Lori Ellison

January 18, 2009June 24, 2012

Latest Famille Heureuse Magazine

Friday morning the airlines called to say my shipment had arrived. That was good news! We have been waiting for our latest issue of Famille Heureuse (French for “Happy Family”) magazine to arrive from the printer in New Caledonia. After strenuous weeks of editorial work is it always a wonderful feeling to see the magazine printed and being handed out.

Four thousand copies of this free evangelism magazine have already been distributed in New Caledonia, the rest will be distributed in Vanuatu, Wallis and Tahiti. This latest issue deals with building strong marriage relationships, finding grace when things are not perfect and hope when relationships have been torn apart by affairs. We know the subject is timely in our island cultures. I was delighted on my way into the grocery store today to see the magazine tucked into a women’s purse!

Please pray that God will use this issue to begin a healing process in the heart’s of those who read it and thank you for giving to LFTL (Light For The Lost) which generously supports this project.

December 23, 2008June 24, 2012

Malekula Youth Camp

We had a great youth camp in NW Malekula. Over a hundred young people plus as many younger siblings from several different villages came to the village of Leviamp for the youth camp. It was a beautiful place, right on the coast and the whole village was very gracious and hospitable to us all. We were well fed, slept in our sleeping bags and mosquito nets, took our daily baths in the river and enjoyed beautiful moonlit after-church dinners. A portable generator was turned on for the nightly services so we had electrical instruments and PA system but otherwise there is no power or telephone service on that side of the island.

Lori spoke two mornings on “making a difference in our generation” (Queen Esther) and then by request spoke on sexual purity a third morning. Gary preached a five night series on the Will of God. We were delighted to be joined by Pastor Simon Kor, who surprised us by flying down from Santo and translating into Bislama every night for Gary (Lori was very happy not to have to do that!). He also preached the closing Sunday service. Leviamp is Pastor Simon’s home village though he has spent many years pastoring on the island of Santo. He also told us about the first time he accompanied my father to preach at Leviamp in the Big Nambas territory in the late 1970’s. It was wonderful to meet people in the church today who still remember my father’s visit.

The camp ended on Sunday with twenty-five young people being baptized in water. During the teaching sessions, we noticed that only 1 in every 10 kids actually owned a Bible. So we brought home the names of everyone who was baptized and plan to send them each a Bible and Christian Life booklet. If you would like to help provide Bibles, please contact us.

December 7, 2008June 24, 2012

Vanuatu Pentecostal Evangel

We are not quite sure when the last Vanuatu Pentecostal Evangel was printed – the last one may date to before Independence 28 years ago, when it was called The New Hebridean Pentecostal Evangel, edited by my father.

Many months ago, our AG missionary colleague Bryan Webb expressed a desire to see this important outreach tool revived. Bryan and I worked together on the articles via email since the Webbs live 200 miles north of us on the island of Santo. Though the English title may fool you, this Evangel is entirely in Bislama, our national trade language. We hope to print two issues a year as funds permit.

On Friday the first copies of the Vanuatu Pentecostal Evangel came off the press and were already distributed in some churches this Sunday morning. Copies for the outer islands will have to wait for inter-island ships to take them to the many islands of Vanuatu. Pray as these magazines go out and touch hearts with the Gospel.

December 3, 2008June 24, 2012

Literature

The last three months have been very busy with many extra hours each day spent in front of the computer, writing, editing, and designing new literature. I have completed another issue of Famille Heureuse, a Christian family magazine in French, a new Christian life outreach magazine in Bislama, and designed several new Gospel tracts in Bislama. At the same time funds were made available for us to order Sunday school curriculum from the Assemblies of God in the Philippines and English tracts from the US.

I have learned after seven years of producing Famille Heureuse magazine that during the editorial phase I need people praying because whatever can go wrong, will go wrong! Usually, it is perfectly fine equipment which stops working or starts doing crazy things but this latest FH issue brought some startling challenges! The night before the final magazine layouts were to be sent to the printers, the lady who had done the final layouts had her house hit by lightning! Her computer was zapped along with our finished magazine! Eventually, some pages were recovered from the hard disk but I had to completely redo the final editorial work! Her computer was melted beyond repair and thankfully her home insurance bought her a new one!

After all the hours and technical problems, the best part is just starting – the magazines are rolling off the press and the literature is arriving ready to be distributed! That is the wonderful thing about literature, it gets into the hands and homes of people I will never meet! And that is why I keep creating new magazines and tracts!

November 29, 2008June 24, 2012

Anniversary

It was just a year ago that we started this blog. Thank you to everyone who has browsed our site and sent encouraging comments. The last couple of weeks have been very busy and we have not been able to update our activities as usual. Lori has been at the computer producing two magazines, one in French and one in Bislama, 3 new tracts in Bislama, and she is still writing or translating a couple more things. We were blessed with some LFTL funds and are happy to be able to produce some new materials.

We are preparing to leave for the northern island of Malekula. We are both speaking at a youth camp, this is a real camp with sleeping bags and mosquito nets. There is an epidemic of dengue fever and the nets are essential at this point. Please pray for us as we finish are preparations to go and anointing for the ministry ahead.

November 8, 2008March 21, 2013

Mission Trip to Torba Province

The most northerly islands of Vanuatu are the Torres and Banks islands, commonly known as the Torba Province. JBI students have been praying and preparing for months to go to Torba on their 2008 mission trip. They have shared their vision with churches and raised the funds to cover their trip expenses.

Yesterday, eleven JBI students boarded a small inter-island cargo ship headed for the island of Espiritu Santo. They should arrive this evening in Santo and stay at Calvary Assembly for weekend ministry. On Monday the group will fly to the Banks where they will begin two weeks of ministry and speedboat travel. They plan to visit churches and minister on the islands of Gaua, Vanua Lava, Mota Lava and Mota. Please pray for their safety and God’s anointing as they travel and minister over the next two weeks.

November 8, 2008March 21, 2013

2008 JBI Faculty and Students

Front row (left to right): J. Gary Ellison, Lori Ellison, Robert Laumai, Edgell Iolopua, Philip Naias, Kay Rudd, Joshua Beraki.

Second row: First year and Third year students

Last row: Second year students

November 2, 2008March 21, 2013

2008 JBI Graduation

It was a beautiful sunny day for the Joy Bible Institute graduation service held Sunday, Nov. 2 at Evangel Temple Assembly of God in Port Vila. Friends and family gathered for this special service. The church was full and latecomers had to sit on benches outside.

Three young men, Job Dalili Emele from Ambrym, Andrick Fai from Paama and Elvis Maltok from Malekula received their three year diploma in Biblical studies.

Evangel Temple, host pastor, Rev. Youen Atnelo, opened the service with prayer. The JBI school choir sang, “Touch the World” led by Rev. Philip Naias with Gary playing sax.

J. Gary Ellison, Academic Dean and JBI Principal Edgell Iolopua handed out the three diplomas, followed prayer and the laying on of hands.

We were so privileged to have Rev. Aeron Morgan from Australia as our 2008 graduation speaker this year.

November 1, 2008March 21, 2013

Graduation Banquet

It is that time of the year again when we prepare to say good-bye to graduating JBI third year students. The day after final exams, the first and second year students and faculty wives cook and prepare a wonderful feast of foods: stews, curries, taros, sweet potatoes, salads, lap lap and roasted pig to serve to the graduates and their guests. A short program of songs, gift-giving and skits takes place during the mealtime.

The school also thanked Mrs. Margaret Nicholson for coming back for a month and cataloguing all of the library books. Rev. Aeron Morgan, our JBI graduation speaker was also present and warmly welcomed by Principal Edgell Iolopua.

October 21, 2008March 21, 2013

Kitchen Progress

I thought you might like to see the progress that has been made on the new student kitchen. Though we do not have the funds yet to do the chimney and roof, we are finishing the sink and cooking area. JBI students, Job and Alick are working a few hours each afternoon and it is looking wonderful! The students are really looking forward to the day when they can move in and use it!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS TO JBI PROJECT #5619.

October 21, 2008March 21, 2013

Margaret & the JBI Library

Margaret has returned for a month to finish cataloguing the JBI library books! Yes, it is a news flash and a wonderful gift of her time to us! Margaret was here in August with her husband and catalogued hundreds of books but when she left about 2/3 of the books still remained uncategorized and randomly sitting on the new shelves. So she decided to come back for a month and see if she could finish the job for us. She is staying in the girl’s dorm and the girls have been giving her a hand in the afternoons by gluing in the card pockets and labels! Pictured are student helpers Ronneth, Flora and Jill, Margaret is seated. Thank you Margaret for the tremendous help to us at JBI!

October 19, 2008March 21, 2013

Sunday at Evangel Temple

We went to Evangel Temple Assembly of God this morning to hear one of our JBI student ministry teams. The guys are from five different islands in Vanuatu (pictured left to right) Cedrick from Santo, Job from Ambrym, Tom from Tanna, Clovis from Mota and Norman from Paama. It was a wonderful service. Cedrick, a second year student preached and many came to the altar for prayer afterwards. An offering was taken to help with the JBI student mission trip planned to the northern Banks islands in November.

During the greeting time I turned around and saw people whom I recognized but could not believe would ever be in Vanuatu. I was astounded to see old family friends, Alex and Janet. They have come to Vanuatu to work with an NGO. We are just delighted to have them in country!

September 27, 2008March 21, 2013

Sundays at JBI

On Sundays, the JBI campus is a busy place. At 8:30 a.m., an English-speaking church, Family Worship Center, meets in the chapel. This church was started in the 1980’s by former missionaries, Frank and Karla Beardsley. The church continues to reach out to English-speaking people from several different countries. This past Sunday, Gary had the privilege of sharing the Word.

As soon as the English service is dismissed, the people move out under the big mango tree for fellowship because at 10 a.m., a French-speaking AG church meets in the JBI chapel. This work started less than 10 years ago and is led by a pastor from New Caledonia. The congregation is made up of French-speaking Ni-Vanuatu nationals. Vanuatu has three official languages; Bislama, English, French, plus over one hundred national languages.

So even on Sundays, when JBI students are involved in practical ministry elsewhere, the JBI facilities are put to good use by two different groups of believers.

September 25, 2008March 21, 2013

JBI Missions Convention

The theme for the JBI missions convention this year was “EVERYONE EVERYWHERE! Acts 1:8”

Missions convention is always a special moment on the JBI school calendar. Our guest speaker was Rev. Jone Koro, pastor of a Fijian church in Sydney, Australia. He challenged the students to be active witnesses everywhere and at all times.

The JBI students provided special music and a missions video was shown on Wednesday night. Many off-campus guests attended the evening services.

September 25, 2008March 21, 2013

Roof Needed

We were making good progress on our new kitchen project but funds have run low and we still need the chimney, trusses and iron roofing materials.

The students are really anxious to move into the new kitchen as they are currently cooking in a shack behind the classroom building. You can only imagine how unsatisfactory that situation is for everyone concerned. In the above photo, second year student Jean Paul is busy cutting Chinese cabbage and watching the kettle boil on the open fire.

We would really appreciate your help to get this new kitchen finished. The photo on the left shows the walls standing waiting for a roof! Thank you for helping with project 5619!