The summer took Benjamin and Missy home to the USA and their three adult children after nearly a year away from them. The reunion with them was sweet and the time they spent together with each of them individually was very special and significant given all that God has been doing in each of their lives to grow them and lead them. Sharing victories, milestones, and challenges with each other has put each of them on better footing for this next season that they will spend apart.
As they go to great lengths to stay connected with their three stateside kids, they are very aware that their youngest son is returning for his final year with them in PNG. He is looking forward to one last year in Amdu and one last year of memories with his Amdu brothers. After the year all their children will be in America! They know God’s grace will be sufficient.
Until then they have a lot planned for the next eight months. This month it is the annual regional conference. In November they plan to finish teaching through the book of Romans with the Amdu church, and they are praying about doing another evangelistic event to reach those folks who haven’t heard the Creation to Christ teaching yet. In the New Year they will begin teaching through 1 Corinthians.
The approach they are taking in Bible teaching is to provide a firm foundation for the church. That is why they spend so much time teaching Creation to Christ initially. This is an evangelism focused course that gives a person the broadest thickest layer of their Biblical foundation. Added to that is an understanding of the uniqueness of the Church in God’s plan for the ages. A study in Acts provides that layer. Romans helps to solidify God’s plan of salvation for unbelievers and his plan for sanctifying believers. Ephesians introduces the high calling of the church which helps to fuel the motivation for believers to live holy lives. 1 Corinthians will help convince believers that a fruitful life comes by living as a Body and working together. And then time in 1 Timothy will help them to begin moving towards the goal of appointing elders to shepherd the church.
Each section of God’s Word that they have studied together to build the Amdu church foundation has been carefully translated first. The process is arduous and requires many steps of scrutiny before it is finally given the stamp of approval from their consultants. Pray for Missy who is stepping back into that process after being out of it for some months. She is currently working on the book of 1 Timothy. And pray that the Amdu church will increasingly treasure the Scriptures as the final authority for their lives.