July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
OVERSEAS MISSIONS United Pentecostal Church of Australia ~ www.upca.org.au
COMING TOGETHER IN HIS NAME 1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (KJV) It is a great privilege to be involved in Overseas Missions and to serve in the kingdom of God. Whatever your field of labour, I encourage you to give your best for Jesus Christ!
In Kupang, we held a seminar for three days, teaching four sessions a day as well evangelistic services each evening. The focus of our teaching was Fundamental Doctrine and Leadership.
In April 2015, a team that included Brother & Sister Downs, Sister Marcela Ferrari, Sister Elizabeth Everett and myself, went to Kupang, which is the capital city of West Timor.
Sister Hanna - who pastors in Kupang – was our host pastor and did most of the organising of the seminar for us. Sister Hanna is a wonderful lady and servant of the Lord. She holds services in a small chapel on the side of her home, and is a very faithful sister. We are praying that the Lord would provide a church building for that congregation.
Brother Gery Ongkowidjojo and Brother Teguh Sukaryo also accompanied us from the church in Jakarta, to be our interpreters. It was great to partner together with the Indonesian church for this Missions trip.
At least fifty people attended the seminar, coming from Kupang, Rote Island, Ambon and from the East Timorese cities of Dili and Baucau. By bringing together pastors and leaders from these areas, we were able to teach and encourage our brothers and sisters, and to strengthen the relationships between these churches. May the Lord bless you as you support the Overseas Missions Department. We are making a difference for the kingdom of God!
Simon and Caterina Butcher
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
THEY TOOK MY HEART BY SURPRISE By Nancy Grandquist Early this year, I was blessed to travel with Sis Sue Downs to the nation of East Timor for the first time. Its people took my heart by surprise! I have been privileged to participate in many foreign mission trips but the Saints of the East Timor churches captured me! The beauty of their pure love and worship to God is so overwhelmingly passionate, you cannot help but be affected by it. They are the true Book of Acts Church! They are selfless people, only thinking of ways to serve and bless others as they pour out their meagre resources. This attitude is amazing and will dislocate our hearts, calling us to do more. We need to understand that what breaks the heart of our Lord should break ours too. My prayer is that God will bring a great harvest of souls to the nation of Timor. They are a precious people.
Travelling and visiting surrounding towns near Dili, including the city of Baucau where there is our new established church.
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
Experience the mission field for yourself By Elizabeth Everett On Sunday night, the church service was held at the local assembly in Kupang, a very small chapel attached to Sis Hanna’s home. Although there was limited space inside the chapel, and the people spilled out into the surrounding areas, there was plenty of room for the presence of God to move and, just like on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost filled that place.
I count it a high honour to have been part of a team of wonderful men and women of God who travelled recently to Indonesia, all of whom have given greatly of themselves over the years to spread the gospel to those who lie beyond our shores. I was blessed with the teaching and ministry of Brother and Sister Downs, who joined us in Kupang on their way back from Malaysia, as well as Brother Butcher and Sister Marcela who graciously took me- a ‘newbie’ to Overseas Missions- under their wings.
While there were many parts of the trip I consider to be highlights, I most enjoyed being in the presence of Almighty God with our fellow Indonesian brethren, and being united in our spirit through singing and worshipping God with our different languages. And although our trip didn’t involve endless hours of weaving in and out of traffic and was quite comfortable by many standards, there were parts of the trip which certainly forced me out of my own ‘comfort zone’, such as being ready to play the piano to Indonesian choruses which I’ve never heard before, or singing and testifying without preparation.
Having grown up hearing firsthand and endless stories of life on the mission field from my grandmother, Sister Bellette, I can say with some confidence that even the most descriptive stories and high resolution photographs do not even begin to compare with the reality of experiencing the mission field for yourself. I left Australia with fabricated imaginations of what might lie ahead of me, all which were quickly vanquished by the hustle and bustle of Bali with all its unfamiliar smells and sounds.
Having experienced the mission field now for myself, I can assuredly say there is a great need in Indonesia. Indonesia needs your prayers and your support. I encourage anyone considering being involved in missions to get involved in whatever way you can and experience it for yourself.
After arriving in Bali and meeting with Brother Thomson and Brother Fredick and their wives, pastors in Bali, we left the next day for Kupang, West Timor, where we held teaching sessions over the following three days and services on Sunday. The sessions focused on basic doctrinal truths, and those present were hungry for more of God’s word. I was humbled by the commitment of many who travelled from far and wide, for more than 12 hours by bus, to be there. Kupang Church Service 3
July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
Bishop Downs and Sister Downs: Travelling and blessing the Australian work Overseas It was a great privilege to be back in Indonesia and have the opportunity to teach at a Leaders Seminar in West Timor. We always enjoy fellowshipping with friends from previous visits and on this occasion there were many others to meet for the first time. These seminars sponsored by the Australian Overseas Missions Department are of vital importance in strengthening the churches of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The Australian church has particularly accepted the responsibility of teaming with the Indonesian church to focus on the eastern districts. There were over 50 in attendance with a strong contingent travelling across the boarder from East Timor. Also, apart from the local leaders in West Timor, others attended from Rote Island and Ambon. The lessons in this seminar had a strong emphasis on basic doctrine, leadership and Children's ministry. It was not uncommon as we taught to see the students weeping as their hearts embraced truths in greater depth; some receiving scriptural revelations for the first time. It was such a blessing to all the team to be teaching folk who were so keen to learn so they can utilise their knowledge in a practical way when they returned to their churches. Many of the churches in this region are small; however, there is no lack of burden for the lost and desire for growth.
Loving the people
“... the students wept as their hearts embraced truths in greater depth....�
Please join the Overseas Missions Department in this vital ministry through your prayers and regular giving. We are a blessed church in Australia and can well afford the personnel and finances to reach these nations so close to our shores. John & Sue Downs
Teaching on the Oneness of God, assisted by Bro Teguh
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
I ‘ve been blessed
We travelled from Dili to join the Australian Missions team to attend the workshops held in Kupang from 9-12 April 2015.
KUPANG LEADERS SEMINAR
I learned much in the Leaders Workshops through the lessons presented by Brother and Sister Downs, Brother Butcher, Sister Marcela and Sister Elizabeth.
By Olinda Soares Guterres In addition to this, there were also lessons on the Holy Spirit wonderfully delivered by Brother Simon Butcher.
I learned from each lesson and speaker. From Sister Marcela, I learned that we need a strong foundation of Basic Doctrine. Jesus said: "whoever builds on a foundation of strength and truth, though the wind comes and the waves roar, he will not collapse". Because of this, we need to have the keys of the Kingdom which bring to us salvation (Acts 2: 38-40), help us get power and authority (Luke 10: 19) and access (Deut 28: 10-12; Romans 5: 2). I’ve also learned how important is to know God by knowing His name because His name represents His identity, His authority, His power, His glory and reflects His character.
There was also a nice moment that was very helpful in enabling us to understand the day to day lessons and that was the teaching from Sister Elizabeth who always used a tool. It was a great experience for us in the service of teaching. Each lesson was very helpful to our work in East Timor (Timor-Leste). As we know, this is a strong area of Catholic religion and that's why there is a great need of understanding the word of God more deeply and strongly. We need a deeper sense of the doctrine that is true and right and this seminar was very helpful for our Ministry in East Timor.
I also learned about Leadership with Bishop Downs when he taught on the subtopic called ‘Good to Very Good’. I learned that good is the enemy of great. Why? Because often we are only satisfied with the level of the good. We need to be very good to become a great leader. We need to serve all people, since the leader is a servant. Also the lessons of the Oneness of God (Godhead) were good. It was great to enjoy the presence of God through these lessons.
Timor-Leste is a country rooted in strong Catholic beliefs. Keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers as they continue to stand for the whole truth in God’s word.
Sis Hanna (Kupang’s Pastor), Sis Olinda, Bro and Sis Guterres (Pastors of the Dili Church) and some leaders from the work in Timor-Leste.
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
By Olinda Soares Guterres After the seminars in Kupang, Bishop Downs and Brother Simon Butcher continued their ministry in Dili (Timor Leste). They were present at the inauguration of the Bible School ‘House Revival’ on 16 – 17 May 2015. Praise the Lord for the Vision of the UPCA’s Overseas Mission from Bishop Downs, Sister Margaret Bellette, Brother Simon Butcher and his team, and the hard work of Brother and Sister Perry as UPCA Missionaries to East Timor. They invested in God’s work in this country and the Bible School was born in 2010 and continues to work until now.
Br. Downs and Br. Simon Butcher helping to cut the ribbon at the opening of the new extension
Our longing in Timor-Leste is that this Bible School will produce Apostles. An Apostolic Generation, active in the Five Fold Ministries (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) to seize the Souls for the Kingdom of Jesus before Jesus comes the second time.
Ephesians2: 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Jesus Christ Himself. 6
July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
Sister Diane Perry leading the Youth Group and Sunday School children in worship.
Visiting Outreach Points and baptising souls in the Name of Jesus!
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
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July 2015
Overseas Missions Department - UPCA
OVERSEAS MISSIONS: OUR PURPOSE Please keep in your prayers the following Mission Trips: Timor-Leste Youth Camp: 19-21 August 2015 Nabiri - Irian Jaya Youth Team 1-15 September 2015
The Overseas Missions Department of the United Pentecostal Church of Australia has touched many nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ since its inception in 1973. The purpose of the Overseas Missions is to:
LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT HINDER THEM, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE. LUKE 18:16
OVERSEAS MISSIONS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR:
OFFICE:
Rev. Simon Butcher PO Box 2216 Malaga 6944 WA AUSTRALIA p: +61 421 699 549
e: simon.butcher@upca.org.au
PO Box 199 Hampton Park 3976 VIC AUSTRALIA
Please forward all cheques to the OSM office
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preach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world; to establish new churches; to send forth missionaries; to endeavor to perform any other duties connected with religious work; to help in any way possible to meet the needs of local churches; to translate, publish and distribute religious literature.
The success of the Overseas Missions Department of the UPCA is a direct result of a co-operative effort between local assemblies, missionaries and this Department. We sincerely appreciate the involvement of the many churches and individuals throughout Australia.