The Intercessors

This is the group of intercessors who met before the crusade each night at Lae. No question this was the secret to such a broad response to the crusade, both in numbers and at the invitation time. A group of men also stayed at the stage area all night and during the day to protect the equipment from theft or damage. The intercessors were a group from several different churches who meet on a weekly basis for prayer and intercession.

Taking the offering

Taking the offering for 5000 plus people who are sitting on the ground is interesting. They put some buckets up front with a person at each one. Then whoever had an offering came up front and gave. This was the crowd giving their offerings. It was interesting and a joyful occasion. The next time they took the offering, they doubled the number of buckets to lessen the time it took to get to the offering buckets.

Friday night at the crusade in Lae the emphasis was on Missions. Next door to PNG is the largest Muslim nation in the World. This is a video clip of the invitation to come forward and give themselves for missions. There were somewhere between 1000 to 2000 young people adults, and even children. Rev. Bustin gave the illustration of how he as a five year old boy had packed his suitcase, and come out to tell his parents "I am ready to go be a missionary to PNG." that had a deep impact on the children. The counselors and pastors and missionaries, were told to go down into the crowd of volunteers and to get the names of everyone who had given themselves to missions. I happened to go among a group of children. The intentness of those children to get their names on a piece of paper identifying them as a candidate was truely touching. The huge group prayed for at least 15 minutes. Not even a child got bored and left or walked out to play. The worship band continued to play as you can hear. Later a "passing the light to the next generation" ceremony was held. It started to rain gently, but no one moved to leave. It truely was an historic moment. Rejoice with me as you see these young people pray and interceed for the lost. Something big is happening here.

Missions PNG style

This man is Fabian Peter. He is the founder and leader of a Missions organization called Asia-Pacific Harvest Ministries. This picture was taken while I was in PNG, and at the pool area of the Hotel we stayed at. Fabian has a vision so large that he is not waiting to get proper buildings to use. Fabian is concentrating on people. He is contacting school dropouts, street kids, drug addicts, anyone who wants a better life. Puts them in school, ministers to their spiritual needs, then challenges them with a job to take the message of Jesus Christ to Asia and Indonesia. I preached at two of his many schools. Their was an earnestness of intent; that was like a magnet to a preacher. This man is going to do with little or nothing, what needs to be done. He is worthy of support. The new effort at the Pabarabruk Mission Station will be in pardnership with his ministry, especially his vision. Here is a picture of the children and young people at one of his schools. One camera shot would not take the crowd in. Actually three would not. The flowers were brought in to honor my coming to speak. They had flowers on the floor too. I did not step on any of them, as I felt they were for someone else of much grander purpose and stature.

Interview on Christian Radio

Gerald Bustin (pictured here) was the evangelist for the Crusades. Since Gerald was mainly responsible for the Christian Radio station "Wantok Radio Light" they sponsored the Crusades and gave us an interview soon after coming into PNG. Gerald included me in that interview, so anyone listening that knew us in the 1990's, knew also that I would be coming to Lae for the Crusade. Each crusade service was also broadcast live. Exponentially then, the outreach of the Crusades was vastly broadened. The hundreds that responded at the Crusades was then only a portion of those reached by the message. I was asked to say a few words at Lae, I couldn't think of anything greater to say than to sing "Amazing Grace". What a priviledge to sing to that huge crowd, and then to know that it was broadcast all over the country. Thank you Lord Jesus! At the Port Moresby Crusade, some students from Unitech wanted their picture taken with Gerald and myself.

A Different type of Singing

The United Church Choir did a different type of singing. This really blessed my spirit. See what you think. What a great time we had there in Lae. Of course I knew a good number of people there also. So seeing old friends, and former school children was a real blessing. Well enjoy this with me.

Excitement in Worship

A number of different denominations took part in these two crusades. United Church(Methodist-Presbyterian), Lutheran, Assemblies of God, Asia-Pacific Harvest Ministries, Salvation Army, and several other pentecostal churches. One thing was evident. These people worshiped much more energetically than I was used to. Especially the young people and children. It was not just the manner in which they sang. It was the intensity with which they prayed. The attention they gave to the message from the Bible. I saw one child three to four years old. Dressed in pretty pink, she was standing with arms raised, eyes closed, (and looking at her face, adoring the Lord Jesus.) When they sang chorus' like "One Way Jesus". they would come out of the crowd and dance to the song and music. Not in a seductive way at all. Rather with an abandon to the words, and a joy on their faces, that only a video can show. I have a couple, if I can get them to download to this site.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Our journey has began. It began in January of 2008, in the halls of our huge 1st Baptist church. Arriving for Senior Adult Choir Practice, I stopped to look at the images portraying the various missions opportunities this year. Gazing at the different ones, there was a distinct impression that we were to go on a mission trip this year. Requesting prayer from friends for the right choice was a given. Ruth and I also talked and prayed about a choice. Somewhere around March sitting in our "Small Group" at church, I suddenly said to Ruth, "What about Papua New Guinea? I thought she would be shocked, or disbelieving, but instead was very accepting of the idea. When I contacted our old mission group, EBM (Evangelical Bible Mission), a trip was being planned including two Gospel Crusades. Yes! I could go! and it would cost $4,000.00 +. We invested $3,000.00 and the rest was provided by friends in this area. Now the trip is history. What a wonderful adventure!
Seeing old friends we had known in 1992-1994, making new friends, seeing many new people come to Christ! Meeting students once in our school classroom, and now grown, with families, and many in the
service of the Lord Jesus. The crusades were to celebrate 50 yrs. of missionary
service in Papua New Guinea, by Gerald Bustin. A number of different church groups took part in the organizing and operation of these crusades. The unity of heart was really evident in the city of Lae. Becoming adjusted to the fact that different congregations worship in different ways, was one of the tasks that the Lord gave me. The theme of the Lae pastor's was "One Church, Many Congregations. The enthusiasm of the young people and children was a revelation.




Rev. Pina, the leader of the Pastor;s group
me (Robert Carter) and Fabian Peter the
director of Asia Pacific Ministries.