Author: CPR Missions

This week, two young men from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple came by the mission home to learn more about soul winning. We sat down and looked at the Scriptures, noted key verses, watched a few CPR Missions videos of real-life witnessing encounters, and then went to the streets to pass out tracts. I explained the gospel to several people while they listened, and then they each explained the gospel themselves. They were thankful for the instruction and plan to study CPR: The Biblical Guide to Soulwinning to learn more. Please pray that God will use them greatly!

If you recall last week’s update, Peter had gotten saved and has been coming to the mission home to study his Bible. He asked his wife to come from their village called Jimi (about 8 hours away), where she heard the gospel and was saved. She had been searching for the gospel; however, their village only has false, works-based teaching.

Pastor Camulus at Mount Hagen Baptist Temple put me in contact with a national pastor closer to Peter’s village. We are currently making plans to go into Peter’s village for an evangelistic outreach meeting and take the gospel to people, many of whom have never heard that the payment for their sins has already been made—if they will only believe. Missionary Chad Wells and his family will be guiding us to distribute literature, invite people to a meeting, and preachers will be preaching the gospel. We are praying for this to happen in March. Please pray for this!

While giving the gospel on the street outside the mission home, a young man stopped to listen. He wore a ball cap with a cross on it and said he was a member of a church where his father was the pastor. Shortly after, a lady came out of the mission home to ask Theresa about the message she was hearing. Though interested, she was not clear on the gospel. We invited them inside and discovered they were brother and sister. Their father, the pastor, was staying at the mission home and soon joined us at a table in the main room.

I carefully explained the gospel, and all three came under conviction. They said they had never heard the gospel of grace presented so clearly. Each expressed that they were turning from trusting in their works to trusting in the finished work of the Savior. They left full of joy. I also gave the pastor a sermon outline showing the many times in Scripture where God required the shedding of blood for the payment of sin rather than works. Please pray that God will help this pastor take the truth back to his congregation.

Saturday, my family and I took an easy day. I took Theresa out to eat at a nearby restaurant so she could have a break from cooking dinner. The waitress at the Squash Club was very friendly. She said she was raised as a Christian; however, does not attend church because she uses beetle nut (a natural, mild drug) which is characteristic for making your mouth and teeth red bright red. When she heard that Jesus had already died to pay for her sins, and that there was no work left to do to be saved, and filled up with joy. She simply believed in the finished work of the Saviour and he washed her clean with his blood- beetle nut teeth and all. Grace is 100% absolutely free. Please pray for her new life in Christ and that she will live a life pleasing to the Lord.

Our social media presence has slowed way down; however, the Lord has opened great doors here that is difficult for many to see. It is difficult to convey in a letter because culture does not always translate well on paper, but the opportunities here can be tremendous.

Our family is doing well, but I do ask for your prayers. Bigger doors often mean bigger spiritual attacks—and they are very real. We are truly behind enemy lines and need prayer warriors on the other end to “hold the rope.” Satan has had a strong hold on Papua New Guinea for thousands of years, and he will not turn loose without a fight. God will fight the battles, and ultimately, the Lord wins the war. (I’ve read the back of the Book).

You can visit CPRmissions.org to download our free booklet on soul winning, and follow CPR Missions on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. A special thank you to everyone who supports this ministry. People’s eternities are being changed.

Do you remember in last week’s update when I shared about Peter trusting Christ outside of the Mount Hagen Missionary Home? He was given a Tok Pisin Bible translated from the King James, and Pastor Camulus graciously allowed him to stay at the church for two weeks to become grounded in the Word before returning to his village of Jimi in Jiwaka Province.

This week, Peter committed to coming to the Missionary Home every afternoon to study the Bible and learn how to share the gospel effectively. Although there are many works-based churches in his village, no one is clearly preaching the gospel of grace. When he returns home, he plans to go house to house distributing gospel tracts and showing those who are interested the truth of the gospel.

He has already highlighted many key verses in his Bible to help lead others to the Lord. He has learned how to rightly divide the Scriptures, why the shedding of blood is necessary for the payment of sin, and what the Bible teaches about the family—especially how husbands and wives are to view and treat one another.

While Peter and I were making notes on soul winning, a man from the street walked into the mission home and sat down at the table with us. I did not recognize him. After a while, he stood and said he had a question but would come back later. I encouraged him to share it then, and he came and sat beside me. He explained that he had been raised Baptist, Apostolic, and in other denominations, but had never been sure of his salvation. He said he had heard me preaching on the street the week before and had come under conviction. That day, he felt strongly compelled by the Holy Spirit to come to the mission home and learn about salvation.

I showed him the Scriptures, and when he read Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” — he burst out laughing with joy. In that moment, he knew he was saved. The timing was perfect, as Peter needed to witness this for his own learning. The man’s name is Phillip.

A few days later, Phillip returned and shared that he had lost his joy because of sin in his life. He wanted to understand eternal security and how God deals with a sinning Christian. It was another opportunity to open the Scriptures and provide biblical clarity.

I am also learning that a traditional American classroom setting is not always the most effective approach here. Many people prefer to “story” — to sit and talk openly and personally. I am reminded that Jesus often taught through conversation and real-life encounters. This takes much time; however, but is necessary.

Today, Theresa, Destany, and I went near the bus stop, where I was able to preach to several small crowds. Some asked thoughtful questions. One man wants to meet with me this week to look at the Bible together. Another may have trusted Christ, and many received tracts. Theresa also had several meaningful conversations, and one person was especially grateful to understand the truth.

I will be teaching Sunday school soon and have drafted an eight-part series on the Seven Mysteries of Paul. I am writing my notes in Pidgin, having nationals proofread them, and providing copies so the church can study these important doctrines more deeply. They are very grateful for this resource.

This week has also been full of administrative responsibilities and necessary repairs around the mission house, but I am thankful to maintain a healthy balance.

Thank you for taking the time to read our updates and for your continued prayers.

This past Sunday, Pastor Camulus asked me to bring the Sunday message while he interpreted. I shared on why God required a blood payment throughout Scripture rather than self-justification. The Holy Spirit was present and truly blessed the service.

This week, Jerry from Temple Baptist Church visited the Mission Home. Together we went into the streets and led a man named Peter to the Lord. Peter had been searching for truth. He was gifted a Bible and committed to reading it. On Wednesday, he came to the Mission Home and rode with us to church. He is now staying at the church for two weeks so he can be grounded in God’s Word before returning to his village. He has a strong desire to learn and take the gospel back with him, and I will be meeting with him this week to help disciple him. Please pray! There is no telling how the Lord is going to use him.

Missionary Joshua Seilala also stopped by the Mission Home as he and his family were leaving Mt. Hagen. We decided to go soul-winning together, and I’m thankful we did. I would like to highlight this week with Elijah’s story.

Elijah once lived a life deeply entangled in crime. After tribal violence wounded his uncle, Elijah feared for his life and fled to Mt. Hagen. While there, he witnessed further tragedy when his brother-in-law nearly killed his cousin Cecilia, leaving her badly injured and partially blind. Elijah helped care for her and accompanied his aunt to Mt. Hagen Hospital.

One afternoon, while passing the hospital mortuary and seeing families mourning their dead, Elijah stopped and asked God if his life had any purpose. In the days that followed, he noticed me sharing the gospel and handing out tracts near the hospital. He listened through the fence, returned again later, and the seeds of the gospel were planted and watered. It was Missionary Joshua Seilala who ultimately led Elijah to the Lord.

After trusting Christ, Elijah visited the Mission Home where he received food, fellowship, and genuine love. He was gifted a Tok Pisin Bible from the Pangia Ministry Team, which quickly became his most prized possession. Young men from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple welcomed him and invited him to the youth group. Elijah was so eager to attend church that he arrived at 6 a.m., thinking the service started then instead of 6 p.m.—a moment filled with laughter and encouragement.

Supporters, this is one example of the eternal impact you are helping make. The gospel not only changes eternal destinations, but lives here and now.

Thank you for praying for Elijah and his new life in Christ

Weekly Update #7

An amazing thing has been happening. As the days go by, and the more I talk with people in the mission house and out on the streets about the Lord, I can literally feel my understanding of Tok Pisin opening up. The Lord has given me the ability to lead people to Christ in another language; however, leading them to the grocery store can still be quite the challenge.

Theresa has begun to understand and speak the language as well, though we still have a ways to go. The mission home staff has been a tremendous help to us in this area. They have tolerated much babbling.

Destany had a playdate with Missionary Joshua Seilala’s children, and they had such a fun time. This family are missionaries from—and to—the people of Papua New Guinea. We know them from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple.

The mission home is operating smoothly. I’m becoming more comfortable with the day-to-day operations. This week brought many tedious tasks, but nothing unmanageable.

Missionary Wayne Fair and his travel partner, Isaac, stayed at the mission home for a few days. It was honor to meet them and spend time with them. Mr. Fair had been on the mission field of Papua New Guinea for 30 years. Recently, the Lord gave him liberty to return to the United Stated and continue serving there. He took my family and I to see a nice resort called Rondon Ridge that overlooked the city of Mt. Hagen. Afterwards, we had lunch at The Squash Club where he told many stories of his years on the field. Later, we heard him preach at the Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple. It was a bittersweet time in his life, as the next day he left Mt. Hagen for the last time.

We also met returning missionaries, Doug and Ramona Shields and Jonathan and Amy Taylor. We had a good time of fellowship.

I am becoming more comfortable going out onto the streets in front of the mission home to share the gospel in small groups or one-on-one. I remain very vigilant, as some people can be quite unpredictable. Many people in Papua New Guinea do not live according to Western norms, and appearances can be deceiving despite modern clothing and accessories. I am learning to constantly remind myself not to try to change the culture, but simply to preach the good news of Jesus Christ so that some might be saved.

This week, Mrs. Cundi, a teacher on the Pangia Mission Station, hosted an ACE event for teachers at the Mount Hagen Missionary Home. Many of the Pangia school staff attended, and it was a true joy to see them again. This group of people is like family to us. Ms. Cundi and a few others asked for a copy of our book, CPR: The Biblical Guide to Soul Winning. Please pray that the Lord will use this booklet to help others learn and teach the art of soul winning.

One day, I was witnessing to an older man on the front steps. I could tell he was trying to understand the gospel, but he was very confused because a Lutheran priest had sprinkled him with water as a small child and declared him saved. He came under conviction and was absolutely terrified of going to hell. Our friend Judy came out and helped me, and she ultimately led him to the Lord. After he got saved and the Lord lifted his burden, the man said, “Tingting bilong mi i stret na klia…” or, “my thinking is clear.”

Noel, a teacher from Pangia, is helping us with final edits on a gospel tract. Theresa and I are currently working on two. Once completed, we will have many printed in Tok Pisin and will make them available on MomentsWithTheBook.com. We will also make a pointed effort to distribute thousands throughout Mt. Hagen.

I think I’ve found a system that works. I go out on the sidewalk where dozens of people pass by. When I gesture to offer someone a gospel tract, they gladly run over to take one. I begin talking with them, and within minutes a small crowd gathers. From that crowd, one or two will be drawn by the Lord, while many others simply stand and listen with blank stares. After the gospel is presented, I take those who are under conviction or have questions aside and sit with them on the front steps of the mission house, showing them Bible verses in both English and Tok Pisin. I am starting to see familiar faces and am becoming known; however, many passersby come from other villages and even other provinces.

This week, we have had five (5) people profess faith in Jesus Christ. Each person is invited to “story”, or talk about the Bible one-on-one. I express the importance of understanding the Apostle Paul’s blood gospel and the importance of learning the Bible for themselves. I avoid discussing denominations because all this country has is church; however, very few church goers are saved.

Regarding the CPR Missions YouTube and TikTok platforms, I have put those on hold for now- unless I’m able to make on in English. I will most likely need to create an entirely new account geared toward the people of Papua New Guinea who speak Tok Pisin. If the Lord opens that door, I want to be able to produce quality content, which means I need to speak the language more fluently. Still, I hope to build a platform here as well. Please be in prayer about this and for the direction the Lord would have us go, in His timing.

For now, I believe we are exactly where the Lord would have us to be and we are doing exactly the work he’d have us do.

Weekly Update #6

Theresa is becoming more comfortable with life in PNG. Preparing three meals a day, keeping house, and homeschooling is hard work; however, she is now finding time and energy for smaller projects around the mission home. The housekeepers, receptionists, security staff, and even some guests are teaching us Tok Pisin. We are learning, but it is definitely a process that takes much time and energy.

Destany continues to befriend the national children who come through the mission home. She is adjusting very well and seems to be happy here.

This week, a man named Patrick came to the mission home to haul away some scrap materials. He agreed to do a video interview, during which I walked him through the gospel. Like so many others, he believed the false gospel of “stop sinning and be a good person.” During the interview, however, he heard the good news and trusted Christ as his Savior. Be on the lookout for this video on the CPR Missions YouTube channel titled “God i Lusim Sin Bilong Em.”

I went out a couple of times to the front of the mission home to witness and pass out tracts. I spoke with several people on the street, most of whom were not ready to receive Christ.

A discipleship class is scheduled for Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to attend; however, no one showed up this week due to extremely heavy rain. Most people walk great distances, and the rain can be a major hindrance. During the time of the scheduled class, I witnessed to a Seventh-day Adventist woman who struggled to understand grace, but she said she would think about it.

I went out in front of the mission home to pass out tracts and to witness. There I met a man named Nikits. He heard the gospel, came under conviction, understood the truth, and trusted Christ. He assured me that he would meet me Sunday morning to be shuttled to church. He said he had been saying nighttime prayers, and had recently ask God “where are you?” Jeremiah 29:13 happens all-to-often: If you look, the Lord will be found by you.

Nikits had been visiting his very sick mother at the hospital (haus sik) across from the mission home. We discussed possibly visiting her in the hospital after church to tell her the gospel. Please be praying that this door would open.

All in all, two (2) people professed faith in Christ this week.

We have also been very busy around the mission home with projects such as pressure washing concrete, organizing the tool shed, repairing the pavilion (haus win), cleaning carpet, and more. It is hard work, but it is good work. We truly enjoy laboring unto the Lord. A little family life, a little work life, and a little ministry make for a good life.

This week was full of hands-on work and responsibilities around the mission home. The staff and I have been working hard to make some much-needed improvements— removing old carpet from a room and hallway, repairing rotted flooring beneath a shower, trimming shrubs and caring for the beautiful flower beds, pressure washing concrete walkways and dusty window screens, and many other small but tedious projects. It’s been busy, but good work. We also had three missionaries who have done great things in Papua New Guinea pass through: Mr. Wayne Fair, Mr. Stephen Gregg, and Mr. Hartogh.

Pastor Camullus from Temple Baptist Church asked me to create an English / Pidgin side-by-side gospel tract that Christians could use to help share the gospel. We are currently working on the translations, and going forward he would like to organize soul-winning outreaches. I’m thankful for this open door.

In the evenings, I sometimes go out in front of the mission home to pass out tracts and share the gospel one-on-one. This week, on different occasions, I shared the gospel with a man named Aaron and another named Nathaniel—both trusted Christ and were saved. Nathaniel was visiting Mt. Hagen from Enga Province. He came into the mission home for a meal and rode to church with my family and me before returning to his province this weekend.

On Friday evening, we had contracted workers doing some electrical work at the mission home. I sat down and shared the gospel with three of them. Ezekiel was already saved, and the other two believed the gospel of grace and trusted Christ. The next day, Ezekiel and Collins attended our very first discipleship class, held at the mission home.

A mission house employee, Samson, came with his wife. Collins and Ezekiel were also present, along with Theresa and Destany. We are grateful to see new believers who are eager to learn more from God’s Word, and we are praying that they—and others—will continue to attend.

As the week came to a close, I was reminded of an elderly man who works as a security guard for the house next door. His name is Michael. He is always willing to help guide vehicles in and out, burn trash, or gather hedge trimmings. I visited him during lunch, and he was more than happy to hear the gospel. Michael shared that when he was a small child, a Lutheran priest sprinkled water on his head and declared him saved. That day, he clearly understood his sin, the gospel of grace, and the Holy Spirit worked in his heart. When we parted ways, he was a joyful man. He said, “Mi pilim amamas na mi laik krai,” which means, “My heart feels happy, and I want to cry.”

Theresa and Destany are doing well. We have the peace of God here at the mission home, in Mt. Hagen, and across Papua New Guinea. When you are in the center of God’s will, you’re right at home.