By Susan Myers on Dec 19, 2011
Jeffrey and Susan Myers, missionaries in Papua New Guinea, joined a group attending the Malang Church of the Nazarene's dedication of its new sanctuary, combined with a baptism service.
Dr. Jim (pictured) and Kathy Radcliffe were a part of the missionary representation that went along. Dr. Jim was the preacher for the event and delivered the message, "Is Anything too Hard for God?"
A little girl is one of 25 people who were baptized into a new life in Jesus Christ. Photos courtesy Jeffrey and Susan Myers.
The local pastor and his wife were also among those to be baptized in a pool of water connected to the nearby river. The other church members watched from the banks above.
It was a wonderful and blessed time by God as we attended the Malang Nazarene Church baptism and new church building dedication in Papua New Guinea.
Susan and I had been to Malang before, to speak and worship with the people at Malang. At that time they showed us the new church they were in the process of building and said that in a few months they wanted to have a dedication service for the new church and asked if we would come. It took months for all to be ready and the dedication and baptism to take place. When we heard the big day had arrived, we made our preparations to attend.
Getting to Malang Nazarene Church is quite a little adventure. We drove about 20 to 30 minutes, parked the Land Cruiser and began the hike. This hike is about 30 minutes for us "white skins" and it takes you across a stream, up and down some small hills, through gardens and some mud.
It was all worth the effort. When we arrived at Malang we did not have long to wait before the service started. A Papua New Guinea service is a lively experience. The people are free in their worship and they sing and pray with a lot of heart. This service was no different.
Dr. Jim and Kathy Radcliffe were a part of the missionary representation that went along. Dr. Jim preached for the event, tackling the question, "Is Anything too Hard for God?" It was a great challenge to all to trust more in God. Susan ministered through flute and did a great job of concentrating when the CD player that was playing her background music started cutting out every so often.
After the service, we walked down to the new church and I was asked to pray the prayer of dedication. Before the prayer, I read from Acts 2:42-47 and encouraged the Malang church to be an "Acts" church so that those people who live around the church would see Jesus Christ.
Following the church dedication, we walked a few minutes down to the river. The people of the church had blocked the water to create a small pool of water that was probably about three feet deep. It was a very beautiful setting for the 25 people who were baptized that day, including the pastor and his wife. People were seated and hanging on the banks surrounding the baptismal site. God was truly there and it was a wonderful time of His blessing.
-- Jeffrey and Susan Myers have been serving as missionaries in Papua New Guinea since 2001. Reprinted with permission from their ministry blog.
