Baldwin

Back in the mid 2000’s, Cambodia experienced a number of years of drought. Many farmers borrowed money to plant rice only to see poor harvests and failed crops several years in a row. With no way to repay their creditors, many lost their fields and homes and were forced to live on city streets. Even with good rains, only one crop of rice can be grown safely each year, and many are out of funds and rice months before the harvest. Thanks to a generous gift from the Cornerstone Sunday School Class at Grace Bible Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH, the Christians in two villages in Takeo province of Cambodia have a greater hope for the future. The Church in Kpbaom and preaching point in Prey Pdao both received irrigation pumps to protect them from drought and allow them a second rice crop each year. A pump is needed for a second rice crop as the rains are only consistent enough to grow rice for about one-third of the year. A second crop will allow them some extra funds to care for their families, their churches, and move the churches down the road towards self sufficiency. – Rev. Mark Baldwin

From March 25 to April 13th, Dr. Pine returned to Australia and Singapore for ministry opportunities and to visit our missionaries, Rev. and Mrs. Ed Paauwe in Perth, Western Australia. This year the entire family was blessed by the generosity of the Covenant B-P Church, as well as many Singapore B-P churches with an opportunity to join Dr. Pine. Beginning in Singapore, Dr. Pine had the privilege of preaching at Life B-P, Maranatha B-P, and Sharon B-P, as well as conducting two seminars, “The Christian Perspective on Suffering and Bereavement” and “Growing the Covenant Family in the Fear of God.” Karen joined in both seminars, offering her personal testimony regarding cancer, as well as the role and perspective of a mother. Rev. Mark Baldwin was able to join the Pines in Singapore. It was a great time of encouragement and making of new friends and contacts for all. The Pines and Rev. Baldwin also enjoyed true Singaporean hospitality, as they sampled local cuisine and saw the beautiful city and sites. Dr. Pine’s also spoke to a mission’s class taught by Rev. Jack Sin; Rev. Baldwin shared his ministry with the class, and Karen described the type of work she does at PMU.

While Rev. Baldwin returned to Cambodia, the Pines continued to Perth, Western Australia, for ministry at the Covenant B-P Church.. While there, the Pines were blessed by many families in the church who opened their homes to them. Dr. Pine’s ministry included preaching at Covenant B-P Church as well as the Free Presbyterian Church. He also presented a seminar entitled, “Principles for Music Selection in the Church,” and joined other church members in a Christian concert. Karen, Chelsea, and Eli were given the opportunity to lead the Holiday Bible Club at Covenant B-P which was blessed with over 50 children attending. The theme for the three days was God’s power in the context of Paul’s missionary journeys. The classes looked at God’s power over opposition, in human hearts, and over Satan, demons, and false gods. Karen taught the older children, and Chelsea taught the younger. Eli helped with games and crafts. Each day also included a missionary presentation by Karen on the works of Miriam, Rev. Baldwin, and the Kims. Rev. Paauwe taught the daily Bible memory verses, and the young adults from the church led the singing. Ministering together in these various ways was a huge blessing to the Pines. They are extremely thankful for this incredible opportunity.

Oswald J. Smith once said, “The mission of the Church is missions.” Presbyterian Missionary Union was established in January of 1985 to help the Bible Presbyterian Church, General Synod, fulfill its mission. Throughout its history, the work of PMU has been focused upon advancing the testimony of Christ through the BPC. In recent years, PMU has enjoyed a growth in the number of “boots on the ground” on various mission fields around the world, for which we are grateful. Also, we have been serving as the “front door” for many folks as they explore what it means to be a Bible Presbyterian, or how to start a church.

In order to accomplish these ancillary ministries, PMU depends upon the gifts of God’s people. We especially look to local congregations of the Bible Presbyterian Church as the primary source for underwriting the work. We are also very thankful for the loving and faithful gifts of those from other branches of the Body of Christ who take part in regular giving or special projects.

The expansion of PMU’s testimony in the world has been costly, and God has been generous through his people. The work has progressed over twenty-five years to the point that now new vigor in financial and prayer support is needed to maintain the home and foreign missions efforts that have developed so well over the past few years. Still, the question begs to be asked: “Why should I support PMU?” Perhaps the best way to answer this question is through some typical stories from the fields on which we serve.

Compassion

Love for the Lost

Before coming to Christ and responding to the Lord’s call to the gospel ministry, Rev. Mark Baldwin was a successful engineer and systems analyst at GE. He left his lucrative salary and nearly all of his worldly possessions behind to travel to Cambodia in 2004 to serve some of the poorest people in the region. And he does not serve them at arm’s length from an ivory tower, but rather in their midst adopting their customs, learning their language, enjoying their food, and assisting them in their necessity in ways that encourage their dependence upon God and not men. His love for them is palpable, and it demonstrates itself in the fervor with which he applies himself to the “3-D” ministry of the gospel among them.

Love for the Church

In 2004, PMU began working with Rev. Khawlrokima to assist him in his burden to reach his native land of Myanmar with the gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly people groups that were largely passed over by other churches in the country. Starting with a house church in Yangon, the ministry has now grown in a few short years to twelve mission stations, two orphanage centers, and two preschool ministries spread across three of Myanmar’s states. The Yangon body is now a particular church with its own well-qualified elders and is actively working to evangelize the city as well as providing oversight for the mission stations. We share Kima’s passion to develop biblically qualified leadership, and regularly send professors to assist him in providing a seminary level education for the future pastors of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Myanmar.

Care

Of Resources

The world is full of incredible opportunities to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of people. Multiple requests for assistance from around the world are the norm here in the office. In many cases, it is not question of the worthiness of the project being promoted: we could spend our budget three times over and still not meet all the requests that we receive throughout any given year. But we recognize that our donors give to this agency because they entrust us to be careful in how the funds are used. Designated funds go to the designated account; every dime that is given for any particular missionary goes to that missionary’s account; great caution is taken to make sure that General Fund dollars are not squandered on items and services that do not advance PMU’s mission; accountability practices are stringently followed to maintain our financial integrity. And, we use what we have to strengthen current fields first before adding other projects, however worthy additional projects might be. When great needs arise from among our brethren in sister churches around the world, we require accountability for the use of those funds. Occasionally, some on those foreign fields take exception to our insistence of accountability; when that happens, the funds cease to go there. We will not compromise on good stewardship of the Lord’s money which is given through faithful donors.

Of Personnel

Staying aware of changing political and social “climates” in foreign lands and home mission fields is a challenge, but we take this duty seriously. Of course, the personal needs of our missionaries and church planters often shift in response to those changes. For example, on our largest field in Asia, Miriam has found that the only constant thing in that culture is change. Through the years as various crises have occurred in employment, government policy reversals, and opposition to her work, Miriam’s calls for help have been answered by changing policies to decrease Council response time, providing clearer parameters for independent action on the part of field personnel, increasing salary when necessary to meet a sudden need, simplifying reimbursements, defending her against brethren (true and false) who would undermine her labor, and making sure that connections back home stay strong. All of this along with doing what is necessary to keep bank accounts healthy enough to not only keep her on the field, but to help her thrive on the field. Caring for God’s servants is a top priority.

Commitment

To Presbyterian Government and Doctrine

In a day when church government grows increasingly congregational, PMU’s missionaries are standing firmly for the propagation of biblical church government regardless of the cost. In Western Australia, Ed Paauwe’s firm stand on Reformed faith and practice has led to the formation of a new church when his former congregation decided to follow congregational and non-Reformed practice and doctrine contrary to the church constitution. It was a painful time, but the Paauwes and the majority of the Session held firm in their commitment. Today a thriving new congregation has been established in the area and is already active in supporting missions efforts of like character in the region. We praise the Lord for their faithfulness!

Here at home, PMU is committed to operating in a functionally subordinate role to the denomination as a whole. All Council members, and all full-time missionaries, are members of the BPC General Synod as a matter of policy. We do not begin to discuss bringing a missionary or church planter on board unless they are first approved by a church Session or a regional Presbytery. We honor the discipline of the Church and will not subvert it by elevating our own goals above the courts of the Church. We work closely with our Presbyteries and local churches to identify potential church planting locations, recruit qualified workers, and provide such resources as may be useful in the pursuit of the mission of the local church. We are first and foremost a Bible Presbyterian entity that exists to aid the Synod in its appointed task of disciple-making and church planting.

To Like-minded Brethren

While it is not always possible to supply regular support for new mission fields at present, we are delighted to be able to serve the Church at large in occasional ministries that aim at edifying brethren who seek us out for training, counsel, and encouragement. For example, Dr. Pine, working with other members of the PMU Missions Council, has had the privilege of providing training in India on church government and biblical connectionalism as an aid to planting churches with a wonderful group of brethren who are the spiritual progeny of BP missions years ago. That training established a relationship of mutual help and encouragement that may eventually result in more concrete ties in the years ahead as the Lord directs. Whether it does or not, PMU has played a vital part in assisting these brethren in furthering their testimony in northern India, and for that we are thankful. Dr. Pine and other Council members have done similar work in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bolivia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Peru.

Occasionally we also have the privilege of serving the larger Church among brethren in other Bible-believing bodies here in North America, and we count it a privilege to do so. Ministry visits, concerts, conference participation, and being a general resource on a broader scale is also part of fulfilling our purpose for existence.

To Vibrant, Biblical Christianity

At PMU we do not believe that it is enough to have a presence in a community without actually impacting that community. Our missionary to Bolivia, Rev. David Quisbert, demonstrates his passion for a vital and visible Church in everything that he does. His days are full of evangelism through personal contact, tract distribution, radio ministry, web presence, and youth outreach. He takes advantage of opportunities to minister to the homeless and destitute in Jesus’ name, testify of Christ to national leaders in public and private, train others to plant churches around the country, encourage like-minded brethren in their work in various parts of the city and nation without jealousy, and participate in regional ministries that bring faithful believers together from all over South America for a united testimony to the power of the gospel to save souls. All of this work is in addition to the regular pastoral care that he gives to his congregation through the various ministry efforts of the local church in La Paz.

Watching David preach Christ to the president of the country one day, and kneeling down beside a homeless beggar the next day with a plate of food and a tender urging to Christ, we are reminded of the Scriptural admonitions to be ready to boldly give account in the highest echelons of society, and to live out true and undefiled religion in ministering to the poor. In reality, we have now come full circle: this is living out compassion for the lost in ways that are tangible and genuine. We are thankful for such missionaries as these who serve in our ranks.

How Can I Help?

And so our initial question has found an answer. Compassion, care, and commitment add up to an agency that by God’s grace is endeavoring to faithfully do God’s work in the portion of the vineyard known as the Bible Presbyterian Church and its faithful “neighbors.” We are here to help you fulfill your mission. But we need your help in return.

Previous sources of income upon which we built our current efforts were, in the providence of God, unexpectedly terminated in the past year. We have cut extra expenses, trimmed back everywhere that we can while still keeping essential operations going, made regular pleas for additional funds, and still find ourselves coming up critically short. We will soon be tapping limited emergency funds just to keep current efforts going. We find ourselves in the frustrating position of being unable to expand our efforts to meet additional needs that come to our attention. So, the Lord is making it possible for us to see his wonderful provision through his people once again.

Will you be part of that provision through committing to regular contributions, especially to PMU’s General Fund and the account of our Field Director, Dr. Pine? If you already do so, either individually or through your local church, would you please consider increasing the amount that you give? Naturally, pray with us as well:

· That the Lord will provide the necessary resources;

· That he will call people to himself who love the faith “once delivered unto the saints” and want to start churches;

· That he will raise up pastors and missionaries to answer the call to serve;

· That he will preserve us through all challenges to the work.

The work of PMU is vital for the ongoing testimony of Christ through the BPC in this country and abroad. There are many organizations pleading for funds, we know. Presbyterian Missionary Union walks in a unique and committed relationship to the BPC, and in doing so makes itself useful to the larger body of Christ as well. Partnering with you in the gospel ministry is the reason we exist: may God grant that our partnership will be fruitful for Christ for the next twenty-five years. Thanks for your prayerful support.

Cambodians love a party. Over the course of a year, most Cambodians will attend a number of parties, often fifteen or even twenty. You get invited to every friend’s, relative’s, neighbor’s, acquaintance’s, etc. wedding, funeral, housewarming, religious fundraising, etc., party. Most parties are held under a tent in the road in front of the house and feature food, music and dancing. If you are invited you are expected to pay some money, even if you don’t attend. If you attend you usually give more money than the cost of your share. At certain times of the year, the streets are backed up with cars because the roads are all down to one lane as the rest of the road is blocked by a party.

Since Khmer Christians – and especially their non-Christian neighbors – do love a party, we chose to celebrate Christmas with a FREE party for all who would come. We advertised, by word of mouth, the party and that we would be sharing the true story of Christmas. People came from far and wide, including a good Khmer pastor from an half hour away and the local village leader. It was very hot, so many stayed outside and looked in the windows during the preaching and singing time. We told the story of Christ’s birth through reading the Bible passages and singing hymns. Christmas, in a non-Christian country like Cambodia, is an excellent evangelistic opportunity.

- Rev. Mark Baldwin

As we approach the end of 2009 and look ahead to the coming year, we rejoice in God’s provision of all that has been needed for the work of PMU thus far. In His providence, we are also experiencing the effects of the economic downturn and the challenges of being committed to serving the missionary program of a small denomination. Some of our missionaries’ accounts are doing very well indeed: we praise the Lord for the abundant support for Rev. Mark Baldwin’s work in Cambodia. The Paauwes’ support for their work in Australia is also in good shape. Our other accounts need your help and prayers. Miriam’s monthly support is about $500 under budget. The Kimas’ support is short about $350. Rev. Quisbert’s support will increase next year as the Lord provides. We currently will need an additional $600 monthly to meet the Bolivia mission needs. The General Fund is about $800 short every month. And Dr. Pine’s account is in the greatest need, averaging $1,550 below budget monthly. All support accounts currently have positive balances in them, praise the Lord, and we are able to function. But those balances are not large, and those that are running at a deficit will soon be depleted without assistance from God’s people. We have cut our budget as much as possible while still being able to carry on. Can you help? Pray with us that the Lord will provide through His people so that the vital work PMU missionaries are doing will not be hindered in the coming year. Thank you very much.

Our Lord was gracious beyond comprehension as He enabled Dr. and Mrs. Pine to travel to Cambodia and Myanmar last month to help Revs. Baldwin and Kima in their labors on those fields. First, He supplied all the funds necessary to go. Second, He prepared the hearts of young people and parents from two different Cambodian villages to desire to attend (and keep attending!) a first-ever VBS program in the countryside. Over two hundred children participated and heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, many for the first time. Third, the Pines enjoyed the fellowship of not only Rev. Baldwin, but also Miss Miriam, who came down from her field for a “holiday” of fellowship and mutual labor with the children. The Pines and Rev. Baldwin were blessed by her help and company. And, the face-to-face opportunity to take care of vital business related to the ministries on their respective fields was of great value. Fourth, at our Sunday services in the village of Prey Pdao, a man who has been hostile to the work of the gospel there slipped in during the service and sat quietly through the message, attentively taking in every word. This man has been instrumental in hindering the work there prior to this, so we are praying that the Lord will use His Word to soften a hard heart and win this man to Christ.

The blessings continued in Myanmar. Miriam returned to her field, so the Pines arrived on their own in Yangon to work for about ten days in primarily adult ministries. Dr. Pine taught a concentrated course in biblical interpretation to the lay pastors of the mission churches in the Shan State and to interested elders as well. They were excellent students! The course was in cooperation with Western Reformed Seminary in Tacoma, Washington.

Karen Pine taught a seminar to the ladies of the churches on the roles of women in the church and home, and that seminar was very well received. One of the pastors’ wives in the Shan State will take this material and teach it again in her area (a village where foreigners cannot go). In addition, Karen did Bible clubs with the Yangon pre-school and the Mingala Children’s Home, which the children loved. As in Cambodia, the clubs were filled with Bible lessons, crafts, music, and games. The Pines also were able to host the children at the Yangon zoo and an adjoining amusement park on a Saturday. Dr. Pine preached in the Yangon church both Sundays the Pines were there, and the blessing of fellowship with God’s people in Yangon was incredible. For more on this great ministry, see Dr. Pine’s online blog at http://lenpine.wordpress.com.

The Pines are extremely grateful for the prayers of God’s people while they were traveling; for the hard work done by the ladies of the Grand Island BPC to prepare all the craft materials for the ministry (30 lbs. worth!); for the donors who gave so generously to underwrite the expenses of the trip; and to the Lord for His safe keeping and blessing as He demonstrated so clearly His presence in these wonderful works.

On September 23, Dr. and Mrs. Pine will take flight for Cambodia and Myanmar, where they will spend three weeks visiting with Rev. Mark Baldwin and Rev. Khawl Ro Kim and family. These visits will include joining in with the ongoing work on these two fields in a major way: conducting two VBS programs in the countryside of Cambodia, and training church leaders with a WRS course in Hermeneutics (Len) and training ladies in matters of biblical perspective on women’s roles in church and home (Karen) in Myanmar. The Pines will also conduct a one-day Bible school with the orphanage children in Yangon.
Please pray for the Lord to provide all the funds needed to cover the expenses of this costly effort. Pray, too, for safety in travel, and wisdom and excellence in all the many areas of preparation necessary to carry this off. We thank the Lord for the able and eager assistance the ladies at the Grand Island BPC have given for the crafts portion of the VBS ministries. Rev. Baldwin is expecting as many as two hundred children to attend! Miriam is coming to join the team and help with the VBS program in Cambodia. Please pray for her safety in travel and an uneventful return to her own field. The Pines and Miriam will be in Cambodia until October 2, and then the Pines will travel on to Myanmar, where they will remain until October 13.

Mark Baldwin

June 28: Olympia BPC, WA

June 28: Columbia BPC, Scappoose, OR

June 30 – July 4: Florida Church Camp

July 5: Lakeland BPC, Lakeland, FL

July 5: Grace BPC, Cape Canaveral, FL

July 7: Suncoast BPC, Palm Harbor, FL

July 12: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

July 12-18: Great Lakes Presbytery Camp, OH

July 19: Grand Island BPC, NY

July 26: Armor Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY

August 2: Wilson Presbyterian, Clariton, PA

August 5: PMU Annual Meeting, Bristol, TN

August 6-11: BPC Synod, Bristol, TN

August 9: Columbia BPC, SC

August 16: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

August 23: Tacoma BPC, WA

August 26: Return to Cambodia

Ed & Lehia Paauwe

July 12: Wilson, BPC, Clairton, PA

July 12-18: Great Lakes Presbytery Camp, OH

July 19: United Church of Springboro, Springboro, PA

July 26: Grand Island BPC, NY

August 2: Armor Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY

August 5: PMU Annual Meeting, Bristol, TN

August 6-11: BPC Synod, Bristol, TN

August 9: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

August 16: Tacoma BPC, WA

August 16: Olympia BPC, WA

August 16: Columbia BPC, Scappoose, OR

August 17: Return to Australia

This woman is a widow who supports her two young daughters in the Village of Pbaom in Cambodia. She has no rice field and like many in this extremely poor area of subsistence farmers she weaves traditionally patterned Cambodian silk for making sombots (a traditional Cambodian skirt) to earn her “living.” She earns around $25 per month or so from her labors, but $10 of that goes to the company she borrowed money from to buy the silk. (Which seems to charge about 100% interest.) On the remaining $15 a month she must support her family and maintain her house.

She is also a faithful Christian who comes to our church services every Saturday. To see so many hungering and thirsting for God’s Word and coming to hear every week really warms my heart. The plight of God’s people, though, weighs heavily on my heart and along with opening God’s Word to them I desired to ease their hardship in some small but meaningful way. The difficulty is that many “missionaries” have gone about establishing works throughout the area (and indeed the whole world) by offering monetary gain if people will convert. (Something to the effect, “If you convert we’ll help you out of poverty and make your life wonderful because that is what Christianity is all about.”) The resulting “Rice Christians” (for they convert to get bags of rice) often neither know nor care about salvation or the Savior, only mammon. It breaks my heart and limits what I can effectively do.

Having been working in Takeo for almost 6 months, I’ve had opportunity to teach and explain about this many times. When there’s been great need I have done some benevolence giving. (Someone is always sick or out of food in one of the villages in which I am working.) I decided it was time to do more. Since they are paying around 100% interest (which robs them of 40% of their income), I loaned a few of the most faithful and needy the $100 to buy a batch of silk, interest free. This way I can help them without creating a culture of dependence or greed. It’s my prayer that God would bless this effort to help His people and glorify Himself through it.

For more details (stories and pictures) about Pbaom, weaving, and the other work in Takeo province at Prey Pdao, please visit my website: http://baldwin.presbyterianmissions.org. — Rev. Mark Baldwin

Rev. Mark Baldwin is enjoying the new ministry God has opened to him. Recently, Rev. Baldwin was able to share the gospel in Pbaom, a village in Takeo province about two hours from Phnom Penh. Approximately 150 people from the church, village, and neighboring communities shared in a Christmas celebration. Following is Rev. Baldwin’s description of the event:

“Upon arriving, I found many volunteer workers gathered around the boiling caldron of traditional Khmer curry. Just like in the US some of the best fellowship at church events is with the workers laboring for their church. We had a blessed time with the people. I spoke my “broken” Khmer, and Socheat helped me when needed. We brought some “pigs feet” (a kind of slightly sweet, slightly savory, deep fried dough) for the workers, though it mostly went to their children. The celebration itself was divided into two parts, a service followed by gifts and food.

“The purpose of the party was to allow villagers who have only received bad information about Christianity from those who hate God and his church to meet us and hear the gospel. We told and read the story of Jesus and his birth from the Bible (from Genesis through Romans). We taught why Jesus had to come, why he had to be born a man, why he had to lead a perfect life and why he had to die on the cross, basically the gospel message through the Christmas story.

“After the service and singing we handed out gifts. If you remember Cambodian history, the Khmer Rouge killed about half the population and around 1980 only around two million were left. Today, the majority of the population are the children born to the generation after the Khmer Rouge lost power. As a result most of the people who attend church are less than 10 years old. For them we had bags of snacks. They were ecstatic as they almost never get to each such things. The people in Takeo are subsistence farmers and have no money to buy things. I was shocked to learn that many of the children never ate fruit (except for “rock apples” which are common but not very tasty) until I brought some for them! For the older women we had traditional cotton skirts that most of them wear. The gifts were thankfully received.”