Dr C. Peter Wagner, formerly Professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, author of numerous books, was President of Global Harvest Ministries and Co-ordinator of the United Prayer Track for the AD2000 and Beyond Movement. This article was published by Global Harvest Ministries as ‘Getting Ready to Sing the New Song’.
The Bible tells us that one day four living creatures and twenty‑four elders are going to surround the throne of the Lamb and sing a new song: ‘You have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ (Rev. 5:9). What a song!
If the motto of the A.D. 2000 Movement is fulfilled, that song will be sung pretty soon. I have the faith to join A.D. 2000 in believing that there, in fact, will be ‘A church for every people and the gospel for every person.’
Does it require faith to say such a thing? It definitely does.
Speaking as a professional missiologist, I can, with great assurance, affirm that there is no known human theory of missiology today that could bring about such a result in such a short time. If that is the case ‑ which it is ‑ the only way it could possibly happen is through a mighty move of the sovereign hand of God.
Prayer Moves the Hand of God!
What is it that moves the hand of God more than anything else?
Prayer! In fact, in the verse just before the words of the new song, the ‘prayers of the saints’ are highlighted (see Rev. 5:8).
Nothing could be more important for fulfilling Jesus’ great commission to ‘make disciples of every nation’ than mobilizing massive prayer for world evangelization. Since we founded Global Harvest Ministries and the United Prayer Track in 1991, the burning passion of Doris’ and my hearts has been to see more of God’s people praying in one accord for the lost of the world than ever before.
We are not generating the worldwide prayer movement. God is doing it. I like what Eddie Smith of the U.S. Prayer Track once said: “Our job is not to get people praying, but to get praying people!” Never before in history have there been so many Christians praying on all the continents.
Our assignment from God is to see that as many of them as possible are praying for the lost ‘with one accord,’ as Luke put it in Acts 2:1. When we first began we thought we were stretching our faith to believe that we could get one million praying for the same nation or city at the same time.
But our faith was too small. Much more than this has actually taken place, by the providence of God.
Millions Praying In One Accord
In October 1993, 21 million were praying in one accord for the 62 nations of the 10/40 Window [10 to 40 degrees north between Africa and Asia]. In October 1995, 36 million were praying in one accord for the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window. We are confident that in October 1997 there will be 50 million praying in one accord for the 146 Gateway Clusters of 1,739 major unreached people groups.
I am confident that you will be praying in one accord with Doris and me and millions of others. In fact, you may even be a member of one of the 17,390 local churches (10 per unreached people group) or a member of one of the 34,780 home cell groups (20 per unreached people group) committed to praying for one of the groups past October 1997 and through the end of the year 2000.
The Lights Are Coming On!
If you are like many others who pray, you want to know if your prayers are being answered. The answer is yes!
When the A.D. 2000 Movement began in 1989, darkness prevailed across the 10/40 Window. But we have been praying in one accord for seven years now, more and more each year. It would be discouraging if the same degree of darkness persisted. But it has not.
Lights have been coming on in many significant parts of the 10/40 Window since we have been praying. We are getting reports that some of the 1,739 unreached people groups are now reached, but we are not tooled to start deleting names as yet ‑ so let’s keep praying for them all in the meantime.
The three most formidable anti‑Christian forces in the world are Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. I have some good news for those who want to see multitudes among these peoples move from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. Remarkable things have been happening in this decade of the 1990s.
1. Buddhism.
My observations lead me to believe that the principalities over Buddhism are ‘on the run.’ This is the first large wall, after Communism, to come down in our generation. For years Buddhism has been taking a hit in South Korea, and more recently, on even a greater scale, in mainland China.
I visited Thailand, the strongest Buddhist nation in Southeast Asia, twice this year and I was amazed at the growth of Christian churches. Many Thai leaders point to 1993, more or less, as the turning point.
Why not? Twenty‑one million were praying for Thailand in one accord. The video for the 1995 Praying Through the Window II featured a Thai pastor, so Thailand got more prayer than most places. Numerous Thai leaders said, ‘Peter, for the first time in all of history, it is easy to lead a Thai person to Christ!’ Thailand will be a key to evangelizing Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
2. Hinduism.
The principalities over Hinduism are ‘badly battered.’ Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world, and it has recently become one of the brightest lights for the gospel in all of the 10/40 Window. Although it is still supposed to be a crime to convert to Christianity, some changes were made in the constitution in 1990, and churches are being multiplied from north to south and from east to west. Laws are not being enforced. Reports tell us that there are probably
200,000 believers there, possibly 300,000.
The light has just come on in the Indian Himalayan state of Sikkim where some are saying that 20 percent or even 30 percent may now be Christian. Surprising reports are coming in from many other sections of previously resistant North India. Probably Nepal will be a key to breaking through the Buddhist strongholds in Bhutan and Tibet.
3. Islam.
The strongest principalities are those over Islam, but I see them as ‘scared stiff.’ They have been shaken by the large numbers of Muslims coming to Christ in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country. They are fully aware of the power of light being released through our annual ‘Praying through Ramadan’ effort. And, most of all, they are frightened, as they well should be, by the massive Reconciliation Walk tracing the routes of the First Crusade from 1996 through June of 1999 with a message of repentance for the sins of our ancestors during the First Crusade 900 years ago. Nothing could weaken the principalities keeping Muslims in darkness more than this initiative.
Our prayers are working, and the world is changing as a result. Now is the time to pray as never before. Let’s double and triple our efforts.
The heavenly choirs may not quite be ready to sing the ‘new song,’ but they probably should begin choir practice, because the time to sing the song before the throne of the Lamb seems to be right around the corner!
(c) C. Peter Wagner. Used with permission of Global Harvest Ministries.
Some books by C Peter Wagner
Leading your Church to Growth (1984)
The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit (1988)
Your Church can be Healthy (1990)
Spiritual Power and Church Growth (1990)
Prayer Shield (1997)
Churches the Pray (1997)
Breaking Strongholds in Your City (1997)
Church Growth and the Whole Gospel (1998)
Church Quake (1999)
Your Church can Grow (2001)
Your Spiritual Gifts can help your Church Grow (2005)
Reviews: Building a Better World by Dave Andrews, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit & Surprised by the Voice of God both by Jack Deere, Secrets of the Argentine Revival, by R Edward Miller
4 My Conversion, Theological Studies and Persecution
5 Foreign Land – Australia
6 My Dream for an Orphanage
7 Light Home
8 God’s Miraculous Provisions
9 Ministries and Opportunities
10 Stepping out in Faith
11 Children’s Issues
12 My Dream
Conclusion
Preface
My Dear Friend, I take this opportunity to thank you for choosing to read my book. I am sure that you have read many books so far. Every book or life story you read has offered something to you. Now you are about to read another book that has something for you. Though I am part of this story, it’s not really about me. However it is about the One who created me, who called me, who guiding me, who gave me the vision, who entrusted me at work and who is using me for His glory in India. So it is all about my God who transformed my life.
In my life, I never thought that I would write a book. I didn’t think that there would be something to write as a book about my life. But God has led me to write my life story to encourage each and every believer to trust God more. In this book, you are going to read my life from childhood till today. Especially the last four years have been something different in my life that I never imagined or dreamed of. All these four years are filled with God’s miracles, miracles and miracles. You may wonder how these miracles happened in my life. In this book I am going to share how I am seeing the miracles by trusting God. I am also going to share with you how God raised me from a remote village in India to show His love to needy children in India. Through this book I want to bless you, encourage you, inspire you and challenge you to trust God even more.
Do you agree with me that your story, my story and our story is part of the biggest story! That is God’s story. So now you are going to read His (God’s) story. Here I would like to request you not to listen to me, but listen to God and what He is going to speak to you through this book. I am sure your time will not be vain for choosing to read this.
It is my sincere prayer and hope that God will speak to you through this book to be able to see the need and to take action together to show His love to the orphan, poor and needy children of India.
So without further delay I let you to get into the book.
Enjoy your reading,
Brother Elisha Chowtapalli
Some photos from the book
Orphans in needLIGHT Home for orphans and poorLIGHT Home childrenLIGHT Home children learningMeal timeGrowing food to eat and sellAged careTailoring Course – income producing project
Endorsements by friends of LIGHT Home
Elisha’s work in India is astounding and inspirational. His passion for God and the poor, especially children and old people has led him to many ventures. Each vision he has is followed up by hard work and determination to give people a better life to be lived. Elisha’s faith in God has led to the building of an Orphanage for 50 children; a Garden of Eden to feed and support children and old people; tailoring classes for women to start their own business and a Bible College. He also organizes crusades and conferences for pastors, women and youth. Over and above this Elisha arranges food, clothing and Bibles for those in need in surrounding areas. It is amazing what he has achieved in just four years with the help of family and friends, and all have benefitted greatly. We wait in awesome wonder for the next vision. Elisha we are very proud of you.
Leighton, Nanette, Christel and Wade White
Perth, Australia
Mine was the oldest face amongst this sea of national and international students all gathered to live and work together for three months to learn about serving God through festival outreach. If I felt like a fish out of water, gasping to adjust to the cultural shock of being a student and getting to know this mixture of people that I was eating with, sharing accommodation with, and learning all the rules, rules, rules that the hierarchy insisted on – how were these international young people coping?
One young Indian man touched my heart. We learnt that he was from a very poor Indian village and belonged to the poorest of poor caste system, the Dalits. Here he was, coping with all this, as well as trying to understand the language, eating foreign food (pumpkin… how could we eat that?) and learning Australian cultural everyday norms, such as flushing the toilet paper down the loo. Elisha simply watched and learnt, while at the same time listening to God seeing a vision for his own people in desperate need back in his hometown. No amount of Western comfort and “celebrity status” amongst us could deter him from his goal, “to start an orphanage in my house on 19th August 2007”. “Orphanage in your house?” I’d say, “What do you own?” “I am oldest son – my father’s house is mine, two rooms – we will live in one and the orphan in the other,” Elisha would reply with a determined look in his eyes.
And he did. From these humble beginnings he has established the orphanage and then many programs, to help his people to live a better life. However more importantly he shows them how much God loves them. For the Dalit caste people who are told they have no worth in life to discover how precious they are to God, become one of his children and inherit eternal life, it is life changing.
I had the privilege of attending Elisha’s wedding and visiting the Light Home, seeing first hand some of his programs in action. I cannot describe the joy it brought to see all this first hand, to talk to those who benefit and see hope and dignity restored. I am sure you will enjoy reading about Elisha’s journey and how God uses those who are willing to step out, no matter how little they have, to help the widows and orphaned. Don’t be surprised if God challenges you too.
Lyn Haack
Manilla (NSW), Australia
I first came to know Elisha in 2006 when Sam (my husband) & I billeted him while he did a course with Fusion [Certificate III in Youth & Community Work (Christian)] in Australia. His great desire was to help his people in India come to know the one true God and to help reduce their poverty by starting a Home for children through which they would know God’s love and get an education. We promised to support Elisha with this dream and over the past three years have witnessed the incredible work God has done. By opening their home to needy children Elisha’s parents and family provided him with the initial support his dream needed. I pray God will bless them abundantly for their self-giving love, faith and trust in Him.
I feel that the Light Home Ministry is doing a great work answering Christ’s command to care for the poor, as well as share the Gospel. Through humble servants seeking to fulfil God’s plan may the Light Home and associated work continue to prosper and give glory to God.
Julianne and Sam Hoffard
Gippsland, Australia
In July 2008 I had the privilege to be involved with Elisha and a team from Australia in some outreach meetings and some Pastor’s training meetings. I was left with many impressions about our experience in India. The most pressing for me, was the size of the harvest about to come, and the labourers needed to bring in the harvest and disciple the nation. With that in mind, after our time in India I spoke to Elisha about my burden. He too shared a similar burden. It was with that in mind we together in July 2009 commenced the Light Bible School. With 35 students including pastors and leaders we ran an intensive four week long training school. Elisha was one of the few people I have met in India that has the organizational skills, the financial integrity, the profile, and the standing in the Christian community that would allow me to partner with him in this project. I am committed to working with Elisha to help provide an annual Bible School that will minister to as many pastors and leaders as we can, in our vision to win India to the Lord.
Peter Dunstan,
Tamworth( NSW), Australia
It’s incredible that God has taken a young Dalit man from working in a quarry earning $1US per day to demonstrating how the Good News reconciles all things to Christ.
Elisha’s heart for his nation mirrors God’s heart in his ministries to the poor, spreading the good news, and feeding the orphans and the widows. I heartily recommend Elisha and his story to you.
Justin Pagoto
Sydney, Australia
Elisha’s story will inspire and challenge you. God takes the weak things of this world to confound the mighty, and Elisha’s story of God’s grace and miracles among the Untouchable caste of India is a testimony to God’s mighty power. Read, be blessed, and take action.
Geoff Waugh
Brisbane, Australia
From the Foreword
Meeting and getting to know Elisha has been and continues to be one of the highlights of our lives. First let me tell you how our paths finally crossed.
It was 2nd of May, 2005, as I was laying in my hospital bed, my mind grappled for answers. Why? Why God did this happen? God where was your guardian Angel who was supposed to be protecting my daughter? I had taken her for a joy ride on my motorbike along the road. At that time, without warning a truck ran over us. Anna my precious daughter was dead. My wife Lynda and I did not even get to say goodbye to our precious daughter Anna.
In the midst of all the questions that raced through my head I had a strong sense of the small still voice saying that this was the beginning of a new chapter and that Jesus the Christ would be glorified. Anna was now with him. In a strange way I felt a peace and the presence of God’s Spirit was very real.
It was in 1981 at aged 16 years old that Jesus had taken hold of my life. From the early years I had dreamed of being an evangelist and from time to time had the opportunity to share my faith and see some souls come to Christ. For the next 25 years I tried to be faithful to God and was committed to being a good husband and father to my two daughters, Miriam and Anna. Also for 12 years I had worked hard to build a business and the Lord had brought much blessing upon it. At around age 38 I had begun to ask questions and wonder what purpose God had for our business. We owned our home, we had a healthy savings account, and we had our superannuation, but I was deeply weighed down with life and was desperate to be free from it all. I hoped and prayed that God had a higher plan.
It was while I was in hospital that Lynda gave me Anna’s diary. As I read about Anna’ dream to have a music band called WakeUp, God began to speak. And I listened as a new chapter began to unfold. God showed me that I would fulfil that dream. I began to organize the first WakeUp for Tamworth, my home town. On 16th September, 2006, we had our first WakeUp meeting. I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and many souls were saved. Anna’s dream was fulfilled and my dream to be an evangelist had just begun. Our business was now profitable enough to finance the “WakeUp”.
Meanwhile as I got busy saving the world, my wife Lynda went into a very dark place for many months. For a time she gave up the desire to live and could not eat food; I began to fear that she would die from starvation and a broken heart. Praise to Jesus the day came when she began to recover. She was then invited to go to India with a group of ladies who were helping women in poor places to build small businesses. Lynda’s time in India changed her life. It was in India as she spend time with Indian women and their children that God began to heal her broken heart.
After arriving home Lynda wanted to take me to India. I praised Jesus that she had again found a reason to live. Twelve months later the three of us, Miriam our eldest daughter included, boarded a plane bound for India.
As we were making plans for this journey I made my first contact with Elisha at a Fusion meeting in Sydney. I was inspired by him and his dream to start a Children’s Home. Over the next two years I continued to hear news about Elisha through Fusion newsletters. Elisha was only 26 and had been a Christian for only four years. I was amazed that such a young person could have such a noble dream. I was inspired by Elisha’s faith and even more so as in time I watched the dream begin to unfold.
The thing that impressed me most about Elisha is his ability to dream a dream and build on that dream. Meeting his family and the Light Home Children has been one of the greatest high points of our lives. Now as I write this I am sitting with Elisha travelling across India conducting WakeUp meetings and church leaders’ conferences. Many Hindus are coming to be baptized and are receiving Jesus Christ the one true God. Many Pastors and Church leaders are being challenged and inspired by the Word of God.
I thank you Jesus for bringing Elisha into my life and making this all possible.
Paul Disher
Tamworth, Australia
The last page of Elisha’s book:
I encourage you to seek the Lord and see if He is asking you to help one or more children in our LIGHT Home. If He puts this in your heart, please do not hesitate to contact us. You will receive the photograph and testimony of the children you are praying for and supporting.
We have a sponsorship plan. It takes $30 USD or AUD / €27 Euros / £20 GBP to support one child per month. With your kind support a kid will have food, clothing, education, medical supplies and above all he/she will get to hear the gospel. Your help will change in a child’s life forever.
If you support today, if you invest today for God’s kingdom, one day in eternity you will get to see the children and people that you supported present before the throne of grace. And they will testify that because of this person I came here. So would you like to hear such testimonies from the children and families! Then start doing something today. Let us make difference in the lives of needy Dalit children.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS: We are proud to partner for Project J686N Light Society’s Development Projectwith Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993), a Christian based Australian DFAT (Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade) Approved Non-Government Organisation carrying out quality humanitarian projects with approved partners and providing aid to relieve poverty and provide long term solutions. Global Development Group takes responsibility for projects according to DFAT rules providing a governance role and assisting in planning, monitoring, evaluating and auditing to ensure the projects are carried out to DFAT requirements. Tax deductible receipts for gifts over $2 with a preference for this approved aid and development project will be issued by Global Development Group for project J686N – Light Society’s Development Project. Tax deductions apply in Australia, New Zealand, UK and USA.
Dr David Lithgow and his wife Daphne were Bible translators and medical missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over 30 years, mainly in the Milne Bay Islands of Papua New Guinea. These edited selections from newsletters tell a little of their work for the Lord.
* Seven sick people were prayed for in Jesus’ name, and all were healed. Other people kept their sick relatives hidden inside their houses, preferring to trust their own magic and spirit cures. No one among these people was healed. This has been a demonstration of the power of Jesus.
* A woman who had been crippled for years got up and walked immediately, and was doing normal garden work in a week. The people here were convinced that Jesus is the Strong One, and this report spread through the whole area.
* The Lord has worked some surprising miracles, like multiplying the one remaining antibiotic capsule for treating an infection to become twelve – enough to complete the cure.
* After the studies and worship services many of the people came for prayer for the Lord’s cleansing from sin, and to receive the Holy Spirit. At Wabunun they came in a continuous stream, many weeping, for one and a half hours.
* The Lord moved powerfully through healing miracles and casting out evil spirits, demonstrating that his power is greater than that of local spirits and magic.
The Word and Work of the Lord
David and Daphne summarise their life together including work in the Muyuw, Dobu and Bunama languages of the Milne Bay Islands:
We had been leaders in the Evangelical Union of the University of Queensland since 1950, Daphne studying Science and David doing Medicine. In 1954 Daphne left for Ubuya Leprosy Treatment Centre near Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea. There she learnt the Dobu language and trained Papuan staff in laboratory work. When Daphne returned, David had graduated and was a Resident Doctor at Townsville General Hospital. We married in August 1957.
In February 1958 we left for Fiji where David was a doctor for the Methodist Mission Hospital serving Indian people. This entailed learning the Hindustani language. Our first two children, a daughter and son, were born there.
David, as the only doctor continuously on call, worked hard meeting physical needs of the people, but had little time to get to understand their spiritual needs. He felt helpless when faced with demon possessed Hindu patients, and could only prescribe sedation.
The work of Wycliffe Bible Translators and Summer Institute of Linguistics (W.B.T. and S.I.L.) was just beginning in Australia. Here we felt was a way of meeting people’s deepest needs – living with them as they live, learning their language and customs, and bringing God’s Word to them right where they are.
In 1960 we returned to Australia, and David found work at the Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital. In the next two years we welcomed two more sons. We became members of Wycliffe Bible Translators and in May 1963 we flew to Ukarumpa, the Summer Institute of Linguistics Headquarters in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
In the first few years while getting started in language work David was also the group doctor. In 1963 an allocation site was found at Wabunun village on a long sandy beach on the south-east coast of Woodlark Island off Milne Bay. Wabunun was home for the children from 1964 to 1972 in their house built of bush materils – split black palm floor, platted bamboo walls, and sago leaf roof. Daphne taught them correspondence lessons until they were 7 or 8 years old, after which they were in Children’s Homes for schooling at the Ukarumpa base.
From 1970 onwards the children all stayed at Ukarumpa for schooling, and we were able to travel around the language area, 150 miles by 70 miles, mostly on the big Muyuw outrigger sailing canoes.
The churches throughout this area had selected young men who came to Wabunun where we trained them as teachers of Muyuw, and sent them back with reading primers and duplicated portions of translated Scriptures. They all achieved some degree of success. Two of these teachers who were barely literate themselves had taught all the young adults to read as well as some of the older folk. They had established the church which worshipped together every Sunday morning – or when they thought it was Sunday, because they had no calendar.
In 1972 the Muyuw New Testament translation was virtually complete, so we moved to Dobu Island to help in the Bible Society project to retranslate the Dobu New Testament into modern Dobu. There the house had a sawn timber floor, bush materil walls and an iron roof.
From 1978 to 1982 we were settling our teen-age children into life in Australia while we worked as the Wycliffe Bible Translators representatives in Queensland. Every year David returned to Dobu to keep the literacy and translation program moving.
In 1978 our doctor advised against David returning to Papua New Guinea because of incipient cancer. It seemed David could expect about another two years of normal health. Our plans were examined closely but there seemed no need to change any of them. We also sought healing through prayer in Jesus’ name. Since then David has had better health then he had before. After such a sentence of death, every day is valued as a special gift from the Lord, and it gives an added sense of urgency to the task.
From 1982 we were at Dobu or Diwala Translation Centre, helping with the translations and doing literacy work. In 1985 the Muyuw New Testament was revised and reprinted. We travelled in S.I.L.’s new 24 foot boat with the minister, Rev. David Kuwab, who had been the main translation helper. We visited every island and village selling Scriptures and hymn books, and re-establishing literacy work where it was needed. Near the beginning of this trip the Lord moved powerfully through healing miracles and casting out evil spirits.
The new Dobu New Testament was dedicated in 1986. It is now used widely alongside the old Dobu Bible. Over 10,000 copies have been sold. As the Lord worked in Muyuw, he has also worked strongly in the Dobu speaking area, leading individuals and groups to renounce traditional magic and to trust in Jesus’ name for salvation and healing.
In 1991 the Bunama New Testament was printed and dedicated. It was distributed by three groups of three Bunama speakers who gave Bible studies from the new Scripture in twenty different villages. In almost every village there were people who sought the Lord’s salvation – older folk, young men, girls, school children. We were amazed at the many different ways in which the Holy Spirit spoke to people’s needs.
Preach the Good News, Heal the Sick, Cast out Demons
David describes a few events on mission patrols:
Muyuw Patrol, 1985
The 600 Muyuw New Testaments, first printed and sold in 1977, are worn from heavy use, tattered and discoloured. Some have lost their cover. People were eager to buy new ones for themselves and their children. Those who had no money traded canoe paddles, shells, ebony carvings, turtle-shell ear-rings, or baskets of food.
The main Muyuw translator Rev. David Kuwab, who is now Superintendent Minister, with his wife Dasel came with us on the seven week’s patrol by boat to all the inhabited islands and villages where this language is spoken. On one island Rev. Kuwab baptised ninety people and married five young Christian couples.
At another island an old man asked if he could take his wife with us on the boat to the next island where they wanted to get strong Papuan magic. Hospital staff had told his wife that the basis of this sickness was witchcraft, so they could do nothing and said she should go home and get Papuan treatment. All Papuan treatments had failed and they wanted to try stronger traditional magic. Rev. Kuwab and I went to her house and prayed for her. We asked if she believed Jesus could heal her, and she said ‘Yes’. So we helped her to her feet and started her walking. Soon she walked unaided doing heavy work in the food garden.
At the Government Administration Centre the wife of the Provincial Member for Health had been bed-ridden for three years. They believed this was from witchcraft. He had employed all the local methods to appease the witches and cure the sickness but she only got worse. He asked us to pray for his wife and we did so. When Kuwab asked if she believed Jesus could heal her he got a lethargic response. Daphne visited this woman to pray with her daily. She was improving, so the Provincial member asked Kuwab and me to pray for her again. After prayer this time, she got up and walked. We noted that she was quite anaemic and gave her iron tablets and advice on diet and encouraged continuing prayer and trust in Jesus. Rev. Kuwab warned them strongly against reverting to Papuan magic.
On our last day at Woodlark a man brought his mentally disturbed wife. Rev. Kuwab had told them to stop doing anti-witchcraft magic and to pray in Jesus’ name. The previous night they had done that and she told us she was now all right. They agreed to another prayer but as soon as Jesus’ name was uttered she screamed and stiffened and talked of bad things put in her abdomen by a witch. I rebuked the evil spirit in Jesus’ name and we prayed strongly. When Kuwab asked if she believed in Jesus she gave a definite ‘No’. I felt led to pray in the Spirit. Kuwab asked her again and she now said that she believed Jesus could save her. She seemed normal, though lethargic, when we left. She did recover.
One day was free to visit another village so the deacon took me there by canoe. We were not able to tell the people that I was coming, so the deacon and I prayed for the Lord to prepare the people. Normally they would have been scattered in the bush, in their food gardens, or at creeks and beaches getting fish and shell-fish; but we found almost all the people sitting in the church. One Tuesday each month they have a devotional meeting. This was that meeting.
They had just finished their devotions so they invited me to speak about the New Testament, hymn book and other Muyuw books. They bought them eagerly. Then the youth leader showed me their study paper on the Holy Spirit from a youth convention and asked me if I could help them understand it. So after a lunch break we went into the church again. I read and explained the Muyuw Scriptures about the Holy Spirit and they responded very positively. Many asked for prayer for the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
There was much sickness in another village, especially children. They have no medical help. I had few medicines suitable for children. We gave them what medicines we had and prayed for all the sick. As in all places, they bought New testaments eagerly. Many people came under conviction of sin, coming forward for prayer for Jesus to cleanse and forgive them.
At the Sunday service at Wabunun, where we as a family had lived and worked for eight years, after Scripture had been expounded Rev. Kuwab invited people to come for prayer for sickness, or cleansing from sin, or for the Holy Spirit. People came forward in a solid stream, some weeping. Kuwab’s own son, now a grown man and getting into bad ways, came forward with bowed head and his father prayed for him. Kuwab had never before prayed for people under such conviction of sin and desiring salvation.
After a Bible study for preachers and leaders the next day more people came forward for prayers. It took half an hour to pray for them all. On the third and final day, after a straight Bible study no appeal was made but during the final hymn people began to come forward for prayer, mostly sick folk who had been brought from more distant places.
West Woodlark Patrol, 1989
We visited the islands of west of Woodlark in October. After two days of rough weather we limped in with a broken rudder attachment. The Lord provided an ex-plumber on the island who had some tools in his village house and was able to fix it.
We really admire the teachers of the English Curriculum Government Schools. Through their work many children become literate in English and Muyuw, but as not all children go to school there are many illiterate teenagers and adults who now want to learn to read. To try to meet this need we trained 26 new village literacy teachers.
Four places with a total of over 1200 people were still without any medical service despite government efforts to get Aid Post Orderlies to work there. We heard that people of one island were saying, ‘You don’t recover if you pray but you will recover if you use magic.’ When we arrived at that island 80 people were sick with malaria, some desperately ill. All recovered with prayer and chloroquine treatment. The people of one island complain more about having no minister than they do about having no medical help. For most, the value of Christian leadership is rated very high.
As well as Muyuw New Testaments and hymn books we took Kiriwina and Dobu New Testaments for sale. We found that the Holy Spirit’s blessings are not restricted to one way of ministry or to one language. People from a number of languages live at the commercial centre for Woodlark Island. The new United Church minister does not know Muyuw but has a powerful and effective ministry through the Dobu language.
The dialect on one island was a mixture of two main languages. There we found the strongest church on all of these islands. However, a matter of concern is a prophetess who is visited by a spirit from time to time and gives confusing teaching, but she has a large following.
After we returned from the Woodlark area Daphne stayed in our house at Dobu catching up with household matters and weeding our yam garden while I did a survey of another area with Peter from Holland. He and his doctor wife are looking for a language in which to begin translation work. Family in-fighting which is worsening, destruction of villages, and criminal activities among some of those people are causing widespread concern. The police recently made a large number of arrests. There are, however, faithful Christians there in the United, Catholic, and Seventh Day Adventist Churches.
On the patrol we had hard hiking in rain and flooded rivers, then sea travel to return. I had been having intermittent malaria and some other problems, but improved during the patrol and returned feeling strong and fit.
Bunama Patrol, 1991
The Bunama New Testament is now with the people, and the Lord blessed the distribution patrol. Of the 600 printed only 40 were left unsold.
I went with the nine Bunama speakers in the distribution team. We spent two days in preparation, praying and studying 1 Timothy, the book we were to use for village Bible studies. Then we set off in groups of three, each group to a different village.
The emphasis was on teaching, and at some stage in most places at the end of a session the team leader or the local pastor would invite people wanting help from the Lord to remain behind. The manifold working of the Holy Spirit was amazing to all of us. Together with the local pastors we prayed in pairs for the people who requested help. Several times the boat captain was teamed with me. Two years before he was illiterate but Daphne taught him from a Dobu primer. Now he reads the Dobu Bible and his prayers were spiritually sensitive and powerful.
Even among the most distant of the dialect groups they understood the Bunama Scripture and teaching quite well and many of them responded to the Lord. They all had individual and different needs, and the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts.
In another place a team leader was hesitant about making an invitation and did so rather tentatively. Later he felt rebuked for his reluctance because many responded. He discovered the agony of soul of one woman who needed the Lord’s help, as well as seeing two boys of 10-12 years who had waited back in the distance but were strongly convicted of their need for forgiveness.
There were failures too. — After church one Sunday a number of people went back inside the church and sat quietly. Too late, the members of that team realised they were probably wanting help. — Often after uplifting experiences, team members and local people would sing all night. This was good for the local people but I felt it left team members unable to give of their best the next day. — Some pastors felt that hospitality required them to give betel nut and tobacco to team members, and most felt that good manners required them to use it. Three of the team members were smokers and most used betel nut to some degree. I feel that this drug can dull a person’s spiritual sensitivity. — When under pressure near the end of the trip I hurt someone by an outburst of anger, and my apology may not heal all of that hurt.
Half of the team members and some of the village pastors are people the Lord had touched in Dobu Bible studies as we have visited these areas in previous years. It is wonderful to see the Lord’s work being multiplied.
All team members spoke clearly against the use of traditional magic and spirit practices. This is a break-through and a key to the Lord’s blessing on their ministry. Ten years ago it was considered wrong to mention these things in church.
In the second week the engine of our boat was getting harder to start, taking up to an hour with the crank handle. So before trying one day we prayed and it started first crank. Next morning a team member prayed for the engine. It started by battery power just with the starter button. It has kept starting that way ever since.
The language used at another village was not Bunama and I was undecided about calling there, but called in anyway. There were lots of people about, and they wanted a Bunama Bible study. A team member led it and made an invitation at the end. I could see six young men hanging back in the shadows and listening from a distance. They responded, each with a strong desire to leave his old ways and be a true Christian. The pastor was away, but his wife was delighted. She told us that those young men had been a heavy burden on their hearts.
Our trip finished on the island where it began. They wanted a Bible study from Bunama New Testament and afterwards several of them bought it. The response for prayer was mainly from men aged 25-30. Some were so moved by God’s Spirit that they could hardly speak.
Woodlark and Marshall Bennett Patrol, 1994
This trip took three months. Revival is now spreading through these islands.
We arrived soon after a mission led by a United Church minister. During the mission at the main population centres hundreds sought salvation through Christ and were baptised in the sea, surrendering their equipment for magic and sorcery. One witch admitted having killed over twenty people, and she collapsed physically as the power of the Lord came on her.
Two local ministers travelled with us on the S.I.L. boat, continuing this ministry to the more remote places. Rev. Bili Wilson went with us to the Lachlan Islands and the eastern end of Woodlark. Rev. David Kuwab, co-translator of the Muyuw New Testament, was with us in visiting the rest of Woodlark and the Marshall Bennett Islands.
The people gave Rev. Bili Wilson and us their full attention for five days so we gave them the Good News and sold lots of Scriptures. They responded in an amazing way. On Friday I gave the main study in the church and invited people during the last hymn to come into the fenced section near the pulpit for prayer. That area was soon full and most of the rest of the congregation were crowding forward. Rev. Bili and the Pastor worked as one team; Daphne and I as a second team.
On Sunday people were invited to give up their equipment for doing magic, so after church the older men brought wood, gum, ginger, stones, and bones and eagerly released it to be burnt. Rev. Bili, using a metaphor, said, ‘If you have any death in your house bring it here and burn it.’ On Sunday afternoon Rev. Bili baptised 18 young adults in the sea.
There was widespread response to the Lord. Hundreds more were baptised in most places, and lots of equipment for magic and sorcery was burnt. Hundreds also sought prayer for special needs. One woman came to Rev. Bili Wilson and said, ‘This is my heaviness – I am a witch.’ Then she collapsed, and two other women held her on her feet while we asked the Lord to take away this evil spirit and give her the Holy Spirit.
We went to another island where the enthusiasm was the greatest yet. Older folk there, as well as the young folk, are very keen for the Lord. There was another baptism of many people in that area. Two leaders prayed for each candidate before their baptism. Afterwards the newly baptised Christians stood in a line and all who wished to do so shook each by the hand and gave words of encouragement or prophecy as the Spirit led. The biggest prayer need of the young people was to learn to read so as to read the Bible and hymn book. We prayed for them, gave them primers, and instruction for those who can read to help them daily in their homes. I also told them that betel nut gums up their brains.
There is a strong Pentecostal church in one island we visited. They had just finished a mission. They all speak Holy Spirit tongues and have no tobacco, betel nut, traditional mortuary feasts or kula trading. Whether they are right or not on these issues, it frees them to worship the Lord with such joy that I have never seen before. Their faces shine with a happy peaceful radiance. When you meet them along the road they talk enthusiastically about the Lord and his return.
They baptised 42 people on Sunday, many of them being United Church followers who will continue in the United Church. The United Church there follows the Pentecostal worship pattern in most ways. I preached at the United Church mid-day service. The singing praise session at the start turned into a congregational prayer meeting, all praying together. It seemed they would never stop!
We were delayed a day leaving there by a cyclone. Everything got wet. At least it was cool when the cyclone was around. After it cleared it was terribly hot. On almost every trip we caught fish including some big ones. One pulled my attaching knot undone and got away with the whole line. If you have any weakness in your tackle you lose all those big ones, and your tackle.
At the next island it seemed as though everyone turned to the Lord and was baptised in the sea. It was the same in two more islands.
Frightening gossip preceded us in some places. People were told that if they are baptised in the sea and then commit sin again they will die. Some people wanted to stay with the ways of worship and life practices to which they were accustomed. These people saw the revival movement as a new and different religion.
However, in each of the opposition strongholds ten to twenty people sought baptism and new life in Christ. One was a healing magician who found that after practising his art he had terrible dreams, so he wanted to be rid of his magic. Another man testified in church that he was finished with his various sorcery practices.
Rev. David Kuwab’s youth was spent in the midst of sorcery and magic. He dramatically explained the use of items for magic and sorcery and physical poisons as he threw them into the fire, shouting, ‘These are Satan’s things.’ The people showed no sign of embarrassment; just relief and joy. The young people sang praises to the Lord during the long baptism procedures. Mature Christians prayed for each person before they were taken down into the water, and another Christian prayed for them when they came back to the shore.
When the Gospel of Christ was proclaimed in one place a famous spirit healer was one of the first to respond. He was quite willing to give up his healing and killing practice. He told Rev. Kuwab, ‘I have only used sorcery to kill bad people, never good people.’
Spiritual hunger generated a great demand for Muyuw Scriptures. We had to get fresh supplies, and we still ran out of New Testaments at the last island. The new large print New Testament was very popular with people of all ages. In a population of some 4,000 people we sold 700 New testaments, 150 hymn books, and 300 booklets on Spiritual Warfare which Rev. Kuwab had translated.
The Marshall Bennett Islands at the end of a three months trip were exhausting. That is where we ran into opposition. There is no medical worker for over 2,000 people. The three main islands are flat-topped craggy limestone, 500-600 feet in elevation with no water supply where the people live on the tops of the islands, except what falls from the sky. There are few good anchorages.
With no medical services the people have depended heavily on healing magicians. On one island there was hostility between members of the church, and many were suffering from malaria, coughs and scabies. The plight of some small children was pathetic. We were carrying medicine for malaria and pneumonia but nothing for scabies. Rev. Kuwab worked hard to help the church leaders overcome their differences through the power of Christ.
Although people were resistant there, at one smaller preaching place 60 were baptised. At another place 20 were baptised and gave up their magic.
We had planned and prayed for the Woodlark trip for a long time. Since 1963 we have been praying that God’s Word would bear fruit among the Muyuw people. What is now happening exceeds our greatest expectations. To our Lord Jesus be the glory.
12-year-old Dante wrote this interesting biography of his missionary and minister grandpa, illustrated with family and mission photographs. Here are some of his comments:
Geoff Waugh is my granddad about whom this biography is written. He has done many things and gone to many places. These include Israel, Europe, Canada, USA, and he has taught church leaders in Africa, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Malaysia and every state in Australia.
Throughout Geoff’s life he has had faith in God. The principle that has gotten him through is “loving God, loving others”. This is also what he thinks is his purpose on earth, the meaning of life and the sum of his life.
Geoff hopes in the future that more people will turn to God and be with Him.
After learning about my granddad’s life in the making of his biography he has become an inspiration to me, an inspiration to do something good with my life and to travel the world. I hope my granddad will live much longer in his already long and fulfilled life. He has been very kind to me and to this I say, “Thank you Grandpa – The King of the Granny Flat.”
Contents
Introduction
The Birth of a Legend
1,2,3,A,B,C
Leading and Serving
Geoff’s Own Family
For Fun
To Infinity and Beyond
Geoff’s Thoughts
Epilogue
Some photos from the book – see the PDF
More of Dante through many years since he wrote this book in primary school
Class & house captain in primary school raised school support for Myanmar;
high school boys captain, assisted school chaplain
Captain of Queensland and Australian schoolboys volleyball teams
Annual trips to Myanmar/Burma on mission supporting orphanages
Singing, praying, baptisms on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, South Pacific
Leading worship in local church and park in Bellbowrie, Brisbane
Worship and speaking at university, where he was also president of Power to Change
Endorsement by Rev Dr L.A. (Tony) Cupit, former Director of Evangelism and Education, Baptist World Alliance:
No one speaks more authentically about a mission situation than one who has experienced it. That is one reason, among others, why Geoff Waugh’s latest book, Light on the Mountains, is such a valuable resource.
It was my privilege to serve in Papua New Guinea with Global Interaction at the same time as Geoff. I greatly appreciated his genuine love for Jesus the Christ and notable contribution to and love for the Enga people during the seven years we served together. These are reflected in this fascinating book. Geoff writes with deep personal knowledge and insight about the joys and challenges of mission life. He has collected valuable original source material and used it creatively to convey historical and missiological insights that needed to be unearthed and made available.
Anyone interested in learning about the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit of God in Papua New Guinea, and of discovering reasons why people engage in cross-cultural and linguistic mission work, would be well rewarded by studying and absorbing the insights this book provides.
__________________
Endorsement by Rev Don Doull, pioneer missionary in PNG from 1949.
This book describes those exciting days when Australian Baptists began a new missionary enterprise in 1949, the Baptist New Guinea Mission. We were motivated by a desire to fulfil our Lord’s great commission and reach out to those people just to the north of our country who had not yet heard the name of Jesus. As you peruse the pages of this book, which records the beginnings of that missionary challenge taken up by the Post-War churches of Australia, you will sense again the spirit of adventure and dedication which drove our churches in what has proved to be a wonderfully rewarding missionary task.
Geoff Waugh has done a wonderful job of drawing together the many threads which have been woven together to make the fabric of what we are able to stand back and marvel at as we now are aware of the activities of the Baptist Union of PNG.
Many hundreds of missionaries and many thousands of faithful Christians from our Australian churches have contributed to this modern missionary endeavour which has now exceeded the vision of those who commenced the task. We can now look back over these past six decades with much gratitude to God and see a vital indigenous church functioning in PNG in a part of that country still emerging from “The Stone Age” when we commenced our task.
Our world has now changed almost beyond belief over these past decades, but the task still remains of reaching the multitudes of people who have never heard the name of Jesus. My prayer is that God will use the story Geoff has documented to challenge our 21st Century fellow believers, to move into our modern world with a similar faith and dedication as that which was demonstrated during the second half of the 20th Century by our Australian Baptists.
_______________________
Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Pioneer Mission History
1. Beginnings of the Baptist New Guinea Mission
2. The Church is Born: the first baptisms
3. The Church Grows: community transformation
Pioneer mission centres
Pioneer mission development
Part 2: Pioneer Mission Teaching
4. Trails and trials: mission life in the highlands
Pioneer missionary teacher
Schools
Bible Schools
Return visit
Conclusion
Enga revival
Min revival
Related Biographical Books
Light on the Mountains is expanded from Chapter 4 (Mission) in Geoff’s Book
This autobiography spans 80 years of involvement in ministry and mission, especially in the last 50 years of renewal and revival. This is an Australian story, with global relevance. Accounts of renewal in Australia and revival there and overseas fill the last two chapters, with two other chapters describing pioneering teaching in Papua New Guinea.
See details, contents, photos, reviews and ‘Look inside’ on Amazon and on Kindle
Amazon Reviews:
Invitation to a Journey Review by Rev Dr John Olley, retired principal, Baptist Theological College in Perth, Australia.
Geoff Waugh’s life and ministry have influenced people all around the world. The story of his life and ministry will be of interest not only to those who know him – you will find yourself reflecting on your own journey with Jesus. Beginning in Australia, then Papua New Guinea, his invited ministry in renewal and revival has involved every continent. While he has written Flashpoints of Revival (recently updated) recounting revivals in the past three hundred years around the world and many books of Bible studies, this new book has a different focus, and it is an exciting and easy read. Geoff traces his journey from strong roots which remained the solid core of his life from childhood to marriage to active retirement. Here is a personal journey with reflections that will enrich the lives of all readers. As he `looked to Jesus’ along the way he was opened up to many exciting new ventures in Australia and into countries where revival and renewal is vibrant, changing many lives. Although a biography, many others are involved. Geoff’s journey is like a rose bush with strong roots and branches. He is one bud of many, opening into a beautiful bloom as he opened himself to God’s leading into an exciting journey. His reflections fit naturally, showing how his personal journey has relevance for others. A bonus is the appendix with full details of contents of his other publications.
Insightful, Inspirational, Informative Review by Daphne Beattie
An interesting survey of 70 years from his early life as the son of an evangelical minister, to becoming a minister and missionary and a leader in renewal and revival through his teaching in Australia and overseas.
Revival stirs both curiosity, excitement and anticipation in God’s people. Geoff shares his personal journey with humour and life flowing out of it, always directing us to follow Jesus’ example alone.
I strongly recommend this book and found it easy to read but at the same time it stirred up a deep longing in my heart to reach a more intimate relationship with God. Thank you Geoff
Faith Journey Review by Romulo Nayacalevu, Pastor and Lawyer in Fiji.
Dr Waugh’s account in “Looking to Jesus” demonstrates his passion and servanthood life, displayed in his calling from the pulpit to the mountains and valleys of the Pacific and beyond. His passion, zeal and commitment to the Gospel make Him a true missionary to places where we wouldn’t dare. I would recommend this book to all, the story of a man who is truly sold out to His King and Master – the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Waugh’s personal journey and convictions are a testimony to people like me who are trying to be available to God’s call. Dr Waugh remains a mentor and a friend and “Looking to Jesus” is the simplest way of describing Dr. Waugh’s faith journey. His testimony will challenge us all about our priorities and the true meaning of obedience. A STRONGLY recommended read.
Essential reading Review by Jo Ioane, Pastor.
I have been blessed to be one of Geoff Waugh’s students in the COC Bible College in Brisbane. This book was such a blessing. It showed how God has been such a huge part of Geoff’s life since he was a young boy. It was really inspiring to read the book and to realize all the amazing things God has done through Geoff, that he is not just a teacher on revivals, he is really someone who lives it! I highly recommend this book. We need more fathers in the faith who have walked with Jesus for so long and who have seen real moves of the Holy Spirit to share with us and encourage us like Geoff does in this book. This is not just a biography, it is a book that will teach and inspire you in your walk with God.
The Contents:
Preface: thanks
Introduction:Waugh stories – an overview
1. Beginnings: state of origin – growing up in NSW, Australia
2. Schools: green board jungle – learning and teaching
3. Ministry: to lead is to serve – theological college and pastorates
4. Mission: trails and trials – pioneering teaching in Papua New Guinea
5. Family: Waughs and rumours of Waughs – Family life in PNG and Australia
6. Search and Research: begin with A B C – exploring Israel and studies
7. Renewal: begin with doh rey me – charismatic renewal in Australia
8. Revival: begin with 1 2 3 – teaching revival leaders in many countries
Conclusion: begin with you and me – looking ahead
The author, an Australian Baptist minister, worked with many denominations including teaching Baptist ministry students in Papua New Guinea, and teaching Methodist and Uniting, Anglican and Catholic, and pentecostal students in Australia. Revival experiences include teaching church and revival leaders in many countries including in Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. The book considers implications of truly being one in the Body of Christ in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
See details, contents, photos, and reviews for revival books on Amazon & Kindle.
GOD’S SURPRISES Snapshots of God’s surprises during our short-term mission trips
A summary of Journey into Mission
Expanded from chapter 8 of Looking to Jesus God’s Surprises – PDF
Dr C. Peter Wagner, formerly Professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, author of numerous books, was President of Global Harvest Ministries and Co-ordinator of the United Prayer Track for the AD2000 and Beyond Movement. This article was published by Global Harvest Ministries as ‘Getting Ready to Sing the New Song’.
The River of God, by David Hogan
