New Church Shelter at Bellevue Park

Children of Bellevue Park Nazarene Church ready to perform the Christmas drama 2018.

We praise the Lord for the opportunity to serve him in Vanuatu and for the privilege of shepherding a growing number of our neighbors right in our front yard. At the invitation of our neighbor to the east of us, we began worshiping together about a year ago. We met under a tarpaulin that was strung on ropes between several trees. It has held up pretty well for this year, but with cyclone season already here, we knew we needed something a bit sturdier and weather proof. Because of some donations from generous people, we were able to assist financially in the building of this little shelter. The posts and roof support were given by our neighbor across the street. The team that constructed the shelter included Pastors Seul Kalorus and Sandy Shem who were given the responsibility of Church Building Coordinators at our District Assembly in October. John Edward also faithfully assisted, along with our neighborhood children, Isaac, Lino, and Bruno. Here's a few pictures to help you see what they did to build our natangora palm leaf roofed shelter...

The framework took lots of work since the team had to harvest the trees and skin the bark from the logs before they dug holes to cement the posts in place and nailed the branches for the roof support.

These are palm leaf panels that will make up the roof. They are harvested from a palm tree here in Vanuatu that is called the natangora, also called a sago palm. You can click here to watch a video of the making of the panels. The narrator is speaking Bislama and his local language.

The first natangora panels are being nailed on. The tarp can be seen to the right of the shelter.

John and Isaac are on the roof and Pastor Seul is handing the palm panels up to be nailed.

It looks like the church is on fire! Part of the process of helping the roof to be waterproof and longlasting is to have a fire underneath with the smoke and heat rising.

It's all ready!

We met under the tarp before we moved to our new church shelter to dedicate the building to God.

Ready to pray the dedication prayer and cut the ribbon.

Our first service in our new building!

The children hanging flower leis on our honored guests who helped to build the church.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 96:1-3

First Ordination in Vanuatu

L to R: District Superintendent Rev. Peter Isaac, Rachel Jereva, Rev. Keithly Jereva,
Rev. Meriam Naunga, David Naunga, Pastor Aline Gideon, and Rev. Gideon Sam.

Glory be to God! Great things he has done! The final day of District Assembly, 30 October 2018, families and church members gathered in the newly constructed District Center to witness this important milestone for the Nazarene Church in Vanuatu and for these three ministers!

What a joy to celebrate with Rev. Keithly and Rachel Jereva, Rev. Meriam and David Naunga, and Rev. Gideon and Pastor Aline Sam as the first ministers to be ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu! General Superintendent Rev. Filimao Chambo presided. Asia Pacific Regional Director Rev. Mark and Linda Louw and daughter Alex, and MSP Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. Harmon and Cindy Schmelzenbach were present for this historic occasion. 

G.S. Chambo shared with the ordinands the meaning of ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, “We…view ordination as a gift from God to the church. It is not something that we earn or deserve. It is through the local church that you came to the Lord…through the general church you had theological training … and the district has been part of your journey… they see the gifts and graces for you to be a preacher of the Word.”

Amos standing at the front door of the District Center building. He created the sign hanging over the door.

G.S. Rev. Filimao Chambo ordaining Gideon Sam.

David was honored to give the new elders their ordination certificates.

The Vanuatu ministry team with the first Nazarene elders in Vanuatu.

First SPNTC Class Taught on Aniwa Island

Left to right: Natu, Serah, Pastor Morsen, Pastor Sera, Ken, and Pastor Keithly

Eight students from three locations joined together on a southern island of Vanuatu called Aniwa. Pastor Gideon flew south from Port Vila to teach the first SPNTC class at Rena Memorial Nazarene Church located in Ikaokao village. Four of the students were from Aniwa, three were from Tanna Island, and one student (Pastor Keithly Rena) flew from Port Vila. Pastor Keithly had missed the class earlier in the year, and needed the class in order to graduate this coming October. So, he made his way to his home village on his home island to take Evangelism and Church Growth.

Pastor Gideon is gifted as an evangelist and loves teaching this course! One of the activities he had planned was for the students to share the gospel with another person outside of the class. When they were ready to do this activity, the students told him they were afraid. So, he prayed for them and then sent them all out. 

Ken and Pastor Keithly share the gospel with Tony.

Ikaokao village has been the home of a prominent cargo cult for many years - the John Frum cult. Pastor Keithly's father was part of this cult, but before he died, he came to know Rev. Peter Isaac who introduced him to Jesus, the hope of eternal life. Then his father invited the Nazarene Church to come to his village. (For a previous blog telling more of the story, click here.)

When Pastor Gideon sent the students out to find someone to share the Gospel with, he headed to some of his relatives who are followers of John Frum. He shared the message of real hope with this family.

Pastor Gideon's relatives who heard the Good News about Jesus

Besides learning how to share the Gospel, the students learned how to share their personal testimonies of how they came to faith in Christ,  the characteristics of a healthy church, and how to make a difference for Christ in their own communities. Pastor Gideon and his students prepared to hold an outreach event on Saturday and Sunday evenings in Ikaokao village. Students took part by sharing their testimonies, leading the worship and music, and preaching.  The event went well with over 100 in attendance each night and 33 people seeking the Lord at the altar.  

Tony became a believer and follower of Jesus!

God is making a difference in the lives of people in a remote village on a tiny island in the South Pacific, but also in the lives of our pastors and leaders who are eager for the Bible College training that is being offered this year on Tanna and Aniwa islands. Please pray for the hope of the gospel to reach more and more people, bringing transformation to their lives and also to their communities. 

A special fund made this teaching opportunity possible. You can partner with us in making a difference in the lives of our pastors and the communities where they serve by contributing to the travel expenses involved in taking SPNTC classes to the islands by clicking here.

2009 trip to Aniwa with Dr. Becky Morsch, Rev. Peter Isaac, 2 Nazarene Fijian pastors, and Pastor Keithly (far left).

These last few months...

"How do you eat an elephant?...

"One small bite at a time!" answered Linda on that first day of class and then added, "And, that's how we're going to learn English! One bite at a time." 

Jim and Linda Dortch from Texas came to Vanuatu near the end of January to teach English. They have done this in other parts of the world, and also conduct English as a Second Language programs in their home church. They are experts at what they do, and we are so honored that they committed to come help our pastors and church leaders. 

They taught two 3-week sessions of English composition as well as two one-week free sessions for anyone who wanted to improve their English speaking skills all in the space of 8 weeks!  They made class fun for their students!

The pastors and church leaders that attended their class came from a variety of educational backgrounds. Some had attended primary school in English and some in French school. One had completed a university degree, while others had completed only the 6th grade. 

By the end of the second course, the students were able to write an academic essay in English using the grammar skills that they had learned. But more significant than that, beautiful, eternal relationships were established between these two brave, loving, energetic Texans and their new friends in Vanuatu!

Jim and Linda with their class signing "I love you!"

Pastor John Nato

After Jim and Linda left, we continued the training we began last year of helping our SPNTC graduates to teach the Bible college courses.  Two of our graduates from SPNTC* are doing an outstanding job of teaching the pastoral course of study! It’s always more work to help someone else do something than to just do it yourself. But, we are finding it a great joy to spend time with Pastor Gideon and Pastor John preparing for the courses. We learn so much from each other! 

Pastor Gideon Sam

The first week of May, Pastor Gideon traveled to Tanna Island, where there is one organized Nazarene Church and several preaching points, to teach the first extension course for SPNTC. He planned for 10 students but 14 showed up and 2 were from the island to the east, Aniwa! He is preparing to teach another course in August this time on Aniwa. Please pray for good weather and quiet seas so the students from Tanna can travel over to Aniwa.

The Vanuatu District Center Project

This news is a little old, but we wanted to fill in the gap between March 2017 and the next blog which will be more current. 

A year ago, this is what the district center property looked like. 

Preparations were underway for the construction of 

the Church of the Nazarene District Center in 

anticipation of the arrival of a Work and Witness team

from Papua New Guinea - the first-ever PNG W&W team!

The team of 10 people arrived in March 2017 and 

poured the foundation for the new building 

and left us with a promise that they would be back...

In November 2017, Tim and Karla Deuel arrived to 

help us get ready for the next PNG W&W team!

What a blessing it is to have missionary partners with skill sets that make up for our lack! Tim and Karla have been serving at Kudjip in PNG for over five years. Tim helped our ni-Vanuatu Nazarenes get the foundation ready for the next phase of District Center development.

Everyday that there were men out working on the construction project, 

there was a beautiful group of women preparing a hot lunch for the workers.

The cement blocks started arriving as well as other supplies.

Many times when a W&W team arrives, you can tell right away which ones just got off the plane. Most of the time, W&W team members look very differently than

 the team that is ready to work with them at the project site. 

But, these two teams looked and sounded very much the same!

The building was beginning to take shape!

Because the PNG W&W team arrived in December during school break, 

some of our junior Nazarenes were able to give a hand too.

December tends to be a rainier month, but nothing kept these guys from moving forward.

Each day a different Nazarene Church was assigned to provide, prepare, and serve

lunch for the workers.

No one went hungry!

The generous funds provided by this PNG W&W team were sufficient to get the walls up, 

and it was time for them to fly back home.

But, they left with another promise...they would return in 2018 to help us finish the job!

Please pray for:

1. God's provision for expenses and project funds for the 3rd PNG W&W team.

2. Pastor Seul and his ni-Vanuatu Nazarene team to continue the project so that it is ready for the next phase of development.

3. Revs. Peter and Jenny Isaac as they travel in PNG to raise mission awareness and encourage involvement.

4. Strong relationships to be established between the people on these teams.