Cyclone Pam Threatens with Category 5 Power

We are literally sweating as we anticipate the arrival of Cyclone Pam, not just because we’re not sure what to expect, but also because of the heat and humidity that comes with the storm.  It was predicted nearly a week ago that this cyclone would be the most severe hurricane/cyclone of the Pacific.  It didn’t look at first like it would eventuate, but it has moved slowly south from the Solomon Islands and all the conditions have been ripe for it to become more and more serious.  We are watching about 4 or 5 different online weather sites to try to be the most informed about its progress.  The picture above is the forecast track that helps us know where Pam is currently located, the direction it is heading, and when it can be expected. Yesterday and during the night, the cyclone’s progress toward the south pole slowed significantly and it has again intensified.  The cyclone has reached a Category 5 this morning with sustained winds of 115 knots and gusts to 140 knots.  They are predicting that the winds will get even stronger as the central pressure of the cyclone continues to drop.  The weather forecasters are never entirely sure about the track that the cyclone will take, but what is concerning us is that it is aiming to hit us directly or narrowly miss us to the east – either prediction will bring very severe winds that will be very destructive.

We traveled to visit the people in our Nazarene churches yesterday that are living in homes that would never stand up to the winds.  When we arrived at these various places we found people completely unaware of the danger that was approaching!  They had heard rumors that the cyclone had already passed.  We did our best to convince our friends to begin preparing and looking for safe housing.  We are thankful that the Vanuatu army helps to relocate people to schools and safe shelters during situations like this.  The people in Vanuatu are for the most part entirely dependent on the food that they grow in their gardens, most of which are root crops which take 3-6 months to develop.  The winds and heavy rains that come with a cyclone can ruin gardens and the available food supply.

We have never faced a cyclone in our present house since we moved-in 7 years ago, so we aren’t really sure whether our home will stand up to these fierce winds.  David is screwing plywood sheets over our huge windows all around our house today.  It is so hot and humid that closing up the windows sounds terrible, but it looks like the weather will be somewhat calm to handle the big sheets of wood today. 

Sylvia has been teaching an SPNTC class every evening for the last week and a half, and will teach this evening if the winds and rain hold off.  You can’t imagine how hard it is to concentrate on preparations for class and for the students to focus on what she is teaching with a cyclone breathing down our necks!

Please be praying with us for this situation:  

·        We are asking God to do as Jesus did on the sea of Galilee – to block the wind and waves so that people’s lives are spared. 

·        Pray that people will be wise in preparing for the storm even as they pray and trust God for protection. 

·        Pray that we will know what to do and how to help people during this time.

We may very likely lose our internet service and possibly phone service as we move into the thick of the storm on Friday or Saturday (Thursday and Friday in the US), so please know that we will keep you posted as soon as we can.

Thank you for standing with us in the storm.

"The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Luke 8:24

"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men."

Psalms 107:28-31 

Hundreds Attend Outdoor Revival Weekend

Black Sand Nazarene church members who helped to set-up for the outdoor revival.

God provided beautiful weather for the first revival crusade organized by the Vanuatu Nazarene Evangelism Team to be held in the Black Sand area of Port Vila.  Seven years earlier a Work and Witness team from the USA assisted in showing the Jesus Film in this very same location.  We had faced many technical challenges with our equipment at that time, and again there were many difficulties to be overcome!  The Black Sand Nazarene Church had no electricty to offer for the outdoor campaign, and when Pastor Gideon asked another family who did have electricity, they said it would cost at least $100 for the 3 nights!  The Lord provided the power necessary to run some lights and keyboard and speakers through another pastor who also lived in the Black Sand area.

Many people from the community came each night to the services.  We could count more than 100 the first night, but we knew there were many more who stood in the shadows or behind fences or stayed in their homes nearby listening to the messages that proclaimed the good news that our lives can change through the power of Jesus Christ living in us.  Each night more than fifty people came forward during the invitation to pray, and more than 75 people came forward on Sunday night to ask Jesus to forgive them and come into their hearts for the first time, in addition to more than 50 who came forward to pray about other concerns.  Many of the people who came to the revival services, would never step foot inside a church.  Sylvia prayed with one lady on Saturday night who told her that she wanted to come to our church for a long time, but didn't feel like she could.  She prayed for God to forgive her and to come into her life.  The next morning she and her three children came and worshiped at Black Sand Nazarene Church!

Pastor Peter Isaac, District Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu, shared how excited he was to see the great step forward in maturity evidenced by the Vanuatu Nazarene Evangelism Team.  This is the first time that anyone other than Nazarene missionaries have organized such an event for the Church of the Nazarene.

More than 250 people came to listen on Sunday night,
but many more were in the shadows.

We praise the Lord for those who have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and have been brought into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ!  Please continue to pray for the Evangelism Team as they prepare to hold a crusade near the Eluklom Nazarene Church in December.  Please pray that many people will be saved from their sin and will be brought into the fellowship of the body of Christ where they can be encouraged and discipled in their new life of faith.

"Be olgeta we oli glad long hem [Jisas], mo oli bilif long hem, hem i givim raet long olgeta blong oli kam pikinini blong God."  

Jon 1:12, Baebol long Bislama

"But whoever did want him [Jesus], who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, 

their child-of-God selves."  

John 1:12, The Message

Lunar Eclipse in the South Pacific

For the first time in our lives we had a chance to witness a total lunar eclipse!  We first noticed the moon when we stepped out of Black Sand Nazarene Church following the evening Bible study.  It was nearly 9:00PM, and the moon looked exceptionally bright, but part of it was missing and the missing part seemed to be growing.

We hurried home, hoping that clouds wouldn't move in to cover the skies.  We had an incredible view from our front yard as the moon turned the dark brownish red color that is evidenced in a total lunar eclipse.  The next morning when we got up for our walk, the moon was hanging in the west quite large and bright even though the sun had already begun to rise!

NYI Camp with Pastor Daniel

Pastor Daniel executing his illustration.

The six young men had no idea what they were chosen for before Pastor Daniel Latu selected them out of the more than 60 young people who had gathered at the Eluklom Nazarene Church for a 3-day NYI camp.  He seated them in a circle at the front of the church, and carefully showed each of them exactly how to sit in their chair.  Then, he had each of the lay back against the person beside them.  That’s when he announced that he was going to take away all their chairs one by one.  As he did, the six guys remained stable in their reclining position as if the chairs were still in place.  The illustration worked!!











There was no doubt, he had the attention of everyone!  Pastor Daniel went on to lead the group in understanding what they could learn from what they had just seen – trust and unity are essential elements in an effective NYI group.

The camp was held in the Eluklom Church of the Nazarene

He shared messages each day that challenged the youth to make a difference in the places where they live and to begin reaching out to their communities with whatever God had placed in their hands.

Some of the Vanuatu Nazarene Evangelism Team

After the Sunday service, pastors and church leaders met to talk about how to keep the fire for evangelism burning in their hearts.  They organized a team and called themselves the Vanuatu Nazarene Mission Team.  They made plans that day to organize revival services at each of the communities where the Nazarene church is located in Port Vila.

Tell THE Story in Vanuatu

Ray and Becki Neu in Vanuatu

We asked you to pray and fast with us for an important training event, and God answered your prayers!  Approximately 50 people from our Nazarene churches and several people from other denominations were introduced to and received their initial training in Tell THE Story from Ray and Becki Neu during the weekend training held at Eratap Nazarene Church August 1-3 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.  

Rev. Peter Isaac translated for Ray.

Ray’s gentle approach to teaching captured our attention and got us hooked!  Everyone loves to hear a story!  After telling us a Bible story, he asked us to share what we remembered with someone seated near us.  After that he told the story again, but changed a few things in the story and invited us to say, “NO, no, no,” if we heard something that wasn’t right.  That was perhaps the favorite part of the process for many of the people.  It helped everyone to relax and get comfortable and also gave us another opportunity to hear the story.  The simple open-ended discussion questions that followed gave us a chance to think about the story and helped us to learn together as the Holy Spirit directed our hearts. During the three days of the training, it was interesting to see the responses to this “new” way of learning from the Bible. 

The training happened at Eratap Nazarene Church

 “More than two-thirds of the world’s population can’t, won’t, or doesn’t read,” stated Todd Aebischer, Asia-Pacific Regional Communications Coordinator in a recent story posted on the Asia Pacific Regional website.  Todd goes on to say, “Some estimate that as many as 75 percent of all people learn, gather information, and live their daily lives without reading. They do so by listening and watching rather than by reading.  The Church of the Nazarene is responding to the challenge of making disciples of oral learners by introducing a relational small group discipleship tool called Tell THE Story.”

The men's group discovering truth from the story.

It has been over a month since Ray and Becki taught us about Bible storytelling, and the people in our churches are still learning new stories and sharing them in various ways.  Pastor John seems particularly gifted in learning and telling Bible stories.  On Sunday mornings before he begins telling the Bible story, Ps. John asks the children who are seated on two mats at the front of the church to get up and find a place on the benches with the adults so that everyone is ready to listen.  Then, he tells his Bible story and leads everyone in discussing and discovering God’s truth in the story.  Various church members have taken turns telling a new Bible story for Wednesday evening Bible study and then leading the discussion.  Attendance has increased and people come with a sense of expectancy.

Makfin and Jennifer on the left listen as Pastor Jenny shares her thoughts

It is a method that helps children, youth, and adults to stay alert, engaged, and participating with the Holy Spirit to discover God’s truth in his Word.  One of the young mothers, Elizabeth, is not able to read, but she has such a hunger for the stories, and is beaming with interest as she listens and shares her thoughts!  Black Sand Church's Sunday School teacher, Noela, used the same word to describe how the children feel about hearing a Bible story - hungry!  

Last Saturday, we met with two SPNTC students, Taku and Pastor John, who want to learn more stories and are interested in organizing to share Bible stories using this method with our lay pastors on outer islands.    

Noela reviewing the 12 stories from the Gospel of Luke

Elizabeth and Lily at the Bible storytelling training

Anthona repeats the story for everyone.

  

Ladies group praying together after talking about God's Story

Pastor Jenny shares the 12 stories from Luke visual with her friend.

For more information about Tell THE Story, visit tellthestory.nazarene.org.

Praying and Fasting for Tell THE Story Weekend Training Event - August 1, 2, 3

In just one more week, Rev. Ray and Becki Neu will be joining us for a very significant event.  During the month of August, Ray and Becki will be traveling throughout the Asia Pacific Region to train others to tell THE Story, and they are beginning the tour in Vanuatu.  They will also offer training in Fiji, Philippines, and Indonesia. The training begins in Vanuatu on Friday, August 1 and will continue through Sunday afternoon. 

Rev. Ray and Becki Neu

Rev. Neu said, "Our commission is to train trainers - worldwide - to tell the stories God has given us, in order to see lives changed for His glory! Through this highly interactive discussion based story model, people find personal connections with God's stories and make decisions that change their lives forever!"

We need you to pray and fast with us for the equipping of Christ's disciples and for God to do his saving and sanctifying work in us. Pray for an increased hunger for God's Word and a sincere yearning to share his story with others.  Pray for the Lord's blessing on the Neu's travels and for the Lord to keep them strong and healthy for this month-long tour.  

Rev. Harmon Schmelzenbach, Field Strategy Coordinator for Melanesia and South Pacific Fields, was present in PNG when Rev. Neu presented this workshop to Nazarene leaders there, and said, "GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED and He will certainly powerfully use this incredible tool in opening up His Word even more, and communicating His Gospel even more effectively than ever before in Vanuatu and in Fiji!!...as He already has in PNG."

To read more about Ray and Becki Neu and "Tell THE Story" ministry click here.

Meet Pastor Meriam!

Pastor Meriam

During the recent Pastor Retreat held at the beach on Eratap Point, Pastor Meriam stood and said, “I never thought I would be a pastor.”  She went on to share how the Lord has faithfully led in her life and now she sees that God has a plan for her.

Meriam has been part of the Church of the Nazarene family almost from the very beginning.  Perhaps the first time we became acquainted was at a ladies' Christmas party that was held at our house in December 2003.  We had been holding worship services on the front veranda of our house at Malapoa for a few months.  Many of the women who came to the party were related to Meriam - her mother, sisters, sister-in-law - and all were her friends.

Ladies Christmas Party 2003 with Natalie Ward
Meriam is in the second row wearing glasses

Malapoa had been her home since 1980, the year Vanuatu gained its independence from England and France.  Here is what she shared with us in an interview about her early years:
“I grew up on the east side of Efate Island in a small village called Forari.  When I was old enough my parents sent me to a French school. My family attended a church in the village but there was no change in the way they lived.  My daddy was an alcoholic.  Sometimes when he was drunk, my mother and I had to leave our home to be safe.

       “My daddy went to Port Vila to find work.  In 1980 when Vanuatu became independent, my family all moved to Port Vila and made our home in an area called Malapoa.  In 1983, a group of evangelists talked to my daddy and he saw that his life was not right.  Then our home changed!  He began to train me in reading the Bible, and our family joined in worship together.  But, after some time, the [extended] family left us at Malapoa and went to their own homes because of disagreements.
“I wanted the good life to continue.  In 1990, I found a church called Trinity Church that was running a Bible study near my home and I joined it.  It was in that Bible study that I made my personal decision to follow Jesus and to do his work.  I stayed in this church and grew spiritually.  I had been praying for God to give me a husband, and at 20 years old, I married my husband David Naunga.  I enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher.  But, then the church leaders had a disagreement and the church split-up in 1996.  We did not join another church until 2003 when Nazarene missionaries moved to Malapoa and began holding services."

2004 Charter members L to R:
Joe Iamtang, Meriam Naunga, and Susan Wilson

Meriam quickly showed her interest in being a follower of Christ and got involved in the weekly activities of the church.  She was one of the three charter members who joined the Church of the Nazarene on December 19, 2004.  She lovingly cared for the young people in the church and was pleased to be asked to be the youth leader.

When we began the pastoral training program in January 2006, Meriam was one of the students in the first class.  She and her husband had been planting a church near their current home outside of Port Vila.  A team of college students from Point Loma Nazarene University had come to Port Vila in the summer of 2005.  Part of their ministry was to hold a kid's club near her home and then shared the Jesus Film in the evening.  Meriam continued to reach out after they left.

Some of the Vanuatu delegates to the
2006 Nazarene Holiness Conference in Fiji.
Leimawa is standing right of DS Gabriel Kaulo from PNG.

Meriam was working in her vegetable garden with a neighbor lady who had become her friend.  While she was working, Meriam shared the gospel with Leimawa who then prayed to receive Christ as her Savior.  Meriam continued to disciple Leimawa who was one of the first two Christians to be baptized in the Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu.  In February 2006, Meriam and her husband and Leimawa attended a Nazarene Holiness Conference in Fiji where Leimawa shared her testimony.

Meriam received her district pastor's license in 2011 when she was assisting the District Superintendent, Rev. Peter Isaac, in pastoring the Eluklom Church of the Nazarene.  At our last district assembly, Meriam was asked to become the pastor of Vila North Nazarene Church where many of the people who still live at Malapoa are now attending even though it is a long way from their homes. The congregation meets in a rented classroom for worship each Sunday.  Pastor Meriam said, "We are still looking for land where we can build a church at Malapoa."  Rev. Isaac commented that "Meriam has already taken in seven new members this year and has started another membership class with seven more people who want to join the church.  She is a good leader." Meriam said, "I have a deep desire to do God’s work; it makes me glad and I feel satisfied serving him as pastor.”  When we asked Meriam if being a woman pastor is a challenge to her, she said, "Even though women are not respected as leaders in Vanuatu, I feel that I am respected as a pastor in my church."

Meriam's family is also involved in ministry.  Her husband David is the district treasurer.  Her oldest child, Rona, is now in her final year of secondary school and is applying for scholarships to continue her education in accounting and computers in New Zealand.  Rona recently assisted in the Children's Camp as a puppeteer with her cousin Susie.  Meriam said, "I'm glad that my daughter is following the road that I've walked."

Pastors and Wives Retreat 2007
Front row: Revs. Peter and Jenny Isaac, Meriam Naunga, and Esther Taso
Back Row: Pastor David Taso, David and Sylvia Potter, and Joy and James Johnson.

Pastor Meriam was one of two pastors who attended our first pastor retreat in Vanuatu in 2007.  Today there are four other district licensed pastors and four local licensed pastors who are serving the Lord in the Church of the Nazarene.  When we first arrived in Vanuatu in 2003, we began to "ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into his harvest field", and God has faithfully been answering that prayer!  We thank the Lord for Pastor Meriam and her great contribution to the building of God's Kingdom in Vanuatu.

Pastors and Wives Retreat 2014