A Super Sizing God
Papua New Guinea
God certainly has a way of not only answering our prayers, but also providing extra blessings. Two years ago during our Papua New Guinea Easter Conference in the village of Yombi, Southern Highlands, the Lord super sized us. One of the brethren at the conference gave 15 acres of land to the work of the Church of God in Papua New Guinea for the development of a Bible training school. As a result, Faith Bible School was established. During the 2008 Easter Conference, March 21-23, we had our first graduation of nine students. Now we have nine new workers to plant and pastor new churches in Papua New Guinea.
Kiribati
In February 2008, I visited the island of Tarawa, Kiribati, which is directly on the equator in the Pacific Ocean. During the three day visit, God again blessed the Church of God in a super sizing way. One afternoon while sitting under the Maneaba (Community Meeting Place), I was introduced to a gentleman who was visiting the church/high school compound. Pastor Burangke informed me that he had come to offer the Church of God a portion of his property on the island he is from. He will give us enough property to build a church building and a house for the pastor. The amazing thing is that he is a Roman Catholic, not from our church organization. This will become a new mission field for the Church of God in Kiribati since we do not presently have a church on this island. The Church in Kiribati has caught a new vision to reach out to other lands where we have not previously preached the Word. In 2006, a new Church of God was established on Christmas Island, which is one of the islands of the Republic of Kiribati.
Fiji
Also in February, I visited the country of Fiji. I arrived in Nadi on Thursday, February 13, 2008. On Friday I was taken to Lautoka to see an eight-acre property where the Church of God has recently established a new church. I was amazed. The property is owned by Women’s Aglow International. There are usable buildings on the property, and they plan to build a new multi-purpose ministry building. There are even sewing machines and computer equipment for community training programs. Trees and plants on the property are producing bananas, sugar apples, mangoes, grapefruit, tapioca, cassava, avocado and coconuts. They have been blessed with so much, which will allow them to holistically minister to body, mind and spirit.
God is truly wonderful! His grace is abundant and free! He is more than able to supply the needs of His children and fulfill His promises to bless His people. I told the pastor in Fiji that he is living in a paradise. Everything he needs is there for the picking. We join in praise to our God for His bountiful super sizing supply!
Thomas J. Sands, Superintendent, Oceania
