Hello First Family ~ I just want to remind you of the neat opportunity we have tonight, August 25, 7:00 pm, to hear from some very special missionaries, Mike and Diane Chapman.  Here's a little of their story to whet your appetite! See you there.

~ Pastor D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Missionaries ~ Michael and Diane Chapman
Special Assignment Missionaries Serving in Papua New Guinea

Michael and Diane Chapman, Special Assignment Missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene, have been serving in Papua New Guinea since December 2007. After 22 years of living in Alaska, they left their home and jobs to answer the call that God placed on their hearts and for their lives to help build the kingdom of God in Papua New Guinea. Serving the Lord and following His call is an adventure that gives Michael and Diane’s life meaning. The exciting journey continues each day for the two special assigned missionaries serving in Papua New Guinea.

Mike was assigned the responsibility of Project Manager for the Nazarene Health Ministries. Currently, Mike has been assigned to the Melanesia Nazarene Bible College and Teacher College as Construction Consultant. His responsibilities continue to be teaching Papua New Guinea men and women how to manage the work site and develop construction building skills. His thirty years of working and teaching on construction sites around the world has helped him to easily adapt into the Papua New Guinea culture. His experience of running his own company to working with commercial organizations has been very beneficial for all the many variety of projects that are needed and still have to be completed for the Nazarene Health Ministries and Melanesia Nazarene Bible College and Teacher College. As of today, he has completed the new Nazarene Hospital that is open and serving 3000 Papua New Guineans each month in the Western Highlands and others who come from all over Papua New Guinea. Other projects that have been completed in the two years are: new hospital temporary sewer system, new hospital pharmacy, new volunteer Barnabas House (25 bed guest house), and Hydro Electrical Project Design for the hydro dam and plant rebuild project.

Diane was assigned the responsibility of teacher for the Missionary Children’s Elementary School. The children, who attend come from missionary families who live on the Nazarene Mission Station in Kudjip. The school partners with the Evangelical Brotherhood Church (EBC) to also teach their children from Kugark and Tamil Wagi. The EBC children are learning English as a second language. The total number of students varies each year 6 to 10. Diane is responsible for all subjects that are taught throughout the school day. Volunteers, who come throughout the year help enhance the curriculum and increase the time spent with each student. The students like to learn and work very hard at their assignments. After teaching in the public school for 25 years, teaching in the mission school proves to be very rewarding experience for Diane.

Mike and Diane are the Work and Witness Coordinators for Papua New Guinea and the Melanesia Field. They organize and host work and witness teams that come to help build projects. There have been five teams come to the field in the past two years. The goal is to have three to four teams each month, so that the needed projects can be built throughout the field and region.

Mike and Diane have helped and continue to work as a team with all missionaries to help build strong relationships with the local tribes and the Nazarene Mission. The construction projects have been a tool used to introduce and role model Jesus to the workmen and community. Each day begins with devotions and prayer given by a variety of people – local pastors, workmen, doctors, nurses, students to name a few. Mike and Diane have been privileged to speak in several local churches encouraging the workmen and their congregations to live a holy life through the role model of character that is shown in everyday life. Several workmen and women have come to know the Lord from the time spent on the work site, at the church, or in the village. Mike and Diane believe that God uses them each and every day to be an example of what the Bible teaches to live a holy life and to share the gospel with all people.

Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you. He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am Holy.’
I Peter 1: 13 – 16 NIV