Praying for Lena: Your prayers for Lena have made a difference! Since our update in September, many have messaged us that they are praying for Lena’s health. We are so pleased to say that we have seen a great improvement! At present she is stronger than a few weeks ago, and we thank the Lord for it. Please keep praying!
Praying for the Ministry: Your prayers for our ministry have borne fruit too. The Lord has given me the privilege to speak in four conferences across the island since August.
After a men’s camp in Lae, I was privileged to be part of the National Pastors’ Conference in Mendi, Southern Highlands. The conference was well-attended, the messages were helpful, and it was good to see the increasing unity among our Baptist churches. Pastor Rex Lahari and Mendi Independent Baptist Church were great hosts. They are a light in a rough place—a very beautiful place far out in the mountains, but in such need for gospel transformation. Some men and preachers from the church took us around the day before the conference to see all the churches around the district where the Gospel is going forth. Praise the Lord for their faithfulness!
A week after that, I spoke at a conference in Lampo, Eastern Highlands, on topics related to Jewish missions and connections between Israel and our Christian faith. We had many decisions, including some who professed faith in Christ. Pastor Ricky Mongo has been there at Exodus Baptist Church for decades, faithfully reaching his community and loving the people.
Last week I was in Lae for the “Iron Sharpeneth Iron” conference hosted by Pastor Michael Saka and Tent City Baptist Church. It was a good conference, and I was glad to have a part. And then, right after the Wednesday evening service, my phone began buzzing incessantly…
Praying in the Chaos: That Wednesday evening at 9:15 pm, our church and school campus in Port Moresby was attacked by at least 21 armed men. Lena and our daughter Selly were spared the assault because by God’s grace they were able to get away from a gunman and lock the door to our house. Our dear friends and co-laborers on campus suffered worse, but thankfully, no one was seriously injured physically. They are working through the trauma of the attack; please remember them all in prayer for healing in that manner. There is a good bit of property damage, but we all know that things can be repaired or replaced.
Praising God for the Outpouring of Love and Support: As I was on the phone with Lena during the event and for a good while afterward, she told me of how many vehicles—15-seat buses, pickups, and Land Cruisers, all filled with men—were pouring in to secure our campus. They just kept coming! Not many of them were police—most were our staff drivers and their friends, along with supporters of South Pacific International Academy, the school Matt and Becky started here many years ago. Vehicle headlights were everywhere, and flashlights shone back and forth, as men searched the campus and the area in the undeveloped land around the campus. It was a comforting sight and an encouragement to her heart.
Matt and some of our young men (who are also part of our Saturday translation group) bravely fought back against the attackers and drove them away. I’m thankful for a son and young men like these, who risked their lives to keep our people safe.
And Keep Praying: Your prayers will see more fruit in the days to come. On the Sunday before the attack, Matt baptized 26 new believers at Capital City Baptist Church. On the Sunday after the attack, Matt and some of our young men headed over to the shanty village where the criminals have been living. This time Matt didn’t go with the police—he went with the Gospel, and he and our guys were well received. Pray with us that the people of Baruni Dump Village (next to the city dump) will open their hearts to the good news of salvation found in the loving sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praising God for His Grace and Goodness,
John & Lena Allen
Psalm 71:18
PS—Watch for good news in our next update regarding progress in our
Bible translation projects!