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In 2003, after 42 years of ministry on Guam
and surrounding islands, World Missions was able to hand over the
work to people on Guam. It was an exciting development and an exciting
conclusion to four decades of ministry. Neil and Janie-Lou Culbertson,
partner missionaries with CRWM, will continue their duties with
Faith Presbyterian and Christian Reformed Church in Guam.
Mission History
Rev. Lynn Wade of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church began a ministry
on Guam in 1956 when the island was still governed by the U.S. Navy.
Christian Reformed World Missions inherited the mission work on
Guam in 1961 after a Protestant Reformed Church entered denominational
fellowship with the Christian Reformed Church. Faith Presbyterian
Reformed Church developed from the serviceman’s center and
student ministries under the guidance of various CRWM missionaries.
Faith Bookstore developed from the book room during the same period. Today,
the church is a self-supported and locally-maintained ministry with close ties
to the CRCNA and World Missions. The bookstores are owned and managed by World
Missions.
The student ministry developed into a leadership training project in 1990.
This was accomplished by cooperating with Liebenzell Mission International
in establishing and running the Pacific Islands Bible College (PIBC)
with about 60 active students spread over the western end of Micronesia
in two campuses. CRWM continues to partner with PIBC in ministries.
Culture
Micronesia is an area of the western Pacific Ocean north of the
equator. The 1,000 tiny islands comprise a size the land area of
Rhode Island. The two belts of islands are the Carolines and the
Marianas. A quarter million people living on the 125 larger islands
are grouped politically into three independent countries and two
territories of the U.S. Many outsiders have settled in the main
centers while over a million tourists come every year to sport on
the warm ocean water, dive, and sightsee.
The Carolines are almost equally Protestant and Catholic while
the Marianas are about 80 percent Roman Catholic. Catholicism is
especially prominent in the indigenous population of Chamorros which
was heavily influenced by Spanish conquest in previous centuries.
Although nominally Roman Catholic, many Micronesians mix the animistic
beliefs and practices of their previous religion with Christianity.
Protestantism entered the eastern Carolines about 150 years ago,
while the last islands were evangelized a few decades ago. The Church
is struggling with leadership because of a serious lack of trained
pastors.
Mission Vision
World Missions has three primary ministries centered on Guam:
- Faith Bookstore. Faith is the oldest bookstore in Micronesia
and until 1992 was the only one for 35 years. Faith sells mostly
religious books, Bibles, music, and gifts with a specific intention
to build quality relationships with God and others. Secular books
also make up a large portion of daily sales, bringing in non-Christians
who come to browse, and in the process encounter Christian products
that boldly testify to the faith. Now with two stores, one on each
side of Guam, about 200-400 people a day come in daily. Faith Bookstore
is a powerful witness to island people, military personnel and tourists.
Our staff, volunteers and products are instrumental in much evangelism.
- Leadership Training. Because of the problems with which the
Micronesian churches are struggling, leadership training is essential.
Rev. Henry De Vries works as the mission’s project leader to
find resources to help establish Pacific Islands Bible College’s
new campus on Guam. Our contributions consist of establishing the
library and providing volunteers for various teaching and support
of functions.
- Volunteer Ministry. CRWM has recently begun a new phase, encouraging
members of the CRCNA to participate in mission work by joining with
either of the above two ministries. In addition, they are working
with local Christian schools to enhance their impact for Christ
into local cultures. CRWM provides partner teachers and Christian
schools on Guam.We hope that many committed Christians who desire
a significant place to express their faith will join us in the near
future.
Results
Faith Church, a “rainbow congregation” that reaches people
of many nationalities, is now self-supporting. Faith Bookstore remains
the largest outlet for religious literature throughout Micronesia.
PIBC continues to train pastors and aspiring church leaders on Guam
and other Micronesian islands. Since 1990, more than 20 volunteer
or short-term missionaries have already served in capacities ranging
from teaching to accounting, management to construction, project
administration to selling Christian music.
Support
The most important gift you can give missionaries is a daily prayer
for their lives and work. At any given time Christian Reformed World
Missions supports about 300 long-term and short-term missionaries
and about 200 missionary children located in over 30 countries around
the world. These people have been called, commissioned, and sent
by Christian Reformed churches to represent our devotion to Jesus
Christ, and to urge others to accept His offer of salvation.
Here’s a partial list of items to pray
for on behalf of missionaries:
- emotional needs
- physical needs
- relationships with other missionaries
- relationships with nationals
- relationship with God
- effective ministry
- family life
Financial support is also crucial for the ongoing work of bringing
the Good News around the world. Support can be given for specific
missionaries, or specific projects can be found in the “Project
Giving Guide” at your church or available from the World Missions
offices in either the United States or Canada.
The Christian Reformed World Missions
Team in Guam/Micronesia:
Neil and Janie-Lou
Culbertson (Chris-Kelly), Partner
Pastor
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