For almost eleven years Lena and I lived at Kunai in the remote mountains of Gulf Province, PNG. In the Wenna Valley the ground was not very fertile, so our people did most of their gardening (their only food source) on the other side of the mountains that surrounded us. But one thing grew quite well in our valley: Pineapples. When they were in season, you could get a juicy one for a few cents. We ate a lot of pineapple in those days, and loved it! Living in the capital now is quite different. Pineapples brought in from great distances can cost upwards of $5.00 each—and they don’t taste nearly as good.
One of our young Kamea men from Kotidanga Baptist Church, Ryan, lives here on the church and school campus, while working as an apprentice electrician. His grandfather passed away last month, so Ryan caught a truck to Kerema (7 hours away) and then hiked two and a half days back through the mountains to Kunai.
Ryan grew up in Kotidanga, and we’ve known him ever since we arrived here over sixteen years ago. He continues to be a faithful Christian, serving the Lord in the church here, and helping us as one of our bible translation checkers. His dad and mom are still members of the church back in Kotidanga. His dad is a village leader. His mom worked with Lena at Kunai Health Centre, where Lena trained her to read microscope slides to look for malaria and tuberculosis.
For a lot of the young people here, we get to be Mama and Papa. Counseling, encouraging, witnessing to lost friends they bring over to our house. Some of the young people are our Bible college students. After Ryan returned, he brought us word of how the believers are doing back in the village. We were able to share with him that another of the youth with whom Ryan grew up, Judas, is finishing up his Bible school training this year with Bro. Wil Muldoon, and plans to return to the area to minister among the Kamea people.
When Ryan hiked back from Kotidanga, he carried this pineapple and two large cucumbers for us. They added at least another 8 pounds to his load, which he gently carried for two and a half days as he hiked down out of the mountains. All because he knew that Mama Lena and Papa John love Kunai pineapples and cucumbers.
That’s how love looks like a pineapple.
FRUIT THAT REMAINS
Pineapples aren’t the only fruit that grew at Kunai. Over the years many people were saved, and trained, and nurtured. Some of the youth, like Ryan, Braxstone, Caleb, and Selestine have gone on to become blessings in the church here in Port Moresby.
Our son Matt’s ministry at Capital City Baptist has had many people saved in the last several weeks. Resurrection Sunday will see many of these following the Lord in believer’s baptism. Lena had the joy of leading a lady to Christ at CCBC this last weekend.
I had the privilege to teach and preach a Biblical Preaching Conference for Pastor Michael Saka in Lae in February. Then in March we had the joy of being with Pastor Camillus Kumbi and Missionary Kenny Seremak for a three-day meeting to kick off their new Bible school year. Thank the Lord for the ministries around our nation who invest in training men and ladies for ministry. And thank you for partnering with us in the work the Lord has given us!
Pressing on by His Grace and Goodness, John & Lena Allen Psalm 71:18
Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby: bbipom.com
Our old Boroko Faith Family meeting place on Wednesday nights.Our new covered Boroko Faith Family facility! Thank the Lord for a roof over our heads.
Below: The Biblical Preaching Conference in Lae (at Tent Siti Baptist Church) had time during the day sessions for everyone to practice what they were learning in reading and comprehending the biblical texts assigned.
Below: Praise the Lord for our BBIPOM students and graduates. Some have developed into skillful preachers of the Word. And thank God for students who will endure those hot evenings when we have power blackouts–which are quite frequent. (PC for some photos: Kidu Morea)
Selestine’s birthday with the translation checking squad!Bro. Vali Kila receives his Strong’s Concordance marking his finishing his first year of Bible college.Preaching at Shalom Baptist, January 2024. (PC Kidu Morea)Preaching at Baptist Temple, Mt. Hagen, March 2024.Raja the cat sometimes gets tired from all this study and prep work…January 10, 2024–Port Moresby was subjected to violent looting and burning of stores. Many people died, including here at this store–which is right across the street from Shalom Baptist Church. (PC Ps. Tau Abary)
These have been a busy few weeks, including a fast trip to the US and back (more about that later). But before I touch on our own matters, please indulge an older brother in the Lord for a moment. I don’t usually write long letters, so I’d appreciate it if you would take time to read this when you can.
I speak as a fool in saying this, but with over four decades of ministry behind me, I have some thoughts from my perspective regarding the state of the Lord’s church today. If working through them helps me, maybe it will help you too.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
As a whole, I don’t think we take seriously the spiritual warfare we are engaged in. The Scripture states clearly that the four categories of spiritual enemies are very real and very present. (This does not even include our daily battle with our own hearts’ desires for wrong things, nor our daily battle with a world that is not merely anti-Christian—it is increasingly “anti-Christ.”) In the spiritual world around us forces are at work that are utterly evil, relentlessly pursuing the silencing and destruction of the Word and works of God. The demon gods of the Old and New Testament are not false gods nor made-up idols; these demonic principalities and powers and rulers of spiritual wickedness in high places are still at work (John 14:30; 16:11; Eph. 2:2; Dan. 10:12-13; etc.) defiling the opinions of this world and forging a vile worldview against God. These fallen sons of God and their blasphemous breed have distracted, discouraged, and destroyed God’s people from Eden on, and they have not stayed nor slackened their venomous and sadistic attempts to annihilate the Word, the work, and the people of the Lamb even to this present hour. And this we must keep in mind daily.
Our beloved nation of PNG is held in the grip of Satanic opposition. God’s works are in constant conflict from forces without and within. The spiritual worldview of many here causes them to fear the spirits; and what you fear, you work to appease. Entire people groups still remain in the grip of demon oppression and control. Multitudes are taken captive in the snare of the devil at his will—so we must comprehend our enemy, and “in meekness [instruct] those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to theacknowledging of the truth.” (2 Tim. 2:25)
This is not only true where we live; it is true where you live, whether you sense it or not. Grasp that. We all are in a great spiritual warfare. We all must put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11,13). We all must stand and fight.
I offer here some simple, biblical suggestions to fight this good fight, but they are by no means comprehensive.
PRAYER Prayingalways with all prayer and supplicationin the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplicationfor all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
Pray for the Lord’s churches,His people, andHis servants. First, pray earnestly for your pastor and ministry leaders.
Then, read your missionaries’ prayer letters—and pray for them. [I always enjoy hearing from those who read our letters, though I fear there are many who don’t read them. I’d appreciate your input as to what we can do better. Email me your thoughts at johnallensr@gmail.com.]
If you don’t read a specific prayer request in a letter, remember there is always a battle going on for the souls of the missionaries themselves and for the people to whom God has called them—so pray!
Perhaps if Christians spent less time being distracted by Netflix, the news media, and social media, they could engage in this real spiritual warfare as soldiers, not as spectators.
PERSONAL CHURCH ATTENDANCE And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
Get back in church, in person. Ten years ago God’s people would have disdained the idea of staying out of church to watch the service online week after week. Now we have droves who stay home in their PJs on the couch. They have no fear of catching an illness; they simply have lost the godly habit of fellowship with the saints. And dare I say that most are not really paying attention to the online sermons they are hearing? Hear me, brethren—the Lord’s army doesn’t wear PJs under the armor of God. O Church, arise!
PROPHETIC VOICE And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
Preach with biblical authority. There is a lot of good, biblical preaching in the church today. A lot of it. But what seems to be lacking in much of it is a “prophetic voice.” Not the fake prophets who claim visions and words from God—we have God’s Word already, and His Word is inspired, complete, preserved, profitable, and sufficient for us today.
What we need is the voice of a prophet; the preaching that not only says, “thus saith the Lord,” but actually looks at the hearers and reminds them, “you need to obey this Word from the Lord.” Not a preacher’s thoughts, mind you, but God’s words. At times we are afraid to say, “you,” so we say, “we”; as in “we need to do this,” and “we need to obey the Lord.” We include the speaker, so as not to offend the hearers. But the prophets and apostles of old did not fear to say, “you”! Preacher, do not fear being labeled legalistic if what you are preaching is biblical truth. There is a prophetic aspect to preaching—the “forth-telling,” that authoritative word which is based on the words of the living God, not the preacher—and I believe many times that voice is lacking. Let us humble ourselves before our God and our people, and then let us preach the Word with boldness!
PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Wedding & Family
Lena and I were able to travel back to the US for the wedding of our oldest granddaughter, Ariel, to Luke Lunsford. It was beautiful! And best of all, we were able to be together with all the kids and grandkids in one place for the first time since 2011. (Would you pray for Luke’s family? A couple weeks after the wedding, his father passed away suddenly. Thank you.)
We were also able to be in a few churches, and how rich the fellowship! Preaching, teaching, singing, glorifying the Lord, —and how edifying it was to see old friends and to make new ones!
Back in Class at BBIPOM
We have started our new term at Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby. A good number of our students are in their third and final year, plus we’ve picked up 10 new first-year students. Praise the Lord! Pray for them and for me as I teach and mentor these servants of God.
New term in August 2022Third & final year for several of our students!
Beginning the Front Translation of 2 Corinthians
The Kamea Bible Project continues to progress. I’ve begun working on 2 Corinthians. Pray for me to have minimal distractions from the project, maximum clarity in translating, and the power of the Spirit as I have the privilege of doing this holy work. Remember Pastor Ben Samauyo in the same way as he labors to translate the Word directly into his heart language.
Thank you for your continued prayers for the Lord’s ministry here and for Lena’s health, and thank you for helping us be your representatives here on the field in Port Moresby, PNG!
Because He Is,
John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Enjoy some photos from the last few weeks:
Ariel, Luke, & our son Nate, who performed their wedding–all having fun at the rehearsalLuke & ArielWith our Kunai nurses: Lauren, Chelsea, Danya, and Kyle–what a great reunion!With our dear friend Judy ChestnuttPs Tau Abary, and Bro Erick Bala…these two men planted the seed idea in our hearts to begin BBIPOM [PC Ps Tau Abary]Two of our newest students, Enoch & Alex [PC Ps Tau Abary]Brother pastors in Port Moresby: Ps Rodney Tom, Ps Tau Abary, & Ps Holmes Tako [PC Ps Tau Abary]Having a devotional time with our whole family–when you only gather for a day every decade, these times are precious beyond words
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
We wrapped up another term of our Bible college here in the city this week. Our final exam last night was over Church History, where we covered 1,800 years in 18 weeks. Our other classes this term included the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, Satan, and Man, plus studying through the Pastoral Epistles and the Old Testament books from the era of the Decline and Fall of Israel and Judah. All 20 students did well in their course work, and I love seeing the Lord work in their hearts to stir them to ministry. Our students include two pastors, two deacons, several preachers-in-training, and several men and ladies already in some sort of teaching ministry. Among them are several husbands with their wives, which blesses me to no end!
We recently had one of our dear PNG pastor friends go home to his eternal reward. Pastor Philip was a champion and a close friend. His passing, plus thinking about my own students, has served to remind me of my own spiritual mentors. I’m sure if I tried to make a comprehensive list, I’d leave someone out…but those who poured the most into me in my early years were my pastor, the late Dr. Don Mangus; my main Bible college teacher and friend, Pastor Dennis Hardin; and my missionary friend, Dr. James Griggers. These men invested time and teaching into my life with grace, patience, and a kick in the pants as needed! I doubt any of us thought this lanky soldier boy would ever be doing what I get to do today—but by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and through the influence of these men (and many more!), Lena and I get to serve Him here. I can say that I have a “goodly heritage”!
PERSEVERING SERVANTS Nurse Stacie McCary finished up her time with us recently and has arrived safely back home. Thank the Lord for Hannah-Rose and the rest of the team who hold the fort at Kunai Health Centre. Please pray that the Lord will continue to use them to meet the physical and spiritual needs that they see daily.
PASSOVER IN PNG A highlight of the past couple of months was a three-day Passover Conference at Shalom Baptist Church where I was privileged to speak. It was a packed house as we taught (and preached!) through the connections between the Passover and the Lord’s Supper.
The second night we did a Passover Seder, showing the types of Christ throughout the meal and how much of the meal itself is displayed in the Gospel recollections of the Last Supper. There were many public responses to the Word and at least one precious soul trusted Christ.
PERSONAL NEWS Some of you know that Lena has health issues associated with SLE (Lupus). She has had a serious flare of the disease for the last three months, and is on IV antibiotics for a related infection even as I write this. On top of it all, she got Dengue fever, but that seems to be about over. She is not a quitter, that’s for sure! As you think of her, please pray for her strength and healing.
Because of your grace, prayers, and giving, we are able to teach and train and translate and tell others about the Good News of the Lord Jesus. Thank you for your part in helping us to keep at it in PNG!
Because He Is, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Kunai Health Centre: KunaiHealthCentre.com Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby: bbipom.com
Christina & Glynn enjoy the lecture with Ps Justin and Sogona
Ps Justin, Ps Tau, Deacon Lawrence
Mama Lena with Ikoi, Flora, and Lucy
Time for kaikai!
BBIPOM/FBI class
End of semester fellowship!
Powerful words from a great servant of our Lord (PC Bethany BC, Makati)
Missing this dear pastor friend–one of God’s choicest. Pastor Philip Sorulen, Calvary Baptist Church, Lae PNG
Ps Tau & Ps Justin
Loita & Ikoi
Ps Tau and the new BBIPOM shirt
Smart looking crew!
Our new BBIPOM shirts!
Some of the staff of South Pacific International Academy at the Passover table
Lena & I with Pastor Tau and a lagatoi (Motu boat) they gave us
Saying blessings during the Passover
The Maraga family at the Passover table
The Abary family at the Passover table
Full house for the conference
Passover Conference 2021
Construction begins on the building expansion!
Groundbreaking day at Capital City Baptist Church
CCBC Port Moresby begins new construction to double the size of its facilities!
Black out–keep teaching!
Black out–keep listening!
Lockdowns let Raja the cat be a part of the FBI class.
We have delayed posting this blog so we could update you on the progress of the Kamea New Testament translation.
When we sent Sarah Glover and Hannah-Rose Winter up to Kunai with a load of supplies in February, Pastor Ben Samauyo and Bro. Yali Tapakoeo caught the plane back to Port Moresby. Together we did a two-week intensive read-through of the entire Gospel of John in Kamea. Lena cooked and washed and kept the distractions away while the three of us locked ourselves in the office and poured over the translation.
How does a read-through work? The first step in the process was the preparation of the document from which the work was to be translated. I did the front translation in Pidgin with notes, accompanied by the text in English. I emailed those up to our coworkers at Kunai, who passed them along to Pastor Ben. He then typed up his translation in the Kamea language. Once he translated and checked it, he passed it on to Yali, who then took the newly translated Kamea text and translated it back into Pidgin to see if the meaning was still the same.
When we all sat down together, Pastor Ben read the text out loud for Yali and I to hear and comment on. We made corrections in comprehension, wording, and spelling. When it agreed with the text, was clearly understandable, and sounded good, then we printed our draft.
Read John 3:16 in English, Tok Pisin, and Kamea!
A couple of notes for those who follow this sort of thing:
1. Teaching literacy in the Kamea language is a slow process. At present there is little interest in learning to read in Kamea, but a lot of interest in hearing the Scriptures read. They love hearing God’s words in their mother tongue.
2. We began our project in 2014. At present we have translated over 5,300 verses (about 2/3) of the New Testament, with mostly smaller books left to do. (Not bad considering all the other ministry things happening here!) Presently, we are working our way through our last large book, Revelation. All of our work will need further review by our people, but by God’s grace it keeps moving forward!
The God Who Loves to Answer Prayer
Since our last update, the Lord heard your prayers and opened the door for our first Australian nurse to join the team. Hannah-Rose Winter arrived just a couple of weeks before our first Canadian nurse, Becca Wyatt, headed home this week. We are so grateful for the team at Kunai Health Centre (Sam, MaryBeth, Stacie, Manandi, Jon Mark, Judas, Linda, Ellie, Piyaro, and Nancy) and their service for the King!
Becca Wyatt holding twins who are now on our baby milk program
Thank you all for helping us in prayer. It is our privilege to serve God with you!
Because He Is, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Kunai Health Centre: KunaiHealthCentre.com Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby: bbipom.com
Lena and I sporting our new Bible college shirts.
Enjoy some recent photos from the ministry here:
New logo for BBIPOM!Baptist Bible Institute students busy during class.Watching our video class on Monday nights…Even after the power blackouts–just keep watching the teacher’s computer!Checking the read-through of John’s Gospel in Kamea.Making the edits and adding words to the dictionary.Finished draft of John’s Gospel in Kamea, printed and ready to go.Beautiful sunset after a big rain and long time with no sun.
Our 40 ft container of clinic, school, Bible college, and construction materials was shipped from the US and received here, and God provided for the clinic and school supplies to be forwarded on to Kunai.
We completed our draft of John in the Kamea language and began the draft of Revelation in Kamea.
God provided new nursing staff for Kunai Health Centre as other nurses rotated back to the US. Thank you to Kyle, Lauren, Chelsea, and Danya for serving! Thank you to Stacie and Becca for coming when it didn’t look possible, and for Mary Beth being there through it all!
We began renovation of our new home & office space in August and moved into the house in November (with just a few things left to be finished out).
Dear brethren in Australia provided school materials for the new Christian school at Kunai begun by Sarah Glover this year.
Looking Around
We’ve been thinking much about our ministry options for the present. Churches here have been able to continue their services and outreaches, with the only real limitation of not being able to hold conferences. Relatively few people in PNG have access to hear or watch a conference online, especially those pastors and churches located in more remote areas. Our national pastors around the nation need the fellowship. The Lord has provided us with much material for pastors and teachers, and we want to get those into their hands as well as have gifted, godly speakers teaching the sessions. Pray with us about the door opening back up for us (and other good churches) to resume hosting conferences.
Looking Ahead
These are the things we have mapped out, Lord willing, for 2021:
We have applied for a visa for a new nurse coming from Australia— Pray the Lord will make a way for her.
We plan to begin our new term for BBIPOM (2nd year) on 25 January— Pray the Lord keeps the doors open, and pray for our returning students plus new students who plan to join us.
We want to continue our New Testament translation in the Kamea language, doing checks and reviews along the way— Pray the Lord provides for our village translation team to be able to fly out here to town and to return in a timely manner.
We desire to do more outreach and work with our believers— Pray the Lord helps us to see and to seize the opportunities.
Most of our 1st Year Students at BBIPOM
All in all, we want to “follow on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3a), and to make Him known among the nations!
None of us knew what 2020 would bring, so when it comes to 2021—or even tomorrow—we say with the Apostle James, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15b)
Thank you for your prayers for us, for our people, and for the Lord’s work, and thank you for making it possible that we can do it. Thank you again for allowing us to represent you. Please take time to look through this blog to see photos from this year and enjoy what God has done through you as you have stood with us!
Because He Is, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
A special thank you to Pastor Tau Abary and Mary Beth Snyder for taking some of these photos!
A gift from our students as they finished their first year at BBIPOM.
Students listening attentively during chapel.
Missionary John Gray came to challenge our student body.
It was a privilege to have my son Matt come teach a class on sermon preparation for our Exegesis & Exposition course.
My son Matt Allen with Pastor Tau Abary of Shalom Baptist Church
It was our privilege to join several local pastors for the graduation and awards ceremonies at Shalom Baptist Christian Academy. Here, Mrs. Suzanne Abary, wife of Pastor Tau and headmistress of the school, is being honored for 10 years of service at the school.
Thankful for our friends laboring out at Kunai: Becca Wyatt, Sarah Glover, and Stacie McCary. (PC: Mary Beth Snyder)
Below are some photos of the set-up and conversion of our new house and offices. Special thank you to Curtain Brothers Construction for donating, delivering, and setting up the “donga” (formerly a bunkhouse at the Exxon plant near here). Thanks also to the staff men at Capital City Baptist Church and South Pacific International Academy for their tireless work on the project. Thanks to the contractors, Altra Builders and MZ Electrical for their expertise and long hours.
Here’s a sunrise view from our front veranda.
Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby Mission Statement
All of us continue to adapt to a world that has changed much from what it was even six months ago. I realize that many of you are still under restrictions, yet in PNG we have only had 11 confirmed cases to date, none of them serious (on a side note…everyone is sure that it is here, it’s just that testing is very limited…and any severe cases may have been missed due to the various other sicknesses and diseases that take the lives of our people). As a church, we are able to meet pretty much normally, respecting those who wish to keep a distance.
Members of Capital City Baptist meet outside after services to praise God for His goodness!
New Classes
After a month-long lockdown, we were able to resume classes at Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby. We completed our latest 8-week course last week and plan to return to classes (Lord willing!) the first week of August.
Students in class for the “Life of Christ” course at BBIPOM.
New Opportunities
Because of the religious liberty in PNG, doors open up in places you could only dream about in other countries. Among other things we’ve done lately, we were able to go with Pastor Tau and Shalom Baptist to distribute Bibles at the University of PNG Medical School and speak to future doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists. This is something we’ve looked forward to for over a year.
Some of the students at UPNG Medical School who received Bibles and heard a challenge from God’s Word to know the Lord and to serve our people!
New Construction
Lord willing, we hope to begin refurbishing our new home on the campus of Capital City Baptist Church soon. Through a series of “God-moment” connections here in Port Moresby, the Lord provided a used modular house for us, including the excavation work to prepare the site—at no cost to us! It will take a lot of renovation, but we thank the Lord for it, and look forward to the opportunity to use it for His glory!
This is where our refurbished bunkhouse will be located.
Same Great Bible
We have recently finished our draft of John’s Gospel and are working our way through the Book of Revelation. Keep this project in prayer! We are past the half-way point now, and long to see it completed!
Same Glorious Gospel
With all the problems we all see around the world, we must keep in mind that there is only one long-term (might I say, eternal) solution: The saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. From the global pandemic to the gender-based- and sorcery-accusation-related-violence here in PNG to the unbelievable unrest in countries around the globe, the one and only steady hope we have is Jesus Christ.
Same Great Need
Laborers are needed!
1. Pray with us for borders to open so we can get our new nurses for Kunai Health Centre. They are willing and waiting! 2. Pray for our students at BBIPOM that God will raise up laborers among them for His harvest. He is able!
Because He Is, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Here are some more photos to enjoy. Some of these were taken by Pastor Tau Abary and the people of Shalom Baptist Church (used by permission).
First, some of our BBIPOM students!
Materua, Tamarua, Braxstone, Tau, Peter, Emmanuel, Ricky, and Lawrence. Good men!
Flynn and Loita–more good men!
Ray is our eldest student, and really sharp.
Lucy is one of our lady students, and she too is biblically gifted.
Preacher Justin looks after Salvation Baptist Fellowship. Praise the Lord for him and all our students!
It is a blessing to teach those who are hungry for the Word and eager to serve the Lord!
UPNG Medical students were eager to receive their free Bibles.
Pastor Tau, with Dr. Paul (dean of UPNG Medical School), Kurere (president of UPNG Campus Christian Fellowship), and Papa John.
Missionary ladies are a special bunch! Lena, Rebecca Florence, Chelsea Moorman, Danya Counts, and Trina Muldoon. All happened to be in town at the same time!After months in the remote mountains, the expression on Danya’s face as she looks at all that ice cream is priceless. Yes, we got her some ice cream 🙂A recent sunrise at Kunai–few places are more beautiful than this! (PC: Sarah Glover)
ONLY GOD When I wrote our last update in February, none of us had any idea what would soon transpire globally. Never have any of us been forced to say “if the Lord will” as much as we are saying it now, but regardless, our God is doing great things!
ANSWER TO PRAYER We have two new nurses who are scheduled to come once the borders re-open here in PNG. We can still use more nurses, but we praise the Lord for these two ladies who stepped up to the challenge.
FAITHFUL IN THE FIELD The team at Kunai are continuing the ministry there. As of this writing we have no active cases of the virus in PNG, but our staff are prepared as much as possible for what may come. There are no ventilators or machines available out there, and no way to fly out critical patients. Therefore, we ask that you pray for the team on the ground, not only for their protection but for their witness.
It may not look like much, but it brought lots of medical and school supplies!
CONTAINER ARRIVED Our container—filled with supplies that many of you donated—has arrived and cleared customs. At present it is difficult to find flights to transport the materials to our team at Kunai. Pray we can get these medical supplies and school materials up there soon!
BBI POM 1st class
BAPTIST BIBLE INSTITUTE OF PORT MORESBY We reported in our last letter that our first week of classes went very well. Praise the Lord, the rest of the six-week term went even better! We had 20 registered students and anywhere from 15-25 visitors in attendance for every class. We finished on schedule just before the mandatory shutdown. When we reopen, we have even more students who have registered, and we are looking forward to getting back to classes!
Start of BBI POM classes–with social distancing before it was cool!
Because we wanted to continue teaching our students, we have begun a video series on the BBI POM Facebook page called, “Daily Words.” It is a brief lesson about how to study the Bible for yourself, using the text of Scripture as a reference. It is designed with our students in mind, but since it is in English, we hope others around the world will join us. Lena has also posted videos of most of the live sessions from our first class at either our BBI POM Facebook page or on our BBI POM YouTube channel.
In the uncertainty of these days, may we examine our hearts to see what the Lord may be trying to say to us as a church? Daniel prayed during the Judean exile, repenting for his people’s sins against their holy God (Daniel 9). Have we done the same? The present pandemic, the Australian bush fires, the locust swarms in Africa, the devastating tornadoes in the US—all of these in the last several weeks—can we not at least seek God and ask for His forgiveness, His mercy, and His favor? We who long for the return of the Lord Jesus—can we not admit that these present distresses are at the very least pictures of the birth pangs of judgment to come? And in confessing these things, can we not beg God for an unprecedented outpouring of His Spirit in reaching the world for Jesus Christ?
Thank you all for your
faithfulness—and at such a time as this. The resourcefulness of God’s people to
BE the church when they cannot assemble as the church has been
amazing. May the Lord open doors of witness for us all, and may He do things
beyond what we can even ask or think. He is able!
Because He Is, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Visit our Kunai Health Centre website for information about the clinic at Kotidanga
Some recent photos:
Baptist Bible Institute of Port Moresby
Lena giving a health talk update.
Getting to teach in culturally appropriate attire is a benefit of serving in PNG
Class learning about “How We Got Our Bible”
The class enjoyed the “show and tell” part of the class
We not only have several couples in the class; we have a mother and son (Lucy and Flynn)
The online services have allowed us to enjoy the preaching of men in Australia, PNG, and the US.
It has been a whirlwind of
activity the last few weeks since we arrived in the States. We have had some
wonderful meetings with our supporting churches—some of whom we have not seen
since we began this journey over 13 years ago! We have also reconnected with
friends we haven’t seen in over 40 years (!), and those times have been
precious as well.
We have met with many prospective
missionaries, including preachers, nurses, educators, and those who have an
interest in moving to the foreign fields for “secular” work in order to help
churches to be planted. There are so many ways to be involved in reaching the
world! Have you asked the Lord what He would have YOU to do?
Great News from Home
Sarah Glover, who has been at
Kunai since 2010, is starting a Christian school for our village children in
February 2020. This has been a prayer request of our believers at Kotidanga
Baptist Church for the last several years, and in just the last few weeks that
the Lord has made it possible. Praise the Lord for all the details He has
worked it out!
Packing Up
Thank you so much for the
incredible response we’ve received from those who have sent supplies and funds
for the clinic, the Bible Institute, and for shipping! The Lord always blesses
us beyond measure. When we finish up our meetings, we will return to Louisville
to pack the container in time to ship it just after the New Year.
Baptist Bible Institute of Port
Moresby
Soon we will be back in PNG, and preparations
to receive our first intake of students for the new Bible school are already in
full swing. We are excited to partner with the pastors of our fellow Baptist
churches to train leaders for the future of our city and our nation!
Will you pray with us for the need
we have for a venue for the school? At present, some of the city churches have graciously
offered to host a block Bible school course at their facilities, but none of
them are can serve as a permanent location. We are looking for a place that is
easily accessible to students from around the city with a consistent backup
power supply. Rent for such a venue in Port Moresby is astronomical and buying
land (and putting up a building) is even more out of reach. We are confident
that the Lord has the right place—pray with us as we seek to find a place and to
raise sufficient funds to obtain it.
Lord willing, the next time you
hear from us we will be back in PNG. One of the biggest encouragements we’ve
heard lately came from Rex Cobb, our missions’ mentor at BBTI. His words:
“Thank you for going back! Many don’t.”
Monument to the Haystack Prayer Meeting
While in Massachusetts, we visited the “Haystack Monument,” which commemorates five Williams College students who began meeting in 1806 to dedicate their lives to the serve in foreign missions. Many believe the American foreign mission movement came from these humble beginnings.* Oh, that we had such a fervor to reach the world in our own day!
David Brainard’s grave in Northampton, Massachusetts. Brainard’s life, immortalized in Jonathan Edwards’ “The Life and Diary of David Brainerd,” [sic] has probably impacted more men and women to give their all to serve the Lord than any other English book.
Thank you all for your heart for
the Lord and for us; you are the ones who make it possible for us to return. May
God bless you and yours during this holiday season, and may we all have “2020
Vision” in the year to come!
Transitions
are not always easy. They involve learning new people, new places, and new ways
of doing things. There was a day when those things seemed romantic, but now—not so much.
On
the other hand, in the last four months we’ve seen the Lord work as we’ve
ministered in different places around PNG, India, and Australia. Believers have
been helped, unbelievers have been challenged (and some saved!), and we’ve had
specific answers to prayer. So all in all, we praise the Lord for His goodness!
…IN THE CLINIC
Since
our last letter, we’ve had a lot of transition at Kunai Health Centre. Emma
Stout and Marie Bell have returned home to the US after completing their time at
Kunai. Chelsea Moorman, Danya Counts, and Kyle & Lauren Murphy have joined
the team. We are grateful for each one of them, and only eternity will reveal
the full impact they make in the lives of our Kamea people. Fully investing
themselves in the medical ministry, they also are acutely involved in Kotidanga
Baptist Church and with our people.
Ellie, Marie, Sarah, and Laura-Lee standing with Yaniamo and her family.
Reports
from the team include the salvation of Yaniamo, a mom who was medevac’d by
helicopter earlier this year. She returned to the village recently, and has
since put her faith in Christ.
I
never want to forget the great work our PNG national staff does at Kunai. We
rarely mention the opposition any of us face on the field—but these faithful
believers stand strong and are exemplary in their walk with the Lord,
regardless of the troubles they face. Praise the Lord for them!
Using a borrowed big screen to transfer translated text into the Paratext program.
…IN BIBLE TRANSLATION
Checking on the revision of the book of Luke in Kamea resumed today. It was the first book we translated back in 2014, and having learned a lot since then, Pastor Ben and Bro. Yali wanted to work through it again. I’m grateful for Laura-Lee Alford being on the ground at Kunai to walk through the revision and back-translation with these men.
Last
month I was able to begin our translation work on the Gospel of John. It is a
wonderful book (aren’t they all!) and seeing its truths with fresh eyes is such
a blessing!
…IN OUR LIVES
We
are thankful for the gifts God gives to men, and even more for those who use
their gifts faithfully. Dr. Mitch reviewed Lena’s MRIs and CT scan, and he says
she does not need surgery for her neck pain. Dr. Nathan and Dr. Lewis were able
to give her increased mobility and some relief from the pain with physical
therapy and chiropractic care. We ask that you continue to pray with us for her
healing from the constant pain.
In
a couple of days we get to drive down the bouncy Highlands Highway to Lae and
back for a supply run (3rd trip there in three months). The road is
physically rough on Lena, but she needs to hold face-to-face meetings with
medical officers there. When we return, amidst our other duties, we will pack
up our boxes again as we prepare for our move to Port Moresby later in May. Sarah
Glover is out of the village on a break, and we’re glad she’s here to help us.
Watching the Kamea language “Jesus Film” in the rain on the clinic porch.
It
certainly isn’t the romantic part of missions, but it is needful nonetheless in
order to transition to the ministry the Lord has for us. We are learning that
the best way to lighten our own load is to help others carry theirs. God is
always in total control, and when we cast our care upon Him, He gives us His
yoke. And as we learn of Him, we find that His burden is easy, and His yoke is
light.
All glory to Christ, John & Lena Allen 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Following are photos of happenings in the last couple of months. (Photo credit to Lena Allen, Marie Bell, Mary Beth Snyder, and historical photo archives)
This young wallaby hung around the house where we stayed in Australia.
Another baby helped through the Baby Milk Program.
Lena was interviewed by Alice Ashwin of NBC (PNG) about the Baby Milk Program.
Chelsea and Danya, ready to fly up to Kunai!
It was a privilege to attend the ANZAC Memorial Day services at Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby. I’m standing next to Phil Parry, one of the deacons of Capital City Baptist. Phil is a highly decorated Australian war veteran.
One of the ANZAC Day remembrances each year is the work of the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.”
During WWII, especially during the battle of Kokoda Track, these Papua New Guineans bravely carried supplies to the front…
…and carried the wounded out to safety.
This iconic image of their sacrifice to help the soldiers reveals the heart behind their mission.
Michelline Rausi, TB coordinator for World Vision. TB is rampant in our area, and Michelline is a great help in obtaining what we need to treat the patients as we work toward eradicating the disease.
James & Toree Overton oversee these students in the Master of Arts in Bible Translation course at WorldView India.
Lena and I had a wonderful trip to minister again at WorldView India in January. James and Toree Overton do a wonderful job leading and teaching the Bible translation students at the college. It was a joy to share how to use Chronological Bible Storying as a tool in church planting simultaneously with translating the Scriptures. These students come from around India and Myanmar, and are a delight to work with. We praise the Lord for all the opportunities to speak in church, chapel, small groups, and one-to-one. Pray with us that the Lord will continue to raise up faithful ministers of the Gospel in this needy area of the world!
NEW NURSES
The clinic
at Kunai Health Centre has been extremely busy the last several months. The
nurses and our national staff are doing a great job ministering to the physical
and spiritual needs of our Kamea people. Next week we will be in Lae city for
our medicine and supply buy, and there we will be meeting two incoming nurses:
Chelsea Moorman and Danya Counts. Chels was with us for 2017-2018, and this is
Danya’s first time.
On cool mornings, patients prefer to sit out in the sun on the grass.
Pray for
them and the team on the ground as they continue to treat patients, and as they
labor in discipleship and evangelism.
NEW SCRIPTURE USES
Since we
began translating the New Testament into Kamea almost five years ago, we have
labored to find ways to make it accessible to our people. Pastor Ben has taught
the church directly from the newly translated text, and Sarah and Laura-Lee
have used it in literacy classes. We have produced videos of the Life of Christ
using the Kamea New Testament, and these are shown daily at the clinic as well
as distributed on mobile phones. Now the nurses have begun using the Kamea New
Testament portions to do discipleship with the young ladies in the church. They
said that the girls are really excited to hear and to read the Word in their
own heart language!
NEW VISION
Lena and I believe our next step is to move to Port Moresby and to partner with our son Matt, his family, and the ministry of Capital City Baptist Church. We have always felt welcome there, and the Lord has given us sweet friendships among those believers. We can continue the Bible translation project and keep giving logistical support to Kunai Health Centre, as well as orienting new missionaries as they arrive, plus all of the many ministry opportunities in that growing city.
Capital City Baptist Church Campus, 9 February 2019
The move
will involve building a place to live and obtaining a vehicle, and we are sure our
great God will take care of those details in His way and in His time. As you
remember us and these ministries (Kunai and Port Moresby) in prayer, could you
also pray for Lena? It looks as though she may need surgery on her neck again, perhaps
later this year.
How blessed
we are to be such privileged children of the King! He lets us work for Him
among His people in many places, He lets us see His power in transformed lives,
and He blesses us with His presence, His Word, His grace, and His love. And
then He gently reminds us, “Freely ye have received—freely give.” May we all be
busy about giving that same good news of the Gospel that He so freely gave to
us. The world, near and far, is waiting…
All glory to Christ,
John & Lena Allen
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Enjoy a few photos of our visit to India. The Gospel is being preached in that great land, but there is so much more to do!
Enjoying a visit with our good friends, Dr. Babu Varghese and his family.Neena, Lena,and Jessie; we are blessed to know such faithful believers.Several thousand attended the five-day preaching convention while we were there. Over 200 made professions of faith.Feeding the multitude at convention is no easy task!
