Safely trusting God's timing
Matt Hamb says he and his wife, Christine, were greatly encouraged and challenged by an amazing Bible teachers’ conference they attended recently in a remote tribal location.
“It was an awesome time of fellowship and teaching and it was exciting seeing that most of teaching was done by Papua New Guinea citizen believers, not missionaries. How awesome to see God growing and maturing these men to the point where they can teach us about our own walk with God.”
Another blessing for Matt and Christine was the opportunity to visit with three Manam Bible teachers. These men are from an island where a young church has been struggling for several years, a place that Matt and Christine have felt burdened about for some time. The Hambs had grown discouraged at the lack of obvious progress in moving toward this ministry.
As they visited with these Manam believers, they were encouraged to see their unanimous excitement at the prospect of help and reinforcement in the Manam church.
Later, as Matt and Christine read from Psalm 94 together, they were powerfully encouraged. From verse 19 they were reminded that even in the middle of doubts and anxious thoughts, God is present and that His Presence brings comfort and hope.
In looking back, Matt says they saw that they had been consumed with what wasn’t happening in their hopes for ministry instead of trusting the great faithfulness of the God Who is in control. He shares that they now feel a confidence that God is moving things ahead, “even when it is not at a pace we would like.”
With new trust in God’s timing, Matt writes that he and Christine “are again filled with hope and excitement as we think about the opportunity to move in with this people group and help a fledgling church to grow and mature in the Lord.”
Pray for God to open doors for Matt and Christine Hamb to minister to the Manam people. Pray that He will prepare them for this ministry and help them to continue to trust His timing. Pray for the Manam believers; that God will orchestrate the building and maturing of His church for His glory.