An Urgent Update Regarding Mibu Ministry
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A little over a week ago, we were made aware that our co-worker, Chris Walker, had suddenly left his family and the ministry, departing from PNG altogether. In the communication that followed with his wife, Angie, and with a handful of others on the field, he indicated that he'd been unfaithful to her, and that he'd had an affair with someone outside of PNG.
To say this news shocked us is a gross understatement. Our prayers go especially to Angie and the kids as they deal with the fallout. Chris has communicated that his decision to leave his family and PNG was not due to any tension between him and Angie, nor the result of anything she did. Because of his explicit violation of Scripture and the mission's Code of Conduct, Chris was dismissed from organizational membership as of Aug 16th. Angie, who is guiltless in this matter, will retain her membership status. Since this situation is still very fresh, there remain many unanswered questions. Please pray that greater clarity will come with time.
Because of the sensitivity of this matter, if you know Angie personally, please refrain from reaching out to her with questions. Instead, direct those to Terry Ganka, one of the elders at her church (his contact info is below). That said, please do feel free to reach out to Angie with prayers, support, and words of encouragement and love. Angie and Titus are currently making their way back to Michigan, and teams both in PNG and at their home church have already mobilized to provide strong care and support.
Of course, this also has a significant impact on the Mibu Ministry, as Chris was a central part of our team. I (Geoff), together with field leadership and the Mibu church, am working to assess the situation, provide a sort of "ministry triage," and determine what essential aspects of ministry can be sustained going forward. Because of the urgency of this matter, I made last-minute plans to travel to PNG and into Mibu, and by the time you're reading this, I should already be there. We thank the Lord for the rapid provision of the finances that made this trip possible. While there, I'll be meeting with the elders and other church leaders, breaking the news to the rest of the church, and walking with them through the many questions this will raise. Please pray that the church in Mibu will find encouragement and strength during this very difficult season. They have already been through so much in recent years.
Looking ahead, my core focus must remain on continuing the Bible translation project, developing key lesson material, and consulting with the Mibu church leaders. There are several important areas of ministry I simply cannot take on alone, so we deeply appreciate your prayers as we work with the church and NTM leadership to discern what "moving forward" will look like. There will inevitably be things that will be difficult—or even impossible—to do. But we know God the Father already knows these things, and that He has a plan and purpose. We trust that He will finish what He has started in Mibu, even if it looks different than we expected. We're OK with that. We will continue to trust in His faithfulness and goodness.
We also know that Jesus is the Redeemer. As messy as this situation seems, He is more than capable of redeeming it—on all levels. We trust, hope, and pray toward that end, and we ask you to do the same.
This is a painful time for everyone, especially Chris's family. We would greatly appreciate your prayers for them, for Chris, for the church in Mibu, for NTMPNG leadership, and for us. We will continue to keep you updated as things progress. Thank you for the prayers and support you've faithfully given over the years!
In Christ,
Geoff Husa
Contact Information for Questions:
Terry Ganka
(269) 354-7121
terrence_ganka@yahoo.com
