This morning as I was thinking about what to share in this newsletter, I received a call from John Mark in Kotidanga. John Mark is totally blind, and not only have we known him for many years, but he worked in my wife’s clinic there, and is still a faithful member of Kotidanga Baptist Church.
John Mark updated me on how things are doing at Kotidanga Baptist—and what an encouragement it was! The church had some serious problems in the last few years, even to the point that some of the people drove off their national pastor. But God did not leave His people alone.
Judas Gideon has been a part of the church there since he was a young boy. He too worked with my wife at Kunai Health Centre, where he proved that he had a heart for souls. Fast forward to 2022 when the Lord led Judas to attend Bible school with our friends Wil and Trina Muldoon down in the swamps of Baimuru. Their school is a full-time, life-on-life school with Wil and Trina investing themselves in the preachers and their families for three years. Judas not only learned how to handle the Word of God, he had a burden for the lost instilled in his heart that caused him to think about returning to his home village to lead the church there.
Judas and his wife Lyn finished their training in December 2025, and they headed back into the mountains (a multiple day trek with their children!).
Since arriving back, they have regathered the believers into one group (they had been meeting in two different groups). He is preaching through the Word faithfully, and working to build unity among the flock. It has been heart-breaking to know what the church has been through, and both my son Matt and I have worked with them as much as we could from a distance. But how good God is to raise up a new leader for them. Our prayer is that Judas will lead well, and that the people will be content to sit under his ministry and grow.
I think it is no coincidence that we are working at this time to finish up the corrections, recording, and printing of the Kamea New Testament, which will be the Bible for those Kamea believers to learn and grow from. Judas himself told me that he can’t wait to get a copy of the new Kamea Bible! Pray for Kotidanga Baptist Church, and Preacher Judas!
BIBLE SCHOOL
We started a new term in January with nine students in two different locations. We also have visitors in many of our classes, so I am thankful for the privilege to invest in so many lives. Lord willing, we have five who are set to graduate this Spring.
KEEP PRAYING
By the time most of you get this, Lena and I will have celebrated 18 years since we arrived on the field here. God has been good to let us see fruit in 11 years at Kotidanga, and now 7 years of fruit in Port Moresby. None of it is because of us—all of it is because of the Lord’s grace and mercy, and because you hold your end of the rope. We are just happy to be serving Him here!
Praising God for His Grace and Goodness,
John & Lena Allen
Psalm 71:18
