Author: CPR Missions

April 11, 2026

The Wells family invited Theresa, Destany, and me to Pangia for a few days of sweet fellowship, along with a special Easter service at Loma Baptist Church. It is always a blessing to spend time with other Bible-believing Christians and enjoy that unity in Christ.

During the two-hour bus ride, I had the opportunity to witness to the man sitting beside me. Though it took over an hour of careful explanation and showing him Scripture, he finally understood the gospel and placed his trust in Christ as his Saviour. Through the Word of God, he came to see that the works-based teachings he had received through his Seventh-day Adventist background were not correct, and he rejoiced to learn about the grace of God.

After a few days, we returned to the Mount Hagen Missionary Home, and this time our friend Judy came with us to stay for several days. She is a faithful soulwinner with a genuine heart to serve the Lord, and we greatly enjoy her company. During her visit, we shared many meals together, and she was a great encouragement—especially to Theresa. Judy and Theresa visited the hospital (haus sik) across the street, witnessed on the sidewalk in front of the mission home, and went to the market together. Through this time, Theresa was strengthened and encouraged to continue witnessing. While staying with us, Judy also led two people to the Lord at the mission home.

Nebilyer

Since my last update, we have had two meetings in Nebilyer. At last week’s service, a young lady named Lydia was convicted of her sin and raised her hand for salvation. After the message, she was counseled by a national preacher who helped lead her to the Lord.

The day before our most recent meeting, fuel prices rose sharply and the taxis went on strike. Because of the difficulty in securing a way back home, my family and I were unable to attend. However, we sent the national preacher to bring the message, and the meeting went very well. Lydia returned, this time bringing her mother, who attends a works-based church. While no decision was made, it is evident she is thinking seriously about where she stands with the Lord.

Additionally, four others were convicted of sin, heard the gospel, and received Christ as their Saviour. We will be following up with them closely to answer their questions and help them grow in Christ. It is encouraging to see new people hearing the true gospel being preached.

The Tax Lady

Follow this closely—this is a blessing. I needed to restock oil, fuel, and air filters for the industrial-sized generator at the mission home. These supplies are very difficult to find in Papua New Guinea, so I ordered them from the United States. They arrived in Port Moresby without issue, but that is where the difficulty began.

Customs required one document after another, sending me on what felt like a never-ending chase. Before the items could be released, I had to refile paperwork at the tax office. Thanks to the previous manager’s careful record-keeping, I was able to provide everything needed. However, the tax office insisted on refiling hundreds of tax records due to an error on their part. This became a true test of maintaining a Christlike spirit while dealing with frustrating circumstances.

After several visits with the tax officer, and in the midst of the difficulty, the Lord impressed upon my heart to witness to her. She was immediately interested. Under conviction, she listened intently and trusted Christ as her Saviour—right there, over a stack of paperwork I had been working on for a week. Almost immediately, she asked if she could bring her family to the mission home so I could explain these things to them as well. She was filled with joy.

Through this experience, I learned something…

Culture shock is very real, and it has smacked us in the face. It is difficult to describe, but the closest comparison I can find is the grieving process after the death of a loved one. There is a weight to it, a disorientation that settles in the heart and mind, and a realization that things are not as we once understood them to be.

First came denial. We quickly learned that our way of reasoning does not hold the same weight here. Things that seemed obvious, orderly, and right to us are not viewed the same way in this place. Scripture comes to mind: “…but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21 KJV). There is a sobering awareness that truth, though constant, is often clouded by deeply rooted beliefs and practices.

Second came anger. It is hard not to feel it when we witness behaviors that seem so clearly wrong, yet are culturally accepted. There are times when justice appears absent, and people act without accountability. It echoes the words, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25 KJV). This stage tests the heart, forcing us to confront not only what we see around us, but what resides within us.

Then comes sadness and, at times, a sense of hopelessness. The weight of it all can feel overwhelming. Yet even in this, we are reminded that the ultimate solution is not found in human systems, but in the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:22 KJV). This world is broken, and no place on earth is exempt from that reality.

These feelings are real and natural. They are part of the process, something we must go through. We cannot go around it, over it, or under it—but through it. And by the grace of God, we will.

In the midst of these challenges, the Lord continues to show His goodness. This week, I hired a Land Cruiser and traveled back to a remote area of Jimi with two other preachers. When we arrived, about 25 people were waiting to hear the gospel. Many had walked one to three hours out of the bush just for the opportunity to listen. They had never heard how they could know for sure they were going to heaven.

Though missionaries in the past had established schools, hospitals, and helped maintain roads, the message they received was that they had to be good to enter heaven. That day, they heard the true gospel. The law revealed their sin, and they heard of Jesus Christ shedding His blood to pay their sin debt. Nine people raised their hands for salvation and were later counseled in small groups by national pastors, who showed them from the Bible how they could know they were saved. I am mindful of the reality of false professions, so I plan to follow up with them. There is a clear hunger for the Word of God. The current plan is to send a pastor weekly, rotating men from independent Baptist churches, and once a month I will bring them together for fellowship and shared ministry.

We also held our third meeting in Nebilyer, in a family’s kunai cook house. Around 30 people attended. I preached on the love of God using John 3:16. Ten children raised their hands for salvation. After counseling, we believe five showed genuine conviction, and two trusted Christ as Saviour and prayed to be saved. We will continue to follow up with the others, trusting that God knows their hearts and their needs.

Please be in prayer for these works. The Lord is drawing people to Himself and helping them grow spiritually.

On the home front, I have been busy with administrative work at the mission house, working to bring things up to standard. We also enjoyed some sweet fellowship with friends who stopped by, which was a great encouragement. Additionally, we picked up the Sumalpong family from the airport and spent some time getting to know them before they continued on to Pangia. They are on a survey trip and come from a church in the Philippines.

Theresa and Destany have also been feeling the weight of culture shock and the stresses of life here in Papua New Guinea. Still, we are hopeful and committed to working through this process in a healthy, God-honoring way.

Tomorrow, I will teach my final Sunday school lesson on the “7 Mysteries of Paul” at Temple Baptist Church. Afterward, I plan to take a day or two with the family for some much-needed rest. It is true—we are busy in the Lord’s work—but we are also learning the importance of balance between family, ministry, and personal rest, all while adapting to a new culture and language.

Please continue to pray for the Lord’s guidance in all of this.

Last Saturday, a group of us traveled by Land Cruiser to the village of Olna, in the Jimi area of Jiwaka Province. The region is extremely mountainous—so rugged that the only way in is by Land Cruiser. Scattered high in these mountains are thousands of people living in villages carved into the hillsides, far removed from any town. Many have been influenced by works-based cults, yet have never heard the gospel of grace.

As we made our way up the mountain, I spotted a new convert I had mentioned in earlier reports—a man named Peter. He was standing in front of a haus kunai. When Trevor Wells stopped the vehicle, Peter ran toward us. As I stepped out, he embraced me and wept with joy that we had come with the gospel to this spiritually dry place. It was a surreal and deeply moving moment.

When we arrived, around 40 people gathered to meet us at the hospital (haus sik). We distributed King James John/Romans portions and gospel tracts. Afterward, I preached the gospel, and many appeared to come under conviction. Several said they had never heard this message before.

On our way back, we stopped in a few populated areas to quickly share the gospel before returning home.

This week, Peter made the long journey from Jimi to the mission house to ask for Bibles. He shared that after we left, nine people came to him wanting to trust Christ as their Savior. They went to his home with questions, and he read to them the highlighted salvation verses we had previously marked in his Bible. He asked me to counsel them.

Peter has also been visiting schools, distributing gospel tracts and Scripture portions to students. He said there is a growing hunger among the people to hear more from the Word of God, and he asked me to return and preach again. I’ve hired a driver and plan to go back this Tuesday.

Peter has been studying his Bible and it was evident by the worn edges. He also carried with him all the notes he had taken during his time with me after his conversion. Because of this, CPR Missions bought him a pair of reading glasses because he has a very difficult time reading up close. Although the glasses didn’t cost much money in American standards, it was big money for PNG standards.

The Lord is also working in Nebilyer, about thirty minutes south of Mt. Hagen. We’ve now held two Wednesday evening meetings. At the first, I gave a clear gospel presentation, and several came under conviction. One man came forward to receive Christ, and two others raised their hands but were hesitant and left without speaking further.

At the second meeting, I preached on eternal security, how believers deal with sin, and again presented the gospel. This time, those two individuals came forward, and after counseling, each placed their trust in Christ alone for salvation.

I’ve printed songbooks in both English and Pidgin, as music is a powerful tool for learning doctrine. We are also beginning a weekly memory verse to help people hide God’s Word in their hearts. Please pray for this work.

Your support has made a tremendous difference—helping provide materials, cover travel expenses, and open doors into places that are difficult and often dangerous to reach. Travel throughout PNG is costly, but necessary to reach these remote areas. Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you to meet these needs and to help bring the gospel to those who have never heard.

The Mt. Hagen Missionary continues to go well. There is no shortage of work here, which provides many opportunities for ministry, along with a safe place for us to live.

As a family, we are still adjusting to a new language and culture—one that is deeply challenging and has been without the light of God for many years. It’s a difficult process, but one that simply takes time. We are trusting the Lord as the roots are growing deeper.

Thank you for taking the time to read these weekly updates.

The Nebilyer Valley, located about 30 minutes south of Mount Hagen, has a difficult history marked by tribal conflict. These conflicts have limited opportunities for education and social development in the area. Many locals speak only a regional language called Tok Ples, while some understand Tok Pisin.

This week, a door opened for outreach in Nebilyer, and I would like to share what happened. Preacher John, who graduated this year from Western Highlands Bible College under Missionary Kenny Seremac, has a deep burden for his home region. His wife is from Nebilyer and she also went.

He invited me to visit the community to distribute tracts, gather people, and preach the gospel. After prayer, counsel, and research, I felt peace about going. On Monday, we traveled to the area, passing a Baptist church along the way. Preacher John explained that the church was over an hour’s walk from the village, which made attendance difficult.

Upon arrival, I sought out the village councilman to announce my intentions and seek his blessing. We walked along a smooth dirt road with paths leading to homes, mostly traditional haus kunai. The councilman, though limited in English, understood Pidgin and welcomed me freely to preach the gospel to the people.

Preacher John then took me to another preacher’s home. Preacher Harri and his family greeted me warmly, moved that a missionary came to bring the gospel to their village. They prepared a simple space—a mat on the ground and a covered jug for me to sit on—where they could listen to the Bible being read. Many are unable to read well. Though some felt conviction, no decisions were made that day. They offered me bananas and popo as gifts before we departed.

Later, we encountered a haus krai—a traditional assembly honoring the deceased—attended by all councilmen. The first councilman I met announced my presence, and I was invited to preach to about 300 people. I shared that I would return for a Wednesday evening service, then Preacher John and I distributed hundreds of gospel tracts throughout the village.

From this initial visit, I observed:

• Logistically, the village could sustain a fellowship.
• There were saved individuals who had never been discipled.
• There were many lost souls who needed to hear the gospel.
• The community welcomed us warmly.
• I had the peace of God about this work.

On Tuesday, I prepared hymnbooks with 15 English and Pidgin songs in anticipation of our next visit.

On Wednesday, Theresa, Destany, and I returned with Preacher John and his wife to Preacher Harris’ home. 

A village man who owned some land for a potential future church building helped carry my hymnbooks. He was unsaved but attentive.

About 45 people attended the service, including many children and teenagers. Preacher Harri prepared a simple setup—a metal drum with a blanket as a pulpit, with two seats for Preacher John and me. The service included announcements, hymns, scripture reading, and a gospel message focusing on the necessity of Christ’s blood as payment for sin rather than human works. Several attendees appeared to have came under conviction.

During the invitation, John asked if anyone would like to receive Christ. The man who owned the land raised his hand. He and I spoke privately with the help of a Tok Ples interpreter, and he placed his faith in Christ, feeling relieved from the burden of sin. I will continue to follow up with him.

Additionally, Theresa was moved to reach out to a 10-year-old boy in the village who is deaf and mute. She found a vintage Chick tract called The Wordless Gospel, which explains salvation entirely through pictures. We hope this will give him an opportunity for salvation where none existed before.

The councilmen officially welcomed me into the community and affirmed that having a church could bring both spiritual and physical benefits.

Moving forward, I will walk alongside Preacher John as he leads the people, focusing on gospel preaching and discipleship. Our immediate goal is consistent weekly meetings and spiritual growth for the villagers. While a church building may be a blessing in the future, our current priority is ministering to hearts and equipping believers with the Bible.

Hello! It’s time for our weekly update.

Our family is doing well as we continue adjusting to life here. Theresa is at peace with serving as a full-time homemaker. Life in Papua New Guinea is very different—daily tasks aren’t as convenient as they are in the United States. Many meals are prepared from scratch, the constant dust makes keeping our flat clean a never-ending job, and homeschooling Destany requires steady attention. Yet through it all, Theresa has complete peace with this season of life. The housekeepers at the mission home (ol work meri) have been helping her learn Tok Pisin as they sit and “stori” while making bilum bags.

Destany is adjusting well and has made some friends at Temple Baptist Church. As time goes on, she’s interacting more and more confidently with the other children. She’s even picking up some Tok Pisin herself.

I’ve been teaching The Seven Mysteries of Paul in Sunday School. Today was my first time teaching almost entirely in Tok Pisin. The church members say I’m speaking clearly, though I still need some polishing. I’m thankful for their patience and their willingness to help me learn.

This week also brought opportunities for outreach. I gave a tract to a young man at a grocery store, and he began asking thoughtful questions because he had never heard the true gospel. The next day, he came by the mission home. We talked about “Why the King James Bible,” how to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and the gospel of grace. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and the young man placed his faith in the shed blood of Christ as the full and finished payment for his sin. He shared that his father is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor and would not allow this teaching in their home. He asked for prayer—that he would grow strong spiritually.

Yesterday, I met a man on the street who was on his way to the hospital (haus sik) because his two-year-old child was very sick. He told me he has been running from God for some time but now knows he must stop and listen. He heard the gospel of grace and trusted Christ as his Saviour.

Are you following what is happening with the man named Peter from Jimi? I’ve been in contact with a pastor near Jimi who is willing to travel to the village to assess accessibility, any hostility, and the need for outreach. It always best to send the national because everyone’s intentions with the “white man” might not be the most honest. He plans to return to Mt. Hagen with Peter so we can sit down together and make a clear plan for outreach throughout the village. It is possible that a church could be established if many hear the true gospel and receive Christ. Please be in serious prayer about this. Many souls could be reached, but it will require careful planning, logistics, and materials such as Bibles and Tok Pisin tracts. If you’d like to be part of this upcoming project, begin praying about how the Lord might use you.

We now have two gospel tracts translated into Tok Pisin that clearly explain the gospel. One asks, “Will You Go to Heaven?” and explains the true gospel clearly. The other walks through the many times in Scripture where God required blood for the payment of sin rather than works. Once published, they will be available for purchase through Moments With The Book. The Pangia Ministry Team will be printing thousands locally, which is much more affordable and reliable than shipping from overseas. CPR Missions will fund the ink and paper. This is another opportunity to prayerfully consider how the Lord might have you participate in the work. We would like to distribute at least a couple hundred thousand.

Thank you for reading. If you are stateside, be sure to watch our YouTube videos and TikToks to become better-equipped soul winners. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with what the Lord is doing here.