The Birds from Paradise

By Milton Frazier, pastor since 1950, now chaplain at Piedmont Baptist College

"When a bird of paradise has found a place for the flock to live, he invites other birds to come. He tells them there is food and water and a safe place to raise their young. We want you to be our bird of paradise, flying in to tell our people, 'Come, there is food here.' Tim, please bring to our people the bread of life."

That was the Macedonian call issued by Peter, the first known believer in the town of Guwasa, to ABWE missionary pilot Tim Gainey. Tim is a product of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hartsville, SC, where I pastored for 36 years. The town of Guwasa where Tim was begged to preach is a two-day trek from Goroka and inaccessible by car, but can be reached by air in 18 minutes.

The ABWE team in Papua New Guinea has two missionary pilots. Steve Aholt who, like Tim, trained at Piedmont Baptist College's Missionary Aviation Institute, is in his second term. Steve and Sandy Aholt planted a church in the remote village of Bundi. They flew in every week to evangelize, disciple, and teach literacy to the people while Bundi Baptist Church was in formation.

When field council chairman Bill Smith invited me to speak at the missionaries' Spiritual Emphasis Conference, I gladly accepted. The conference site was Goroka Baptist Bible College, where staff train New Guineans to reach other New Guineans. In this setting, 20 adult missionaries gathered to worship, study, pray, sing, eat, and laugh together. My wooden buddy, Archie, brought humor for both the MKs and local children.

While staying in Tim and Rebekah Gainey's home, my wife and I saw firsthand the busy life of these missionaries. In Third World countries, much of each day is spent in "survival" mode: the roads are terrible, medical help is limited, electric power is undependable, and many essential materials are unavailable. Staying with them was a reminder to pray, love, support, e-mail, and give to our missionaries.

The greatest thrill of the 19-day trip was preaching a simple message at Guwasa to many who had never heard the gospel. Tim used his Pidgin Bible to talk for over an hour with nine men who responded; three of them made clear professions of faith. I said, "Tim, some of these men may become deacons in the Guwasa Baptist Church."

I urge other pastors to VISIT your missionaries, especially those who were influenced by your life and ministry. You'll find great reward in encouraging those champions far from home.

Picture caption: The bird of paradise is the national emblem of Papua New Guinea

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