sang songs all the way. We had a fleet of more than 20 motorbikes to escort us, and at the very front was a United Nations vehicle leading the way with its emergency lights flashing.

We arrived to a most unexpected surprise. There, in the gathering of the local people, was the leader of the local district! He spoke to the gathering, assuring us that the district council was very happy to have a Presbyterian Church in the area, and that they were welcome to send people into the schools to teach the children about Christianity.

How could a man in such an influential position back down so completely? Why would he change his mind?

“Pray … for all in high positions … that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Perhaps a better question would be to ask; If God tells us to pray this prayer, and He tells us the reason why we should pray it, “Why would we be surprised if we received such a wonderful outcome?

Of course not all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world will ever live on this earth with quiet and peaceful lives, and some of them will give up their lives or suffer deep grief over the loss of their loved ones due to the fact that they determinedly follow Jesus. Jesus promised us persecutions.

BUT, does a district chief control the circumstances of our lives? Does a President or any other form of human government or power? Of course not. It is God Himself who is the King of all things in heaven and on earth. He is the One who will bring quietness and peace, godliness and dignity. If our experience is not of these things externally because we live in a world racked by chaos, then He is the one who will give us the strength to persevere. His grace will be sufficient. He will in due course lead us on to our heavenly Home where these blessings are wall to wall and unassailable.

Maromak sempre ajuda ita. (God always helps us)

Rob

What if we thought like missionaries where we are now?

I was recently reading Lifted! a book on the resurrection by Dan Allberry and found the following helpful “Mission is about attitude, not geography; what we’re doing, not where we are; a particular priority, not a particular place. It is about an attitude that has come to terms with the resurrection of Jesus and what that means for the world. God has exalted him to be worshipped.”

So how would life change for us if we asked the sort of questions that a missionary asks about the area they are trying to reach such as “How can I connect with the people around me?” Missionaries are people who think strategically about what they do. They are intentional. But the problem for us that we are ‘at home’ and we forget that we too have a mission to reach out to those around us.

Here’s an article that asks a similar question http://www.ordinarypastor.com/?p=10081

Kevin Murray

Andrew and Marilyn Schache have been approved as Mission Partners missionaries to serve at the Talua Ministry Training Centre, Vanuatu. Andrew will use his gifts in maintenance and Marilyn her gifts in administration and counselling. This short interview will give you a a taste for their desire to serve the people of Vanuatu.

You can download a brochure about their ministry here.

You can download an audio version of this interview here.

Kevin Murray

The Talua Ministry Training Centre, Vanuatu, needs someone to teach Academic English. The job description is as follows

“Due to the expansion of programs at Talua Ministry Training Centre in Vanuatu we need a highly qualified teacher of English for Academic Purposes.

In 2013 we hope to offer another Foundation Year program for students preparing to enter the Bachelor of Ministry program. The Foundation Year is an intensive year designed to equip students with the academic skills needed for tertiary study in English as a second language. Our new lecturer should be able to teach academic writing such as essays and research papers, academic listening skills, academic speaking such as how to make class presentations in English, academic reading skills, and critical thinking to a level appropriate for entering university. The lecturer would assist B. Min. students throughout the their three years of study, so that they can continually raise their level of academic English.

Talua is a teaching institution owned by the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, which trains students from many denominations for lay and pastoral ministry in Vanuatu. It is set on a large campus on the coast of the beautiful island of Santo. The staff consists of niVanuatu and expatriate lecturers. Accommodation is provided, but as with other expatriate staff, the successful lecturer would need to find financial support from his or her home country.

In addition to appropriate qualifications and experience for teaching Academic English, prospective lecturers need to have flexibility, cross-cultural skills, and a robust faith in the Lord Jesus. Training in Bible and Theology would be useful.

How long?
Preferably for a year or two at a time, but if that is not possible, we would consider a shorter period of time depending on our needs.

Starting when?
January 2013

Please send a letter of application along with a Curriculum Vitae to the Dean of Studies, Dr Andrew Williamson, andyrose2@gmail.com”

I’ve just received word from Dr Thang Bwee of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Myanmar, that the Australian Embassy has granted him a visa to visit Australia for a holiday and speaking tour. However, the application for visas for his wife and daughter to accompany him were denied. Thank you to everyone who prayed about this.

Kevin Murray

I’ve just returned from Thailand. While I was there it was a privilege to spend time in Chiang Mai with John and Denise Dickson, who serve in dual membership with us and Pioneers. They are doing a great job — they are at home there, they are well thought out and they have a great heart for the Thai people.

On Sunday March 18, Denise’s sister, Deb Chen will be commissioned to go and join in the ministry in which John and Denise are engaged. This is nothing new for Deb, she previously spent two years there with John and Denise.

Deb recently prepared a short video for a supporting church and it’s worth watching.

You can view the video here

Kevin Murray