From The
Mission Field

Living on the Pacific coast, when most Christians in California think of mission work our minds immediately go of the Pacific Isles. Scattered between Hawaii and Australia, north and south of the Equator, east and west of the International Dateline, are over thirty-thousand islands that make up 22 island countries with approximately 6 million people. Indeed, there are many precious souls and much to do in that part of the world.

Realizing the great need for evangelism in the Pacific Islands, the Forest Park congregation in Atlanta sends out missionaries to preach the Word and strengthen the disciples in the faith. In 1973, Robert & Mary Martin and family moved to Fiji to begin preaching the Gospel. Since that time, they have helped establish congregations of the Lord’s church in 15 countries throughout the Pacific Isles.

Additionally, the Forest Park congregation supports the Randy & Sharon English family as they live and work in Saipan and the Steve & Pam Vice family as they live and labor in American Samoa. Currently, the elders of the Forest Park church are seeking a family to move to Majuro, Marshall Islands to take up the work there.

In 1996, the brethren in the Pacific Islands started the Pacific Islands Bible College. The courses and instructors are carried to each island country where the Lord’s church has been established. Local brethren are able to take courses in the classroom and by video; there are 12 classroom instructional courses and 12 video courses.

The Pacific Islands Bible College (PIBC) main administrative office, storage, video studio, and production facility is housed in the building of the Fairview congregation in Stockbridge, GA. They have a staff of 10 Christians in Atlanta who give their time to this work. Since its beginning, PIBC has grown to an enrollment of 750 students in the Pacific Islands.

Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

They have 20 instructors from the States who give two to three weeks of their time to teach in the college.

As a result of their efforts, they are putting the word of the Lord in the minds and hearts (Heb 8:10), strengthening the souls of the disciples (Acts 14:21-22), and equipping local Christians to serve as elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, and soul-winners (2 Timothy 2:2).

Their goals are to further strengthen the local churches of the Pacific Islands and to join hands with those brethren to establish churches in the remaining 5 countries of the pacific region, saving more precious souls.

Their work is not an easy one and requires the help of the brethren both at home and abroad. If you would like to help in this noble and grand work, the most important thing that you can do is pray. Pray for the workers and for the local brethren that they will continue to abound in the work of the Lord. They also need more workers. Whether you go to help teach in the Bible College or to become a resident evangelist, more laborers are needed in the vineyard. Finally, such efforts cost money to support the workers, provide necessary materials, and cover the miscellaneous expenses that make such a work possible. The work is only made possible by the generous contribution of churches and individuals from around the world.

If you would like to help further the cause of Christ in the Pacific Islands or would like more information about the work, you may contact the Forest Park church of Christ, P.O. Box 1405, Forest Park, GA. 30298-1405. You may also contact Robert Martin through his E-Mail address at RobertFIJI@aol.com Ask to be put on their mailing list for a free subscription to their monthly newsletter.       FS