I tried to post this with photos, but the photos did not come through so now I’m posting the text and later I’ll try to get the photos on there.
The 18th district assembly closed the final service on November 4th. Nothing like promptness in posting. A frequent comment that I received and I agree with this statement is, “This is the greatest assembly ever.” No one attended from the International Headquarters or the Regional office. The field strategy coordinator called the day before his scheduled arrival with the news that he had a crisis situation elsewhere, preventing his travel to the Solomon’s. We were so looking forward to Harmon’s visit, but we our pastors filled in his preaching schedule. This is the first assembly that I fill rested after its conclusion. All the district leaders performed their jobs superbly.
What made this assembly so great? I am convinced it was a direct result of the prayers of God’s people and an answer to your prayers. Usually the afternoon workshop sessions of the assembly are not well attended, but not this year. We had the largest attendance of delegates ever to attend an assembly and they stayed there throughout all the workshops. The theme of the District Assembly was, “Equipping and Empowering the Saints to Live a Holy Life.” The workshops were on Spiritual Formation and a lot was drawn from the book “The Upward Call” by Wes Tracy et.al. We emphasized, prayer, fasting, Bible Reading/Study, and Accountability with others (Accountability partner, spouse, small group, and within the community of faith). We also held a peace-building workshop.
Our Evening worship services began on Wednesday evening 31st of October. [Note: We do not celebrate Halloween in the Solomon’s, so the 31st was just another Wednesday night for us.] The Wednesday night was for the Sunday School emphases. The district Sunday School/Discipleship Ministry International (SDMI) director asked me to preach that service. I had an object lesson where I involved the congregation. I first took two 4 year old children a boy and girl to help me. I talked about the importance Jesus placed on children. These two small children named Graeme and Sandreth were my ushers and they went to the audience and ushered to the platform other people (a male and female of all ages from young to very old). These were to represent all ages and people the SDMI were to reach and disciple. It was a simple message to illustrate that each age group has different needs and challenges.
Each ministry had a different service. The Nazarene Mission International was in charge of the Thursday service and Alick Hagi, the NMI President, preached for us. The presence of God was really felt as he preach from Mark 1:16-20 on the call of the fishermen to become Jesus’ disciples and the need to follow the right person, to have the right preparation, and the right process.
Friday was the Nazarene Youth International service. God blessed the service through Pastor Osborn’s message of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1. Of course during the youth service the music was way too loud for me, even after they turned it down for me, but I just need to get over it, or get use to it.
The District Advisory Board led the Saturday night service and I again preached. I preached a sermon that came to me one night in a dream. February 5, 2012, I awoke after having a dream and in the dream I was preaching this message during district assembly. I got up in the early morning went into my office, took down my journal, and wrote this dream that I feel was given to me by the Lord. The title of the sermon is, “The 4 Heresies of the Post Modern Evangelical Church.” This sermon has been posted on our blog if you are interested. As in my dream not many responded to this holiness message, but there were 10 seekers at the altar. I was thrilled to have 5 children come for prayer. In Solomon Islands normally children do not respond to the invitation.
Sunday (4th) we had an 8 a.m. baptism service where we baptized one young lady. Saturday night after service I went to bed without knowing about the baptism. Lois came to the Saturday night service. She testified that she was the “prodigal daughter” but even though she did not plan or intend to come to District meeting, but through God’s prevenient grace she came. She was one of the adults who responded to the invitation and gave her heart to the Lord at the altar on Saturday night. It was 5 a.m. on Sunday morning while I was in my office having my time with the Lord that the phone call came informing me of the baptism. We had a baptism service scheduled on the program but we canceled it due to no one ready to be baptized. We took two vehicles (25 or so people) to the Lunga River, the place where we usually baptize people. Upon arrival at the baptism site, I noticed a gate across the road and unbeknown to me, the people have started charging money for access. I drove up to the gate and told them what we were going to do and they opened the gate. I had no money in my pocket but they allowed us free access. We arrived back at the church, where the women were preparing to lead the worship. The 9 o’clock service was ready to begin when we arrived back at church. I went to the house to change out of my wet clothes and get ready for the service. When I walked to church I was met at the door by someone with wonderful news. “The church is really packed out”, then the pastor who was the usher added, we have saved you one chair. Pastor Patricia brought a powerful message on the healing of the lame man from Acts 3 and the altar was packed especially with the women. Her message brought tears to the eyes and really resonated with the women as the response to the invitation was instant. Then the final service last night, Pastor Jeremiah preached a powerful message from Romans 8:1-17 about their being “no condemnation” to the one in Christ.
The district assembly issued 18 minister licenses. As soon as the District Secretary tallies up the statistics we will know about the numerical growth of the district.
By George Miller
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