Australia/Oceania Archive

A worldview is the lens by which we interpret life events. As we are commanded to reach all ends of the world with the Gospel of Christ, it is important to understand that cultures foster vastly different worldviews. This variance shapes how people can perceive that good news. In this light, communicating the Gospel effectively begins with presenting it with these specific worldviews in mind. Anthropologists recognize that there are three main worldviews dominating societies—guilt-innocence, honor-shame, and fear-power. The region of Oceania is host to a diverse scope of these three worldvi...

The indigenous “wild men of Borneo” are called Dayaks. They are known by the river system on which each extended family community lives. Dayaks are animistic (spirit worshippers). The Da’an lived in the center of the island. My husband Jerry always had a heart to reach the most unreached. They were known at the time to be the most treacherous, deceptive, and fearful tribe in the western half of the island. Other tribes did not visit their villages. They would give a banana as a gift in which they had planted a broken needle point. They put a piece of broken lightbulb glass in Jerry’s rice. ...

Australia’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia, but because of its extreme location in the Southern Hemisphere, it is nicknamed the Land Down Under. The capital is Canberra, but Sydney is the largest city and also home to the world-famous Sydney Opera House. The highest recorded temperature is 123.3 degrees on January 2, 1960. Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of those in the United States. Winter begins in June and summer begins in December!

Hospitality in the United States is generally based on what is polite or expected, and on the idea that in our culture we must be accepted and liked. If you were having a guest over to your home, you would make certain your house was spotless. You would put out your best dishes and napkins and serve nice food. The guests would be expected at a certain time, and if they are not there at that time, you might be offended. We tend to judge other cultures by our own, which is a mistake. It is good to understand how hospitality is viewed in other places.

The Malay people originated in Malaysia but were scattered to other areas of southeast Asia during the 5th century due to their expertise and domination of sea trade. Another factor in the spread of their people was due to being sold and shipped as slaves in the 1700s. One of the most populated areas hosting the Malay people is Indonesia where their population is 3,317,000.

For thirty years, my husband and I ministered in Indonesia, a country made up of a multitude of isles. To help put a face to just one person who lived in the midst of those isles, I’d like to share a glimpse into the life of a lady who most people would think had very little in her life for which to be glad. However, because the Lord reigned in this precious woman’s life, her joy, in the midst of continual trials, was truly amazing.

A great event was planned on Sunday, October 14, 1984 at First Baptist Church of Milford. After weeks of praying and fasting, the church house at 745 Center Street was bursting at the seams with the anticipation that God would move on hearts and would do what it would take God to do. On that day, the Spirit-filled preaching of Dr. Curtis Hudson was God’s instrument of choice. At the invitation, many souls, convinced of their lost condition, came to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Among those who were gloriously saved were Bob and Vinnie Bartlett. Bob and Vinnie Bartlett came i...

“Please, won’t you talk? We want to hear you say something.” Aussie workers at stores, restaurants, and around town sought to hear the Kentucky accent of the American missionary. What might have appeared to be an obstacle to some ministering in a foreign land was transformed into a God-sent tool. As Hershel Case obliged his listeners, his easy way often took them to a presentation of the Gospel.

Our perspective on raising mission-minded children did not come from textbooks or seminars. It began in the pulpit of our own church where a missionshearted pastor hammered weekly messages of the importance of missions. These messages were both direct and others more subtle. Missions was a normal theme and missionaries were special people. It seemed as though each week we heard from or about another missionary. At an early age, our children were fascinated with missions due in large part to our pastor’s heart for it and his emphasis on it. We remember them eagerly tugging at us after yet an...