July/August 1987

Dear Brethren;

As Promised, the Cooks Island trip is here enclosed. A full report can be obtained by writing to me. This is the condensed form. Your prayers are much needed for our support and the needs as outlined in this report. There are many more nations waiting here in the South Pacific and your support would enable us to introduce the World Bible School Correspondence to them.

COOK ISLANDS TRIP: JULY 12-JULY 26 1987
Workers: Malcolm Pointon and Tobey Huff

Background: Earlier work in the Cook Islands is hard to document and the following summary is to the best of my knowledge. The first baptisms were Ina & Viana Samuel on the main island of Rarotonga. They were a result of Bible Correspondence study through the USA. They were baptized in 1984. After this time Robert Martin made several trips through the Cook Islands and 4 other people were baptized. The Samuels are the only ones presently meeting together, the other Christians are scattered abroad. The North Shore church in Auckland began grading the BCC work from the Cooks in 1986 at a request from Robert Martin who was then in American Samoa. Dale Byrum (of North Shore) made two trips the latest being in March 1987 with Malcolm Pointon (Hastings) and Taura Henry (Hastings) accompanying him. Just after this trip the Hastings church (NZ) took over the oversight of the BCC work in the Cook Islands due to their large community of Cook Islanders which was felt (and has proven) to be a great door into the Cook Islands themselves. Prior to March 1987 50 people were on BCCS. Just prior to this trip the number on BCC had increased to 140. We passed out over 200 of the introductory lessons on this recent trip.

SUNDAY: July 12- We departed for Rarotonga from Auckland at 10:20pm.
That afternoon we went out to the Samuel's house at Matavera Village and had services with them including the Lord's Supper. Before returning to the motel that night we went by the CICC(Cook Islands Christian Church-London Missionary Society) at Avarua and listened to them singing in services. Beautiful ! The Women all wear large white hats.
* The Cook Islands remind me of the East New Britain area of Papua New Guinea.

MONDAY: July 13- During the morning we drove out to Nootai Henry's church and met with a family (Kimore & Iva Pongi) who lived on Aitutaki but were presently on Raro attending a course. Malcolm and Date stayed with them their last trip to Aitutaki.
From 1900-2100 we studied with the Samuels. Very good. They had many questions. We went to the airport and welcomed Tim Hunt from Terrell Texas. He was traveling throughout Oceania during his summer break and was here to see the Samuels as well. Tim is Chairperson of Natural Science, Mathematics and Computer Science at Southwestern Christian College. We saw him in and off to his motel.

TUESDAY. July 14- We got up early to meet up with Tim at his motel. Maicolm and Tim wen, back into town to get Tim a motor scooter. I waited on the road for about 40 minutes. Malcolm and Tim came back and picked me up and we went on out to Tetikaveka to the CICC where Tutai Pere preaches. This is the largest CICC in the Cooks and most active. Tutai wasn't in so we returned to town.

On the way back to the motel the bike ran out of petrol. Malcolm went with Tim to find some while I pushed the bike on to the motel. On the way I stopped into a car body shop and was able to get petrol and give out four Bible Correspondence courses.

That evening we had a study with the Samuels. Malcolm and I were leaving on the morrow to Aitutaki and we left Tim with a number of BCCs to pass out and he was going to study with the Samuels in the evenings until the following Monday when he would leave for the States.

WEDNESDAY: July 15- We flew out to Aitutaki. We drove around making contact with previous contacts. We came upon Tiinorei Temanu on the road. He works for the Agricultural Dept. lie was immersed in January and spent 'the time we were there setting up appointments and accompanying us around. We first went to see Akatine who is the Headmistress of the primary school She is a BCC student and had expressed an interest in baptism. We set up an appointment for later in the week. Everyone is busy getting ready for Constitution Day celebrations for the end of the month.

THURSDAY: July 16- That evening we studied with Tuakura Tuakura's group. (15 present) They ask Malcolm to preach on Sunday. This group had made a clean break from the CICC and are presently called the First Presbyterian Christian Church. They are meeting behind a trade store and finishing a new church building. The many questions fielded after the study are encouraging and show their desire to follow the Bible.

FRIDAY: July 17- Visited with Taura's Auntie. Watched rugby in the afternoon with Timorei. From 1900-2215 we met with Jessie Jessie's prayer group. 40 present. Quite informal, women led in prayer. The children went out to separate classes. One person is studying the Navigator material. It was discussed by the group what material to use in the children's class and the adult class. The need for us to be able to provide good Bible base material from the children level through to adult was never more evident to me than here. We need to get a basic curriculum for the Oceania Islands. This group was close to a clean break from the CICC in March but has now digressed back into fellowship with the CICC. This was demoralizing for Malcolm and just emphasized the need of a full time worker.

SUNDAY: July 19- On the way to pick up Timo to attend services with Tuakura Tuakura's group my bike had a puncture (not my fault). Timo waited at his house until Mike could come and repair the tyre. Malcolm and I went ahead to services. There were 85 present, 35 adults. The singing was exceptional. Malcolm preached. The pulpit was set up on top of the billiard table. The people are a break off of the CICC. They don't believe everything the CICC teaches. They have a new building almost finished. They have a preacher and elders (not scriptural elders). They have not been immersed into Christ but see the Biblical need after our studies. I am reminded of Apollos in Acts chapter 18 who needed to be taught the way more perfectly. These people have the right thought but haven't gone far enough back to restoring New Testament Christianity. They are in the reformation stage. They still hold on to ways which are from the traditions of men (i.e. clergy collar, guitar, Lord's Supper 1st Sunday of month). We are worshipping in the back lean-to behind a tradestore. Malcolm and I spent the afternoon at Temanu Temanu's house. It was a rewarding time. The Temanus have been thinking out the implications if they were to be baptized. He is an "elder" in the group and doesn't want the people to get mad at his baptism. Many more of the group feel the same and thus he and his wife wish to work within the framework of their group.

I wish there was someway to convey to stateside brethren the depth of commitment it takes to be baptized in nations other than their own. Many times such as now the Temanus being baptized means that they would be the only New Testament Christians in the area. They aren't highly educated and they would have no one to lend moral support if they make a break from their previous religious group. The ideal is the establishment of the New Testament church but sometimes the ideal is not achievable without full time workers to support and encourage.
My suggestion is that the Temanus be baptized (they desire to be) and then work within the framework of their group to convert others even the whole group. Change is possible, slowly but surely (like leaven). To be in a saved relationship with the Lord is the first step toward the goal of a New Testament church here in Aitutaki. They have a new building and an organization which is in place. Much is Bible Oriented just not Bible named. They seem to be very open to following the Bible pattern. Oh, they need a full time man to provide direction!

One of my first duties when returning home is to find someone to come work full time here: (1) an islander preferred; (2) to train Timo and Temanu to teach others showing the groups the way of truth; (3) secure funds to allow Kathy and me to come back within 4 months to follow up (up to now no missionary wives have gone). Supporting an islander (Cook or other) would be far more logical than trying to support a white skin family there.

BLESS THIS DREAM, OH LORD! I pray for time to see these people grow into the body! I don't expect overmonth success but can see the potential here and it lies within these people to mature in the Lord if we but provide the initial 'walker' to provide strength until their legs can support them in their walk for the Lord: (Use me, Oh Lord! Don't show me the dream without reality)

THURSDAY: July 23- In the afternoon we went to the Takomo Theological College to see Lotia Nooroa the principal. He is wanting to change the church constitution to require baptism as immersion. The whole church conference was to meet the first week in August to vote on these changes. He doesn't see the need for baptism for salvation. He is wrestling with: If immersion is to be required for salvation why didn't John Williams teach us at first? We had a long discussion concerning various doctrines. He is very open to Bible Truths. We stayed for dinner and he agreed to distribute BCCs to all he knows.

FRIDAY: July 24- Met Tutai Pere, pastor at Tetikaveka. He sees the Bible fact that baptism is immersion but hasn't connected it with salvation. If the connection is made then logic requires one to admit those before this present time were lost.

SUNDAY: July 26- Left the Cook Islands with fond memories but a heavy heart.

CONCLUSION:
I want to thank Malcolm Pointon for inviting me on this trip. It is evident that he has a great rapport with the people and that they respect him highly. The ground work that has been laid by Dale and Malcolm is seen throughout the work. The BCC work has not been publicly advertised and is spreading like wildfire due to the influence of the pastors and leaders of the Cook Islands Christian Church. They all said that they want their people to study and know the Bible. Praise the Lord! The groups now seeking to follow the New Testament pattern are definitely in need of a full time worker who is competent in the presenting of scriptural truth. We need to get some Cook Islanders in training. In the meantime we need to find a full time worker who would be willing to go to the Cook Islands and act as a coordinator of the World Bible School. This same worker would be used to train local men in the Bible. Those local men who cannot financially attend an established Bible training school. My suggestion that this family not be white-skin is financial as well as cultural. Maintenance costs for European type families would be twice as much for island type. We could support an island family for NZ$12,000 (US$ 7200) per annum. The ideal would be to have them supported for two years minimum but one year renewable will work as well. This situation would only be desirable until a Cook Islander could be trained to do this work. European supervision would still be desirable throughout the program. Support for any family would necessitate travel expenses to and from the Cooks and relocation allowance and motorbike purchase. It would be preferable that this family be sponsored and supported by one church probably from the States but answerable also to the Hastings brethren as they art-, overseeing the whole Cooks Islands work.

Since returning to Tauranga I have shared my prayer for a full-time worker with the brethren. I also talked with Jab and Becky and they have now indicated that they would like to step out in faith and take up this challenge into the Cook Islands for a year. I don't know anyone more qualified then this family. We are now seeking congregations and individuals who will help support this family. This support would need to start in December 1987/January 1988 when the Mesas graduate from the Bible College here in Tauranga. My recent trip as noted was taken sooner than expected and thus we are still in need of funds to pay for my plane tickets ($700). The Mesas will also need a relocation fund of $3,000 (plane tickets, motorbike, set-up expenses). If we could start collecting these funds now then if wouldn't be such a large amount later. If the congregation where you worship would plan a special contribution toward the Mesas before the end of the year it would be so helpful. Please consider it! These funds can be sent through Highland St. marked "COOK ISLAND-MESA FUND".

In all that we dream, pray and work for, may it all be to the glory of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE SPECIAL NEEDS!

the Huffs