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).

Home Assignment and Continued Relief Efforts

Newly rebuilt Black Sand Nazarene Church

Black Sand Nazarene Church after Cyclone Pam

Disaster relief efforts following Cyclone Pam were still in full swing when we left Vanuatu for our 4 month scheduled home assignment.  Pastor Peter Isaac and his team of district leaders continued to assess needs in communities and purchase and distribute supplies.

One team of national Nazarenes took rice, boxes of canned fish, tarps, and building supplies to the island south of us, Tanna, where the cyclone had done the most damage.  The compassion of Jesus was also shared with the people on Aniwa, just east of Tanna, as Pastor John from Black Sand Nazarene Church took relief supplies and Christ’s love to share with the people there.

The two Port Vila Nazarene church shelters that were destroyed in the cyclone have been rebuilt, as well as the Nazarene church shelters on Aniwa and Tanna.  We are thankful for the financial support of people around the world who generously gave to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministry disaster relief fund and for the generosity of others like Youth With A Misssion in Vanuatu who also partnered with us to provide food, shelter, and clean water for thousands of people! 

Newly rebuilt Prima Nazarene Church including the gutters and
 rain tanks donated by the YWAM -Vanuatu team.

One of the most frightening things about going through a category 5 cyclone was knowing how many people were going through it with no safe shelter.  So, one of the long range recovery goals is to work with our church communities to consider the possibility of constructing “houses of refuge” where people can find safe shelter during a violent storm and can also be used as a church and community gathering/training place.  Please pray for God’s guidance as we work together on this goal.

We had a tremendous home assignment traveling from Alaska to Florida, Michigan to Colorado, and from San Francisco to San Diego, and many places in between!  We were overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of the Nazarenes who welcomed us into their homes and churches.  We met with many people who were eager to be connected with God’s work in Vanuatu.

David's family including his 94 year old father

Sylvia's family gathered around her parents for their 60th anniversary

While we were home in the USA, we were able to be with all of our children and grandchildren, our parents, and our siblings.  David’s family met together for a reunion on Orcas Island, and Sylvia’s family met in northern Michigan to celebrate her parents’ 60^th wedding anniversary.  Along our way, we were delighted to meet up with many of our friends which made the time at home so satisfying!  We also celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary!  We are so incredibly blessed!

So happy to be with our kids and our four grandchildren!

Water Wells, Pumps and Things

We don't have very many pictures to share of the continuing relief efforts, but we wanted to pass along the news that we've heard of how the disaster relief efforts have continued.  Pastor Peter Isaac with the District Advisory Board for the Church of the Nazarene continue to assess the needs and make plans for how best to help.

In mid-April, Youth With a Mission in Vanuatu (YWAM) was contacted and plans were made to dig wells in two of our church communities where clean water was not easily accessible.  YWAM has developed a technique for drilling wells by hand and then attaching a pump to provide clean water for communities.

 Pastor Peter reported in April that 500-600 people will benefit from the new wells and pumps in Black Sand and Prima communities.

Along with the new well, YWAM also provided water filter buckets so that the water can be further purified for drinking.

At the end of April, Peter e-mailed us to say, "On Sunday we were dedicating the water pump at Prima. All the community were witnessing the opening with YWAM members. And some of the elderly people among the YWAM team were convinced to put up our church building again. Yesterday they started working and the project is underway now."

There was lots of work still being done throughout the month of May.  Peter reported that a team of nine people including five YWAM volunteers went by boat to Tanna with tarps, chain saw, roofing irons, lumber, and nails to help with re-building.  They also took many 50 pound bags of rice and cartons of canned fish to help with food relief.  Pastor Gideon remained longer to help build the first Nazarene Church and baptize eight new believers!

Another Nazarene/YWAM team sailed south to the island of Aniwa to distribute food and to witness.

In addition, tarps, bags of rice, and cartons of canned fish have been sent to six different areas.

At the end of May, the Nazarene congregations in Port Vila came together and contributed a generous offering for their brothers and sisters in Nepal who are facing a huge disaster.  

It has now been nearly three months since Cyclone Pam devastated the islands of Vanuatu.  It usually takes about 3-6 months for cassava to be ready for harvest, so we are hopeful that the gardens will begin to provide for the food needs of the people.  We have heard reports from various people in Vanuatu that the food market in Port Vila is beginning to have more fresh garden produce available.

Thank you for your prayers for Pastors Peter and Jenny as they lead the pastos and leaders in the Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu.