August 1997 —
By Gordon Lydic
It was one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” situations: an opportunity to be part of a mission team going to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to help construct an addition to the Goroka Baptist Bible College. We were able to complete the project in those two short weeks, and as we prepared to leave the campus for our trip home, I said to Bill Smith, one of the ABWE missionaries, “You know, I’d like to come back and teach here sometime.” He replied, “We’d be glad to have you come.”
“Sometime” turned out to be 2004. When I contacted Bill, he remembered the conversation and set things in motion for my wife and I to serve in ABWE’s Assistant to Missionaries Program (AMP). I filled a vacancy on the teaching staff at GBBC for the third school term and we partnered with the local pastors and the ABWE team as we participated in other ministries. We forged deep friendships with both students and staff during our four-and-a-half-month ministry, but we finished our term not knowing if we would see our students again.
Just one year later the Lord allowed us to return for nine months. Then we arrived again in 2007 for 19 months, just in time to see the class we taught in 2004 graduate. As the new school year began, my wife, Judy, took every opportunity to get involved in students’ lives and participate in the AWANA ministry at the church that meets on campus.
Although we were still novices in understanding the ins and outs of missionary life and the dynamics of the team and the culture, our previous experiences made our assimilation much smoother. The Lord gave us many opportunities to “fill in the gap” of furloughing missionaries by helping with field treasurer duties and the annual teen camping ministry on campus.
Our lives have been immeasurably enriched through these short-term ministries. As mission teams rotate through the furlough schedule there are many opportunities for short-term help. Besides the physical aid, missionaries are greatly encouraged to know that people are willing to share the load and blessings of ministry. Pray for guidance and ask missionaries you know if there is a way you can minister on their team.
Perhaps the Lord has been shaping you for a similar mission.
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