23 Jul Lessons from Papua New Guinea

This week we had the opportunity to hear the stories of several Lapilo men as they share their testimony of the work God has done in their lives and the lives of their families through Joseph Osborn. We are honored and excited to be a part of God’s redemptive work in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In this situation, the role of Grace Church is entirely behind the scenes. We are not the local church in PNG, but through our partnership with the Osborns, Grace Church and many families at Grace have a role to play in the lives of these men.

The Osborns are not just another family out “in the bush;” they are a part of Grace Church just as we are a part of their ministry corporately and individually. Our decisions inform their ministry and their ministry should inform our lives as well.

So what can we learn from Joseph and the Lapilo Bible Study? We are all called to be faithful where we are. For Joseph and his family, they are called to be faithful to the men working on the mission base in PNG, their neighbors. For those of us back in the states, we are called to be faithful to our neighbors. Just like the Lapilo men, many of our own neighbors know only about “the Law.” Their idea of how to get to Heaven is based on being good enough and doing enough good things.  We must learn and immerse ourselves in the culture around us so we will be able to reach our neighbors in a way that contextualizes the great news of the Gospel for them.

In the Upstate, Grace Church is the local church so we have a responsibility to engage our community corporately and individually. This means we will have organized events such as Hands On Community Work Day or SimpleServing opportunities and organic engagement such as neighbors coordinating a pool party or a Community Group serving together at a nursing home. In all areas our purpose, whether explicit or implicit, is to communicate both with our words and actions the Gospel that has changed our lives.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul tells them: “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8) Through the Osborns our lives are now shared with the men in PNG; let us give thanks to God for the privilege to share our lives with people in PNG, Kenya, Nicaragua, Eleuthera, Allendale and the Upstate.