Captain’s Blog

Captain’s Log #4

PRAYER
Some weeks ago I asked you to specifically pray for our D.S. here in Fiji, Pastor Aseri. He wants to tell you thank you, but how? The response has been overwhelming all the way back to this island in the Pacific from across America and as far away as Southern Africa. Oh, I have had countless people drop me notes that they were praying but that’s not what I mean.

THE BATTLE
I mean the response from beyond the embankment of Heaven to those prayers of yours! You see, the battle is very real. You do not gain ground, you don’t move forward, you don’t win victories without there being battles, I am becoming convinced of that. One recent afternoon I had spent a number of hours with the D.S. pouring over problems and very serious situations until the weight of them was almost too much - I felt crushed, overwhelmed! Now, I’m not sure about you but I usually do this backwards and this day was no different. Finally I knew that I needed to pray. After some minutes I realized that I couldn’t just sit there with my head in my hands praying…    before I knew it I was down on my knees, so was the D.S. I don’t know how long we prayed, but God flooded in and filled that room and wrapped His arms around us until finally I confessed to both God and the D.S. that if this is the size of the battles that it takes to keep us flat on our faces at the foot of the Thrown, crying out to Him, holding on to Him, staying close to Him, then I guess He needs to allow the battles to just keep waging around us and the problems to keep coming as His Kingdom moves forward and we’ll do it on our knees!!

THE SOIL
We have Satan’s attention, there’s no doubt about that! Last Sunday Cindy and I and the kids were in seven hours of church services (These people do church different). In that time we were part of a wide range of worship, from what is called ‘items’ and intense drama skits to more traditional and everything in between. The loudspeakers outside were at full volume (the only volume known) hiding nothing of the service to the nearest ten thousand people. And inside there were enough people to make any self respecting fire marshal break out in hives, and eventually it was late into the night and there simply was no more room for anyone else to come and kneel at the front. These people are very, very hungry for what only God can give them!
 
I am continually reminded of my Grandmother’s words during the recent political crises here; “Harmon, God is preparing the soil of Fiji with a very big shovel!”

THE MOUNTAIN
By Monday morning before dawn, twelve of the Pastors and workers had gone away together for three days of prayer. For some of them this would be the final three days of forty days of fasting. This island is not huge, but anything toward the direction of the setting sun is called, ‘the West’. “We went to the West.” I was told. “To get away and pray. We climbed to the top of the mountain each day to watch the sun come up - then we prayed together - then we prayed alone - then we prayed together. God began to work among us!” I listened to story after story of what happens when twelve people pray for three days.
 
You need to know something - they are praying for you too. They don’t know you, but they are praying for you.  I have been telling them that one of our goals is to gather an army of prayer warriors around the world praying for them…  the Church of the Nazarene in Fiji… they know that’s one of the main reasons that the fire of God will fall and so now when they pray I hear them pray for you as well.

PERSPECTIVE
I think perspective can only be maintained with this kind of ongoing prayer. What are the battles all about? Who brings the victories? Where does our strength come from? Who really is the enemy? What really is the only thing worth living and dieing for? What is it that unties the hands of God and opens the windows of heaven and ignites a consuming fire within us that no man can put out?

THE CALL
The work of the Church of the Nazarene across the South Pacific, the Fijiboat project and JESUS Film - the task is daunting - the harvest is ripe and the workers are few - but the workers are enough to set this part of the world on fire for the Gospel if just one thing keeps happening. The Scripture is clear. The army of God’s children hold the key on their knees. We are calling for one thousand prayer partners by name. Preferably in groups of five or so. It will require a commitment that is not casual. If you believe that God might be directing you to be part of one of these prayer groups or even to lead one, then drop us a line and we’ll send you some information on how you can specifically partner with us on the front lines here in Fiji and beyond.

THE RESULT
And this week? What came out of a dozen people praying for three days, this week? Well, one of the things is the launching of another new Church of the Nazarene in Fiji. In Nadi (pronounced Nandi) on the West side of this island! Seen by them as a direct result of those three days of prayer.  Hey…   we need to keep moving - the end of the age is on the horizon and the ends of the earth have not yet been reached  -  we need you, Pastor Aseri needs you, the lost people of the islands of the South Pacific need you, join us!!
 
Harmon and Cindy
Schmelzenbach

Captain’s Log #3

A CHILD’S FAITH
Remember the nine year old boy from my last report? This morning I met with his dad (the one who had been vicious toward Christianity) he has just returned from the island of Kadavu. That’s where he was born and raised. ‘Pastor Hahmen’, he said; “I have much to praise God for!”  (now I am learning - anytime they start talking like that you take note!) “Before I got to the island”, he said; “I heard they passed a law - no new church! I prayed to God that HE would have to now open the door!”  “When I got there the people could not believe I was the same person who left - I told them what God had done to me, I said that a long time ago they had been told about this God, but to look at their lives - they had rejected Him.”
 
“I met with the chief over the 57 families who make up our village - God has been working on this chief (imagine that - thank you for praying - don’t stop!). I told him that we should fast for one day to show God that we wanted to get serious with Him. His village has many problems and he liked my idea and send word that the whole village was to fast for one day. No-one remembers ANYTHING like this happening before, that the entire village would fast for a whole day together.
 
A GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH
The day before we were to fast my grandmother died. This was not good because in the traditions of our people, at the death of someone food is ALWAYS cooked, a feast is ALWAYS eaten. It is very important. The chief sent for me and asked me what to do. I told him that the people were released from the fast, but for me I had told God that I would fast so I will fast. The chief said no - we have agreed to fast, we will fast. Pastor Hahmen something like this has NEVER, NEVER happened before - that at the death of someone, food would not be cooked! - no one breaks these customs.
 
During that day Satan tried once more - people came to do business and the chief called me again. Money could be lost, money they really needed. I told the chief that I would send them away until the fast was over. I could not believe it, the chief agreed and sent them away. Pastor Hahmen, you need to know that these things NEVER, NEVER happen!” ( I said; I think when armies of people pray, things that never, never happen - happen).
 
A GOD WHO IGNORES?
“The day after the fast the men were going fishing. Pastor Hahmen, they always struggle with their fishing. The fish they usually catch are small and they must go some distance to catch them. I told them that God would honor them, God would bless them, God would not ignore what they had done in His name and I prayed for them as the men were getting ready to go. Within a few feet of the shore something was happening. The men and boys began to pull out the fish. The fish were so many that they were reaching into the water and pulling them out with baskets and even just their hands. More fish than you have ever seen. More fish than anyone had ever seen. GOD BE PRAISED! The people could not believe this was happening! Out of the 57 families, everyone had 10 or 12 fish to eat. No person there had ever seen such a thing! Not our parents! Not our grandparents! No-one knew anyone who had EVER seen such a thing! There was only one explanation - GOD WAS NOT IGNORING THEM!! 
 
OF OPEN DOORS
I met with the chief and prayed with him and we talked about what God had done and what God wants to do. Pastor Hahmen the door for the Church of the Nazarene is now standing open. God has opened it! GOD BE PRAISED! My family has a piece of land there and we would give it, (land is a precious thing NEVER given away) When I go back now, can I take some roofing iron? (sheets of tin for making roofs), we will cut some wood and make poles. If we have the iron we could put it on top and this can be the beginning of the Church of the Nazarene on the island of Kadavu?
 
I AM THAT I AM
What a humbling privilege to work alongside people like this and join them in prayer with people like you. I’m going to keep telling them that you and I will stand with them. We’ll back them up, on our knees with all that we are and whatever happens we’ll NEVER stop praying!     Can you see what I see? That’s the nail scarred hand of God pointing out in front of you and me. Do you see what He’s doing? He started it a long, long time ago…  You see He’s still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And He’s still the One who walked the shores of Galilee and what He’s doing is multiplying the fish again…    He’s feeding the people who are hungry once more with food that will last forever. He is the GREAT I AM, and those scars on His hands are for you and me and the people of Fiji and beyond.
 
NO NO NO NO - GOD’S NOT DEAD
HE IS ALIVE!!
Harmon Schmelzenbach