NOVEMBER 2013
overseas Missions T HE W H O L E
T RU T H
I recently read
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
an article The Whole Truth
1
story about a Mormon who
2
had been
Rev. Margaret Bellette
persuaded by a Christian friend that News from the field
3-4
Rev. Silverster Randut 5
Missions Statement
6
Camp Rev. Jonathan Downs
the Mormon had subsequently left his
ex-Mormon had joined a New Age religion.
like lambs among wolves. That is
mankind is sinful and can be fully
clearly not a comfort zone. Mission
forgiven through the atoning sacrifice
work, whether overseas or at home is
of Jesus and this is appropriated
not carried out in our comfort zone.
and the receiving of the gift of the
everywhere, who teach the “Whole
Holy Spirit.
truth and Nothing but the Truth,” those
If we fail to convey to them the hope
to East Timor, Brother and Sister Perry,
that lies within us, then we have not
who despite opposition to teaching
helped them. However, to do so is not
baptism in Jesus Name have preserved
without risk. Evangelism can be a
resulting in three more baptisms last
delicate act. Many missionaries risk
week.
their very lives by evangelizing in
witnessed to friends who adhere to
countries to which it is a crime to do so. The Lord has opened this door in East
false religious teachings. Sometimes, in our zeal to disprove the doctrines of this false religion, we forget to follow up with the truth of the gospel of Jesus
Other Christians face charges of
Timor and until He closes it the work
“divisiveness” and “intolerance” for
of the Bible School, the Literacy
teaching the truth of salvation.
School and our proposed orphanage will continue to advance, people will
Christ. Remember, to serve Christ costs
continue to be baptized in Jesus Name
everything. There is an element of rick and people will continue to be taught
When we are able to show that there
involved, but Jesus has called us out of the whole truth about salvation.
are not three people in the Godhead p: +61 418 469 412 e: margaret.bellette@upca.org.au
orders. Jesus wants us to serve him
that Jesus is God with us, that
like our own Australian missionaries
well-intentioned Christians have
DIRECTOR: Rev. Margaret Bellette PO Box 373 Minto, NSW 2566 Australia
that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh
discovered too late that the
Nature abhors a vacuum. Many
OVERSEAS MISSIONS DEPARTMENT
you have it. There are our marching
Name of Jesus for forgiveness of sings, Praise God for all missionaries,
religion. Unfortunately, the friend Jakarta Youth & Family
full plan of Salvation which includes
through repentance, baptism in the
his religion was a false religion. The friend was delighted later to hear that
Photo Gallery
focus
relating a
Rev. Margaret Bellette An Open Door
….
our comfort zones when he tells us to
and that the Trinity is a corruption of the Apostles teachings of who God is, we have only done part of our job. The Great Commission has not yet been
“take up your cross daily and follow
To our Australian Brethren, thank you
me.” In Luke 10:2-3, Jesus said “the
for your wonderful support, your
harvest is plentiful, but the workers
prayers and encouragement.
are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
fulfilled by this action.
In obedience to God, we MUST
therefore, to send out workers into his
Rev. Margaret Bellette.
harvest fields. Go! I am sending you
Director
out like lambs among wolves.” There
follow this up by teaching them the
1
OVERSEAS MISSION FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2013
AN OPEN DOOR- 2013 THEME REV. MARGARET BELLETTE
In the Book of Acts we read of the Apostle Paul, accompanied by his fellow
many hours in deserted airports without air conditioning because an
workers travelling many miles over periods of years to evangelize and
important personage has had our plane delayed because he is at a meeting.
establish churches. As he went he appointed elders and deacons, leaders
But there is an open door...
who would care for his small flocks of believers he would leave behind until he or another of his team would be able to revisit to encourage and
We are still in the book of Acts! Nothing has changed! Jesus is still guiding
strengthen their faith. There is an open door....
and blessing the efforts of His people! The building of God’s Kingdom will continue until He returns for His Church.
Today, we have read between the lines, glean from history or the writings of those who have already gleaned, to understand the time frames and the
God bless every one of you who sacrifice in your support of Overseas
often appalling conditions that would have been experiences on those
Missions and our Australian Youth Missions to make it all possible. There
missionary journeys. Many times, thoughts of Paul’s missionary journeys
is an open door...
have sprung to mind as our missionary teams have had to cope with being stranded on waterfronts in unbearable heat, sitting on baggage praying and waiting for the rough seas to abate so that our ship can sail, or waiting for
2
OVERSEAS MISSION FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2013
NEWS FROM THE FIELD REV. SILVERSTER RANDUT & SRA. OLINDA SOARES GUTERRES | EAST TIMOR
Greetings in the precious name of Jesus to all our brethren & supporters of the work of God in Timor-Leste. It is our privilege to have been asked to write an article on our experiences in partnership with the church in Australia, since our bible college graduation in Queanbeyan. We do this with Br. and Sr. Perry’s help with our English!
In relation to the Timor-Leste missions’ bible education component, we graduated at Certificate level in 2011. We did that full time so that we could after graduation start to teach others in Timor-Leste through the bible school. And while we did that we continued on to Diploma level part time. Praise God we graduated in December 2012.
Words cannot express the impact the bible education from Australia has had on us personally as well as in Timor-Leste. People here take a long time to trust people from outside and any new teaching. But we have already two other people from Dili who have undertaken successfully the Certificate level. In this time, both were baptised in Jesus’ name and they are both now studying Diploma level.
We also currently have two further students in Dili. We have also started a campus this year in Baucau, which is quite a drive from Dili so we go there every fortnight, teach on Saturdays and then minister on Sunday before returning again to Dili. There are people responding as trust in gained there. One couple in August were baptised in Jesus’ name. The husband feels a calling to the ministry.
Our first graduation in Dili
Our current Baucau students
We also want to thank you for all your support for the establishing of bible education here. Knowing that churches, families and individual church members gave so generously for us last year fills us with gratitude, courage and strength to go on.
When we first tried to do bible education with people from districts outside of Dili we came across a big problem with illiteracy. With your help we have started a Timorese Association involving other invited community members here in Timor-Leste. This program will reach out in the community. Already there are many people who have been helped to begin to learn to read.
Through your giving we have also been able to lease an interim house in an area of Dili called Moris Foun. This name means new life!
(Continued on Page 4)
3
OVERSEAS MISSION FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2013
Here is a photo of the outside area of our current base: We would like to thank you also because your giving allows for us to have special visitation and revival meetings. Many times it is at these events that people receive the Holy Ghost. It cannot be estimated in this world what this visitation does for the work of God here.
Photos taken during our April & July 2013 revival weekends:
Your giving also allows for us to have teaching and advice during special visitation by Sr. Margaret Bellette and Br. and Sr. Downs. Their wisdom and encouragement helps us here in Timor-Leste so much. The work of God would not progress so much without such visitation which could not have happened without your giving last year.
Sis. Bellette about to start special workshops on
Bro. Downs praying for Pastor Bernardo.
doctrine for Pastor and Leaders, including reaching out to churches outside of ourselves.
:
Thank you for this opportunity to share with you what we are doing because of your support and the goodness of God. We thank you again for your strong prayers and your support until Jesus comes again.
Maromak fo bensa (God bless you!)
4
OVERSEAS MISSION FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2013
PHOTO GALLERY- RECENT TRIP REV. MARGARET BELLETTE, BRO ALEC BLACKWELL, BRO MICHAEL PERRY, SIS DIANE PERRY
5
OVERSEAS MISSION FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2013
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:
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; and
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
JAKARTA YOUTH CAMP & FAMILY CAMP REV. JONATHAN DOWNS, DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS
In June 2012, I had the
The leadership of the youth department and
camp was held in a beach side resort, where
extreme pleasure of being
many of the youth had been in prayer and
families had a time of fellowship, rest and
the guest speaker at the
fasting for this camp. God moved in a mighty
recreation.
annual youth camp and
way with around 15 young people filled with
family camp at Jemaat
the Holy Spirit in our evening service. A good
We had a wonderful time of fellowship with the
Suara Sangkakala JSS (UPC Jakarta). The
number of these were then baptised on their
families of the JSS church and God moved in a
youth camp was held in a village called Pacet
arrival back in Jakarta, after we failed to find
wonderful way in the services. I would like to
Cipanas Puncak which is situated in mountains
enough water on the mountain top to baptise
thanks Pastor Lie Amin and his staff for the
3 hours from Jakarta.
someone.
wonderful hospitality.
The family camp was held at Cirita Beach
After ministering at a morning teaching session
It is fantastic to see what God is continuing to
which is on the western coast of the island of
and an evening service, it was time for a late
do in Jakarta and to hear that they are now able
Java, approximately 4 hours from Jakarta. I was
night trip back to Jakarta. Given the congestion
to send missionaries across Indonesia and even
accompanied on this trip by one of the young
on the roads in and around Jakarta, travelling in
East Timor.
men in our local church, Bro Winnon Brunson,
the early hours of the morning seems to be the
who was able to get leave from his job for this
only option.
short-time in Indonesia. The youth camp was attended by approximately 70 young people and
We arrived in Jakarta in the early hours of the
there was a definitely atmosphere of
next day and were able to sleep in a bit before
expectancy.
heading off to the family camp. The family
6