Baldwin

The Baldwins praise the Lord for new mothers attending their special Mother’s Day service. Pray that God will work in the lives of these women and their children.

The Baldwins

One of the most common, standard, ingredients in almost all Khmer dishes, after fish sauce of course, is palm sugar.  It has a strong flavor that some find unpleasant but is very sweet and locally made.  The sugar palm tree (Asian Palmyra palm) is well suited to survive Cambodia’s very dry “dry season” and can live for 100 years.  The leaves are used for thatching, mats, baskets, fans, hats, umbrellas and even wall panels amongst other things. The stalks the leaves grow on are tough and used for fence posts, shovels, and also to produce a strong, wiry fiber suitable for items like cords and brushes.  The fruit (jellies) is eaten fresh.  The sap, which is collected much like Sugar Maple tree sap, is good to drink fresh from the tree, but the villagers use most of it to make palm sugar, vinegar or wine.  The sap naturally ferments and within 2 hours of collection is already at 4% and gets stronger over time. After a day or so it starts turning to vinegar.  Palm (and rice) wine is available commercially (distilled) at up to 40% alcohol for about $1/liter.   This virtually free, homemade source of alcohol has a terrible effect on rural society where drunkenness, especially in the long down time between planting and harvesting, is common.  We had an elderly couple visit our church, and the woman was upset and concerned because her husband (who was drunk and cried during the sermon) had been drunk for three weeks straight.  I counseled and evangelized them as best I could and tried to encourage him to get sober which he did for a time but, without divine intervention, he went straight back to wallowing in his drink.  This is a sadly common story here.

I’ve noticed Khmer villagers tend to fall into one of three broad categories.  There are those who are industrious and diligent, working productively either in their rice fields or in the other seasons on a loom or some other business.  They tend to get ahead, have strong houses, numerous animals and often a vegetable garden.  Secondly there are those who work hard in the fields but only do limited work other than rice farming.  Most of these won’t grow vegetables around their homes and tend not to have many animals, not even chickens because they get hungry in the lean months before the harvest, and they eat their laying hens.  They tend to be very poor and struggle to keep their home in livable condition.  The third group mostly lives off the first two.  They tend to get into mischief, be drunk a lot, and are despised by their families and neighbors.  They borrow food and, when they can get it, money from family and neighbors.  Khmer society allows for this.

Please pray for our Christian brethren here to move from the second category to the first and be “a lamp on its stand.” — Rev. Mark Baldwin

In a tiny, impoverished and mostly under-educated village in the Cambodian countryside there lives a godly Christian convert. Out of love for God and his Savior he studied hard and took a “Bible” program of several months in length in Phnom Penh. He also donated land on which to build a church for his community. This was at considerable sacrifice as, like most villagers, he has never had enough farmland to feed his family. Sadly, in time, the Khmer “pastor” left in charge by foreign missionaries was forced to flee from accusations of embezzling funds and adultery. The church closed, and the man worked to support his family by doing construction jobs in the city. It was 2 years later that PMU became involved in teaching and preaching the gospel in the area and, after a time, at the invitation of the building’s owner, moved from meeting under a house to the abandoned church building. In the two years since then we have made many repairs and improvements to the facilities owned by this Christian, and the preaching point there has flourished.

The corrupt, false pastor learned there was money to be had and started showing up with an oversized “body guard” (really a thug) trying to find a way to profit from us. He eventually went to the government and secured their help through various, nefarious means. They summoned the property owner repeatedly and finally presented him with paperwork to sign giving the false pastor the right to register the “church” with the government. The Christian tried to delay until we were there; he tried to defend himself and his family; he did “his best” in an impossible situation. The false pastor insisted, and the local leaders agreed, that our services were illegal and that, if they didn’t fix it immediately, the Christian leader would be thrown in jail. The false pastor (allegedly) also threatened the safety of the Christian leader, his family, and the missionary (me). Finally, in fear and trembling, the Christian property owner signed away some of the church’s rights.

I was, of course, greatly grieved. I spent an hour talking with the leaders of the community and this false pastor trying to undo the damage. I was polite and diplomatic but firm. In the end I had to emphatically state that, while this non-Christian, false pastor was welcome to come any time and hear the gospel, I could not allow him to interfere with the ministry or profit in any way from it. I had to repeatedly and firmly explain that I would leave town or even go to jail rather than forsake and offend my God like that. The government people assured me the false pastor could not interfere, and they wanted me to stay. The village leader actually pleaded with me to stay in his community and spoke many encouraging words at my wedding several months later.

In preaching a series “From Creation to Christ,” I have many times taught about Israel’s consistent apostasies and especially how men often bowed to pressure and did what’s wrong due to the “fear of man.” I regularly stressed the idea of “cross bearing” and the expectation of persecution for all Christians. I have often drawn parallels to our lives while not mentioning this particular problem.

Many months later the false pastor returned and wanted to put up a sign with his name on the church building. I had learned his US financial backers were coming and wanted to see what they’d been funding for the last decade! I insisted we couldn’t do it. The local Christian leader was very worried because this false pastor was making all the usual threats including insisting he had the right due to the paperwork he had forced the Christian to sign. He said the village leader would seize the property, kick me out, and bring the police along to force him to allow the sign to go up. He also threatened arrest and imprisonment claiming it was his property now, and we were breaking the law. I insisted the local Christian leader stand strong and be brave and face whatever consequences came his way because of his faith. We also prayed in the services for our great God’s protection.

We learned from the village leader that this man had tried to get him to sign paperwork and complaints against us, but the leader had refused. The false pastor wants to seize the property, give the owner $1,000, and then sell it to me for $7,000 (apparently offering to share the proceeds with those who help him). This wicked man had also tried to get the ministry of cults behind him and failed. He then tried to hire the police to come with him and failed. Finally, he brought the sign and hired workers to put it up, but the Christian who owns the property told them to stop, and they left. The Christian leader, his family, and the church (preaching point) members were ecstatic. They never believed they could prevail. Emboldened by this victory in Christ, they circulated a petition amongst the membership denouncing the false pastor and what he does and asking his supporters to stop him. They translated it and plan to give it to the foreign donors should they show up.

It’s a great encouragement to see people growing and developing “backbones,” being willing to suffer loss and even imprisonment for their faith. Their trust in God and knowledge of Him is growing together step by beautiful step. They aren’t exactly “Nehemiahs” but they are trusting and rejoicing in God’s greatness.

¹⁰ Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” ¹¹ But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” ¹² And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. ¹³ For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. (Nehemiah 6:10-13)

Many Cambodians, especially in areas like Kpbaom, live in abject poverty.  Many head off to factories to work and visit home only on occasional weekends.  Others take foreign jobs as maids in places like Malaysia or the Middle East, sometimes with tragic results.   This story is a bit different.

Seventeen year old Vouthia is an intelligent, hardworking young man who has been faithfully attending our services since the beginning.  In spite of living in a very poor rural area, he has maintained good grades and even managed to learn a fair amount of English.  All that is in jeopardy now.  After a month alone Vouthia (the eldest of four children) told the local church leader his story.  After much fighting with their father, their mother finally left for Malaysia on a two year contract to work as a maid.  Their Father abandoned them shortly thereafter.  He has been going to the fields after school to hunt for field crabs and collect some wild vegetables (bitter herbs) to feed himself and his three siblings.  They also beg neighbors and family for some rice as theirs has now run out.  With the hot, dry season coming these sources of food will shortly disappear.

They don’t want their mom to know as it would break her heart and there’s probably nothing she could do about it.  She has to serve her two year contract to get her return plane ticket.

Please pray for:

• The children’s safety
• Their mother’s peace
• Their father to return and do what’s right.
• Our (the church’s) wisdom to know how to help without hurting.
• For Wiwin and me  as it breaks our hearts.

Rev. Mark Baldwin

February was the time to give my passport a workout as I visited all our mission stations in ASEAN. Though I’d been to all the fields before (except Australia) this was my first visit as the International Field Director. As such, my main goal was to evaluate and  facilitate a long range planning process with each field and subsequently with the Missions Council. The trip was also helpful for me as I seek to faithfully represent and counsel our missionaries on the field. Each field presents its own unique blessings and benefits. At the same time, changes take place at least as quickly there as here at home.

The work in Cambodia has certainly flourished since my last visit. Mark is no longer working alone or exclusively in the capital. Joined by his enthusiastic new bride (WiWin), the Baldwins are actively preaching the gospel to hundreds, every week end, in the villages of Prey Pdao and Kpbaom.  This summer they will be joined by Team Timothy who will hold Bible Schools and help in other aspects of ministry. Keep the newlyweds and their work in your prayers; where God is working, the enemy does not slumber. Opposition, however, does not always come from outside the church and there are false  shepherds that would harry the flock in Cambodia as well as America. Please uphold Mark and WiWin in your prayers as they labor to acquire proficiency in Khmer.

God graciously allowed me to make a stop in Myanmar as well. Though not part of the itinerary as we started planning this trip, Rev. Kima has had a goal of encouraging fellowship among likeminded  reformed ministries in the Golden Kingdom.  The Reformed Faith Fellowship of Myanmar held its organizational meeting,  and I was invited to bring the message. It was a joy to see the work develop. The previous day we met for the first session meeting of the Yangon church. Reports were received from all five missions works, the newest of which, Thinglei in the Chin state, has an average attendance of 81 and has been gathering all the materials needed to build a church. Maiwte, Kima’s wife, will be making the 4 day journey to provide training for the workers there. On Sunday I was able to preach at the Yangon church service and participate in ordaining two new elders for the congregation.

Heading to Australia required a stopover somewhere, so I was glad to be able to meet friends in Singapore who have partnered with us in ministry. Increasingly, our churches are joined together in missions, education and church planting. We look forward to assisting one another in the Lord’s work.

My final stop was in Australia. My first visit to the continent wasn’t to see local wildlife, but to visit our veteran missionaries, the Paauwes, and praise the Lord for the mature congregation that is taking form there. It was a great joy to meet a good number of the congregation and to speak to them about Biblical counseling. Though counseling was the assigned topic we spent just as much time talking about Myanmar. The church in Perth is deeply interested in the ministry in Myanmar, supporting them financially as well as by sending teams to minister in Yangon. The Paauwe’s were also deeply interested in making sure I met a wallaby up close and personal. Ed & Lehia look forward to drawing their fulltime career on the field to a close and retiring in Australia at the end of 2012. They plan to come home and visit their supporting churches sometime after that. Please be in prayer for Covenant Bible Presbyterian Church as they engage in the pastoral search process and for the Paauwes as they prepare for a new phase of life and ministry. They intend to move to Adelaide to reside near their daughter and her family and to be available to serve short term when and where needed.

This has been a great trip primarily because the Lord continues to allow me the privilege of serving some of His choice servants.  — Rev. Kevin M. Backus, PhD.

Rev. Mark Baldwin, PMU missionary to Cambodia, and Wiwin Sunarto were wed on October 29, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The ceremony went extremely well.  About 90 were in attendance, family members, many from the villages where Mark has been working, and a large number of folks he has been able to make acquaintance with in Phnom Penh. Most had never been to a Christian wedding, and most had never heard the connection of the love of Christ for his church with the human institution of marriage. Mark and Wiwin desired that their wedding be an obvious picture of Christ’s love for His people and a true evangelistic outreach. Dr. Pine officiated and preached from Ephesians 5. It was a great testimony, and the Lord really moved in people’s hearts through it. Both village leaders came, and both publicly commented on the marvel of the love of God; neither is a Christian.

The Baldwins left for their honeymoon that evening, and Dr. Pine covered for Mark the next day out at the villages. There, around 550 were in attendance between the two villages. It was incredible to see how God has grown those ministries since last November. Mark has a good crew of young people (all in their 20s) who assist him. They do most of the work of music, games, etc., while Mark does the teaching. Dr.  Pine enjoyed watching them work.  They are a great asset to Mark’s work, and now Wiwin will join in helping in those ministries as well.   Please keep this couple in your prayers as they labor to spread the gospel in Cambodia.

The year 2010 has been momentous, to say the least! Moving the office to Idaho, more travel in the past year than ever, a new missionary in Asia, a new US church plant, a wedding in Cambodia; the list just keeps going. And all of this while the economy has wreaked havoc around the country and the world. We are thankful for the funds the Lord has provided for us, for our faithful donors, and for the Lord’s goodness in all.

As we look forward to the year ahead, it’s going to be another busy one. The fields overseas are expanding, especially in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bolivia. The new mission church in Idaho is already taking aim at becoming a particular church in the BPC. Team Timothy ministries will visit Cambodia and Canada for the first time in each country. In short, there are huge opportunities for spreading the gospel light of the Lord Jesus Christ through our various fields of mission. Will you help us? The General Fund, which is so necessary for the functioning of our administrative staff and office, is desperately in need of additional supporters because it is nearly depleted, and existing regular donations are insufficient to meet the 2011 budget.  Our new field partner, Miss Sarah Miller, needs $3,000 to cover her insurance and retirement account budget for 2011. Rev. and Mrs. Mark Baldwin need additional support to cover the costs of keeping a couple on the field. Revs. Kima and Quisbert are still not funded 100%. The Pines in Idaho are tapping into the church planting fund, and Mrs. Pine is now PMU’s full-time Office Manager, with a requisite increase in her compensation (out of the General Fund). We are trusting in our Lord to provide what is needed through His people.

On the back page of this month’s Banner you’ll find a form with all of our support opportunities laid out for you. Will you be a part of the ministry of PMU this coming year with your prayers and financial gifts? May God richly bless you as you do so. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year!

“He that finds a wife, finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD,” Proverbs 18:22. Rejoice with us! Rev. Mark Baldwin, missionary to Cambodia, has indeed found a wife. Miss Wiwin Sunarto of Indonesia and Singapore will become Mark’s bride on October 29, 2010. Miss Sunarto will, of course, join Mark in the work in Cambodia. She is an experienced youth and missions worker and will be a great blessing to Mark in the ever expanding ministry in the land of Cambodia. Dr. Pine will travel to Cambodia to perform the ceremony, and your prayers will be appreciated for all aspects of the preparations and the marriage to come.  Please also remember the increased support that will be necessary for the couple’s ministry!

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.