FIJI MISSION TRIP REPORT

For many years we have talked about reaching the Fiji and the South Pacific Island nations, and planting churches there. After months of prayer and preparation, with prayers and support from Hope Brisbane, a team of 4 persons went forth to explore the land of Fiji on 29 October 2008 for 8 days.

Just like the exploration team that Moses sent to the land of Canaan, we too wanted to “see what the land is like … What kind of towns do they live in? … How is the soil?” (Num 13:18-20).

View Mission Trip Video

We wanted to learn more about the Fijian culture and lifestyle and understand the spiritual condition of the land. We went with fear and trembling, at the same time with great anticipation and expectation of seeing God lead us. It was a great adventure! Praise God, we really experienced God’s blessings, protection and leading throughout the entire trip.



Reaching Fiji for Christ

We got to meet a few key people who were extremely hospitable and helpful towards us.

Through one of our Fijian friends here, we came to know a key leader of the Methodist Churches of the Suva Division – a well-known man in Fiji. He was such a blessing to us. He shared about the condition of the nation and his heart to see Fiji won for God, especially the youth – the future generation. It gave us a greater burden for Fiji.



University of the South Pacific (USP)

We visited the University of the South Pacific (USP), where we met 2 key persons from the student union where we shared a great time of sharing and hearing their experiences on campus and their hearts to see the students grow in their relationship with God.

We also got to share our testimonies when we visited the USP Christian Fellowship night meeting. We thank God for guiding us and leading us to the right people. We also thank God for His protection over us. While traveling to visit a pastor in another town 2 hours away, our van went over a speed bump and we heard something fall off from the van. We found out that it was one of the brake pads. We prayed and thank God for bringing us to our destination safely as we slowly maneuvered the hilly roads for another hour.




Interceding for the nation

During the trip, we spent time interceding for the nation, did prayer walks and talked with the locals. We truly see that Fiji is a land of great harvest.

Although Fiji is predominantly a Christian nation, most of them are nominal Christians who hardly experience God personally. God showed us that there is urgent need to build the people with the Word of God and biblical discipleship. We also saw a great potential amongst the youth, who make up of 37% of the Fiji population. Fiji is a key connection point to reach the rest of the surrounding Islands in the south Pacific because of its central location and infrastructure.

Students from neighboring islands come to study at USP in Fiji. As we reach people living in Fiji, we can reach many of the other islands as well.



God’s heart is for the people of Fiji to come to know Him and walk in His truth. Let us continue to pray for this nation.

If you are interested to know more about our church planting efforts to Fiji, please contact:

May Cheung
Hope Oceania Mission Coordinator
Email: missions@hopebrisbane.com

Philippines Mission Trip Video

Philippines Mission Trip

Africa Mission Trip Video

Africa Mission Trip

Fiji Mission Trip Video

Fiji Mission Trip

HOPE WOLLONGONG: PIONEERING NEW CHURCH

Wollongong is a coastal city 80 km south of Sydney, 1½ hours drive, with a population of over 200,000. Hope Wollongong started in May 2008 as an outreach from Hope Sydney, meeting in the university campus. There are many oversees students here. May Chung, from Hope Brisbane, gave a challenging inaugural address. We stepped out by faith with a few people who had a heart to plant the church with us.

Planting Church in Wollongong

We have been very excited to see how God has used different people and trust in His faithfulness for continued growth. There are many people with needs and I believe God will heal this city. We are very thankful because we had brothers and sisters in Christ who came to visit us. Many mission teams came to give us encouragement.



God is adding people to the group

God is moving in our church. Now we have more than 12 commitments. We try to mobilize people to serve the Lord according to their gifts.

We would like to see a dynamic church develop. In the last 6 months we had activities such as Friendship Sunday, Hope Olympics and the most exciting time was the first water baptism and BBQ. Praise the Lord, at that day we had 9 visitors!



You are most welcome to come and visit us! Please let us know and check for the exact location (Kent 0415 032 940).

Love in Christ

Kent Hemninrat
Hope Wollongong Christian Church
www.hopewollongong.org.au

FIRST MISSION TRIP TO PNG

First international mission trip

This year, in early 2008, six people from HOPE Melbourne: Pastor Mark, Daniel, Haison, Yanyang and Jefferson (all from the city centre) and Rebecca (Frankston) responded to the calling of God by coming together and forming the first PNG mission team. This is the first time in ten years, that there has been an international mission trip. [View more photos]

This fulfilled the prophecy given by world recognised prophet John Jacks that the church will be like an aircraft carrier, sending missionaries to different places to do church planting. As a mission team, these six people came from different cultural backgrounds and nationalities: Australian, Malaysian, Chinese and Vietnamese. They also came from a diverse range of professions with a teacher, a pastor and IT professionals forming part of the group.

Mission trip preparation




With the excitement of this exploratory trip to PNG, the research work began. The information that this team gathered about PNG gave them a greater awareness of the safety and health issues facing them.

A lack of public health facilities means travelling to PNG involved a serious risk of contracting malaria, a serious tropical disease. Also the poverty in the country is accompanied by social instability. PNG is one of the countries that has been classified by Australia as a ‘no go’ country. There were a number of meetings carried out, with the assistance of Mission Coordinator Olivia Loh and the team were guided through the many checklists required to complete the trip and to identify the strength and roles in the team. There were preparations to be made such as: ordering flight tickets, booking accommodation at PNG, transport, food, malaria medication, vaccination before the trip, visas, budgeting of expenses, currency exchange, drama practise, fundraising events, collecting contacts to travel insurance.

Faith Challenging Journey




God has given us the key to PNG through the form of Ben. Although we had some contacts from PNG, they seemed inactive.

To prepare the heart of the whole church for this mission trip, HOPE Melbourne church also organised the first Islanders Sunday service and evangelistic outreach activities like witnessing to Islander students; that’s how they met Ben. He is the father of two wonderful children and his wife is studying at a university in Melbourne. One week before the trip, we still couldn’t reach any of our contacts. Based on the information and the limited details from their inactive contacts, the team managed, to the best of their abilities, to make the first itinerary. They planned to visit the biggest church at Gordon Town, stay with a few families to experience the local culture and lifestyle and visit some of the smaller churches outside of town.

Staying with Missionaries from different countries

It is really a blessing for the team to stay at Mapang missionary home at Boroko, PNG. It was a great experience talking every night over the dinner table with missionaries from different countries. There were some story-telling missionaries, bible translation and people from the Salvation Army in Japan.

“We are not coming to destroy the culture, by telling them what they should and should not do. But we are here to share the word of God and let the spirit work in them”, said Wally, a New Zealander missionary. People are just so passionate about God and gave their lives to serve on the mission field. “During the past 15 years, me and my wife have been living with a tribe, learning their language and translating the bible in their native tongue so that they can understand the Gospel,” said another missionary from the United States.

Sunday Service at Papua New Guinea’s AOG city centre




At first, when the team arrived at the meeting venue, they told the Pastor that they weren’t sure of where they were because they couldn’t see any building with any helpful signage or a big cross to mark the church. “We thought we came to the wrong place and yet we didn’t realise we are so close to the church. God really has a sense of humour.” It turns out that the church venue was just a small shelter with two big rusty containers and a few pieces of aluminium for the roof. The church lost their property due to financial difficulties, hence why the people had been meeting at this place for the past two years. Even with a tight budget, the church prepared three tables of food for the church service that day. Indeed, the team was so blessed because of their generosity.

Believing God had called the team to be there during this time and encourage the church, the team gave a message and a vision to give this church a new direction. We heard good news straight after the service with the church managing to find a new church venue. The spirit of joy and the atmosphere of blessing could be seen on everyone’s face.

Revival of the Prayer Meeting at PNG Parliament




The prayer meeting started in 1999 and it officially stopped during February, 2008. Khamis is one of the worship leaders at the AOG church we visited; he is also working as a reporter at the PNG Parliament. For the first time, the Melbourne Christian team visited Parliament and also:

• The first politician attended the prayer meeting
• Highest attendance for the past 9 years
  

University PNG and Melbourne Student Club Partnership Program



“We will continue to serve even if there is only one soul available; because every single person is precious in God’s sight, he loves every single one of us”

• Meeting with presidents of student Christian groups from different denominations ( we work with one heart and one spirit and support the programs regardless the different of denomination)

• Open air praise and worship and testimony sharing. (Provision of speakers, microphones, guitars, venue, and event were provided by the university. Additional support came from inter-denomination Christian student ministries)

• One on one outreach with students at the student hostel (A student accepted Christ)

Fruits brought back from the PNG mission trip

Through the 10 days of the mission trip, the team has been blessed by God. Our report back to the church is that the land is very fertile. People are responsive and open to Christianity and speak fluent English. People are hungry for the word of God.

The people in PNG are poor; suffer with health problems and poverty. The major issue is government corruption in PNG. God’s hand is on PNG and he has his mind on the people there. The country is starting to develop with investment flowing into the country. The mission trip ended successfully with seeds being planted in different parts of the country, establishing connections with key people and the team has gained a greater understanding of the culture and environment of PNG.

For more information about PNG contact

Pastor Mark Rusic
Hope Melbourne, Australia (Website)
Email : markrusic@gmail.com