Hi Friends
We have been back in PNG for about 3 months now, and it’s about time to give a quick update about what’s been happening. Marie will be working on some personal news, and I will share a bit of a ministry update with you all.
Reunited with coworkers –Since we have been back, we had the opportunity to catch up with our co-workers, Simon and Annika Flanagan. This has just been an amazing opportunity to start again with our teammates after a 6 year absence. They have gone through a very tough time due to medical issues but have decided to come back and help complete what we started amongst the Mengen. This is an awesome testimony! Continue to pray for Simon and Annika as they live and work in our home village
Mengen home church doing well –Their reentry into the work and faithful discipleship has brought the church in our home village together again. Simon continues with leadership development specifically. It’s been a few years now that we missionaries are not taking the lead anymore amongst the Mengen, yet we do still see the need for our continued presence in order to assist the leaders. Over and above the leadership development, the church is also engaging with literacy and currently working through Corinthians. Continued prayers are appreciated as we are still dealing with one of our key guys who fell into sin, and who continues giving problems to the team and the church.
Soi church is doing well –As you know, who had a teacher living amongst the Soi believers for a few years, but he fell into sin. This really shook the young church and many believers were scattered. But through God’s grace we had an elder from the Maleu church join the work earlier and through his faithful perseverance and care the church has been fully restored and growing rapidly again. They have at least 4 families being trained into leadership and these guys are reaching out to surrounding families. At the moment there are multiple families hearing the gospel and many more requesting help as well. Please continue to pray for a coworker for John.
Mengen New Testament completed– As many of you know, we have printed the first edition of the Mengen New Testament. It will be arriving soon, and we will have a launching next year June. Thank the Lord with us for Rebecca Preheim and Kerri Pachecko who carried the bulk of the work.
Reaching the South Coast Mengen dialect –It’s been many years that we have been receiving requests to come and start a work amongst the south Coast Mengen people. So recently we completed a survey amongst them and are excited about the potential of seeing 2 new missions families partnering with the Mengen church to move into this dialect. More about this later…
Liaison work amongst the phased-out churches– As you know after many years working directly with the Mengen church only, we are now starting to engage with other local mature churches as well. This is a next step in the church planting process towards independence, where we are equipping local churches in New Britain to function together as one body. Having Simon back and seeing the Soi church doing better has freed me up to focus on partnering with specific mature church leaders in New Britain. Pray for me as I regularly travel with these men to different locations.
Specific prayer
I want you guys to intentionally pray with us for the following leaders
This is Brus and Apite and their kids. They have been believers since 2009. In 2013 they were sent to Bologo where they have planted a church. They returned to our home village in 2018 due to needing to attend to their kids, but also needing more equipping.
This is Kamalus and Sepinwho also became believers in 2009 and have been working with Brus and Apite. They also spend allots of time at the Bologo outreach but are currently back in our home village to receive more training from Simon and Annika.
This is Bobo and Manuela. They became believers later down the line due to outreaches in our home village. They have been working with Brus and Kamalus in Bologo and have been trained by them. They are currently also living in our home village where Simon and Annika is equipping them.
This is John and Lucy.They are believers from the Malue church who has been sent to work together with the Mengen church in Soi. After the previous teacher fell into sin, John and Lucy remained and have been faithful through very trying circumstances.
This is Kewaka and Grace –He is a mature church elder from the Maleu church, and a coworker of mine. I am working closely with him in my “new role” as liaison between the phased-out churches.
This is Kaiko and Palava –He is also a mature church elder from the Ata church, and also a coworker of mine. They have become very close friends, and mentors for me. Check out this clip about the Ata church –The Ata: Gods Narrative continues.And also this testimony from Palava – Steps of Faith
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support! Through God’s grace we are seeing the Mengen church strengthened and growing as well as starting to reach out beyond the local church and seeing the broader church in Papua New Guinea, united and growing closer towards self-sufficiency.
Would you consider supporting us?
– For our SA supporters:
- Lourens Laureti
- Standard Bank
- Savings Account number: 238403122
- Branch: Cresta
– For our oversees supporters click on the following link: Supporting the Lauretis
Blessings
Lourens for the Mengen church