In Papua New Guinea, when there are difficult times or stresses between people, they are called “heavies”. Right now, our dear church is experiencing a great deal of “heavies”. As with any of us, the body of Christ in Dinangat struggles daily with their own sin, and as we walk with them through the real life practicality of sanctification, we sometimes find it difficult knowing how to apply Scriptural principles to tribal situations. A man who has married two women (not even acceptable in this culture!) has trusted in the Lord for his salvation, now what? Another believer who is dealing with his anger problems deliberates over how to handle a daughter who wants to get married, but he has put just about every cent he’s made in the last several years into getting her an education that she hasn’t finished yet. Being a community driven culture, virtually the whole village is involved in these “heavies” in one way or another. Please pray for us as we try to encourage and disciple the Dinangat church through these and many other situations.
However, the most pressing need right now for wisdom and courage for the church as yes, once again, the local religious circuit will be visiting tomorrow, and the next couple days, to try to intimidate the believers into coming back to their old ways. They’re going to try to do their religious practices in the village, convince everyone that they’re being led astray, and on top of all that, the word on the street is that they actually want to “court” the believers for “destroying their old church building.” Translation: to ‘court’ someone has much more to do with putting people on trial and nothing at all to do with flowers and candy! And by ‘destroying the building’ they mean renovating the stuffy, noisy building into a more open, breathable structure that is more gazebo-like and comfortable for everyone. Of course, they have no rights to this building, legally they have no rights to condemn anyone for anything, but try telling that to these guys! Anyway, please pray that our believers will be such an amazing testimony to these guys, that the circuit would be truly challenged, give pause to evaluate their own beliefs, and that the Lord would be glorified through all of the “heavies” they are experiencing, and that their trials would indeed lead them to the hope that does not disappoint…
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about perseverance; and perseverance; proven character; and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us…” Rom. 5:3-5